Need help for engagement ring

[pregcurious]

You could present her with a sapphire in a plain solitaire setting for the proposal with the undrestanding that you two will work together to find a setting together. This way, you get to bring something to the proposal that will go into her ring, and she gets the style she wants. If she is into jewelry, she probably has ideas about her ideal ering.

 

[lereveur]

Since she collects antique rings, it's best if you have some idea what period she likes or dislikes since it's an e-ring. I'm pretty sure she's going to have strong feelings about that. Are you looking for a ready-made ring or aiming to get the stone and setting separately?

She loves art deco rings. It'd be great ifI could find a great sapphire or emerald about 2 or 3 cts

 

[Mrs.W 514]

Jewels by Erica Grace has some beautiful antique rings. I strongly suggest looking at her stuff, especially since you GF has an affinity for antique jewelry. I love antique jewelry and I drool over JBEG's stuff often

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.c...ut-Diamond/18849950_zCqqF8#1460917038_DK7cBh7

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.c...stone-Diamond/15810496_wNzgU#1186438099_Yd2QH

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.c...ut-Diamond/17507528_HQ4kt5#1335812199_FJtfqxH

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.c...ing-Tacori/17842250_fvx3RS#1364338180_LkcStWB

I hope this helps. Happy hunting and Congratulations!!

eta: you should also check out the wedding bands as well she has some really nice sapphire and diamond bands>

 

[stargurl78]

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.c...ut-Diamond/17507528_HQ4kt5#1335812199_FJtfqxH

I LOVE this suggestion posted by Future Mrs. Williamson What a gorgeous ring!

 

[lereveur]

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.c...ut-Diamond/17507528_HQ4kt5#1335812199_FJtfqxH

I LOVE this suggestion posted by Future Mrs. Williamson What a gorgeous ring!

WOW. I love it as well. Future Mrs. Williamson, do you know how much it is? I'm trying to keep it under 8 grand

 

[jaysonsmom]

Good enough is pretty subjective, but giving the specs of the ring would allow us to comment. It's a pretty and substantial ring but I'd be concerned that she wouldn't be able to wear a wedding ring with that ring. A non-issue if she doesn't plan on wearing a wedding ring or if she'll wear it on another finger.

Right.

Center stone is old European cut diamond with an actual .76 carats J color VS2 clarity ... It's $4,850
In all, fourteen (14) old mine and old European cut accent diamonds and twenty (20) natural sapphires

I am not too sure about it. The center stone is smaller than I wanted. It's a cool looking ring, but is it an engagement ring. That's the question

I think you're on the right track! When you stated in your first post that you were looking for something with a colored centerstone, because that's what your girlfriend has in her collection. I immediately thought, maybe she wants to save a white diamond for THE engagement ring, and doesn't want to buy a white stone herself.

An antique diamond ring with colored accents is a GREAT idea. I happen to love this E-W marquise which is not too traditional e-ring like.

BTW, did anyone mention http://www.faycullen.com/

 

[chloeishere]

Price here!

http://jewelsbyericagrace.com/antique_vintage_and_reproduction_rings_page_2

Beautiful vintage ring featuring a beautifully cut Old European Cut diamond, approximately 1.00ct, bezel set and surrounded by calibre cut sapphires. Further surrounded by round brilliant diamonds, set in a floral silhouette. A very pretty ring with lovely details on the basket, and set low. Currently a size 5 with the sizing beads (may be removed upon request) and size 6 without. Platinum. A very, very pretty ring - a halo which will never go out of style!

Diamond measures approx 6.40 inside the bezel.

Approximately J/K color, VS2 clarity.

Additional photos and video here

PRICE: $6,825

 

[pregcurious]

Price here!

http://jewelsbyericagrace.com/antique_vintage_and_reproduction_rings_page_2

I love this ring!

 

[TristanC]

Hi there, guy here. Hope you don't mind if I pipe in with a few honest comments. I say them with the best of intentions.

First off, whether you surprise her with a ring successfully is going to be a big question. I'm all FOR surprise proposals.

But that would actually require a few elements: a very good understanding of her tastes, a willingness to accept that she will say yes to marrying you even if you use a crackerjack ring from the bottom of a cereal box but you won't be hurt if she isn't overwhelmed by the ring you thoughtfully purchased after 10mins/1month/6years*(Please delete as appropriate) of research.

So if you think you know her tastes very well, and you have some track record of giving her things of a personal nature that she was over the moon with, you are heading in the right DIRECTION.

To be blunt, the first ring you posted and the one you loved from the future mrs... to me are very different rings. Not even in the same vein. Also, even if 300 PSers love the ring you choose, your dearest fiancée might not agree with us.

So if you are STILL willing to take the gamble and surprise her; we are all here to try to help!

Art Deco and Vintage however complicates things a LOT. If she loved halo rings, or solitaires, or floral settings. It would be easy. Art Deco is a style, so getting a perfect one is a crapshoot at best.

Would really help if you had some pieces that you found her liking, or if her friends know what she adores etc. Going the friends route has a very high chance of revealing the secret though - so proceed with caution!

Hope you don't think I'm trying to discourage you from your plan. I really love surprise proposals. I just want PS to be able to help you get it right. If you could photograph sneakily examples of rings she wears or loves already, some forumers more brilliant than me would be able to point you in the right direction.

 

[chrono]

Knowing that it is the Art Deco style is a good start. Next up is a question about treatments. Are you bothered by treatments or will only unheated suffice? In general, heat is accepted by many but diffusion is frowned upon as too intrusive a method of treatment whereby the stone isn't considered a "true" sapphire anymore but a dyed stone.

Heat Treatment
http://nature.berkeley.edu/classes/eps2//wisc/Lect8.html

Diffusion
http://www.palagems.com/gods_graves_sapphires.htm

 

[T L]

There's not only surface diffusion, but diffusion deep into the stone, so it's a good idea to send your sapphire to the prestigious American Gemological Lab in NYC, for testing.

 

[lereveur]

Knowing that it is the Art Deco style is a good start. Next up is a question about treatments. Are you bothered by treatments or will only unheated suffice? In general, heat is accepted by many but diffusion is frowned upon as too intrusive a method of treatment whereby the stone isn't considered a "true" sapphire anymore but a dyed stone.

Heat Treatment
http://nature.berkeley.edu/classes/eps2//wisc/Lect8.html

Diffusion
http://www.palagems.com/gods_graves_sapphires.htm

Thank you for the articles it was a good read.

I'm a bit bothered by treatments, I'd like to keep the stone as pure as possible and am willing to pay extra if I have to for the perfect natural stone.

 

[lereveur]

Hi there, guy here. Hope you don't mind if I pipe in with a few honest comments. I say them with the best of intentions.

First off, whether you surprise her with a ring successfully is going to be a big question. I'm all FOR surprise proposals.

But that would actually require a few elements: a very good understanding of her tastes, a willingness to accept that she will say yes to marrying you even if you use a crackerjack ring from the bottom of a cereal box but you won't be hurt if she isn't overwhelmed by the ring you thoughtfully purchased after 10mins/1month/6years*(Please delete as appropriate) of research.

So if you think you know her tastes very well, and you have some track record of giving her things of a personal nature that she was over the moon with, you are heading in the right DIRECTION.

To be blunt, the first ring you posted and the one you loved from the future mrs... to me are very different rings. Not even in the same vein. Also, even if 300 PSers love the ring you choose, your dearest fiancée might not agree with us.

So if you are STILL willing to take the gamble and surprise her; we are all here to try to help!

Art Deco and Vintage however complicates things a LOT. If she loved halo rings, or solitaires, or floral settings. It would be easy. Art Deco is a style, so getting a perfect one is a crapshoot at best.

Would really help if you had some pieces that you found her liking, or if her friends know what she adores etc. Going the friends route has a very high chance of revealing the secret though - so proceed with caution!

Hope you don't think I'm trying to discourage you from your plan. I really love surprise proposals. I just want PS to be able to help you get it right. If you could photograph sneakily examples of rings she wears or loves already, some forumers more brilliant than me would be able to point you in the right direction.

I appreciate your advice. I know the surprise proposal is hard to pull off, but I'm willing to study every ring if I have to to do it.
My girlfriend is a woman that needs to know everything about anything from researching every topic she can get her hands on to something simple as a surprise birthday party. That is why this challenge of keeping the ring and proposal a secret is important to me. She loves surprises, but she's just a information hoarder If she's going to have one planned surprise in her life, this would be it.

I admit, the first ring I posted was very different from what I'm eventually looking for, but it stood out, was unique, so that's why it caught my eye. In the end, it's not the ring I would choose. The sapphire halo ring the previous poster graciously found was a lot more of what I picture her wearing

 

[marymm]

OP - I don't *think* you've addressed this in your threads, but if your SO would eventually be wearing a wedding band together with the ER, that is something to keep in mind when selecting the ER. Some people prefer flush-fit wedding bands, and others prefer (or are okay with) a slight gap between wedding band and ER. And some ER styles just do not accommodate standard wedding bands and would require a custom-made band. Of course, some do not wear a wedding band at all, and others wear the wedding band on the left hand and move the ER to the right hand. Just wanted to make sure you take this element into account when making your decision.

 

[movie zombie]

oh, my, you've further confirmed my suspicion that she really needs to be in on buying the ring itself. also, are you sure she likes halos?

 

[lereveur]

oh, my, you've further confirmed my suspicion that she really needs to be in on buying the ring itself. also, are you sure she likes halos?

Yes.

 

[lereveur]

OP - I don't *think* you've addressed this in your threads, but if your SO would eventually be wearing a wedding band together with the ER, that is something to keep in mind when selecting the ER. Some people prefer flush-fit wedding bands, and others prefer (or are okay with) a slight gap between wedding band and ER. And some ER styles just do not accommodate standard wedding bands and would require a custom-made band. Of course, some do not wear a wedding band at all, and others wear the wedding band on the left hand and move the ER to the right hand. Just wanted to make sure you take this element into account when making your decision.

Wedding bands are the last thing on the list. We can always get a custom fit.

 

[lereveur]

I think I've got it thanks to all your help and research. I'm going to narrow it down to about 5 choices. Please help me pick when I do

 

[movie zombie]

i hope you ask her friends....they know her, we don't!

 

[lereveur]

i hope you ask her friends....they know her, we don't!

I'm narrowing down with her friends now... People on this forum have more knowledge on actual gem quality than they do. The reason I asked her friend to create me an account here

 

[movie zombie]

you're doing well to narrow it down to 5 so soon......most of us agonize forever......

 

[lereveur]

you're doing well to narrow it down to 5 so soon......most of us agonize forever......

I'm just that efficient with the help from helpful people.

 

[velouriaL]

I love/know more than your average non-PSer about jewelry and have strong opinions, but I really really like surprise engagements. If I were about to get engaged I'd want my fiance-to-be to know my basic ground rules (no diamond centers, no chunky plain prongs (prefer claws, delicate detailed prongs like fishtails or crowns, or bezel), no scrollwork, no two-tone, no channel setting, slight preference for asschers/cushions/fancy shapes except pear over round, preference for yellow or rose gold, etc...) and then let him go for there. Can you sneakily get a list of her likes and dislikes at least? You want to avoid any unexpected pitfalls.

Also, I don't know if anyone has responded to this yet, but you mention emeralds-- they are probably not your best bet for an engagement ring because they are brittle. It's best to stick with a sapphire or diamond (or spinel or chrysoberyl, not to complicate things) for the center stone.

 

[TristanC]

I'm going to throw in another left of center suggestion here. With your budget - you can afford to get really high quality workmanship and sacrifice on the center stone. A bit. In a way.

So one way to get a truly mind blowing end point may be to contact a master at settings, and handing the project over to him. In this regard, I feel Victor Carnera is both one of the very best artisans, as well as most courteous, patient and accommodating individuals you can find. His custom setting alone will run a few thousand in platinum, but you can probably leave the stone sourcing to him, and work out your desires for the end result.

He may be able to find you a stone which serves the purpose, and set it beautifully to boot.

You can check out the Show Me The Bling forum, and see the end result of his work with diamonds. I'm sure he can do the same with a sapphire center stone. And his style tends towards vintage/art deco to begin with, so you're completely in his comfort zone.