*Upgrading my engagement ring: need advice*

[SunflowerSuze]

I''ve been lurking for a bit & finally had the time to write this. My husband & I are looking for an updated engagement ring for me; I love the man, the ring not so much. My original is a 0.91ct RB, I, I1, 6 prong, catherdral setting in what is marked "09". It was marketed as platinum but I''m not so sure. I feel like we got ripped off and don''t want that to happen again.Our budget is a max of $5000 for both the diamond & setting.

My problem is that I find many different styles and cuts beautiful. I have been primarily looking at asscher and radiant cuts & would like one that is eye clean and ideal/very good cut. In these cuts could you get a J color without it looking too yellow? Ideally I would like at least .85 but most important is a good balance between quality and cost.

I want a setting that has small side stones that don''t overwhelm the center stone (pave maybe) and has a matching band available that ideally would sit flush with the e-ring. The settings I like seem to be out of my budget. Do generic settings have the lasting power that the designer ones do? I''m very tough on my rings so this is important. Is it worth it to spring a little more to get white gold (as opposed to palladium)?

Here are some diamonds I''ve found:
Asschers
http://www.since1910.com/loose-diamonds/TabId/124/Stone/16196538/Default.aspx
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6190/
Radiants
http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-diamond-ring?first_step=diamond&forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP&track=more#diamonds_forceStep=DIAMONDS_STEP|builder=BYOR|pid=LD01560144
http://www.since1910.com/loose-diamonds/TabId/124/Stone/16399495/Default.aspx

Settings
http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/spark-jewelry/rings/33MM1/
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29505293 - in a square form however I''m a little worried about buying off Etsy.
http://www.since1910.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/diana-prong-pave-set-diamond-setting-d-n147-set-1339.aspx
http://www.bluenile.com/platinum-diamond-ring_3174

Do these seem reasonably priced? Which vendor do you reccomend for settings? Diamonds?
Thanks a bunch for your time & advice!

 

[tyty333]

I cant answer all your questions but I''ll answer what I can (plus get you bumped back to the top so other people can take
a look).

Radiants are known to hold on to color so you will proably see more color in a J radiant. I believe I''ve also read that step
cut stones show more color than brilliants...so normally people go up a grade in color when buying a step-cut stone. You''ll
have to see some J radiants/asschers in person to really decide for yourself. I know they may be hard to find though.

Also, Asschers face up smaller in size than there corresponding RB. A 1 carat RB (well cut) should be around 6.5mm.
A 1 carat asscher is around 5.5 so you are losing a lot of size by going with an asscher at a .85 when you are use to
a .91 RB (although this may have not be well cut). A 1 carat radiant should be around 7x5mm (just for reference).

If you are rough on your rings I would definitly go with white gold over palladium. I''ve heard that palladium can be
very hard to repair and only certain jewelers can do it. As far as generic settings being at least as good as designer
settings I think you have to look at the individual setting. Some designer settings, although well made can be
somewhat delicate. Just as well, some more generic settings can also be delicate. It really depends more on
the setting you pick. If you pick a setting that is delicate you will need to baby it a little more (take if off when
you do certain things). People know this and accept it inorder to have that particular setting. I think thats all I
can help with.

Hopefully some other folks will chime in...

 

[SunflowerSuze]

Thanks for your response! I also have been looking at cushions so maybe they would be a better choice.

 

[mrssalvo]

that 1910 setting is really pretty.

if you are wanting a fancy shape I would suggest working with a vendor who really knows what they are doing and can help you. Radiants and cushions can''t be judged on just numbers so you need someone who understands and can be your eyes. I would also suggest trying to get the stone and setting in the same place if possible.

Goodoldgold would be a good choice for help with the stone. Jon takes a ton of pictures and usually will do a video if you want. they have tons of setting choices as well.

I have seen the spark rings in person and they are very nice so if that''s a front runner you might check with Pearlmans on a stone b/c you can often get better pricing doing a package deal from one vendor. pearlmans offers a PS discount too.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

I''m seconding the rec for goodoldgold, and also the fact that radiants and asschers will show more color. But there are some gorgeous J and K asshers on this forum (ahem, erica''s amazing asscher three-stone)

 

[SunflowerSuze]

So just today I found this http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/6215/ diamond (L color Augst Vintage signature) on the GOG site that was reccomended. I was surprised how much I loved it and was wondering what everyone else thought. This would only be the second diamond I''ve bought so I was a little worried as to how the color would look (mounted in a white gold setting). Would it look too yellow if I don''t halo it? Can it be in a solitare mount and look OK?

 

[tyty333]

Date: 2/27/2010 10:59:47 AM
Author: SunflowerSuze
So just today I found this http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/6215/ diamond (L color Augst Vintage signature) on the GOG site that was reccomended. I was surprised how much I loved it and was wondering what everyone else thought. This would only be the second diamond I've bought so I was a little worried as to how the color would look (mounted in a white gold setting). Would it look too yellow if I don't halo it? Can it be in a solitare mount and look OK?

I think this is a beautiful stone SunflowerSuze! You will see color in it but it has an "old world" look and a lot of the
old stones were not your bright whites (D, E, Fs etc). You need to call and talk to Jon about it. Some people have
J/K stones and love them. Others have had them and upgrade on the color after a while because it bothers them.
Do you know how sensitive you are to color? This stone is upgradable so if sometime in the future you decide you
want to upgrade the color you can.

EDIT - my favorite settings would be the pearlmans and the since 1910. I think you would have to treat both of
them delicately though. Really the only kind of ring you might not have to treat too delicately would be a solitaire.