Now that I know that I should have a few options regarding what to do with my old wedding band, my husband and I are looking at options for a new engagement ring. We had hoped to do a three-stone design using my original 1 ct round, the 0.4 carat round from his great-grandmother's engagement ring, and a new side stone. However, I got really frustrated with trying to work with a local custom jeweler and don't especially want to work with someone who's not local. I've also realized that I really want to be able to see the actual ring (or a sample of it) in person before we choose something.
We're still open to the idea of a three-stone ring if we could somehow find (and see beforehand) something good that's made for the dimensions we need. This seems unlikely, so we've started looking at options that wouldn't use the 0.4 carat stone and even some that wouldn't use either stone.
We don't live near any big cities, so we don't have a whole lot of options locally, but we are going to be in Seattle soon and should have some free time, so I would love recommendations for any shops we should check out there.
The first option that I saw in real life and really liked is this Parade design. I didn't realize until I saw it just how much I love antique-y filigree and such because it looks so different on a small, real ring than in huge pictures online. Anyway, the sample ring in the store had a CZ that's larger than my 1 ct stone, and I'm not totally sure that I'd love this setting with a smaller stone (pictures of this setting with a 1 ct stone and a size around 5.25 might be helpful if any of you have them). It would be nice to use my original stone, but we are open to getting something bigger, probably an OEC. I haven't gotten to see any OECs in person, so recommendations for where to find these in Seattle would be particularly helpful to make sure I actually like them as much as I think I would. I just love the idea of something older, with some history, set in a ring with a vintage feel. If I see some and really love them, I will certainly be back here for more advice on them.
I did find a couple Tacori settings that I liked with 1 ct stones (this one and this one, probably the first one more). I have reservations, though, because I know that there have been some issues with the durability of Tacori's rings. I love all the intricate details on the Tacori and Parade rings, but I also really want something that's going to last. Is Tacori's quality now better than it seems to have been a while back? How good is Tacori's warranty? I've heard mixed reviews of their customer service and willingness to fix issues.
If you think I should stay away from Tacori and/or Parade (I really don't know anything about Parade except that I like one of their settings, so info on them would be much appreciated, too), can you recommend something else that will have a similar look, with the delicate designs, but that might be more durable?
I'm open to the idea of buying an antique ring, so I welcome recommendations for online sellers who have good return policies, as well as stores in and around Seattle.
We're still open to the idea of a three-stone ring if we could somehow find (and see beforehand) something good that's made for the dimensions we need. This seems unlikely, so we've started looking at options that wouldn't use the 0.4 carat stone and even some that wouldn't use either stone.
We don't live near any big cities, so we don't have a whole lot of options locally, but we are going to be in Seattle soon and should have some free time, so I would love recommendations for any shops we should check out there.
The first option that I saw in real life and really liked is this Parade design. I didn't realize until I saw it just how much I love antique-y filigree and such because it looks so different on a small, real ring than in huge pictures online. Anyway, the sample ring in the store had a CZ that's larger than my 1 ct stone, and I'm not totally sure that I'd love this setting with a smaller stone (pictures of this setting with a 1 ct stone and a size around 5.25 might be helpful if any of you have them). It would be nice to use my original stone, but we are open to getting something bigger, probably an OEC. I haven't gotten to see any OECs in person, so recommendations for where to find these in Seattle would be particularly helpful to make sure I actually like them as much as I think I would. I just love the idea of something older, with some history, set in a ring with a vintage feel. If I see some and really love them, I will certainly be back here for more advice on them.
I did find a couple Tacori settings that I liked with 1 ct stones (this one and this one, probably the first one more). I have reservations, though, because I know that there have been some issues with the durability of Tacori's rings. I love all the intricate details on the Tacori and Parade rings, but I also really want something that's going to last. Is Tacori's quality now better than it seems to have been a while back? How good is Tacori's warranty? I've heard mixed reviews of their customer service and willingness to fix issues.
If you think I should stay away from Tacori and/or Parade (I really don't know anything about Parade except that I like one of their settings, so info on them would be much appreciated, too), can you recommend something else that will have a similar look, with the delicate designs, but that might be more durable?
I'm open to the idea of buying an antique ring, so I welcome recommendations for online sellers who have good return policies, as well as stores in and around Seattle.