Heartbroken...tsavorite dilemma

[Niel]

so i found this marquise on JA... very cute!


http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.81-carat-d-color-si1-clarity-sku-216219

heres a scrolly one that you could put it in. Im sure they could replace the diamonds with colored stones if you ask

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-blossoming-vine-diamond-engagement-ring-item-9285

this one could aslo be beautiful with tsavs in the center row

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-pave-encrusted-engagement-ring-item-8103

another idea would be this halo, and have them do the halo in color instead of diamonds. They are very accommodating so worth asking
Also, say you set the marquise sideways (E/W) instead of upright? that with a green halo (and maybe done in yellow gold?) very leafy looking and amazing.. would look great with a leaf inspired w band

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-pave-halo-cabled-diamond-engagement-ring-item-17996

ETA: oh i see your budget is 3-4 k, good i was guessing around that

 

[MollyMalone]

Because you seem to be considering other design possibilities, like a halo, here's a page of vintage diamond rings with green (emerald) halos or accents that might provide additional inspiration:
http://www.glamour.com/weddings/blogs/save-the-date/2013/03/5-to-die-for-vintage-engagemen.html

Since you'd like to use tsavorites, which are a leafy color, how about a halo that would result in a more floral-leafy look than is customary, e.g., a scalloped halo like this
http://www.ajaffe.com/details/statement-diamond-petal-engagement-ring-me1622.html

or something along the lines of this Bella Halo setting from Jewels by Erica Grace, but using some pear tsavs instead of all rounds?

P.S. Adding milgrain detailing will convey more of the vintage look that I think still matters to you [provided it's done well; TBH the poor milgrain on the Neil Lane ring, even in their own glamour shots, really bugs me]

 

[Niel]

This marquise looks lovely.
Great price and a return policy.

And that would leave you quite a sizable amount for your setting.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2ct-G-SI1-Marquise-diamond-engagement-ring-14k-YG-/221294707074

 

[Melvis]

All this eye candy Im thinking I'd rather invest in a better quality diamond and as future anniversaries come along, upgrade or change the setting. I'm gonna have to sit down and look at each of the recent posts... though.. I DID find.. a STEAL of a deal on a setting very similar to the NL ring at Jareds this weekend..(I know.. but I went with the intention of speaking with the Jeweler about his claims of being unable to set the tsavorite as I want) Side story: I ran into the DM for Jareds and we talked for an hour of what I was looking for and we'll see. Im not so stuck on the NL ring anymore... BUT when I went on their website yesterday, I found this little surprise.. and for the price.. I feel I cant go wrong with it... thoughts?????

http://www.jared.com/en/jaredstore/engagement---wedding/14k-white-gold-5-8-carat-tw-diamond-ring-setting-561674502--1/100222/100222.100223.100226

If that link doesnt work here's the picture.. and price....

The other thing is that in the description.. it DOES list TWO marquis!!!! im thinking those are the ones on the top left and right side of the ring and then goes into rounds.... and the melee quality wont matter that much since most will be replaced with TSav's.

 

[FrekeChild]

All this eye candy Im thinking I'd rather invest in a better quality diamond and as future anniversaries come along, upgrade or change the setting. I'm gonna have to sit down and look at each of the recent posts... though.. I DID find.. a STEAL of a deal on a setting very similar to the NL ring at Jareds this weekend..(I know.. but I went with the intention of speaking with the Jeweler about his claims of being unable to set the tsavorite as I want) Side story: I ran into the DM for Jareds and we talked for an hour of what I was looking for and we'll see. Im not so stuck on the NL ring anymore... BUT when I went on their website yesterday, I found this little surprise.. and for the price.. I feel I cant go wrong with it... thoughts?????

http://www.jared.com/en/jaredstore/engagement---wedding/14k-white-gold-5-8-carat-tw-diamond-ring-setting-561674502--1/100222/100222.100223.100226

If that link doesnt work here's the picture.. and price....

The other thing is that in the description.. it DOES list TWO marquis!!!! im thinking those are the ones on the top left and right side of the ring and then goes into rounds.... and the melee quality wont matter that much since most will be replaced with TSav's.

You'd spend more than it's worth fixing it how you want it. The diamonds are likely to be frozen spit (cloudy and opaque, or peppery with black inclusions). Between paying for the tsavorites, the jeweler removing and replacing the bezel set diamonds with bezel set tsavorites, you're looking at a large "repair" bill on a ring that's already low quality. With labor alone, you're looking at a sizable bill. And chopping up a ring is never a good idea. Unless you have a great jeweler, the ring is probably going to look like it was chopped up, and great jewelers cost money. And of course, that also voids the warranty on the ring.

1ct tsavorite melee: $150
https://www.etsy.com/listing/150116069/100-carat-lot-of-wonderful-round-diamond
labor guesstimation: $400
materials: $100

Even if you get rid of the round diamonds in the middle, you're still going to have all of that melee along both sides - which you can't really wear a wedding band with - eventually the diamonds will eat into the metal. But those will also be very low quality,

Please stop looking at Jared, Kays, etc. You'll just get ripped off.

It's going to be better overall if you just go and customize an independent jeweler's item that makes their stuff from scratch.

Helpful hint: This is a consumer knowledge based website. We're trying to get you the best bang for your buck. Period.
Been there, done that, got ripped off, found Pricescope.

 

[distracts]

I do not like that Jareds ring.

 

[MollyMalone]

Fortunately for you, that ring has been discontinued (and I'm praying the Jared district manager is not able to put his hands on one). It doesn't come close, in value and quality of workmanship, to one you could get -- for a comparable price -- by working with, e.g., an Etsy artisan. And you'll avoid the kind of aggravation so many other Jared (and Kay, etc.) customers have had to deal with:
http://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.jared.com

Think it would be really helpful -- for you, for the forumites -- if you, together with your fiance, would take some time to reflect on & clarify your priorities and concerns. E.g., are you nervous about embarking on a custom project because you've never done it before, are you anxious about making a financial commitment before seeing the ring in person; how about skipping an e-ring entirely as suggested by one of your earlier posts & opt for a tsavorite-diamond band (without a marquise diamond, center stone)... or perhaps a classic solitaire marquis ring & have a tsavorite-diamond wrap/jacket created to keep company with the solitaire, in lieu of a true band?

Speaking as someone who had unforeseen major expenses right after I unexpectedly lost my job in the downsizing of 2009, I'll encourage you to not pressure yourselves re the budget for this. And please, don't feel self-conscious about sharing the realistic, comfortable number with us... even though you've seen discussions here of higher figures, even astronomically higher ones like this:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/250k-to-spend-please-help.194737/
Although I've been a PS member for only several months, I've already seen how many kind, knowledgeable people there are who are happy to assist those who are not willing or able to spend what's become the national average -- see this very recent thread, for example:
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...dget-3-stone-engagement-ring-shopping.194748/

 

[Melvis]

true words and thanks. We still do have some time and gonna look things over. I still want Tsavorites to be involved some how and think it's best to wait. Thanks.

 

[Niel]

true words and thanks. We still do have some time and gonna look things over. I still want Tsavorites to be involved some how and think it's best to wait. Thanks.

If that eBay $500 1/2 ct is worth looking into to you, you could spend the rest on an Engagement Rings Direct ring, custom made, exactly the way you want. And far better quality than a Jared one.

 

[MollyMalone]

I scrolled through my PayPal account, Melvis, and verified that a couple of years ago, I purchased a ring from the same eBay store that's offering the lovely marquise Niel found for you. I ended up returning the ring because I found something else in the same price range I liked even better; they were perfectly pleasant about the return & refunded the purchase price quite promptly. And their description-photos of the ring were indeed accurate.

 

[Melvis]

Thats good to know that people have had good experience with ebay.... looking on their site (trying to start over and be open minded) found this seemingly nice ring.. Thinking it would look nice with the side stones converted to Tsavs. I was trying to steer clear of princess and rounds since thats 90% of e-rings...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jeff-Cooper-Princess-diamond-60ct-Center-50ct-accents-engagement-ring-14k-WG-/190887847739?pt=Diamond_Solitaire_Rings&hash=item2c71cd673b

 

[minousbijoux]

Thats good to know that people have had good experience with ebay.... looking on their site (trying to start over and be open minded) found this seemingly nice ring.. Thinking it would look nice with the side stones converted to Tsavs. I was trying to steer clear of princess and rounds since thats 90% of e-rings...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jeff-Cooper-Princess-diamond-60ct-Center-50ct-accents-engagement-ring-14k-WG-/190887847739?pt=Diamond_Solitaire_Rings&hash=item2c71cd673b

But if you are trying to steer clear of princesses, isn't that exactly what that ring has to offer?

 

[FrekeChild]

Jeff Cooper makes beautiful settings. They are also pretty expensive.

http://www.jeffcooperdesigns.com/collections/classic-collection/cecily

Ripping up a channel set setting makes it basically unusable. Same thing with bezels. The band for a channel setting will have to basically be completely remade, and anything with bezels will have to be remade. Labor costs up the wazoo.

I don't know why you're refusing to do custom when that's clearly seems to be the best route for you (odds are slim of you finding a ring with tsavorite melee in it), but looking at settings with the idea to customize them is not going to be cost efficient, unless you get a setting (a DECENT ONE) for a song. And that setting will have to be customizable. The ones you are picking are not particularly easy or cost efficient to customize. When you start talking about remaking a ring, you're looking at $$$$$$$$$$$$$.

What you could do, is make a tsavorite band to go along side the Jeff Cooper ring above.

 

[Niel]

one seller on ebay doesnt necessarily mean "eBay" is safe. EBay is a collection of sellers. Just have to find a good one. Some safe, some not as safe

I think that marquise plus a gabriel and co setting would make you a prettier ring and easier that buying an existing ring and trying to find tsavs to fit

 

[distracts]

I found this Beverly K tsavorite marquise eternity - idk that there's an engagement ring version of it but you could call up Beverly K or Pearlmans and ask. (I am recommending you call Pearlmans rather than the other jeweler because I know nothing about the other whereas lots of people on this forum have had excellent experiences with Pearlmans.)

http://www.mystiquejewelers.com/product/tsavorite-diamond-eternity-band/?designer=beverly-k

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/

 

[woofmama]

The band Distacts found for you is perfect! Bev K will customize pieces, perhaps they can add a head to it so a marquise can be mounted on it. I second the idea to check with Pearlmans.

 

[Melvis]

I do like that band! What do you guys think of this set?

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-specials/estate-jewelry/rings/061EJ1/

 

[distracts]

I do like that band! What do you guys think of this set?

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-specials/estate-jewelry/rings/061EJ1/

That's very pretty as long as you like it as-is. It will be expensive for you to change the channel-set diamonds to tsavorites, since that will require basically having a whole new band made. You could much more easily change the center stone or sapphires to tsavorites, but idk if you'd have to buy them anyway. I'd just call Pearlmans and ask them about the estate ring and whether the Beverly K ring is able to be made as a solitaire. You may need to send them the link to it since it's not on their website, but they can definitely get it for you.

 

[Melvis]

I'd leave the channel set, now that I understand the difficulty in changing the setting. The saphires would be easy to change out. I wouldnt mind doing that post purchase though, those saphires would make a nice 2nd ring or pair of earrings.

 

[FrekeChild]

Not to confuse you further, but I don't really know why I didn't think of it earlier.

Stuller is a company that you can buy jewelry supply items from. And by "you" I actually mean, a jeweler who buys from them. Such as Daniel M or Michael E. So you can have them order a ring from Stuller, and then you pick out the stones that go into the ring. So you could start by picking out a setting and then a diamond to fit into the setting as the center stone, and then telling the jeweler what you want as far as tsavorite and diamond melee. So then it's NOT completely custom and doesn't come with CAD or wax labor costs, but is still customizable. Choose your choice of metal, your ring size, often even your stone size and shape.

Really. Why didn't I think of this before?!

Oval center, 4x6mm, make the other 6 stones tsavorites.
http://www.stuller.com/products/71173/?groupId=36303

Variety of center stone shapes, two tsavs on the sides, diamonds for the rest?
http://www.stuller.com/products/122002/?groupId=113480

Variety of center stone shapes, alternate tsavs and diamonds.
http://www.stuller.com/products/122066/?groupId=117430

Round
http://www.stuller.com/products/120740/?groupId=4713

Emerald East-West
http://www.stuller.com/products/71348/?groupId=36508

5x7 oval
http://www.stuller.com/products/71358/?groupId=36520

5mm square cushion
http://www.stuller.com/products/71345/?groupId=36505

 

[minousbijoux]

I too love the band that distracts found. I also second Freke's idea of looking to see what Stuller has. Freke posted a bunch of different styles as a starting point. I know that Stuller has many settings to choose from, and I bet you anything you could find both an er and a band within your budget that would make you happy. Good luck.

 

[Melvis]

Thanks for being patient with me. Freke (and everyone else), have been amazing support, and have provided soo many different options. I do like this idea the best, finding a setting and being able to choose my own stones..w/o the whole wax custom job. I think this is definitely up my alley and gonna check out their settings to see what they can provide.

 

[Michael_E]

I do like this idea the best, finding a setting and being able to choose my own stones..w/o the whole wax custom job.

When you're looking around keep in mind that many settings can be modified with the addition or removal of different parts. A plain split shank commercial setting can have a number of differently shaped bezels placed between the bands as well as having those band milgrained or engraved. This can give the look of custom settings while using lower cost commercial parts.

 

[minousbijoux]

I do like this idea the best, finding a setting and being able to choose my own stones..w/o the whole wax custom job.

When you're looking around keep in mind that many settings can be modified with the addition or removal of different parts. A plain split shank commercial setting can have a number of differently shaped bezels placed between the bands as well as having those band milgrained or engraved. This can give the look of custom settings while using lower cost commercial parts.

Can you say more, Michael? I can't quite understand what you mean about between the bands?

 

[chrono]

Minou,
In a setting that has a wide split shank, there is a good amount of "air or skin" space between the two split metals where one can add a bezeled stone.

 

[Sarahblue]

I scrolled through my PayPal account, Melvis, and verified that a couple of years ago, I purchased a ring from the same eBay store that's offering the lovely marquise Niel found for you. I ended up returning the ring because I found something else in the same price range I liked even better; they were perfectly pleasant about the return & refunded the purchase price quite promptly. And their description-photos of the ring were indeed accurate.

I had a good experience with this seller also. I bought a beautiful pendant from them a few years ago that I have since sold. I have them on my saved seller list.

 

[Melvis]

so.. I've been taking a good hard look at Jewelryhoo2 in china.. and have read and re read the one other post about someones experience with them... Has anyone else heard anything good/bad? I'm considering having them do the mounting and melee/tsavorites as I want and then just buy a center stone and have a jeweler here mount it for me. Or should I have them source the diamond as well?

Also... thought about this setting.. with a cushion or princess center and then having them do a tsav halo and side shank stones.. or do tsavs in a custom wrap that shapes to the ER?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-0mm-Princess-Solid-14k-White-Gold-Natural-Diamond-Engagement-Semi-Mount-Ring-/370941195489?pt=US_Engagement_Ring_Settings&hash=item565dd174e1

 

[chrono]

I have purchased a setting or two from Jewelryhoo but not customized to the extent you are planning. My experience has been good and find the quality good for the price I paid. I would rather purchase the centre stone myself so that I know exactly what I am getting. Often times, you might end up with a subpar stone that is of dubious grading. In your case, I would have the RT folks find you a well cut and correctly graded marquise diamond (or whatever shape you want) and have your local jeweller mount it in your setting.

My settings have diamond melees only so I do not know about the quality of their coloured stone melees.

 

[MollyMalone]

It would be far easier (and pose less risk of snafus) to have a local jeweler order a setting from Stuller, who -- as Michael E. noted up-thread -- can also supply the tsavorite (and diamonds) melee or accent stones. What I don't know, since I've never ordered Stuller settings with any kind of embellishment (just their plain ones), is whether Stuller itself sets the melee/side stones in their own settings before sending them on or if that task is left to the recipient jeweler to take care of. But hopefully, someone else can clarify that.

Stuller's halo settings for diamond center stones here:
http://www.stuller.com/browse/mountings/wedding-and-engagement/engagements/halo-styles

 

[FrekeChild]

It would be far easier (and pose less risk of snafus) to have a local jeweler order a setting from Stuller, who -- as Michael E. noted up-thread -- can also supply the tsavorite (and diamonds) melee or accent stones. What I don't know, since I've never ordered Stuller settings with any kind of embellishment (just their plain ones), is whether Stuller itself sets the melee/side stones in their own settings before sending them on or if that task is left to the recipient jeweler to take care of. But hopefully, someone else can clarify that.

Stuller's halo settings for diamond center stones here:
http://www.stuller.com/browse/mountings/wedding-and-engagement/engagements/halo-styles

From my understanding, Molly, I think you have it either way, with either Stuller or your own jeweler setting them.

Melvis, I would also go with Stuller for something as important as your engagement ring. But also, I'd collect pictures of stuff you like (Pinterest is good for this, but I have a ton of pics saved to my computer too) and think about it for a while. It seems like you're kind of all over the place as far as a setting goes. The only thing you've stayed constant on is wanting tsavorites in it. You started with the Neil Lane ring with a marquise. You've talked about not wanting princess or rounds, but posted a princess three stone. You've posted an emerald cut diamond with emerald cut sapphires. You've posted about organic accents, leafy accents, vintage accents, three stones, pave and halos. I know that I don't have a clear idea of what you want, so I can't imagine you do either.

So if I were you, I'd take a step back. Collect pictures of things that you like, and start narrowing them down instead of what you're doing. Because at this rate, I'm afraid you're just going to pick something, and then see something you like more down the road, and end up unhappy with your engagement ring. Pricescope is hard on jewelry lovers, because there is something new and wonderful being posted every single day. Often several different beautiful items. Not to mention the plethora of beautiful rings out there from so many designers.

Also, I'd suggest figuring out the center stone first, because often that's the hardest part to do, because there are so many different cuts out there. Do you know if one shape suits your hand more than others? So figure out your center stone first - it's the centerpiece of the ring, whether it's a diamond or a colored stone. And THEN revisit settings.