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Woops, LIWitis just hit hard...

Ravenne

Ravenne

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 30, 2011
Messages
97
And I was doing so well too! :loopy:

We had a discussion about rings and budgets the other night and it put my LIWitis on high alert. LOL! I already kinda knew the timeline (buy the ring sometime starting this winter or so... Maybe. I'm hoping for this fall...) and get engaged sometime between his graduation next May and when our leases end in August.

We were talking about him putting some money he recently won towards the ring (after he apologized for having to put some of it towards replacing his fried X-Box and not all of it towards the ring like he'd originally planned :lol:). He said the original budget was gonna have to be cut a bit. That's fine, I told him I can work with whatever budget he gives me, but he was gonna have to be honest with me about how much he felt comfortable spending. His first response was "Get whatever you want, babe." Which I cleverly responded to with "What I want is what we can afford." And he finally gave me a number. And he was right, it's a pretty big cut, but I can totally work with it. Now I just see it as a challenge. ;)) In the end, we're gonna need that money for living expenses and I'd rather put it towards that than towards a ring.

So now I'm all giddy with excitement because it suddenly seems a lot more real... I know he's putting money together and I also know he's almost hit his budget line. Even though everything still seems a lifetime away, I'm trying to tell myself that it's not so bad, and that this time last year I was living in another city, miserable, and it seems like no time has passed since then. What's another year... right? :eek:

But I don't want him to see the crazy, so I'm letting it out here. I make a huge effort to not bring up engagement or rings or anything related unless he brings it up first. I fail occasionally, but really, not that often, I think. :wacko: I'm just excited to be moving that much closer to starting our life together.
 
Oh Ravenne, from your subject title, I totally thought you freaked out! Lol! You're fine!! Phew! There's no biggie to thinking like a LIW! ;) and congratulations for getting him to save up and getting a budget!! :)
 
Oh dear, I didn't think it would come off so dramatic!! Lol.

No, no freakouts, thankfully, but I may need to watch it once a ring has been purchased. :lickout:
 
Haha, my own LIW-itis has calmed down drastically after the purchase was made! Now I *know* for sure it's coming, so I don't really care anymore about the "what if's". Hopefully your purchase will settle your nerves, too! :wink2:

What kind of ring/diamond are you guys thinking about?
 
Well, the budget cut means a solitaire is in my future. Haha. I was gonna go for pear or baguette sidestones, but unless our jeweler is a magician, I doubt that'll happen (can't give up hope though!).

Right now, I'm thinking an x-prong solitaire, I'm gonna see about getting rose gold accents of some kind and how much that would add to the price. Hopefully not too much. The stone is gonna be a blue sapphire. Cushion cut or oval (preferably cushion). Thankfully my finger is tiny (3.5) so a 4x6 or 5x7 is all I'm gonna need. I wouldn't mind a 6x8 if the money allows, though. ;))
 
Oh well a solitaire is better than taking cuts to the center stone! :naughty:

OMG rose gold + sapphire = to die for. The colors compliment each other SO well. Have you thought about just using RG for the whole metal? And not just accents?

See this: http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.c...-Halo/20800726_wZqnxF#!i=1651035600&k=DK6FRBb

SERIOUSLY, TDF!

and what a lucky girl! I wish I had tiny fingers! I think your ring finger is smaller than my pinky! LOL!
 
Gah! That ring is stunning! Want.

I do like the idea of a totally rose gold set. It would make it very different from everything else I wear (white gold and silver. My Pandora bracelet has some yellow gold on it). But then again, an engagement ring is supposed to be different, right? But then I think what if my love for rose gold is a fad?

But it's so pretty!! How could this be a fad?! Gah!! So confusing! :loopy:

That is very tempting. Now I'm dreaming of a rose gold setting... Off to do searches!!!

I do know I want a two toned rose gold/white gold wedding band. With some kind of engraving and preferably milgrained edges. :love: Adzia's swirly bands are gorgeous.
 
Ravenne! I've got a rose gold spacer that I'll wear with my set eventually, it gives a rose gold touch that can be changed out if I decide I was just following the crowd (I love it so far though!)

I don't know what blue you are looking for. But I feel like this sapphire has haunted my dreams for a while, then I decided I wanted a round. I think it's a great deal (of course, I have no idea what your budget is)

http://www.artcutgems.com/item.php?item_id=711

When the time comes, seriously, go to the colored stone forum and ask if anyone has seen something like what you want, The people over there are awesome and will help you find the *best* bang for your buck.
 
Ravenne|1341280695|3227606 said:
Gah! That ring is stunning! Want.

I do like the idea of a totally rose gold set. It would make it very different from everything else I wear (white gold and silver. My Pandora bracelet has some yellow gold on it). But then again, an engagement ring is supposed to be different, right? But then I think what if my love for rose gold is a fad?

But it's so pretty!! How could this be a fad?! Gah!! So confusing! :loopy:

That is very tempting. Now I'm dreaming of a rose gold setting... Off to do searches!!!

I do know I want a two toned rose gold/white gold wedding band. With some kind of engraving and preferably milgrained edges. :love: Adzia's swirly bands are gorgeous.
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:naughty: Have you seen ROL's thread with her WB and her RG Bella together? I think her T&Co WB is exactly what you're describing.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/tiffany-lucida-rose-gold-w-plat-wedding-band.174629/
 
Madelise - I have seen that and i absolutely love it! LOL It's soooo pretty!

Maebelle - The blue criteria is a little flexible, and I think that could definitely fit into it (I'd have to see more pics of course). Unfortunately, the stone itself is way out of our budget. But I've never seen that website before... *clicks more pages* Thank you!

This ring is gonna have to be a budget ring fo' sho'. But that's why I'm thankful I found this forum because I feel like I will still get a great quality ring that people would never guess cost what it did and that I lovelovelove. The stone's gonna have to be a little fella, and that's ok. :) I have the rest of my life to spend ridiculous amounts of money on sparkles.
 
Ravenne|1341315408|3227787 said:
Madelise - I have seen that and i absolutely love it! LOL It's soooo pretty!

Maebelle - The blue criteria is a little flexible, and I think that could definitely fit into it (I'd have to see more pics of course). Unfortunately, the stone itself is way out of our budget. But I've never seen that website before... *clicks more pages* Thank you!

This ring is gonna have to be a budget ring fo' sho'. But that's why I'm thankful I found this forum because I feel like I will still get a great quality ring that people would never guess cost what it did and that I lovelovelove. The stone's gonna have to be a little fella, and that's ok. :) I have the rest of my life to spend ridiculous amounts of money on sparkles.
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Do you want to tell us your budget so we can start hunting for you? :naughty:
 
LOL! Well since you asked so nicely... He's told me he'll comfortably be able to do $800 for the stone and setting together.

I told ya it was a small budget. :lol: I'm hoping when the time comes he'll have set aside more than he thought he would so I'll have some wiggle room, but I'm not planning on it.

My biggest problem is that I don't know how much the setting is gonna cost... If I go white gold with rose accents, it's obviously gonna be custom because I've never seen what I want in an x-prong stock setting. I was thinking that double band thing on either side 1/4 of the way down the shank where the bottom of the x prongs meet. That's going to affect how much I can spend on the stone. I've never had a custom piece done before (Well... my locket, but that doesn't count) and people don't post the price of their custom pieces (Understandably. That can get awkward) so I don't have a base for prices.

Then again if I go solid rose gold, it won't be custom so much as a metal change, so that'll be easy... but I'm not sure I'm brave enough to go all rose gold. I'm trying to find pictures of rose gold settings with blue sapphires. It doesn't seem to be a common mix.
 
Ravenne|1341347040|3228041 said:
LOL! Well since you asked so nicely... He's told me he'll comfortably be able to do $800 for the stone and setting together.

I told ya it was a small budget. :lol: I'm hoping when the time comes he'll have set aside more than he thought he would so I'll have some wiggle room, but I'm not planning on it.

My biggest problem is that I don't know how much the setting is gonna cost... If I go white gold with rose accents, it's obviously gonna be custom because I've never seen what I want in an x-prong stock setting. I was thinking that double band thing on either side 1/4 of the way down the shank where the bottom of the x prongs meet. That's going to affect how much I can spend on the stone. I've never had a custom piece done before (Well... my locket, but that doesn't count) and people don't post the price of their custom pieces (Understandably. That can get awkward) so I don't have a base for prices.

Then again if I go solid rose gold, it won't be custom so much as a metal change, so that'll be easy... but I'm not sure I'm brave enough to go all rose gold. I'm trying to find pictures of rose gold settings with blue sapphires. It doesn't seem to be a common mix.
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Challenge accepted! Ok BGD has rosegold settings with WG heads.. But they migh be out of the ballpark. I'll poke around when I'm home later.
 
Are you okay with preowned? Are you okay with spending the bulk on the stone and just getting a standard peg head $200-300 solitaire setting that might not be rose gold?
 
Alrighty, here's what I would do. I know this is premature but I want you to know there are options! Remember poppyseed for your setting. She is from Amcor and she also sells non-Amcor related settings as well through DB.

Here is her Incredible Solitaire. It's not X-prong, sorry, but she can do 14k rose gold for $295. Maybe you can inquire about having a different color head vs. shank, so you can get that mix of white gold and rose gold? Or white gold shank w/ rose gold head?

http://diamondbistro.com/category/196/Rings/listings/30361/Incredible-Solitaire-all-sizes.html

and this one has two surprise diamonds under the head. =) It's $395.

http://diamondbistro.com/category/1.../Fabulous-solitaire-with-surprise-stones.html

this one is the cheapest option at $155.., and I actually like this setting the most. It can only fit 5-8mm center stone.. so keep that in mind, or it'll cost more $$ to make. I got quoted a little less than $400? I think? For a custom one to fit my stone. I think it's ridiculously beautiful. Plus, you won't be able to get anything else for that price unless you're buying it 2nd hand, or if it's one of those generic peg-head settings. I really like this one. Really really do.

http://diamondbistro.com/category/1...Beautiful-Vintage-Style-Fishtail-Setting.html

Here's a 0.79 sapphire for $500. You can take it out of the necklace, and sell the gold for scrap and make maybe $80-100 back? I just sold two toothpicks of 14k gold for $100.. as a comparison.
http://diamondbistro.com/category/1...Final-Reduction!!-14kt-Sapphire-Necklace.html

Oh this one is too cute. It's from 1930! I love vintage things! It's listed at $400 but she's taking offers.
http://diamondbistro.com/category/2...Fishtail-with-Sapphire-and-Diamond-Sides.html

Earrings +Ring for $900.. maybe ask if she'd consider selling the ring alone?
http://diamondbistro.com/category/2...e-diamond-halo-ring-and-earrings-Reduced.html

and here are some loose ones from Bob Kast. You can always email him to cut you a larger stone, as well as do that with any CS vendor!

$39, 5mm 0.78 round untreated:
http://diamondbistro.com/category/2...st-78ct-5mm-deep-blue-untreated-Sapphire.html
$50, 5.3x3.1mm oval untreated:
http://diamondbistro.com/category/2...8/Bob-Kast-54ct-oval-sapphire,-untreated.html
 
Holy Moley! :lol:

I absolutely love the first two settings. Not quite sold on the third one though. I'm okay with it not being x-prong, but I really like the swoopy shoulders up to the head. I think that's my selling point more than the x-prong. It's the first thing I look at for a setting. The setting with surprise stones is glorious!! :lickout: Can that one be made for an oval or cushion? How would the prongs work on those shapes?

And I'm totally on board with putting the majority of the budget into the stone. I'd rather get a simpler setting and have as fab a stone as I can get. I think I want a lighter stone than the ones you linked to, but obviously I need to check out diamond bistro... I'd rather go lighter than ideal than darker, if I can't quite get my happy place.

Thank you so much! I knew there were options, I just wasn't sure where to look for them.

And honestly, the more I look at rose gold settings, the more I'm drawn into them. I was just looking at rose gold hoops to switch out with my normal white gold ones I've worn every day for years... The sheen that rose gold gives off is just drool-worthy. It just looks so.... lustrous! O_O
 
What about simplysapphires.com? I see several stones on there in the $300-$500 range that I'd love to have. Are people generally happy with their stones and customer service?
 
People do like simplysapphires, they are one of the ones people are referred to!

Also contact Dan Stair (http://www.customgemstones.com/)

Seriously, research the color stone forum like crazy. There is any awesome sticky with a bunch of vendors!
 
I'm loving the elongated cushion from simplysapphires that I believe is the one that caught your fancy. I won't post a link or picture because I'm sure you've seen it!
 
Haha! I think I've gone through every blue sapphire they have on their website. It's hard to know which one you're talking about, they have several elongated cushions (thankfully!). It's going to be hard to make a choice when the time comes. They're all so pretty!! @_@ From what I've seen, that site has the widest selection of the type of sapphire I'll be looking for in my price range. And they all seem to be very well cut. I think I've only seen one or two that have obvious windows and they were small.
 
madelise hooked you up! I was going to recommend poppyseed for settings too. I was also, like maebelle, going to suggest you consider blue spinel since you can get more bang for your buck (usually) if you were interested. There are LOTS of ways to make this happen for $800. No worries!
 
The more I look at the first one Madelise posted (the solitaire with the double claw prongs, which I've always wanted!) the more I like the look of it. I also really like the idea of a rose shank and white head. I hope she'll be able to do that for me when the time comes. If not, I'll probably go totally rose gold, because for some reason, I've got that stuck in my head and it's getting harder and harder to fathom not having a rose gold setting. I feel like it will make my ring stand out that much more, which I'm all for.

And the price is right, regardless. ;)

I wanted to thank you all again for showing me these new vendors! It really sets my mind at ease that my perfect ring really is inside my budget and I don't have to worry. Geez, I love this forum.

I'm just glad my perfect ring doesn't include a ton of melee and a huge diamond. I'm sure DBF is relieved too. Haha!
 
I love double claw prongs too :love: :love: I couldn't fit them in my setting, so I'm getting double bead prongs instead.. but double anything makes me swoon :love:

Can you ask her how much the setting will be with RG/WG like you want? Then you can figure out what amount$ of your budget you have left to work with your center stone?

I would also consider spinels too ;)) Their MOHS is pretty darn sturdy for daily wear as well.. and can give you something a bit larger! I am a bit of a size ho, so ignore me if you don't feel the same way :twirl:
 
Any updates, Ravenne? I'd love to hear how the shopping is going!
 
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