Help me put together a $1,000 e-ring!

[sparkle45]

My husbands brother has me picking a ring for him. So that's how she's my future sister in law lol.

His budget was like 750 TOPS, ideally lower. We were first going to get her just a half ct in a cheap rose gold setting. Bit she wanted something more unique and she wanted color. So I had found a lovely chrysoberyl, a stone you can wear daily, with a nice chartreuse color and a precision step cut.

Then I had diamond zone make me a setting but as we were close to budget I had them make it without me shipping the stone. Well the stone didn't fit and the setting was non refundable. Luckily I just came across a yellow sapphire to fit the setting. So that's on its way to us now, then its to be set.

So I mean. If she was open to colored stones his budget would really benefit. Have you heard?

OMG I remember reading your post about the heartache upon finding that the stone wouldn't fit! What a beautiful, substantial-looking setting to get inside that budget! Umm, no word on if she's open to color yet. I'm sending him tons of Etsy links just in case. But I'd love to go the route you went and actually have something specially cut for her. I think that would definitely increase the special feel of the ring... Only I wouldn't know where to start. I went to the colored gems forum last night, tracked down that vendor list and went through each one. I pinned the ones I liked, some even showed what sort of rough they have available! Would you be willing to help us a bit if she says she's open to that? I'd far rather have a precision-cut stone to set in a heftier setting than go with the super dainty Etsy options. Not that both aren't GREAT options. But I have no idea when his income and their family plans will allow for an upgrade and I wouldn't want her to be stuck with an out-of-round, dinged up setting in a year or two. :/ Of course, all this depends on HIM and what he thinks is best for her.


I'm so excited for them, and so unbelievably grateful to all of you guys for your suggestions! I never could have gathered so many great options on my own!

 

[kb1gra]

kb1gra: Thank you sooo much for all the amazing input! I spent last night combing through Etsy shops: EasyGem, JuliaBJewelry, RareEarth, Penellibelle and , of course, TheLOGR. Any idea as to why LOGR's prices are so much cheaper? I'm concerned that it's an indication of lower-quality materials or less well-cut gems...? Thanks again for the insider tips like VS upgrading! I'm including all this in his email.

The prices are cheaper because:

1. the settings are pretty light. As I said above, they are not forever settings. The rose gold halo is maybe, MAYBE 1.3mm and not heavy. It's delicate and pretty, but it would not survive 50 years of daily wear.

2. Their stones are fine, but they're calibrated lab stones-- nothing special, but again, perfectly appropriate for a stand in. People love my oval morganite ring.

3. They're made in china, where labor comes cheap. They're factory made in a very large facility, so you are facing volume discount and the fact that they don't have to support returns (too expensive to send back) repairs (same) or retail facilities (beyond etsy/ebay fees).

but they're decent and a lot of folks on the colored stones board use them. I have a VS rose gold half eternity band from them that's really nice, you can see it in this picture, and I think it was $250.

 

[heididdl]

I can't take credit for this... Niel found it but I thought of it when I saw your post...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/18K-GOLD-D-VATCHE-AGS-518-CT-ROUND-BRILLIANT-CUT-DIAMOND-RING-VS2-H-EX-EX-EX-/221306633895

I saw that yesterday it fits this bill pperfect.

 

[heididdl]

The stone/ring Niel Found is a killer!!!! She is an ebay guru for great finds!!!! If you want something different make the JBEG girls and offer on the .46 Fancy yellow radiant in a Daniel M halo half way down this page;

http://www.jewelsbyericagrace.com/modern_and_estate_rings

Or take a look at some of the antique rings on this page;

http://www.jewelsbyericagrace.com/antique_vintage_and_reproduction_rings

I have always thought the 5 stone "lisa" ring is very pretty.

I'd love that .46 canary yellow diamond

 

[lovebug1031]

I can't take credit for this... Niel found it but I thought of it when I saw your post...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/18K-GOLD-D-VATCHE-AGS-518-CT-ROUND-BRILLIANT-CUT-DIAMOND-RING-VS2-H-EX-EX-EX-/221306633895

Thank you so much, Mayk! (and Niel) I've actually already shown him this ring and he's considering it because HOLY MOLY GREAT DEAL but, alas, she's not a RG fan. :/ (If I liked modern cuts and I'd make my bf snatch that thing up, b/c I LOVE RG!)

I told him he's not going to find a diamond this size, this well cut for this price. But he wants to see what else I can offer him before he seriously considers giving her a metal she doesn't like. (Did I mention he's an interning county prosecutor with ZERO time on his hands - don't want anyone to think he's lazy!)

Nooooo

Rats that would be amazing. That's OK. Does she like yellow or only white??

can't you just get it WG or YG (whichever her preference is) plated for now and swap the setting out when they can afford something they really love?

 

[Gypsy]

I can't take credit for this... Niel found it but I thought of it when I saw your post...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/18K-GOLD-D-VATCHE-AGS-518-CT-ROUND-BRILLIANT-CUT-DIAMOND-RING-VS2-H-EX-EX-EX-/221306633895

I saw that yesterday it fits this bill pperfect.

I'd just get this plated with Rhodium. Later on she can switch out the setting as she likes. Right now though, plating is like 45 bucks. Even if she has to do it every year for a couple of years... cost effective.

 

[Niel]

I can't take credit for this... Niel found it but I thought of it when I saw your post...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/18K-GOLD-D-VATCHE-AGS-518-CT-ROUND-BRILLIANT-CUT-DIAMOND-RING-VS2-H-EX-EX-EX-/221306633895

I saw that yesterday it fits this bill pperfect.

I'd just get this plated with Rhodium. Later on she can switch out the setting as she likes. Right now though, plating is like 45 bucks. Even if she has to do it every year for a couple of years... cost effective.

If it was me, id present it w/o the rhodium plating, as we dont KNOW she doesnt like it. Then have him offer to do it just in case she doesnt like it. No reason to plate that loooovely gold until we know she doesnt like it

 

[Bailey_Lou]

Wow,
Niel's find is beautiful and a great find for the money. If you can find out where it came from you may be able to upgrade when more funds are available. According to the cert it is from 2011 and looks like a WF or BGD diamond? I'm kind of new to this but I could be wrong. Do upgrade policies from premium companies such as those mentioned transfer with the diamond vs the buyer?

 

[Niel]

Just noticed this today

http://www.jamesallen.com/preset-engagement-rings/royal-halo/james-allen-classic-cupcake-engagement-ring-item-36157

 

[kemurphy]

I don't know much about diamonds so this diamond might be bad... but if she likes antiques, what about getting her a real antique. This ring has some very pretty filigree. The seller has a history of accepting pretty low best offers so maybe you could get it low enough that it works with the budget. It is yellow gold though...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-ArtDeco-14k-Y-G-Platinum-Ring-with-old-56-ct-Diamond-c-1935-/321102530496?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac333c7c0

 

[Niel]

Oh!
Ending soon but could he swing this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Platinum-engagement-ring-Brilliant-Earth-Size-5-25-/221319997721

 

[Niel]

Oh!
Ending soon but could he swing this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Platinum-engagement-ring-Brilliant-Earth-Size-5-25-/221319997721

Ended but no one bought it. I'd email see if they would take 1400

 

[Niel]

any updates?!??

And let me just say, in reference to some comments from another thread... I find these threads with budgets to be my absolute favorite. I love to see someone who gets the absolute best they can for the most they have to offer their SO.

 

[Niel]

now Im not the expert on ECs,

But this has a nice depth, table. Nice clarity, and an fine crown.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/emerald-cut/0.72-carat-k-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-202054

plus the simple solitaire
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-2mm-knife-edge-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-7115

and of course the discounts, should have him under 1400, and a lot of look.

 

[sparkle45]

Oh, you guys should have SEEN the email I sent him - poor guy :/

It had 29 links, tons of attached pictures, and lots of definitions. I was hoping he'd go for one of the Etsy shops, as I just didn't think he'd be able to give her the looks she seemed to want with a real diamond in his budget. I was also trying to nudge him towards that beautiful RG find of yours on Ebay. (My SO and I actually seriously considered getting it for ME purely b/c of what a great deal it was and because I love RG, even tho I strongly prefer old cuts to MRB - but alas the return policy was worded pretty strictly and, in the end, I didn't want to risk not being able to get a full refund if not happy.)

Well, no word for a while, and I don't know him well enough to just keep bugging him, so I just maintained radio silence until the big T-giving gathering, when I had my boyfriend show her a bunch of rings (as if he were considering them for ME) to try and get her opinion. Well, the only opinion he could get out of her was that she "didn't like the little diamonds around the main diamond."



I was so confused! Half of her pinned rings have halos! Also, she got flustered and made a comment about how "she knows so much about diamonds, I don't know anything, I won't be any help at all" etc. (PS I do NOT talk about rings or diamonds around SO's family, as I don't want them to think me presumptuous - not to mention the fact that ring talk is kept solely between me and SO until the proposal - so my naughty boyfriend must have said something to her in the past about my PS addiction )

THEN SHE SAID "we'll just go to Costco and get something I like there." Now, nothing against Costco, but I think most of us here on PS understand that - ESP for people shopping on a budget - the internet is the place to be. So I got super worried for her.

Then, out of nowhere, her boyfriend texted to let me know that he has figured it out - that she pinned a new ring to her board, it's an Etsy ring, and he's in the process of getting it from them. I'll admit to feeling very slightly hurt that he didn't ask my opinion on the quality, etc of that store's rings before going ahead, and also that he didn't seem to consider any of the Etsy options I sent him (including an actual one she had previously pinned, in budget.) Well, not hurt feelings so much as worried he won't get the best quality for his money. I linked to TheLOGR, Rare Earth, PenelliBelle, JuliaBJewelry, and EasyGem (the actual ring she had pinned.) However, it's not big deal, especially as I OFFERED to help. And hopefully, providing him with all those Etsy links DID help, in the sense that he realized Etsy is a very valid source for starter/promise rings.

Oh, and another thing - remember all the confusion over whether or not she actually liked RG? He's going with a RG one! Man, I really wish he had snapped up that find of yours, Niel! I get the feeling, though,that he didn't actually have enough for it, and didn't want to borrow any money from us either. He's a very quiet, shy guy, and I don't think he feels comfortable talking about money matters at all. I think saying that your find was "at the very top of his budget" was his way of saying "out of budget," as the ring he's getting is $800. I'll post a pic. It's the Ultra Petite Amanda & Plain Barra wedding set in RG at RosadosBox.

But I definitely don't want anyone to think their suggestions went to waste! It was a very valuable learning experience for me, and I hope other PS'ers, too. I love finding great deals!

Niel, maybe you could start a "Great Deals" thread for when you find these gems.

Also, re emerald cuts. I never thought I'd like them, as am overwhelmingly drawn to soft, pillowy shapes like antique cushions and OEC's, but the more linear/masculine cuts are starting to appeal to me now! Just making it THAT much harder to decide what kind of ering I want!!

 

[arkieb1]

Wow, well that is kind of way confusing because that ring has heaps of tiny stones in it, if she specifically told you she didn't like that and then pinned that one she is obviously totally clueless. I think the ring Niel found was MUCH nicer, she is the guru of diamond hunting I swear!!!! Anyway hopefully he has purchased something she likes - I guess that is the main thing. Come back when you are looking for something - we will all enjoy hunting for you!!!!

 

[Niel]

Well good at least he found something in budget. Shame he couldn't get that eBay one but sounds like this works perfectly for them.

I tried to start a thread like that with the RG ring. No one had any others so it just kinda faded out

As for emerald cuts. I think they have more in common with old cuts than you'd think. I mean they are an older cut. Have big facets. I think either would be amazing! When do you get to start looking for yours??

 

[sparkle45]

Thanks Arkieb! And yeah, you are so right! I really think it's just that she's never done any sort of diamond or ring research so she was just pinning what she liked on a case by case basis. I can remember way back in the day, when I first started pinning and I was doing that. Then the antique cushions started to emerge and I realized I had an actual Preference! (That has since become as obsession) Once I realized my preference, I looked back at all the crushed ice cushions I had pinned and cringed (nothing against them, just not for me!)

So. I can remember being there. And what I'm GUESSING happened is she just didn't like the halos on THOSE rings that he was showing her. I think they might have been bigger and blingy-er than the ones she had pinned. I, too, wish he had jumped on that Ebay diamond. I think she would have been so so so happy. And what a great price. I would GLADLY have loaned him the difference between what he had and the price. Or even gifted it as their engagement gift. But. I drew the line at money talk, because I wasn't sure if that would make him uncomfortable :/

At the end of the day, I think she's just going to be so over the moon happy to finally be engaged and to be able to finally start wedding planning (not to mention beating her brother and his girlfriend of only a year to getting engaged - yes, they're competitive like that! lol) And... I think she's just not as detail-oriented as most of us PS'ers are. I think if she was, we would have seen more consistency in her likes.

As for MY ring. Hmm. My tastes/wants far outstrip my budget at the moment. My SO was all set up to be able to propose sometime this Spring, but hit a few speed bumps. First, he dipped into his savings to throw me an amazing birthday surprise. Then, the very next day, he broke his hand. So that impacted his earning ability at work = less savings moving forward. Additionally, he just got a job 1,300 miles away, in CO, so he'll be dipping into savings even more to help finance our move in exactly 4 weeks!

Hopefully, with the lower cost of living there and the higher salary (if I can find a job fairly quickly and contribute to expenses) savings will grow more quickly than they were here!

So we've pushed back our timeline to Fall, but I'm hoping for sooner.

I LOVE antique cushions and OEC's. I have very long, slender fingers, so a sightly elongated cushion would look best in that regard. But I LOVE the faceting of the OEC's. And the whiter, the better. (I have very yellow-tinted skin, so much so that I'm constantly asked if I'm part Asian, when I am, in fact very Cajun - I think maybe it's the olive tint from the French side of my family? At any rate, I think that's why RG looks so good on me.) I love the look of warmer stones, but they just blend in with my skin too much.

But until the time comes, I'm trying to put off actually searching stones and such, as it's just driving me insane!!!

 

[sparkle45]

But until the time comes, I'm trying to put off actually searching stones and such, as it's just driving me insane!!!

I say, as I frantically wait for VC's new ACC's to start rolling in from the new sight of rough he just purchased....