going crazy, help me choose between these 2!

[upgrading mama]

HI guys
Many of you know I have been after a halo-split shank ring for about 8 months, for a pink stone. I have settled on an oval rhodolite garnet.

Here is the situation, I was looking for around a 2 carat stone to be haloed. I do not want to spend more than $1000 on the whole ring. I priced it here with a local jeweler, but with taxes and everything, it was going to be around $1400...this was with H-I color and SI clarity.

On an impulse, while I was in Watertown, NY this past weekend I bought this ring from Perrywinkle''''s fine Jewellery.

Here are the details:
.44 ctw
color: g or better
clarity: VS or better
6 x4 oval pink sapphire
price $885, this is with tax in.

 

[upgrading mama]

2nd look

 

[upgrading mama]

myjewelrysource.com

8 x 10 ring mounting
.22 ctw
H-I color
I clarity

price: $459, US dollars ( no tax or shipping.)

qoute for rhodo stone here around $177 Us dollars
total cost $636 Us dollars


$75 restock fee if returned...



What should I do???

 

[upgrading mama]

another view

 

[upgrading mama]

3rd look

 

[upgrading mama]

so should I keep the smaller sapphire ring, or drive 2 1/2 hrs to return it to the store in Watertown, and take a chance on the online setting???

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 8/1/2006 3:04:55 PM
Author: Sophie
3rd look

I see severaal things that would bug me about the quality of this ring.
I hope im reading this right and it isnt the one you bought?

 

[upgrading mama]

No I haven''t bought it yet, but am seriously considering buying just the mounting with no center stone... Please tell me your concerns, storm........

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I''d prefer a pink sapphire over a garnet, but I think the sapphire stone is just too small for that setting.

I''ll tell you something I have learned over the years. I am happier waiting and getting a quality piece than settling for something inferior just to get something. You have such a lovely idea. If you saved and got a nicer size and quality pink sapphire or even a fine garnet, you could have someone like Maytal Hoftman make you a simple but gorgeous handmade split shank ring that would be an heirloom piece. As a matter of fact, I am considering sending her an old sapphire and diamond ring I bought years ago to reset for me if she feels the sapphire is worth the effort and expense.

 

[upgrading mama]

thank you for the honest words, DS...

While I do like the color of the pink sapphire, for this particular ring, I was looking for something in a deeper pink, and have come to think that it will be in a rhodolite garnet. I have seen a bunch (loose) with my local jeweler, and I definately prefer the pinky red rather than the purple red. Which works out good for me, bc aparently, the purplyred is the more desired, and thus more expensive!!

Anyway, I agree that I think this particular pink sapphire is just too small (at least on my 6 3/4 finger). I think I may take a risk and order the 2nd mounting to have a look at it and risk losing the $75 restock fee.

I just know that if I keep this one, I will like it, but not love it. I would want to get a bigger stone eventually, and then I will be asking myself why I didn''t do it cutom in the first place. It is just my own hangup- we could afford for me to buy this ring custom for $1300, but my part of the fun challenge of this ring has been for me to find it for as cheap as I can (without it being very dull).

Anyway, thank you again for your honesty and I hope others chime in especially if you see something really really wrong here..

 

[diamondseeker2006]

The proportions of the second setting are MUCH better! It''s hard to judge quality from a picture, of course. But I did want to say that I like the size of second setting.

 

[upgrading mama]

ok and back to my old option I have had saved for a long time.

http://www.philipnoel.com/_e/_99_499/product/sm2262a%2Dring/18K_White_Gold_Diamond_Semi_Mount_0_26_TCW.htm

$295.00

"Here is an 18K White Gold Semi Mount Ring featuring 4 rows of round diamonds,pave set and a carat weight of 0.26 TCW and a gram weight of 3.6 GM."

Metal 18K White Gold

Diamond Shape Round

Carat Weight 0.26 TCW

Clarity SI-2

Color H-I

I coud buy this setting and choose my oval.....but then I would have to pay out of pocket for the small diamonds around the head....

this ring is higher quality diamonds in color and clarity...

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I far better like the second setting which has the blue stone than the third one! (I know you wish someone besides me would answer you!!! But every time I stop by the computer, I can''t help but see what you''ve posted!)

 

[upgrading mama]

lol
no I am glad for your comments!

Why don''t you like this one? I thought you would like it bettter bc the diamond quality is better....

 

[movie zombie]

like i said in the other thread, i agree with diamondseeker re preferring the 2nd over the 3rd.....in all honesty, the first pink one looks too small on your hand. the 2nd one is quite lovely on your finger. the 3rd one is just more of the same imo and will be more work, more $$$, and perhaps less satisfying once on your finger.

movie zombie

ps the 2nd one really does look much more attractive on your finger.

 

[upgrading mama]

Date: 8/1/2006 10:19:51 PM
Author: movie zombie
like i said in the other thread, i agree with diamondseeker re preferring the 2nd over the 3rd.....in all honesty, the first pink one looks too small on your hand. the 2nd one is quite lovely on your finger. the 3rd one is just more of the same imo and will be more work, more $$$, and perhaps less satisfying once on your finger.

movie zombie

ps the 2nd one really does look much more attractive on your finger.

oh movie zombie, thank you for the complements....but that hand is not mine.

that is the picture the cusomer service mady sent me today, and I am guessing it is on her finger.....

does this effect your desicion? lol

It really made laugh, I have to say!

 

[upgrading mama]

Date: 8/1/2006 10:05:57 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I far better like the second setting which has the blue stone than the third one! (I know you wish someone besides me would answer you!!! But every time I stop by the computer, I can''t help but see what you''ve posted!)

I am glad this affects someone else other than me!

 

[movie zombie]

Date: 8/1/2006 10:28:08 PM
Author: Sophie

Date: 8/1/2006 10:19:51 PM
Author: movie zombie
like i said in the other thread, i agree with diamondseeker re preferring the 2nd over the 3rd.....in all honesty, the first pink one looks too small on your hand. the 2nd one is quite lovely on your finger. the 3rd one is just more of the same imo and will be more work, more $$$, and perhaps less satisfying once on your finger.

movie zombie

ps the 2nd one really does look much more attractive on your finger.

oh movie zombie, thank you for the complements....but that hand is not mine.

that is the picture the cusomer service mady sent me today, and I am guessing it is on her finger.....

does this effect your desicion? lol

It really made laugh, I have to say!

giggle.......see response in other thread: no, my decision pretty much stays the same. has more to do with the actual halo. admittedly, i''m not a big fan of halos, but the 2nd one is far superior in my opinion to the first one. the 3rd mounting is nice but i''d prefer it w/o a halo, and maybe even an east/west orientation for the stone. let the color stone be the star of the show!

movie zombie

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 8/1/2006 5:26:36 PM
Author: Sophie
No I haven''t bought it yet, but am seriously considering buying just the mounting with no center stone... Please tell me your concerns, storm........

The prongs holding the center stone are 2 small for the lenth.
The prongs on the side stone are uneven and look mushed and the stones are uneven.
the polish leaves a lot to be desired and the area under the main stone looks like it would be eye uneven.
Its a low priced setting so that explains some of it but overall it looks cheap......

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 8/1/2006 9:57:42 PM
Author: Sophie
ok and back to my old option I have had saved for a long time.

http://www.philipnoel.com/_e/_99_499/product/sm2262a%2Dring/18K_White_Gold_Diamond_Semi_Mount_0_26_TCW.htm

$295.00

''Here is an 18K White Gold Semi Mount Ring featuring 4 rows of round diamonds,pave set and a carat weight of 0.26 TCW and a gram weight of 3.6 GM.''

Metal 18K White Gold

Diamond Shape Round

Carat Weight 0.26 TCW

Clarity SI-2

Color H-I

I coud buy this setting and choose my oval.....but then I would have to pay out of pocket for the small diamonds around the head....

this ring is higher quality diamonds in color and clarity...

this one could be cleaned up by a good goldsmith but needs some work too.
I think you might be better off going with an Ingwer setting and have it finished properly.
Wink Jones or Gary @ diamondexpert.com could handle the whole deal for ya stone and all and it would be a much better ring.

 

[upgrading mama]

I just wanted to thank you guys for your honesty.
I did go ahead and order setting #2, and it has already been shipped out! I will let you all know how it looks when I receive it, and I of course, will take some pics!
Keep your fingers crossed!

 

[FireGoddess]

I will keep my fingers crossed for you because I do prefer the proportions of that second setting as compared to the first that already has the pink sapph in it. I hope this setting meets your expectations!

 

[upgrading mama]

thanks SDL and Firegoddess!!

I am very eager to receive it and just hope that it has some sparkle!! This will be a loooonnnng week!

 

[upgrading mama]

not meant to be a teaser,
but I just wanted to let you know that my mom just called and said my mounting was just delivered to her house (I ship to her in NY bc I live in Canada and the shipping would be attrocious).
She said the diamonds looked verysparkly and she liked it...
there is a chance that she will meet me tomorrow in Watertown so I can pick it up from her (Watertown is 1/2 way for us - 2.5 hrs drive for each of us!)


ahh the things we do for bling.

Can''t wait to have it and take some pics!!

 

[upgrading mama]

yeah!!
my sis- in- law emailed me these pics she took of my setting.
She is mailing it to me tomorrow so I should have it by the end of the week!!!! soooo happy!

What do y''all think??

 

[upgrading mama]

#1

 

[upgrading mama]

#2

 

[upgrading mama]

#3