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First Post - Engagement Ring - Kite Diamonds?

M

MIchael Bernich

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 22, 2017
Messages
5
Hello all! thanks for letting me join!

Long story short- we were visiting Maui a few years ago and the wife-to-be and i stopped in at Makaweo Jewelers ( we love John and Gloria) and we saw this orange gem and fell in love. Its 6.5mm, 1.43ct, spesartite garnet - fiery orange. A little backstory, we both absolutely love orange ( orange car, orange motorcycle, curtains in home etc) and decided since this is our 2nd marriage we didn't want to do traditional diamonds as center piece, if we ever decided to get married.

We left Maui in 2015, I called and ordered the gem to have on hand just in case I decided to have a ring made down the road (she doesnt know i bought it) . Time came upon me and I went to my local jeweler and we designed the ring below, had the ring made and now it is time to install the center garnet. We have since been to Maui 2 times and stopped at the jeweler and her face saddened the first time and they didnt have the gem anymore.. she has no clue!

more Ring info- Total dw 1.30, 14K white gold- he is setting the garnet this week and ill have it back next week. He was telling me the side diamonds are called, or referred to as "Kite diamonds" or "shield diamonds" and when i google that I cant find out too much about them, but i do know they look amazing.

Anyone have any feedback on this ring? or specific info on kite or shield diamonds? id love to hear your thoughts! Thanks in advance! (( the pic has a reflection from my iphone that makes it look yellow, but it is white gold)

thanks!




 
They don't look like kite diamonds to me, but they are more like shields. I have seen them used a lot in settings as side stones. The ring is very pretty, but you need to know that a garnet won't stand up to daily wear over time without some facet abrasion and possibly scratches because it is not a hard stone. Generally sapphires and rubies are the only gemstones that will hold up. You'll just probably have to replace it at some point, and you maybe can have an orange sapphire custom cut, or just keep replacing with orange garnets which would be fairly accessible. Just explain to her that she has to treat it with TLC and never wear it when doing any kind of work with her hands like dishes, gardening, working out, etc. That's good advice even with diamond rings.

Congrats on your upcoming engagement! I am sure she is going to be thrilled with the ring!
 
Absolutely gorgeous!! Garnet is my birthstone, and now I want an orange one...lol!
Agree with diamondseeker: they look like sheild diamonds. Garnets are, indeed, soft stones, and will scratch. As long as she doesn't do any major work with her hands, she should be fine.
Congratulations on your upcoming engagement!! I can't wait to see it on her hand!!! It truly is a piece of work, and it is breath-taking!!!! :love::love::love:
CRM
 
What a gorgeous ring! I'm sure your sweetie is going to be bowled over by your thoughtfulness and creativity! The shields seem to complement Both the setting and the center stone well, and if they're sparkly too, well, that's what counts!
 
Thanks all - i was looking for an orange diamond but cant justify 20k-40k for a rock... garnet will have to do and if it wears we will replace it :)

We leave June 30th for 10 days in Tybee Island GA, we alternate 4th of July between Maui and Tybee and this year will be in Georgia . Its going to be quite the surprise, her parents are going on vacation with us this year and they are "in on it", pretty sure it will be Sunday July 2nd in the am hours when we head down to the beach to do "family photos" LOL!

The 20 small diamonds are .0375 each, totaling .75ct, and the "shield" are .25ct each making the total 1.25ct for the ring. How do i know value for the shield diamonds? Obivously i can ask him for an appraisal and he will write down whataver i want, but he suggested an appraisal of $3500 would be fair for the ring without any center stone, does this sound right?
 
Reach out to the vendor, David at DBL, colored diamonds are his main trade and he's on 47th street so he has quick access to the largest inventory. You never know what he can find!
 
Love that its unique and beautiful! I like how the shields point to the middle stone. She'll be thrilled!
 
Wow that is a stunning ring!!! I'm sure she will love it. Especially because you put time and thought into it. You helped design it and added the special garnet you both loved!
 
MIchael Bernich said:
Thanks all - i was looking for an orange diamond but cant justify 20k-40k for a rock... garnet will have to do and if it wears we will replace it :)

We leave June 30th for 10 days in Tybee Island GA, we alternate 4th of July between Maui and Tybee and this year will be in Georgia . Its going to be quite the surprise, her parents are going on vacation with us this year and they are "in on it", pretty sure it will be Sunday July 2nd in the am hours when we head down to the beach to do "family photos" LOL!

The 20 small diamonds are .0375 each, totaling .75ct, and the "shield" are .25ct each making the total 1.25ct for the ring. How do i know value for the shield diamonds? Obivously i can ask him for an appraisal and he will write down whataver i want, but he suggested an appraisal of $3500 would be fair for the ring without any center stone, does this sound right?
Click to expand...

What are you paying for the setting? That plus the value of the center stone should be the value for insurance. But I am going to advise you if the garnet ever needs replacing, don't claim that on insurance, just replace it. Small claims can make your premiums higher over time, and some people get dropped if they make a claim. So use the insurance in the event the whole ring is lost.

Here are a couple of good places to look at garnet values (or save in case you ever need to replace your center stone:
https://gemfix.com/gem-category/garnet/garnet-spessartite
http://www.africagems.com/spessartite-garnet.html

Orange sapphires are more durable but a little harder to find. Africa Gems does have a few.
http://www.africagems.com/orange-sapphire.htm
 
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Such a touching sentiment behind the ring. I'm sure she'll be thrilled with the final result and all of the effort you've put in to making a thoughtful and stunning design!

As for the orange garnet, replacing it with an orange diamond would be ideal, as I'm sure she'll be sad if anything ever happens to it. Maybe it's not too late to make that switch?
 
Thanks for all the insight ! I am learning so much ! With the proposal a short time away it's too late for me to switch center stones ! But that's ok maybe late r! After ring design, production and setting the center I will be all in for $2000.... which my jeweler (long time family and business partner ) says I should be more like $3500-$4000 on the retail side (if I were to buy at a "box store" )

He really stressed the elegance and beauty and non-common factor of the shield / kite diamonds and I love the way they look , very unique !
 
What a special ring and an incredible surprise it will be!!'
 
MIchael Bernich said:
the elegance and beauty and non-common factor of the shield / kite diamonds
Click to expand...

Indeed !

& there are many versions of surprising, step-cut side-stones and single stones (below). Of course, orange garnet or sapphire can also be cut in such a way. If you still love the colour a few years from now, there is time for search and for immagination...

WWW

i6461P.jpg


_______
º that is to say, with all facet junctures parallel through any section through the table ... to define the step cut in a way that fits all shapes ... rather than the ubiquitous squares & rectangles
 
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All went well! now to plan the Maui wedding! WOOT WOOT!

I said i would share some photos- here you go!!! Thanks all, and she LOVES the ring. Besides showing ... random people have stopped her to just ask about the ring. Truly beautiful!

MT 07.07.17 2.jpg
MT 07.07.17 3.jpg
MT 07.07.17 4.jpg

MT 07.07.17 5.jpg

MT 07.07.17.jpg
 
HI:

Orange dress...:appl: Really beautiful! Congrats!!

cheers--Sharon
 
CONGRATULATIONS!!! It's PERFECT!! I'm so thrilled she loves it, and I'm not surprised she has received attention, and people have stopped to discuss the ring; it's very unique!
Blessings for a lifetime of happiness! Thank you for sharing your story with us & for allowing us to be a part of your special moment!!!
CRM
 
SO GREAT! Congrats!
 
Drooling on my laptop.. congratulations, it's unique, beautiful and I love it.!
 
Yaaaay! Super congrats!!!

Was she very surprised? Wouldn't mind a few more hand shots! <3
 
Those pictures are so cute I can't stand it.. the ring goes beyond saying.. so happy for you both congratulations!!!
 
Congrats! You guys look so happy!!!
 
Congratulations on your engagement and upcoming wedding! :appl: The ring is truly stunning and so unusual! The sentiment behind the ring and its story is very special!
 
I love orange so your ring is spectacular! Congrats on the engagement!
 
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