Help with a lan.bo4 setting. . .

[greta2603]

I'm looking at this lan.bo4 setting:





http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200687403880

I'd like to use it as a new e-ring, so want to have it done in 18k white gold. The listing says the diamonds are G-H VS and that's fine as my centre stone would be an H VS2, so I don't see a need to upgrade the melee.

Questions for those of you who have purchased from lan.bo4 before:

If you didn't upgrade the melee, do you wish you had? I really don't want to end up with anything lower than H VS in the melee.

My centre stone would be 7.61mm x 5.29mm. This setting is for 8mm x 6mm. Should I ask for the basket to made to measure my stone exactly? Just not sure how much leeway there is as I've not bought a setting and diamond separately before.

I'm not really a huge fan of shiny metal on rings -- I've always had milgrain and "antiquey" engraving on my rings. Do you think it would be possible to have that sort of engraving done on the top and bottom of the shank (not my lan.bo4, but by a local jeweller)? Or would that disrupt the melee too much?

 

[Meezermom]

Don't know them, but you can do a search for them and it brings up reviews. Hope that helps.

 

[stargurl78]

I ordered a setting from them last year without the upgraded diamonds and the diamonds looked absolutely terrible. I sent it back to exchange it for upgraded stones and they still aren't as nice as the ones in my LOGR settings. It seems like others on here have had better experiences with them than I did so maybe I just had bad luck... Thought I would share anyways.

 

[Aoife]

For something like an ering I would definitely upgrade the diamonds. I haven't ordered from lan.bo4 in quite a while, but as I recall quality on the diamonds is very hit or miss without springing for the upgraded versions. I have no experience with this seller for the other modifications you are wanting, so I'll leave others to answer those, but IIRC some people have had good luck with asking for customizations, and others haven't. At the minimum, make sure that you can return the setting if the modifications are not done to your specifications.

 

[T L]

I ordered a setting from them last year without the upgraded diamonds and the diamonds looked absolutely terrible. I sent it back to exchange it for upgraded stones and they still aren't as nice as the ones in my LOGR settings. It seems like others on here have had better experiences with them than I did so maybe I just had bad luck... Thought I would share anyways.

I've ordered tons of lanbo rings, and I never had that problem, and I never upgrade. It might have been bad luck (sorry), but If you're paying quite a bit, then I don't see why even the default melee wouldn't look good. Actually, I've had much worse luck with LOGR, and I got so sick of paying for LOGR diamond upgrades (because you can't trust his default melee), that I actually started buying from lanbo, and his other affiliate stores (jewe2004, leejewelry). I have never been disappointed . . . yet, with the diamond melee.

I even ordered an upgrade on an LOGR, and the diamonds still weren't even SI. It drove me nuts, especially since on average, his settings are more expensive than lanbo's.

As for LOGR, a very long time ago, you could get some beautiful diamonds with your upgrades, and they were as nice as you would see in any fine jewelry store. I have some drop dead gorgeous settings from LOGR, but then their quality went down, way down. I'm not sure how their quality is now, but if buying from LOGR, I would upgrade the diamonds and also tell him its for an e-ring.

To the OP:
As for the setting size, I think it might be a little too wide for your stone, but the height should fit fine in an 8x6. I wouldn't customize it if it were me, but if you are making this into an e-ring, I would ask for an 8 x 5.5mm. I really never give exact measurements, but I give him the measurements to the nearest half millimeter. Just know he charges an extra $50 for customizations like this, and he doesn't disclose that. Make sure you tell him its for an engagement ring too, as that might insure he does a better job (not sure, but it doesn't hurt to tell him).

I have zillions of settings from almost all the Chinese ebay sellers. I actually have one that I won on auction from lanbo, or beyondjewelry3 (I forget), that is very similar to the one you are getting, and the melee are fine. They're very tiny, but they still sparkle.

Here's some photos of it.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/3-66-carat-color-shift-spinel-in-halo.167071/

 

[LD]

I've never upgraded with Lanbo and have always been happy. With LOGR I always upgrade as his settings are hit and miss on diamond quality. Generally speaking the more you pay with LOGR the better quality diamonds you receive.

Your stone will probably fit the setting. You may have a tiny weenie airline but I doubt it as the measurements are very close. However you asked about millgraining? Honestly I don't think it would like right with this setting. I think it would add too much detail and the style may become confused. In all honesty from the top you won't see the millgraining anyway so I'd leave well alone!

Here's a photo of a Lanbo setting that I didn't upgrade the diamonds - honestly they're lovely.

 

[stargurl78]

I've ordered tons of lanbo rings, and I never had that problem, and I never upgrade. It might have been bad luck (sorry), but If you're paying quite a bit, then I don't see why even the default melee wouldn't look good. Actually, I've had much worse luck with LOGR, and I got so sick of paying for LOGR diamond upgrades (because you can't trust his default melee), that I actually started buying from lanbo, and his other affiliate stores (jewe2004, leejewelry). I have never been disappointed . . . yet, with the diamond melee.

I even ordered an upgrade on an LOGR, and the diamonds still weren't even SI. It drove me nuts, especially since on average, his settings are more expensive than lanbo's.

As for LOGR, a very long time ago, you could get some beautiful diamonds with your upgrades, and they were as nice as you would see in any fine jewelry store. I have some drop dead gorgeous settings from LOGR, but then their quality went down, way down. I'm not sure how their quality is now, but if buying from LOGR, I would upgrade the diamonds and also tell him its for an e-ring.

Your and LD's rings are beautiful! So I'm not sure why the one I received was not up to par, although it is fairly nice with the upgraded stones. The setting was on the inexpensive side though so I guess I can't complain too much. I only a few a few LOGR ones and I will admit that with the most recent purchase, the diamonds aren't quite as nice as the previous settings I bought, but still decent for the price I paid.

 

[greta2603]

Thanks so much for your help, everyone! I contacted lanbo to ask about all the customisations and he quoted me $445, which doesn't seem too bad for an 18k ring with .58 carat of diamonds...in a chubby size 9. That includes H/VS2 melee and customising the basket to fit the stone.

I'm just waiting for the vendor to get back to me with more pictures of the stone I want as I want to be 1000% happy with the bow tie before I buy it. Then I'll order the setting from lanbo. Fingers crossed it all works out!

 

[T L]

Thanks so much for your help, everyone! I contacted lanbo to ask about all the customisations and he quoted me $445, which doesn't seem too bad for an 18k ring with .58 carat of diamonds...in a chubby size 9. That includes H/VS2 melee and customising the basket to fit the stone.

I'm just waiting for the vendor to get back to me with more pictures of the stone I want as I want to be 1000% happy with the bow tie before I buy it. Then I'll order the setting from lanbo. Fingers crossed it all works out!

Just make sure he writes all the customizations down in an invoice for you so you're both on the same page.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I am with LD and TL .. my lan.b04 settings always had decent diamonds without upgrades. LOGR was a hit or miss.

 

[alene]

I just received my very first lan.bo setting and am pretty impressed so far. The diamonds (not upgraded) are definitely white enough and I see no inclusions under the loupe. They're tiny but do have some sparkle. Good luck with your purchase!