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Need help choosing designer, found Emerald cut stones of choice

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dri810

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 2, 2021
Messages
9
Hello all,

I am searching for a designer to make my ring. I've done extensive research and have looked at vendors. As far as visiting showrooms in person, most don't seem to carry Emerald cut and if they do, they are under 1ct. We even went to Tiffany to get an idea and they do not have much stock at all. Not sure how to go about online purchasing. Seems odd and risky to do an online purchase of a diamond. Of the online retailers I have browsed and found a stone from each. Problem is, I have somewhat of a custom design and not sure how to go about working with a designer. One search I even used the Pricescope Diamond search. Looking for a 2ct Emerald Cut F or above color, VVS2 or above.

These are the ones I am interested in:

Victor Canera
Adiamor
Blue Nile
James Allen
Brilliant Earth

I have seen that these are among the vetted Pricescope vendors as well. Please help in choosing the best vendor to work with in terms of value, detail, reliability, and professionalism.

Appreciate your help! If you have any questions, please ask away!
 
Have you purchased the diamond already? If so, post pictures of the diamond and the setting you are looking to create. This will help us give you better advice.
 
I have not purchased yet. Just found a stone I am interested in from each vendor.

Looking to have a thin platinum band, pref 1.5mm with a hidden halo that would allow for a band addition later that would fit snug with the ring. Also possibly interested in compass setting (is that not ideal?) when speaking to one rep, I was asked if I would prefer hand forged or cast. I read that hand forged is more durable, but do not anything beyond that.

The stones I have found, I have been looking at ideal depth and table percentages as well as the girth that is not too thick. Am I being too specific?

*Forgot to add that I am also in contact with Ring Concierge (reccs?)
 
Just throwing this one out there. I thought it was pretty.
www.jamesallen.com

2.01 Carat emerald diamond

This emerald cut 2.01 carat F color vvs2 clarity has a diamond grading report from GIA
www.jamesallen.com www.jamesallen.com
 
Of the vendors listed, only one is really a "designer" in the terms that I would consider the definition. The rest sell settings that are mass made and then can be tweaked as far as prongs or metal choice, but you can't ask James Allen to create you a design from scratch, CAD it and it's just unique for you.

Victor Canera is the only one that sells diamonds AND is a designer, with how I'd use the term. He will custom make a setting for you with your specifications, of his existing designs or will make something new that combines elements, etc.

The others, sell many settings, that you can order in different metals and widths, etc. but you are buying a ready made product that is not "designed" for you. Nothing wrong with that, but just trying to figure out what your expectationis as far as "designer" as you use it.

Brilliant Earth gets subpar reviews. Please do some research on them on the boards here before you work with them.
 
elizat said:
Of the vendors listed, only one is really a "designer" in the terms that I would consider the definition. The rest sell settings that are mass made and then can be tweaked as far as prongs or metal choice, but you can't ask James Allen to create you a design from scratch, CAD it and it's just unique for you.

Victor Canera is the only one that sells diamonds AND is a designer, with how I'd use the term. He will custom make a setting for you with your specifications, of his existing designs or will make something new that combines elements, etc.

The others, sell many settings, that you can order in different metals and widths, etc. but you are buying a ready made product that is not "designed" for you. Nothing wrong with that, but just trying to figure out what your expectationis as far as "designer" as you use it.

Brilliant Earth gets subpar reviews. Please do some research on them on the boards here before you work with them.
Click to expand...

I see. Thank you for the clarification, I'm a newbie trying to find my perfect ring. With that, I guess my best bet would be to go with Victor Canera.

Any other recommendations for similar designers who work with clients in the same respect?

Also how comfortable should I be with communicating through e-communication rather than meeting in person. We are in Chicago.
 
dri810 said:
I see. Thank you for the clarification, I'm a newbie trying to find my perfect ring. With that, I guess my best bet would be to go with Victor Canera.

Any other recommendations for similar designers who work with clients in the same respect?

Also how comfortable should I be with communicating through e-communication rather than meeting in person. We are in Chicago.
Click to expand...

If you want pave, which it sounds like you do, I would talk to Victor and also Maytal Hannah.

Victor can source stones. I don't know about Maytal.

David Klass makes lovely things but unless you know exactly what you want and can read CAD files, I think he's risky for a big first purchase, like a from scratch setting. Too much can go wrong- and I think he's absolutely great, but not when you want someone to bring a very specific vision to life, coupled with being new to custom work.

Most vendors will do a zoom meeting, plus share designs and ideas via email and text, as well as by phone. I have done all my custom work at a distance.
 
OP, all designers don't require that you buy your stone through them. Many will work with outside stones (and some won't). So depending on the designer you can buy your diamond from somewhere like Jame Allen or Blue Nile and then have the setting made by someone like Maytal or Caysie van Bebber, etc. Doing that may give you more flexibility in picking out your stone.
 
Thanks for your help!
 
Still searching for the "right" stone. I know I do not want smaller than 2 ct but also interested in up to 3 ct for it to look substantial on my not so small fingers. Budget is max 30k, but maybe I do not have to go that far? To start designing, we need to put some $$ down so we will have to wait until January. My issue is, will I be able to find a good stone in that price range? I did find a 2.01ct E VVS2, but my heart is saying can you go bigger but still get a quality ring?

Also, we are based in Chicago. So will need to do a lot of virtual inspection of the stone and ring. Is it wrong to prefer video and GIA cert stones?

We even looked at Tiffany's very very limited stock and although it was not the ct size I wanted, they insisted that in addition to the GIA cert, they do their own certification to make sure they "stand behind their stone". Any other diamond vetting vendor/designer do this?

The one I found (from a thorough search from a lot of vendors):

2.01ct F VVS2 Emerald Cut GIA Loose Diamond | Victor Canera​

2.01 Carat F Color VVS2 Clarity Emerald Cut loose natural diamond with Excellent Cut proportions certified by GIA laboratories.
www.victorcanera.com
www.victorcanera.com

Please help!!
 
All of the names on your list except Victor are simply online diamond sellers , as someone has said. You do not use any of those to design a setting. Some people just want an inexpensive mass-produced setting, and they can get that from those vendors. It is also possible to buy a diamond anywhere and then send to a custom ringmaker to make the ring.

Victor is a master ring-maker, and I highly recommend him. I would give him the first shot in helping you find a diamond. It usually is to your advantage to buy the stone and have the setting made at the same place just because it is easier (and sometimes there's a discount on the setting if you buy the diamond there). He likely has access to more stones than he shows on his site. Contact his company and tell them what you're looking for and hopefully they can help you find a great stone! The link of the stone you posted from Victor doesn't work.

Also, many of us have bought all our diamonds remotely. It's really a great thing to have vastly more options than one would have locally. No, GIA is considered the most reliable grading worldwide. There is absolutely no need for secondary grading.
 
diamondseeker2006 said:
All of the names on your list except Victor are simply online diamond sellers , as someone has said. You do not use any of those to design a setting. Some people just want an inexpensive mass-produced setting, and they can get that from those vendors. It is also possible to buy a diamond anywhere and then send to a custom ringmaker to make the ring.

Victor is a master ring-maker, and I highly recommend him. I would give him the first shot in helping you find a diamond. It usually is to your advantage to buy the stone and have the setting made at the same place just because it is easier (and sometimes there's a discount on the setting if you buy the diamond there). He likely has access to more stones than he shows on his site. Contact his company and tell them what you're looking for and hopefully they can help you find a great stone! The link of the stone you posted from Victor doesn't work.

Also, many of us have bought all our diamonds remotely. It's really a great thing to have vastly more options than one would have locally.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I think that will be most cost effective and less of a hassle for us. Looking to ask for their help in finding the right stone.
 
I always favor a three stone design, which wil give you extra finger coverage that you may appreciate. If u do a simply and classic three stone, most of those online retailers can do just fine. Adiamor started as jeweler vs diamondtair, so their craftsmanship, according to my very picking friend, is very good.
 
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