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Help a newbie out with a blue sapphire purchase :)

I think it will look lovely and I personally don't have a problem with palladium or platinum against pink but I do remember a goldsmith once telling me that "silver is white, everything else is silver" to which I would add platinum is grey (however they're hardly rare anymore - just more expensive ;)) ).
 
Palladium is positively a dark gray over time.
 
I have two rings that have lighter pink spinels in white gold. Here are a couple of pictures to give you a bit of a sense of what the combo might look like, though my stones are a bit lighter than yours, I think (and not haloed). There is also a picture of a lighter pink spinel sitting in a platinum ring - the rectangular cut stone.

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Hm...I definitely need to think about this more. The only color I could deal with is 14k rose gold.

I had planned on buying the setting from NSC and then having it set at a local jeweler. Settings at local jewelers are ridiculously expensive but I guess I need to double check if it's actually a good idea to buy online. Are settings made of the same materials vastly different depending on who made them? I thought getting the setting would be the easy part :errrr:

Thanks NKOTB! You're right, your stones are lighter but it still gives me a good idea of what it might look like. It's hard to find real photos online as most are stock photos that almost look computer generated.

Is it reasonable to go to a local jeweler and test out settings of different materials/colors?
 
Rose gold might actually be a good idea too.

There are good settings and there are poor settings; it is all in the design, workmanship (and finish), and details. There is nothing wrong with purchasing settings online. The metal is the same, the design might even be there same but if you look closely, there are reasons why they might be different:
1. The underside nearer to the stone might be hollowed out to save metal cost.
2. The polish is poorer, there are areas where the finish isn't as good.
3. The setting might be lumpier or bulkier

It is perfectly fine to drop by your local jeweller to check out settings and metal colour. If anything, it is great to develop a relationship with your local store. They will be the one setting your stones, doing the occasional check to make sure the prongs are snug, resizing, etc.
 
Ok, it's setting buying time...

I went to 3 jewelers this weekend and was disappointed by all 3. Prices were extraordinary and none of them make their own jewelry anyway. They are just going to speak with a designer to get the setting I want (really just a modified stock setting), mark it up and sell it to me. I also don't want to deal with being age profiled anymore. I guess I look a lot younger than I am. I was asked if I had finished school yet and told by one jeweler that if I was looking for the cheapest price they surely weren't going to be it. Apparently it's weird that e-mail is the best way to get in touch with me? Sorry, welcome to 2013, I don't have time to drop what I'm doing mid day to have a little chat with you. Oh well, their loss. No thanks. :angryfire:

I want the spinel ring setting here https://www.pricescope.com/blog/omi-priv%C3%A9-handmade-jewels-color but without the filigree and diamonds on the side. Should be simple enough, right? I brought my laptop with me to show this exact picture and still all I got was an attempt to find settings that are similar but really weren't even close.

Are there any good designers I can work directly with to avoid the middle man cost and to avoid dealing with sales people who don't have a clue/are down right rude?
 
Mn, why not look at the recommended setting vendors stickied? I believe most people have had great experiences with them, and I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that it'll be cheaper for you as well.

And urgh, I hear you on the age profiling. Have used it to bargain down the prices before, but more often than not, I get weird looks from salespeople. =\
 
So far I've contacted..

Leon Mege
DBL
EGD

It seems like most of the recommended vendors are more suited towards occasional wear rings, like LOGR and Etsy vendors. I read a few threads advising against using such vendors (specifically LOGR) for ER. Maybe that's silly though? I know most of the stuff I saw in the stores looked exactly like LOGR quality but double to triple the price. Im hoping the vendors I contacted will be able to give me a better product even if it means a more expensive price.

I guess now I just wait for their quotes/suggestions :knockout:
 
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/periwinkle-blue-montana-sapphire-engagement-ring.170046/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/periwinkle-blue-montana-sapphire-engagement-ring.170046/[/URL]

Dug up a thread for you- I remember the OP using an Etsy Vendor and she was on a small budget. However, I can't speak for the Etsy vendor since I have never dealt with the person before. Nonetheless, hopefully this helps? ^^;

I believe Daniel M on Etsy has had some good feedback. Again, I have never dealt with Daniel M, but it might be worth a gander.
 
Hi AirPlay,

I recently has a custom setting made by Maytal Hannah. We live on opposite coasts (she's in la) but I sent her a photo of what I was hoping for and she made it for me. She does stunning work and although her prices are not cheap, she is very fair (and a pleasure to work with!)

Www.maytalhannah.com

Good luck!
 
I suppose I should note that my financial situation has changed. I can spend between $2k and $3k on the setting. I sold my pretty new sports car and paid off some bills/saved some cash.
 
Thanks gemseeker! I'm going to contact her now :bigsmile:
 
I disagree about LOGR and Lanbo. There are significantly more positive threads than negative ones. With LOGR you should upgrade diamonds to ensure good quality but Lanbo is generally good overall. Both may need a bit of help in the gram weight department for their cheaper rings BUT in their more expensive settings the gram weight is fine. Both also have good returns policies.

The only other person I would recommend is Sally from Heart of Water (you can find her on Etsy). She's made several superb pieces for me including one very heavy diamond encrusted pendant that was incredibly challenging to craft. The finish on her pieces is superb and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her. Consistently her pieces have high quality and I would say much more consistent that other Etsy vendors. The only thing with Sally is that she does like to put her own stamp on settings so will often add in a flourish or slight change to a design. If you are a control freak like me you must tell her not to do that!!! Other than that, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her.
 
Thanks LD! I'll definitely reconsider LOGR. What is Lanbo though?
 
My recommendation for non eBay setting makers based on price/quality ranges:

Lowest for cast / CAD ($1K to $2K): Heart of Water (Sally), Daniel M
Mid for cast / CAD ($2K to $3K): ERD, IDJ
Highest for hand-made ($3K to $4K): Maytal, Leon Mege, Steven Kirsch, Victor Canera, ERD
 
So I picked out the setting today; from ERD. I know, I know, it's white gold. Buttttt, I wrapped a silver chain around the stone and brought the stone to local jewelers to visualize what it would look like with WG. I actually really liked it and I know she absolutely doesn't want yellow or rose gold so it really wasn't a decision for me. I know the pictures make the stone look peachy but IRL it's much more pink with red/pink and purple/pink showing much more (and more often) than the apricot/pink colors.

I spoke with Mark and requested some modifications, mainly less diamonds on the ring. I asked for some to be removed from the sides of the shank so they won't rub on her fingers when she's dancing (she's a ballerina) and for the diamonds under the stone to be removed (she will have a wedding band flush against the ring so I don't want it to rub and those won't even be visible behind a band so who cares.

He quoted me $2700 for the setting, which I thought was a pretty decent price considering the ease of working with him and his reviews. It's more than I originally thought I would need to spend but the more I looked at less expensive settings, the less happy with them I was.

Don't be afraid to share opinions :)

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I love how far you've come! I love your spinel and think it will look great in a simplified version of the ring you posted. It sounds like a great price too. My one comment, and I am by no means an expert, is that you may want the diamonds in the halo to be slightly smaller, otherwise, my eye tends to think they compete. Forgive me for attaching this photo, but this ring of mine gets on my nerves now for a few reasons. 1) the spinel is too dark for my taste, but 2) and more importantly, even if the spinel were awesome, I think the size of the diamonds would bother me because it feels like they're saying: "me, me, me! look at me!" I don't know the exact size of anything, but I *think* the spinel is about 5 carats and I think about 11 x 8, if memory serves. I'd have to go look at the appraisal to figure out the size of the diamonds - a diamond expert can easily tell you I'm sure.

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Lol, mine looks like a cartoon caricature next to your ring! :lol:
 
I had the exact same thoughts! I was concerned it would could look more like a flower than a halo. I e-mailed Mark about because I won't be able to see the setting in person. It's listed as a micropave halo so I'm assuming that means tiny diamonds but I asked what he thought about it being a delicate, dainty ring.

PS: I actually like your ring :)
 
Airplay you have wonderful taste and your alterations sound incredibly sensible. It's amazing how many people don't think about how an e-ring will sit with a wedding band so I applaud you for this.

This thread is a testament to you and you should be incredibly proud of yourself. You've come to this with little knowledge, have done loads of research and will end up with a premium piece of jewellery. Seriously, you have no idea how well you've done and you deserve much respect.
 
Thanks so much! I couldn't have done this without all the help I've received here. You guys are all great and you saved me from the world of mall jewelry :) I can't wait to post pictures of the finished ring! I'm sending the stone to him on Monday and he said it would only take three weeks to complete :D
 
So here it is! It came on Tuesday and she said yes on Thursday! :love:

18k white gold, .58 cttw VS G/H diamonds

I'll try to get better pictures of it eventually, but it's hard to get her to give it up. :D I hope you guys like it too!

PS: The handshot is with no flash in a dim room. The flower shot is with the flash from the back of her phone. The stone darkened up slightly so it's much more magenta looking indoors now. It has very strong UV fluorescence (glows bright orange) so outdoors in sunlight you see the peachiness much more. I have no complaints, the stone is always beautiful and works perfectly for us (I really wanted to like it too).

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It looks beautiful!
 
Congrats on the engagement and ring. Would love super close up pictures if you can manage it. :naughty:
 
Yay! But please indulge us with more photos, that wasn't nearly enough. :(sad
 
Here are a few more pictures :D

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I tried my best but I don't really know what I'm doing :D

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My iPhone honestly takes horrible photos. It's a 3Gs model without a flash and a lower megapixel camera. In the photos it looks like the stone is blacking out in some areas and that's never the case. What I see on the screen and what I see IRL are completely different. Oh well :D
 
You don't want the flash on at all. If anything, turn the flash off manually. Make sure the room light is super bright, else your only option is to photograph it outdoors or right next to a bright window.
 
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