finding a ring and possible price

[Mikec4t]

Hey guys I recently have gotten a picture sent to me from my long time gfs bestfriend of her dream ring my question is ,is this a common ring to find or will I need to consider customization and if so would anyone have a idea of price ranges you think it may fall into thank you in advance! Also advice on places to shop or use to purchase would be great help also!

 

[JulieN]

Its been a very popular style for a few years.

 

[Niel]

that can be found in most budgets. What is your budget?

 

[Mikec4t]

I am trying to stay within 4000 to 6000

 

[Gypsy]

Totally do-able.

Here, you go:
Setting: http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/18k-white-gold-pave-set-engagement-ring-cushion-center-item-31888

And put these three cushions on hold and ask for an ASET (I'll post what that is below):
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.01-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-346131
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.01-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-305166
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.05-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-304464

One you have the ASET images post them for us and we'll help you pick the right center.

Also if you can afford it, it is strongly preferred to get that setting platinum instead of white gold. WithPave (the style of the small stones in the setting) platinum is best. Also be sure to ask for the Pricescope discount at JA. That will help you get a little bit off, and put toward a platinum setting.

 

[Gypsy]

Here's the cushion cut spiel, please study the links posted as well:
With the exception of AGS0 cushion. No lab, including GIA grades cushions for performance. Only AGS does and those cushions are usually proprietary ones that are priced at a premium.

The entire purpose of faceting a diamond is to reflect light.
How well or how poorly a diamond does this determines how beautiful it is.
How well a diamond performs is determined by the angles and cutting. This is why we say cut is king. With fancies though (anything other than a round brilliant), that is a little complicated. But no other factor: not color, not clarity has as much of an impact on the appearance of a diamond as its cut.

There really is no other way to determine if you have a good cushion is to see images of the stones, and then you need is a way to check actual light performance of your actual stone.

That's what an ASET image does. http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=education-performance Please read.
And ASET shows you how and wear your diamond is reflecting light, how well it is going at it, and where you are losing light return That is why you won't see us recommending vendors like Blue Nile, as they do not provide images or ASET images for their diamonds. James Allen and Good Old Gold do this. So do Brian Gavin and Whiteflash and High Performance Diamonds.

You should stick to GIA and AGS graded stones only and from vendors that offer ASETs if you are going to shop online.

 

[Mikec4t]

Thank you so much you have been a great help!!!

 

[HopeDream]

Be careful!

The picture you sent looks a lot like this ritani setting http://www.ritani.com/engagement-ri...-band-engagement-ring-in-14kt-white-gold/6113 It features a round diamond set in a cushion-shaped halo.

Gypsy posted some lovely stone and setting options for a cushion diamond (rounded squareish) in a cushion shaped halo.

Find out from the best friend whether your GF wants a round diamond or a cushion shaped diamond, as either can be set in a cushion shaped halo quite easily.

If your GF has a specific ring in mind we should try to get all the details exactly.

 

[Gypsy]

It could be a round. I went back to the source of the image to see it blown up here: http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/5e/9c/12/5e9c12125279370a72a676a7921ecaaa.jpg and it is so hard to tell cause the image quality is poor. The prongs make me think it could be round but nothing else really. Faceting could be either. And it could even be a hearts and arrows cushion, just to throw a total wrench in the plans. It is just as likely it could be a cushion too and honestly, I don't think that anyone seeing this pic (including the OPs lady) could tell one way or another what shape that stone is. So for me that opened the field. And frankly, the OPs budget works much better for a cushion at one carat than a round. So I don't know if hitting the one carat mark is important, but if it is... the budget is going to have to go up to get a round one carat that will be high enough color to sit in a halo.

MIKE_ If it is possible to go back to your lady's best friend and ASK if she thinks that stone is a round or a cushion (and hope she knows the difference) that would be a good thing, just as HopeDream recommends. But if you can't or she doesn't know... then I say the field is open for either.

 

[Gypsy]

Another option is this stone: http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD04351463 It's a cushion, but it's a hearts and arrows cushion. So it is a very nice cross between a cushion and a round. It would look great in the JA setting (I wouldn't buy a halo from Blue Nile). James Allen will set outside stone in their settings. So that might be the way to go. Does put you over budget though.

 

[HopeDream]

Hi Gypsy
Yeah, the image a bit inconclusive on stone shape isn't it? the very center of the stone screams hearts and arrows to me, but the edges are blurred as to the stone's outline. I think your find of a hearts and arrows cushion is great! I really admire your ability to consistently find great stones and excellent settings to match.

Mikec4t
I know when I was getting engaged I would have been completely enraged if I sent a picture of a ring and then received the wrong type of stone (some girls can be really picky/sensitive about this sort of thing - mostly because the ering is "forever" so must be "perfect" (or at least until the first upgrade ). Hopefully the best friend will get back to you soon.

 

[Gypsy]

Thanks HopeDream, it's a scavenger hunt for me. And I like scavenger hunts!
I too think that if there is no more information forthcoming, then the hearts and arrows cushion is the safest bet.

 

[drk14]

MIKE_ If it is possible to go back to your lady's best friend and ASK if she thinks that stone is a round or a cushion (and hope she knows the difference) that would be a good thing, just as HopeDream recommends. But if you can't or she doesn't know... then I say the field is open for either.

Isn't the picture in the OP from the gf's Pinterest account? If so, he could ask gf's bff for a link to the gf's Pinterest board. There may be additional clues there about the preferred diamond cut.

 

[Niel]

So.. this would take a bit of investigating, but never the less...

If this was her size
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ritani-18k-Gold-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-Setting-3799-/200929042751?pt=US_Engagement_Ring_Settings&hash=item2ec84de13f

Id ask them what the ideal size is for that setting, i suspect because it was a stock setting that it is in fact 5.5mm

If so, id see if GOG could set this stone in there for you, they would probably chafe a fee, but if you email that ebay seller i bet they would take off $100 off the price, that would pay for the setting fee i bet.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/12298/


like i said, a lot of ifs, but it would be worth looking into, that setting usually is 3k

 

[emmebee]

I think the H&A cushion that gypsy posted is a great idea!