Show me the Bling - the Laboratory Grown version!

[dtnyc]

my semi-secret christmas upgrade arrived and it's perfect!

2.79 F/VVS2 from Ari @ Delicate Gem in NYC - who picked me a stunning pear!

Wowsers! That stone is a stunner and amazing finger coverage! Love the whole thing! Congrats!

 

[Bijouteried]

Ahh! He has a YouTube channel, I thought the name sounded familiar! He talks about his philosophy while sharing some of his jewelry projects. I really like his approach and he just seems like a good guy, too. Very cool to hear of someone on here having a ring made! I can't wait to see it!

Yes! I have never been more comfortable with a jeweler. I’m excited to share as soon as it’s ready!

 

[petrock<3]

Toi et Moi hehehehe

 

[JV36912]

Toi et Moi hehehehe

I'm dying. Such gorgeous pieces! Hope you get loads
of enjoyment wearing them!

 

[petrock<3]

I'm dying. Such gorgeous pieces! Hope you get loads
of enjoyment wearing them!

Thank you!! I know it’s totally unhinged but this is what I’m doing now. Mostly around the house but I did go out like this today lol

 

[JV36912]

Thank you!! I know it’s totally unhinged but this is what I’m doing now. Mostly around the house but I did go out like this today lol

Lol. No judgement here- Rock those rocks!

 

[MMtwo]

Toi et Moi hehehehe

Oh my gosh, that is so fun, fabulous, and unique. I love it!

 

[Inked]

my semi-secret christmas upgrade arrived and it's perfect!

2.79 F/VVS2 from Ari @ Delicate Gem in NYC - who picked me a stunning pear!

OMG, for some reason I never look at this thread (I think because it's pinned! LOL) HOLY COW!! This is GORGEOUS!!!!! Merry Christmas indeed!!! LOVE it! It looks huge! I want you to give it its own thread with lots of pics!! LOL

 

[Inked]

Thank you!! I know it’s totally unhinged but this is what I’m doing now. Mostly around the house but I did go out like this today lol

OMG, i dont blame you - when you have those 2 rings how would you pick between them??!! Gorgeous!!

 

[Bijouteried]

my LGD solitaires:




Left to Right & Top to Bottom:
4.01ct E/VVS2 MRB
11.47 H/VS2 radiant
10.22 G/VS1 emerald
3.69 D/VVS1 MRB
6.01 E/VVS2 oval
5.04 E/VVS2 pear
5.01 D/VVS1 MRB
10.12 G/SI1 oval
4.15 E/VVS2 emerald

I also have an oval diamond eternity band (0.4ct per diamond) & a pair of 6ctw E/VS1 MRB studs

I'm hoping to add a 15ct - 25ct emerald cut, radiant, or elongated cushion soon.
And possibly a 6.5ct - 10ct MRB.

I had to scroll back up to see if this was a “real” post or an ad someone was sharing. These are aaaaalllll magnificent!

 

[sd_flp]

My upgraded engagement ring

 

[Mlh]

My upgraded engagement ring

Wow! Stunning!

 

[sd_flp]

Wow! Stunning!

Thank you!!!

 

[JV36912]

My upgraded engagement ring

How gorgeous is this! Love it!! Would love to see hand shots!

 

[Inked]

My upgraded engagement ring

BEAUTIFUL!! Congratulations!!

 

[sd_flp]

Thank you @JV36912 , @Inked !!! As much as I love it, I am feeling a little overwhelmed with it. It's a little larger than I expected it to be. Not large by PS standards (it's 1.15 carats), but I'm feeling a bit shy as my original ering is .75. I kinda wonder if I should have gone smaller but I didn’t want to experience DSS anymore, you know?

Modeling shots in a bit; wedding band is currently being rhodium plated as I noticed it looked dull compared to the new ring.

 

[sd_flp]

Ok, I'm really not good at taking photos so bear with me:

1.15 D VS2:


Compared to my original ering (also LGD, .75 E VS1):

 

[Inked]

Thank you @JV36912 , @Inked !!! As much as I love it, I am feeling a little overwhelmed with it. It's a little larger than I expected it to be. Not large by PS standards (it's 1.15 carats), but I'm feeling a bit shy as my original ering is .75. I kinda wonder if I should have gone smaller but I didn’t want to experience DSS anymore, you know?

Modeling shots in a bit; wedding band is currently being rhodium plated as I noticed it looked dull compared to the new ring.

Trust me, you will get used to it REAL quick!! LOL! It looks PERFECT on your finger! I absolutely love love love the setting. I did the same thing, but I got used to it so fast.

 

[JV36912]

Thank you @JV36912 , @Inked !!! As much as I love it, I am feeling a little overwhelmed with it. It's a little larger than I expected it to be. Not large by PS standards (it's 1.15 carats), but I'm feeling a bit shy as my original ering is .75. I kinda wonder if I should have gone smaller but I didn’t want to experience DSS anymore, you know?

Modeling shots in a bit; wedding band is currently being rhodium plated as I noticed it looked dull compared to the new ring.

Echo what @Inked shared!! DSS is real (at least for me) and you will get used to it fast! It looks absolutely beautiful on you!!

 

[cushioncutnut]

Great light this morning near window…

2.08 ct center stone I VVS2 XXX HCA 1.4 on size 4.75 finger (2.48 tcw with pave).

Platinum setting and eternity band, both with natural mined melee. White gold twist spacer.
E-ring James Allen.
Eternity band, Davidson & Licht, Walnut Creek CA.
14k white gold twist, Blueground, Rochester NY

That is gorgeous! I love the black and white photos too!

 

[cushioncutnut]

Toi et Moi hehehehe

LOVE!!!

 

[cushioncutnut]

Ok, I'm really not good at taking photos so bear with me:

1.15 D VS2:


Compared to my original ering (also LGD, .75 E VS1):

Beautiful!

 

[cushioncutnut]

So I don’t officially get these until Christmas but they arrived today and I had to make sure they fit, right?
Studs from Alex Park, 2.64 ct for the pair, 7mm, listed as E/F and VS/VVS, I paid a little extra for the 6 prong setting. I can’t wait to be able to wear them ALL the time!!

Love the six prongs! Beautiful and classic!

 

[cushioncutnut]

Just some outside shots of my wife's JannPaul Decagon 2.44 carat AGSL 000 VS1 E in a platinum 2.8mm pave 1.58 carat VVS melee, 4.02TCW in a US size 6.5

Stunning! So special in so many ways!!

 

[itsfake]

Stunning! So special in so many ways!!

Thank you!

 

[cushioncutnut]

A few shots of my new MRB from Ritani! I was pleasantly surprised by the setting, considering the very reasonable pricing.

And yes the huge-ness shock has worn off and I think I’ll keep it

It looks gorgeous and I love your diamond band!!

 

[cushioncutnut]

Just got mine back from David Klass, which is my first piece by him. I can’t stop staring at it! Diamond is 3.25 ct I vs1 ID/X/X, setting is platinum, which is also a first for me

Gorgeous and classic! Love the double claw prongs!

 

[cushioncutnut]

Anniversary gift: 2.08 ct I VVS2 lab grown (CVD) HCA 1.4. Original ring is 1.5 ct natural mined (pictured side by side in one pic: not for comparison, but because the new stone shows arrows nicely in the pic). Will simply say we learned a lot about cut proportions and precision after initial (very expensive) purchase.

Specs for anniversary stone are included in pics of cert and HCA results below.

After receiving this ring — halfway through return window — I came across GCAL 8x through targeted ads for Black Friday sales. Went down a rabbit hole of ‘there must be even better out there’ for same $$. And of course there is… there always will be… Example - Ritani stone prices are far better than JA, yet their settings are not for me. Adiamor has selection of GCAL8x that has grown just in the 2 weeks I’ve been eyeing them.

I grabbed reins of sanity to remind myself that there are many beautiful and well-performing stones out there that do not have a super-ideal grading such as GCAL 8x.

In the end, we kept this ring from JA - Stone and setting were both discounted in run-up to Black Friday (yes, also aware of price jumps that predated ‘markdowns’).

I was smitten with light performance of this stone from the start. We got one other to compare - bigger and GCAL 8x. Just did not move me the same way. The second stone went very dark in different light, whereas this one does not. Second stone, at 2.52, just too big for my comfort (finger size is 4.75). DSS be damned, this ring hits all my sweet spots for size, setting, performance - it’s the one that makes my heart sing.

[REMAINING TEXT APPEARS BETWEEN PICS BELOW - NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED THERE!]
This one has the right parameters for great light performance, and it lives up to expectations, especially for scintillation and fire. The setting is *perfect* - love the style, proportions, and exposure of the stone to light in this somewhat tall-sitting basket. Melee stones are natural mined, beautifully matched, and sparkle like crazy (Without benefit of a loupe or any magnification. I’m not down the hole that deeply. Yet ).

Beautiful! Congratulations!

 

[cushioncutnut]

my semi-secret christmas upgrade arrived and it's perfect!

2.79 F/VVS2 from Ari @ Delicate Gem in NYC - who picked me a stunning pear!

Oh I love pears! Beautiful!

 

[cushioncutnut]

Some updated pics of my 2.47 Ritani.