HELP...opinions and suggestion for e-ring

[glammie]

So I've been given the task of helping my sisters boyfriend choose her engagement ring. She is a gaudy person and to her bigger is bigger so far she's been eyeing split/triple shank rings. Her boyfriends budget for a setting is 3,000 VS and under(1.55-2ct center stone) or an engagment ring that fits the look for 6,000 and under,hopefully you informative folks can help me pick the perfect ring. None of us are experts and I'm learning as I go, I first starting with LOGR but so far people have been mixed on the quality.

http://www.adiamor.com/Engagement-Rings/Pave/Triple-Shank-Pave-Setting-for-Square-Diamond/1371
http://www.ebay.com/itm/11-55g-9x11...24328824?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item3a6c416778

 

[TC1987]

Probably start with the diamond itself. What shape? Is she color-sensitive and wants high (very white) color, or is she okay with J/K or lower? $6000 is not going to get a top-cut diamond in the 1.5-2ct range, in my experience.

Don't sacrifice cut. Clarity is what I can trade off on to get cut and size. I'm okay with seeing inclusions is they are discrete, but not everyone is. I would put most of the money and effort into the center diamond, because the setting can always be upgraded later when funds become available. But not everyone feels that way, either. Color, I own F, H, I, J/K, and M. They are all pretty in their own way, but J is starting to look light yellow to me. I is where most people can usually start to see tint. L and M are nice light yellow with a vintaqe look. If she wants big for $6000, then dropping way down in color to the "cape" light yellows might be the only way.

There is a Diamond Search here, under Resources tab at the top of the page. I usually look at the In-House diamonds only. The others are "virtual stones" that cutters have and the vendors must call them in to get details and may not be able to get ASET images and photos.

Look through Brian Gavin Diamonds, Good Old Gold, Whiteflash web sites for diamonds. They have pictures and ASET images. And you will quickly get an handle on the real-life prices.

 

[Niel]

to keep within that budget I would probably recommend or a pear or a marquise. If she likes those shapes you could probably get a 1.15 or 1.2 ct.

If she does like that shape, you could contact good old gold and have them source you some. They have lots of setting to choose from, though I dont know what settings might work. And the plus side is they face up larger than the same ct rounds.

 

[LibbyLA]

In addition to pear and marquise shapes that nielseel mentioned, ovals tend to face up large and are more budget friendly than rounds.

liz

 

[Niel]

In addition to pear and marquise shapes that nielseel mentioned, ovals tend to face up large and are more budget friendly than rounds.

liz

Good call! I looked on JAand the largest they had around that 6k mark was about 1.1 ct, so doesnt hit the mark, but that might be ok because again, they face up larger


Also those are good because they have more facets, which means he can go down in clarity and still have them eye clean in many cases.

ETA I wouldnt recommend this one because the bowtie looks big, but it shows what a nice marquise with a split shank halo can be

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-Vintage/169ct-Antique-Marquise-Halo/26746334_xGk8jx#!i=2243273130&k=DNm7CB9

 

[TC1987]

Pricescope has a Preloved Jewels section and there's also the DiamondBistro.com site, where people sometimes sell settings and diamonds and complete rings.
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/']https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/[/URL]

 

[glammie]

Ok so I did some probing she would perfer a colored diamond pink or yellow which is what she's hoping for, the center carat will definitely be between 1.5/2ct, man made fancy yellow loose diamond. She doesn't like emerald,marquise or pear shaped diamonds at all but any other shape is fine as well as small inclusions as long as they're not extremely visable. I've searched James Allen,White flash,Laurie Sarah but nothing that looks similar to the rings from LOGR.


Thank you again everyone for helping.

 

[MissGotRocks]

Check out Diamonds by Lauren - I think he has colored diamonds already preset in rings. You might find something there that fits the bill.

 

[glammie]

Checked out diamonds by Lauren absolutely stunning but most are out of his price range and her semi mounts are only available if you purchase her loose diamonds.

 

[Niel]

Its going to be a little difficult to get even a MMD in that budget if wants a 1.5+. MMD are hard to make that large. Maybe try posting over in that forum as well? in D.nea they had orange ones over 1.5 but not pink or yellow...

 

[Niel]

Also, Gabriel and Co would probably be your best bet for that much melee for that budget.

http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER7254W44JJ

 

[tyty333]

The boyfriend's budget and the girlfriend's expectations just don't match up. You might be able to find something on ebay
but the quality would be questionable. You might be able to find something vintage on ebay that might fit the bill but not sure
if that's what she would be interested in. Pink diamonds are out of the question...brownish yellow in a smaller size might be doable
but probably no fancy setting.

 

[Niel]

The boyfriend's budget and the girlfriend's expectations just don't match up. You might be able to find something on ebay
but the quality would be questionable. You might be able to find something vintage on ebay that might fit the bill but not sure
if that's what she would be interested in. Pink diamonds are out of the question...brownish yellow in a smaller size might be doable
but probably no fancy setting.

totally agree. Is she away if how much diamonds actually cost? Because a man made one may not appeal to her, not be in the budget if he espects a pink 2ct MMD.

And having as many dimonds as possible for 3K isnt necessarily great because it can be made of really poor quality melee, then its just a big blob of diamonds without good light performance.


Not exactly what you are looking for but by far the most "bling" for your buck...
http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Modern-and-Estate-Pieces/Daussi-Cushion-Cut-Diamond/24836574_QbQgkg#!i=2032976411&k=h4wH2PT

 

[distracts]

Man made diamonds are pretty close to the prices of their natural counterparts, according to this article - [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-article-why-aren%E2%80%99t-synthetic-diamonds-cheaper.181218/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-article-why-aren%E2%80%99t-synthetic-diamonds-cheaper.181218/[/URL]
If the budget for the stone is 3k, as your post implies, that may not stretch to a 1.5-2 ct synthetic fancy (from what I see from a quick google search, it won't even get them one carat). If they are going with a simulant (non-diamond like CZ) instead, those are not allowed to be talked about on PS.

LOGR quality is fine for an occasional wear ring but I would not get it for an engagement ring. I would look at Gabriel & Co.

As well, here is a link to a care guide:
http://www.crossjewelers.com/education/care_guide.aspx
If they do get a LOGR setting, extra care should be taken as the experience of people with them on this board shows that they lose melee more frequently than higher quality rings.

Here are some by DBL that fit the budget, if not necessarily the desires:
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-diamond-103ct-cushion-cut-fancy-light-yellow-si1-gia-great-cut-r4343
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-diamond-71ct-cushion-cut-fancy-intense-yellow-vs1-gia-vibrant-beauty-r4152
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-diamond-71ct-radiant-cut-fancy-intense-yellow-si2-gia-vibrant-stone-great-price-r4138
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-diamond-089ct-radiant-cut-fancy-yellow-si2-gia-lovely-color-r3666
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-diamond-91ct-radiant-cut-y-z-natural-light-yellow-vs1-great-cut-great-price-r4012

Here's one by Leibish that includes the wedding band (which definitely makes it a blingier look):
http://www.fancydiamonds.net/view_diamonds/11248.htm

 

[Niel]

wait I guess I am confused. What is the budget, at first I thouth it was 3k for the setting 6k for the diamond... is it 6k for all of it or 9k for all of it?

 

[distracts]

wait I guess I am confused. What is the budget, at first I thouth it was 3k for the setting 6k for the diamond... is it 6k for all of it or 9k for all of it?

I thought the original post said the budget was 3k for the setting or 6k for the whole shebang, which would imply 3k for the diamond.

Personally I think the DBL or Leibish options would be plenty blingy, and hold their value much better if synthetic diamond-growing becomes easier (in which case the price of synthetics would drop precipitously, as happened to sapphire and ruby synthetics). Not that we buy gems as investments, but just... I can't fathom spending thousands on a fake.

 

[tyty333]

My read on it was $6k for the whole thing which wont get you anywhere near a decent 1.5 much less with a blingy setting.
That leibish ring is very pretty.

 

[Niel]

wait I guess I am confused. What is the budget, at first I thouth it was 3k for the setting 6k for the diamond... is it 6k for all of it or 9k for all of it?

I thought the original post said the budget was 3k for the setting or 6k for the whole shebang, which would imply 3k for the diamond.

Personally I think the DBL or Leibish options would be plenty blingy, and hold their value much better if synthetic diamond-growing becomes easier (in which case the price of synthetics would drop precipitously, as happened to sapphire and ruby synthetics). Not that we buy gems as investments, but just... I can't fathom spending thousands on a fake.

Well I dont consider them fakes, but i totally understand the feeling of caution because you're right, as soon as the technology becomes good enough and they become easier to make the bottom will fall out. They are still lovely, and at the end of the day you have a diamond on your finger- but heaven forbid you have to sell it one day, if the technology becomes better, you wont be able to sell it for much at all.

and you're right after reading again the total budget is 6k, my mistake . you wont be able to get a MMD at 1.5 ct for 3k.

with the new budget this seems like the most bling for the budget
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/three-stone-ring-100ct-mvs1-daussi-cushion-three-stone-halo-ring-r3916

if she wants fancy colored than those one distracts posted would work, i think it would be very blingy if you got this, and then 1 or two diamond wedding bands
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-diamond-103ct-cushion-cut-fancy-light-yellow-si1-gia-great-cut-r4343

ETA I take it back, if DBL give any discounts for being a PSer, and if he can increase the budget a smidgen, this seems to tick all the boxes
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-diamond-153ct-fancy-brown-yellow-cushion-gia-vs1-r3241-

 

[PintoBean]

glammie - if she likes pink, how about a pink sapphire? For $3k, the folks in the colored-stones can help find something big AND beautiful and all-natural!

 

[MissGotRocks]

Yes, the budget definitely won't get him anywhere near a 1.5 - 2.0 diamond. Sounds like it's time to go back to the drawing board to either up the budget or slim down the expectation. I personally would rather have a smaller, well cut stone with a vendor that I could do trade ins with as the years go by. Most folks that have large stones or really large settings didn't start out with them - it's a work in progress!

 

[Niel]

Its not a diamond, but its pink and its blingtastic
http://www.micropave.com/index.php/right-hand-rings/micro-pave-ring.html

 

[Christina...]

What about a lower colored antique stone?

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Loose-Diamonds/117-Old-European-Cut-Diamond/23461037_9TMxXW#!i=1895678483&k=MNRNrGq

set in something like this to give her lots of finger coverage..

http://interactivepdf.uniflip.com/2/77036/286475/pub/

I'm not sure if the pages of the actual settings posted, but I'm thinking of something lke the gabbie or bella in the catalog.

And here is a nice large pink option at half the budget...
http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Modern-and-Estate-Pieces/173ct-Mahenge-Spinel-JbEG-Halo/25717421_3rxKsq#!i=2125966718&k=scmTvRD