Opinions on stones and question on BGD setting

[Shannon72781]

Hi all,

I’ve further narrowed my choice for my upgrade and also have a video that compares the top 2 diamonds. I’ve set a budget of $40k and with upcoming Black Friday promotions, these will help get me there:

2.494 G SI1 Signature Round

Buy diamonds online - AGS Graded 2.494 carat G SI1 super ideal cut Brian Gavin Hearts & Arrows Round Cut diamond. Lifetime Upgrade Policy!

www.briangavindiamonds.com

2.512 F VS2 Brian Gavin Blue

Buy diamonds online - AGS Graded 2.512 carat F VS2 super ideal cut Brian Gavin Blue Round Cut diamond. Lifetime Upgrade Policy!

www.briangavindiamonds.com

Now I have questions on the setting. There are 3 things important to me in order to be comparable to a Tiffany repro:
1) tapered or knife edge shank that’s thin to make the diamond pop
2) height of the crown. My memoire eternity shared prong wedding ring is 2.3mm high. It’s eaten into my current ering prongs and am looking to avoid this. Ultimately may need a spacer.
3) crown style. I like the BGD tapered solitaire but I’m not as big a fan of the straight up and down crown lines - I prefer the softer rounder cups like tiffany or CVB Jovyn. Has anyone customized or semi customized their BGD setting?
Finally I do like petite claw prongs and I plan on YG with platinum head.

Thank you all for insights and preferences on the top runners of the diamonds as well as advice on the setting!

 

[holeydonut]

The ring in my avatar is BGD's 810 halo; and BGD's bench seems very open to tweaking the core CAD design to suit the specific diamond and customer. My wife is very happy with the results, and I'd recommend BGD + 810 Collection to anyone interested in BGD's unique design motif who also wants a super-ideal cut.

But, I think BGD intentionally has no "Tiffany bowl 6-prong solitaire" option because he doesn't want to copy that look. If you're open to it, I think you should source the diamond from BGD, but then send it over to Victor Canera and get a handmade knife-edge in the more Tiffany-ish look that you want. And since it's hand made, he'll do whatever you want.

Gabriella = Tiffany I guess lol

Victor Canera

victorcanera.com

Regarding the wedding band... for some reason BGD doesn't have a wedding band to pair with his 810-01 engagement ring. And based on some threads I see on Pricescope, people end up with funny rubbing or odd looking gappy stacks when they try to do the pairings on their own.

We actually had to take BGD's finished 810-01 engagement ring into HW, Tiffany, Cartier shops. So we could try on their various wedding bands to find one that worked. The lady at HW was so upset at the idea she refused to show any HW wedding bands knowing what we were trying to accomplish.

PS, the wedding band designed to go with Cartier's Ballerine has just enough of a swoop to dodge weird crowns. It is a much more subtle swoop than anything Tiffany had to offer.

 

[crbl999]

I would go with the F VS2 if budget allows. Have you considered the Vatche U113? IMO it's the best Tiffany inspired setting.

 

[headlight]

BGD does beautiful custom. Skies the limit… you can go as far as hand-forged custom which is what my SIL designed and commissioned to feature the stunning almost 3ct BG Black D color, VVS (drool!). Brian and Lesley were amazing to work with.

 

[emmy12]

Did you look at the Classic Style knife edge and half round versions from BGD?

Classic Style Knife Edge

Our popular rendition of the Classic style knife edge 6 prong solitaire. Price is for setting only for diamonds up to 2 carats. Add $100 for diamonds larger than 2 carats. Select your diamond from our extensive online diamond inventory.

www.briangavindiamonds.com

Classic Style Half Round

Classic Style 6 prong solitaire with 2mm half round band. Price is for setting only for diamonds up to 2 carats. Add $100 for diamonds larger than 2 carats. Select your diamond from our extensive online inventory.

www.briangavindiamonds.com

 

[Bozman52]

I think you should source the diamond from BGD, but then send it over to Victor Canera and get a handmade knife-edge in the more Tiffany-ish look that you want.

@Shannon72781, Just a heads up that Victor won't always work with outside sourced diamonds. If you do decide you want to work with him on your ring, I'd recommend you speak with him in advance. He may wish to try and source a comparable diamond for you himself first, and if unsuccessful, may then work with an outside diamond. This was the case with the ring he made for me recently.

 

[ame]

Hi all,

I’ve further narrowed my choice for my upgrade and also have a video that compares the top 2 diamonds. I’ve set a budget of $40k and with upcoming Black Friday promotions, these will help get me there:

2.494 G SI1 Signature Round

Buy diamonds online - AGS Graded 2.494 carat G SI1 super ideal cut Brian Gavin Hearts & Arrows Round Cut diamond. Lifetime Upgrade Policy!

www.briangavindiamonds.com

2.512 F VS2 Brian Gavin Blue

Buy diamonds online - AGS Graded 2.512 carat F VS2 super ideal cut Brian Gavin Blue Round Cut diamond. Lifetime Upgrade Policy!

www.briangavindiamonds.com

Now I have questions on the setting. There are 3 things important to me in order to be comparable to a Tiffany repro:
1) tapered or knife edge shank that’s thin to make the diamond pop
2) height of the crown. My memoire eternity shared prong wedding ring is 2.3mm high. It’s eaten into my current ering prongs and am looking to avoid this. Ultimately may need a spacer.
3) crown style. I like the BGD tapered solitaire but I’m not as big a fan of the straight up and down crown lines - I prefer the softer rounder cups like tiffany or CVB Jovyn. Has anyone customized or semi customized their BGD setting?
Finally I do like petite claw prongs and I plan on YG with platinum head.

Thank you all for insights and preferences on the top runners of the diamonds as well as advice on the setting!

I had the tapered tiffany and the only customizing I did was that I wanted claw prongs and the stone set high so I could see the culet from the side. But I really loved that setting and due to divorce I no longer have any of my rings.

 

[Platinumplus]

I have the BGD classic style knife edge. (She’s in my avatar.) Let me know if you have any questions or want any pictures from particular angles.

 

[Shannon72781]

The ring in my avatar is BGD's 810 halo; and BGD's bench seems very open to tweaking the core CAD design to suit the specific diamond and customer. My wife is very happy with the results, and I'd recommend BGD + 810 Collection to anyone interested in BGD's unique design motif who also wants a super-ideal cut.

But, I think BGD intentionally has no "Tiffany bowl 6-prong solitaire" option because he doesn't want to copy that look. If you're open to it, I think you should source the diamond from BGD, but then send it over to Victor Canera and get a handmade knife-edge in the more Tiffany-ish look that you want. And since it's hand made, he'll do whatever you want.

Gabriella = Tiffany I guess lol

Victor Canera

victorcanera.com

Regarding the wedding band... for some reason BGD doesn't have a wedding band to pair with his 810-01 engagement ring. And based on some threads I see on Pricescope, people end up with funny rubbing or odd looking gappy stacks when they try to do the pairings on their own.

We actually had to take BGD's finished 810-01 engagement ring into HW, Tiffany, Cartier shops. So we could try on their various wedding bands to find one that worked. The lady at HW was so upset at the idea she refused to show any HW wedding bands knowing what we were trying to accomplish.

PS, the wedding band designed to go with Cartier's Ballerine has just enough of a swoop to dodge weird crowns. It is a much more subtle swoop than anything Tiffany had to offer.

That is a great repro of Tiffany! I did contact VC and the rep did say they are not setting outside stones but would consider if I gave them the specifics.

 

[Shannon72781]

I have the BGD classic style knife edge. (She’s in my avatar.) Let me know if you have any questions or want any pictures from particular angles.

Beautiful style!!

 

[Shannon72781]

@Shannon72781, Just a heads up that Victor won't always work with outside sourced diamonds. If you do decide you want to work with him on your ring, I'd recommend you speak with him in advance. He may wish to try and source a comparable diamond for you himself first, and if unsuccessful, may then work with an outside diamond. This was the case with the ring he made for me recently.

Thank you, that's what they did indicate to me as well.

 

[Shannon72781]

Did you look at the Classic Style knife edge and half round versions from BGD?

Classic Style Knife Edge

Our popular rendition of the Classic style knife edge 6 prong solitaire. Price is for setting only for diamonds up to 2 carats. Add $100 for diamonds larger than 2 carats. Select your diamond from our extensive online diamond inventory.

www.briangavindiamonds.com

Classic Style Half Round

Classic Style 6 prong solitaire with 2mm half round band. Price is for setting only for diamonds up to 2 carats. Add $100 for diamonds larger than 2 carats. Select your diamond from our extensive online inventory.

www.briangavindiamonds.com

Yes, I found a great "inspiration" on these rings that were used as a basis for this project (credit to @KirstLWA) . Emily did indicate this would be custom, which is ok with me:

My BGD glamour shots are in

and I’m in love! BGD nailed my vision to perfection with this beauty! I’ll post handshots and create a smtb thread when I have handshots to share on Monday hopefully! Hope you enjoy these as much as I do!!

www.pricescope.com

I think BGD really nailed the crown and shank on this!

 

[Shannon72781]

BGD does beautiful custom. Skies the limit… you can go as far as hand-forged custom which is what my SIL designed and commissioned to feature the stunning almost 3ct BG Black D color, VVS (drool!). Brian and Lesley were amazing to work with.

Amazing!!!

 

[Shannon72781]

I would go with the F VS2 if budget allows. Have you considered the Vatche U113? IMO it's the best Tiffany inspired setting.

I'm heavily leaning towards the F VS2 and the fact that's it's blue flouro without affecting performance seems like a cool and unique feature!

The Vatche is beautiful but I wanted to keep the stone and setting with the same vendor. Unfortunately BGD doesn't carry Vatche but agree the repro is VERY similar to Tiffany soli!!

 

[lucyr]

I have the BGD classic style knife edge. (She’s in my avatar.) Let me know if you have any questions or want any pictures from particular angles.

Just found this thread and it’s been so helpful! Platinumplus - hope you don’t mind me messaging but I would LOVE to see some other angles of your BGD knife edge…it’s the exact setting I’m looking at and looks to be a very similar sized stone too! I’m based in the UK and so feeling nervous about ordering online from the US without being able to try on the setting. Thank you soo much in advance x

 

[Platinumplus]

Just found this thread and it’s been so helpful! Platinumplus - hope you don’t mind me messaging but I would LOVE to see some other angles of your BGD knife edge…it’s the exact setting I’m looking at and looks to be a very similar sized stone too! I’m based in the UK and so feeling nervous about ordering online from the US without being able to try on the setting. Thank you soo much in advance x

Anything in particular? Here are some random shots I just took, but let me know if there is anything else you would like.

 

[lucyr]

Anything in particular? Here are some random shots I just took, but let me know if there is anything else you would like.

Can’t tell you how helpful this is - thank you! What a beautiful, classic ring. It looks more delicate than in the website shots, which is good. Just a couple more questions - is this the stock setting (ie no modifications) and what year did you get your ring? I might be going mad, but I’m sure it’s changed slightly over the years (have looked at soo many pictures trying to decide!). Would it also be possible to see a profile shot on your hand? Thank you again xx

 

[Platinumplus]

Completely stock setting, although it has subsequently been resized from a 7 to a 5. I bought it in 2017. It is dainty. The taper is really subtle and when you look at it head on it’s hard to see. Sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes I wish it had slightly beefier shoulders and a more visible taper.



And here she is with different wedding ring options for reference:


Whiteflash Divisi


Tiffany Legacy


Tiffany Soleste
Whiteflash .70 carat seven stone shared prong

 

[lucyr]

Stunning!! I feel like I want to replicate all of those wedding band options to change it up between more casual days and dressy events! I can’t tell you how helpful these pictures are. I’ve been going back and forth between the BGD knife edge and the tapered half round, which I feel like might be a little too thin for my personal tastes (although love it on other people!) x

 

[Platinumplus]

I wish I had all these wedding band options too! Alas, I don’t actually own *any* of them! Yet!

 

[lucyr]

Thank you for all of your help earlier this year - I thought I’d report back with my very own BGD Black knife edge beauty! Absolutely obsessed. Hard to capture the brilliance and fire in a photo, but I can barely take my eyes away from it haha!

 

[MissGotRocks]

Thank you for all of your help earlier this year - I thought I’d report back with my very own BGD Black knife edge beauty! Absolutely obsessed. Hard to capture the brilliance and fire in a photo, but I can barely take my eyes away from it haha!

Is this the F VS2 diamond you were considering? Very pretty!!

 

[lucyr]

Is this the F VS2 diamond you were considering? Very pretty!!

Thank you! That’s the one - went for the 1.22 F VS2. Based on the UK, so was quite nervous about getting the setting right (although had no doubts over the diamond!). Really happy with the knife edge and how it fits with my existing wedding band x