Brian Gavin solitaire: setting questions!!
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| Re: Brian Gavin solitaire: setting questions!! |
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by minmin001 » December 20th, 2011, 4:53 pm
BGD does give a discount on the diamond for PSer so make sure you ask.
I'm not sure about the difference but I really like this setting from them that's different from what you posted http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/tapered-tiffany-style-half-round-18k-yellow-gold-5540y18 |
| Re: Brian Gavin solitaire: setting questions!! |
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I've talked to BGD in person so I know what the difference is. I think I had a post about this but I don't know if it was specifically discussed.
So the 6 prong setting is a stock ring, meaning, BGD did not make it. They ordered it from a third party vendor. The other Tiffany ring though, is made in house. What's the main difference? quality. The quality of the more expensive setting will be much better, at least that's what I was told. I own a 1.22 ct BGD Blue with medium flour. I, however, bought my 6 prong solitaire setting elsewhere since we wanted to see the diamond first before it was set. I have a trusted local jeweler so I had them set it for me instead of sending it back to BGD. Let me know if you have any questions. I'd be happy to answer if it's something I know. |
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I have had the less expensive 6 prong setting from BGD and it was very nicely made. I think the main difference between the two is the prongs. The $850 setting has a more 'tiffanylike' shape to them.
The shank will be more substantial too.
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Hi, Jessica, I almost missed this! Well, I wore a 4 prong yg solitaire setting exactly like what you're looking at for 30 years! The main difference besides the prongs will be the height of the shank itself. The stock setting will be lower and you'll have to be sure you get very low wedding bands to wear with it, or else they won't look right. Both rings should be about the same height off your finger so the visual diameters will be the same.
I think you are making a good decision, because a classic solitaire never goes out of style. I changed a few years ago to a platinum ring and larger diamond, and I am thinking about going with the 6 prong Tiffany knife edge reproduction myself. I am a little torn because I do support putting as much of the money in the diamond as possible, and I think BG Blue is an excellent choice!!! But I do think the nicer solitaire setting is more elegant for a forever ring. I think in the overall scheme of things, a few hundred more for the better setting is worth it. But I'd stretch as far as I could to get as large a diamond as possible, too. I do also like the one with the rounded shank but slight taper toward the stone: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/tapered-tiffany-style-half-round-18k-yellow-gold-5540y18 |
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the prongs. I would 1000% go with the tiffany style solitaire (regular or tapered). I think it is much more fluid and elegant.
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I agree. I like the half-round as well. |
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I agree. I also like the head better. but then on PS we care about these nitpicky details!! |
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I think whoever told you that was wrong. They're both good quality. The regular 6 prong setting is a die struck Stuller setting. The way the heads are attached is the main difference I think. |
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Where have you seen that Stuller tiffany solitaires are die struck? I have always thought they were cast.
The head of the Tiffany repro is just more elegant and detailed than the stuller head. It may have more hand finishing. I do think the BG ring is better quality. |
| Re: Brian Gavin solitaire: setting questions!! |
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Thank you everyone! I am thinking I do love the Tiffany half round more- the prongs look like something I actually think are pretty instead of something that just has to be there to hold the diamond on!
And I want to go with Brian Gavin- it just feels right to me. So I think we have the setting settled (the tiffany half round in a yellow gold shank) so THANK YOU ALL!! Looking through their diamond list- it looks like I could do a K (not from the Blue collection though) at close to a 1.5 diamond in still a great cut for the same price as one of their Blues around 1.25. I know I need to see K's in real life- I have looked through ALL the folders on here and the K's, and especially in yellow gold they look white enough to me. I know I will see a bit of warmth in the sides of the regular K and I am okay with that. I know on PS people have a problem with the question "Would your average person see a tint?" but I can't help but wonder this. So the question is: Would you guys go for a 1.25 Blue K or go for the regular 1.5 K?? These 1.5's I'm seeing are in Brian's virtual collection. Does this mean he has seen them and gives them the thumbs up or is it basically like looking at a list of any other old virtual collection? I'm just wondering if I should even consider these, or go for the smaller 1.25 Blue that is basically a guarantee awesome stone. Thank you again so much!! If anyone is getting tired of seeing me I promise I am getting close, and all your advice is helping so much! Jessica ETA: The "regular" K would actually be closer to a 1.4, not 1.5, but still, that seems a lot bigger than 1.25 to me, and getting close to 1.5 is what I have always wanted. Last edited by jrich on December 20th, 2011, 10:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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I would ask them to bring in the 1.5, it's a large enough size difference in the solitaire to justify going with virtual stock.
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DS, it says it's die-struck on the Stuller website. Those standard Stuller solitaires are work horses! Probably why allmost every jewelry store/vendor has them. |
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I think they are both durable. If that's how we are defining quality then of course the stuller pieces are quality. But I think quality is a subjective term. I wouldn't use the term 'quality' at all the describe the differences-- because it IS a subjective term and in my opinion inaccurate. One is custom made for your stone-- to your custom stones dimensions. The other is a stock setting that die struck and comes in incremental sizes that you order for your stones size. Both are well made and both will stand up to wear and do it well. The difference is one of design, mostly. You can customize the BGD slightly and it is made in house, and the prongs are more aesthetically pleasing TO ME. So that's why I would pick it. But that has nothing to do with quality OR durability. |
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I agree, Gypsy. A poster mentioned that the Stuller one wouldn't be as good quality though, and I just wanted to say that wouldn't be a concern.
Jrich, I think either one is a fine choice. Get whichever one speaks to you more.  Good luck!
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Update!!
So today I went to a local jeweler near me in DC and asked if I could see a loose GIA or AGS K. She LAUGHED at me! Anyways, she didn't have one but I got her to warm up to me, and she showed me a GIA EX J and rested it on a yellow gold with platinum head solitaire setting for me. Honestly, the color didn't bother me a bit. But she said with a K there WOULD be a big difference in the color. Now sure that could be becasue she doesnt have a K and wants us to buy from her. She said if I wanted a K I could get one, but that it's going to be really hard to find one that faces up white. I also had a chance to get a better feel for size and I have to say, I don't think I'm going to be happy unless I can get to the 1.5 mark in a solitaire. So I guess this means the BGD Blue is out. I still want a stone and setting for them, so I guess now I just need to decide about a 1.5 regular K from them. I know the smart thing to do is have them send it to me first and if I like it send it right back to set it, but my BF and I talked about it and I don't want to see my diamond IRL until he is down on one knee. I know seeing the stone first would help, but it is important to us to keep this last bit a surprise. What do you guys think I should do?? What a roller coaster this process is! Jessica |
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Jessica, I wouldn't consider ordering a virtual stone from anyone without seeing it first, or at least seeing the idealscope image. In this case, the virtual stone could be a high K or a low K, and no one knows that at this point. I would order one of BG's stones. You can always upgrade the diamond later if you want. I'd go with this one if you can swing it:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.294-k-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104055121012 The advantage to the "blue" is that sometimes fluorescence can make a lower colored stone appear a bit whiter. I do think a K is going to show more tint which is why it is important for you to see the stone first. If you have a diamond set in that setting and then decide you want to change to a higher color and smaller size, you might have to pay for a new head to be put into the ring. So I really encourage you to order a K stone first and then send it back to be set if you love it! |
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Thank you DS! it always helps me so much when you reply!
Deep down I know I wont be happy unless I am VERY close to a 1.5, and I know that means I can't get a Blue. I thought arjunajane's K RB solitaire in yellow gold looked plenty white as well as a few others, but maybe they just got really lucky? What would you think of getting Brian to get in some of his non Blue K's from his virtual selection to inspect so I can get to the 1.5? I still don't understand if his virtuals mean he has seen them but just doesn't have them in house. If he hasn't seen them, did he just pick them for his virtual collection based of their stats? Or are they random diamonds that made it into his virtual collection that can't be trusted any more than another virtual collection? |
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I doubt he has seen them, but he may sort through virtual lists and posts the better ones on paper. There is nothing wrong with asking him to call in a couple for you. But tell him you only want one that he'd back with his trade-in policy in case you ever decided you wanted to go up in size, color, or whatever. That would be the key factor for me, that the stone would be good enough that he'd consider taking in back in a trade-in. If there are any stones under 1.5 (1.35-1.49) that are at least 7.2mm, you will get close to the look of a 1.5. But that said, I love 1.5 and think it is really a great size!
The key thing is that a K is only going to look fairly white face up if it is ideal cut. So you don't want to sacrifice cut especially with a lower color. |
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I would trust Brian to tell you the truth about the virtual stone you are considering. My personal opinion from a girl that likes yellow gold too is that you'll be happy with that size in a K color, BUT personal preference is just that. If it is cut ideal then really it wouldn't look too much different that that J you looked at.. I mentioned this in another thread that I once had a J and a K and very very very subtle difference, nothing like what the sales lady was telling you at all, unless she goes out and finds you a very poorly cut K and says well "I told you so" but she got a terrible cut to prove her point which is not comparing apples to apples (in terms of cut)
ETA: key point is DON"T sacrifice cut on lower color for size.... it will show warmth more than an Ideal cut one. should have ditto DS on her last post 
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My own stone is from the virtual inventory so I've had some experience with this - 1. It can take time to find a good stone. Unfortunately the report often doesn't tell you everything you want to know about it, and these stones can be anywhere - out on viewings, across the country, already sold if the listing is out of date... so it takes time to put in the request for it, wait for any other viewings to finish, have it shipped out and inspected in-house... 2. It can take money to find a good stone - you may be responsible for part of all of the shipping costs of stones they bring in that are rejected. I don't know how BGD handles this - you'll want to talk to them before getting started. 3. The above is all the more true because of the *sort* of stone you're looking for. Presumably you're looking at SIs, given the budget? So you'll have the additional issue of whether or not the stone is sufficiently clean to *your* specifications - and the only way to be completely sure is to have it shipped out to you to inspect in-person. 4. These stones may not come with the generous upgrade, etc. policies that in-house branded stones will have, so your options for changing in the future may be more limited. |
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Jessica, I think you should reconsider a halo.  They provide so much finger coverage! A 1.2 in a halo will look huge.
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Laila, thanks for the clarification on Stuller solitaires being die struck! That is very good to know and does indicate better quality to me!
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