Please help, decision time and it's down to two rings!

[Happyguy]

Hi guys, I really need your help. The girlfriend and I have gone ring shopping a few times, so I know which types of styles she likes, and have done a lot of research to narrow it down to two rings. I'm just torn on the issue of the setting now and have to make a decision soon to be able to get the ring in time.

Her favorite settings were a thicker channel sets, followed by more delicate split shank pave rings in 2nd place.

They're both going to have a 1.2ct diamond, G/VS2 ideal cut.

My choices are between these two:

Whiteflash cathedral pave
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen...thedral-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-1421.htm

And this split shank from Kwiat
http://www.kwiat.com/catalog/RC_1000/17632a_18kw_table.jpg
http://www.kwiat.com/catalog/TC_1000/17632a_18kw_angle.jpg
http://www.kwiat.com/catalog/TC_1000/17632a_18kw_side.jpg


At this stage I want to choose and surprise her but I'm just curious, if you guys had to choose, what would you pick?

I personally think that the kwiat setting is beautiful and unique with great craftsmanship and that even though it's not her favorite style, she would still love it. I feel like I would just be really happy to be able to give her something so beautifully crafted. But this is the first real jewelry purchase I've ever made and I know I might be out to lunch so I'd love to hear the opinions of so you who've seen a lot of rings and jewlery over the years!

 

[doubledouble]

I would find a sneaky way to ask her which one she prefers without letting her know those are the exact two you are considering.

 

[msop04]

Kwiat. Hands down. I don't care for channel sets and thick bands though. It's a personal opinion... usually people are drawn to one or the other. Since these styles are completely different, I'd have to make sure I knew which one she preferred.

 

[msop04]

BTW, the WF ring isn't channel set... it's prong set with thick metal on either side. Channel set is a whole different animal.

 

[JulieN]

thicker channels are not "in" right now so maybe she has a good reason for preferring it? Like maybe if she has large fingers and needs to take up more real estate? I think the walls on the WF ring is too thick, more diamonds, please! Like this is also 3 mm but the side diamonds are much bigger. http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/magnolia-diamond-engagement-ring-1542.htm

 

[Happyguy]

Hey guys thanks for your responses!! It's tough for me to ask her because we've found that what we thought we'd like in pictures isn't actually what she ended up liking when we went to the store so I think she would find it hard to choose without trying. I know she tried many different styles on and these were the two ideas that she ended up liking.

Thanks for pointing out that it wasn't really channel set, I didn't realize that! I know she would still love it though because what she liked was the metal on both sides of the side diamonds and the thicker band. I know she mentioned that she feels her fingers aren't that long/thin so she thought these wider styles might be a good fit.

Do you think that it would be difficult to pair either of these with a wedding band? For instance am I right in thinking the Kwiat probably can't fit a wedding band ring alongside it?

 

[Happyguy]

Thank you for your suggestion Julie! The reason I picked the Cathedral Pave look is because the channel's she tried on in the store had quite wide of walls and also I believe she will prefer the higher set diamond and the shape of the prongs. She was worried a bit about side diamonds on some rings overwhelming the center stone

 

[liaerfbv]

Honestly, I'm not crazy about either ring. If I had to choose, I'd go with the Kwiat (and I wear a 7, so I know about needing to take up finger real estate). Are you open to other options or are these the 100% final 2 you are choosing from?

 

[Happyguy]

I am definitely open to other options especially if you know of some more beautiful settings similar to the whiteflash one!

As far as split shanks go I think I'm pretty set with the kwiat but I've been finding it hard to find a beautiful channel set or rather ring with the rails on either side of the side diamonds (since I guess the whiteflash one isn't really a channel set!) If you have some suggestions that would be great!

 

[liaerfbv]

Here's a Ritani that I think meets both of her likes in the middle - diamonds in the shank but also a subtle split.

http://www.ritani.com/engagement-rings/vintage-tulip-diamond-band-engagement-ring-in-14kt-white-gold/8065

 

[mns12]

Kwiat. Hands down. I don't care for channel sets and thick bands though. It's a personal opinion... usually people are drawn to one or the other. Since these styles are completely different, I'd have to make sure I knew which one she preferred.

+1
Would be a VERY easy choice for me (KWIAT), however you want to make sure you please HER

 

[VRBeauty]

So if I'm reading your first post correctly... she (who will be wearing the ring) prefers a style with more gold showing, you prefer a more delicate setting, and you're soliciting opinions hoping to tip the balance towards your preference...?

Hmmm...

In any event, this might be a nice compromise:

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen...eek-line-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-422.htm

 

[liaerfbv]

I'm thinking outside the box here, again, it kinda meets her wants in the middle.

http://www.since1910.com/art-carved-ac-31v207er-diamond-solitaire-engagement-ring

I really like this one, it's still got metal on the sides but isn't so bulky.

http://www.ritani.com/engagement-rings/modern-bypass-micropave-diamond-band-engagement-ring-in-palladium/4762

I also like VRB's suggestion.

 

[liaerfbv]

So if I'm reading your first post correctly... she (who will be wearing the ring) prefers a style with more gold showing, you prefer a more delicate setting, and you're soliciting opinions hoping to tip the balance towards your preference...?
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I didn't read it like that - I thought he was saying she liked the thicker shank best and then the split shank. Maybe I misunderstood.

 

[Happyguy]

Indeed, these are her top two choices with a slight preference towards the channel set that we tried in the store! But they were approximations as the settings we tried were mostly somewhat average ones from Jared and the similar stores with lots of options in stock. The idea from there was that I would work on my own to find the right ring but I'm having trouble deciding. My personal feeling is the Kwiat ring is a really well crafted item but I think if I had found a channel set type ring that's on par with it she might possibly like that more!

Thanks for your suggestions guys. I think that modern bypass ritani you posted is a really cool idea. My gut instinct though is that she would probably prefer to stay solidly in one design or the other. I checked out the Legato but I think it's a bit too thin for what she's looking for. Her finger size is 7.5 so she either wanted a slightly thicker band or the impression of width created by the split shank.

 

[msop04]

In any event, this might be a nice compromise:

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen...eek-line-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-422.htm

This is lovely! Looks more refined and less bulky.

 

[JulieN]

Mkay, if you go channel set, I think start with the Tiffany six prong channel as a jumping off point. Not loving the WF one you posted, the legato sleek line looks better.

Kwiat one I think each individual shank is a bit thin for my taste. like split shanks, just not super thin like that.

 

[jess719]

How about either of these? They are a bit more substantial, but they are really pretty!

Sholdt Mia from Brian Gavin
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/e...side-stones/mia-sholdt-14k-white-gold-5337w14


Sara from Brian Gavin
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/sara-18k-white-gold-5470w18

 

[Happyguy]

What do you guys think of these Vatche settings?

http://www.goodoldgold.com/images/s...ANNEL/u 104 trad channel set 3 view large.jpg

http://www.goodoldgold.com/images/s... ROUNDS/197 caroline channel 3 view large.jpg

 

[Happyguy]

How about either of these? They are a bit more substantial, but they are really pretty!

Sholdt Mia from Brian Gavin
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/e...side-stones/mia-sholdt-14k-white-gold-5337w14


Sara from Brian Gavin
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/sara-18k-white-gold-5470w18

I like the second one! Also saw this one on their website just now that looks similar to what she liked to me http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/peggy-18k-white-gold-5359w18

 

[Happyguy]

Last one I found. Do you think this is any nicer than the first whiteflash setting?

http://dvatche.com/photos/product/zoom/10_0.jpg

 

[msop04]

What do you guys think of these Vatche settings?

http://www.goodoldgold.com/images/s...ANNEL/u 104 trad channel set 3 view large.jpg

http://www.goodoldgold.com/images/s... ROUNDS/197 caroline channel 3 view large.jpg

The U-104 is 100% better!!

 

[liaerfbv]

I really like the vatche you posted the best so far. The shank looks pretty thin though. On my own size 7, I do not like < 3mm shanks. I am guessing she is leaning for a chunkier and/or split shank for the same reason. Has she looked at 3 stone or baguette side stones?

 

[msop04]

How about either of these? They are a bit more substantial, but they are really pretty!

Sholdt Mia from Brian Gavin
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/e...side-stones/mia-sholdt-14k-white-gold-5337w14


Sara from Brian Gavin
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/sara-18k-white-gold-5470w18

I like the second one! Also saw this one on their website just now that looks similar to what she liked to me http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/peggy-18k-white-gold-5359w18

Just saw the new ones posted...

If she wants a thicker band, this one will not work... it's dainty. http://dvatche.com/photos/product/zoom/10_0.jpg

I like the Brian Gavin one, but it sits lower on the hand... I think you mentioned she wants it to sit higher? Maybe you could ask BG to set the stone higher??

 

[Happyguy]

Thanks for your help and your constant feedback guys, I really appreciate it.

I like the U104 look a lot too. They told me the 104 is about 2.5-2.6mm. I'm getting so confused at this stage, I don't know if this is too thin. In comparison their take on the tiffany channel 6 prong was about 3.3mm. I know my girlfriend didn't like the original Tiffany channel as she thought it was actually too bulky and when I looked it up I saw that varies between 3.5-4 mm across?

I had been looking for a ring that was ~3 but really don't know now, as the whiteflash has been the only one I could find that was bang on at 3, and was set up high without a lot of extra stuff going on.

 

[liaerfbv]

What's your budget for the setting? I LOVE the BGD Peggy, but it's almost 2k and I've been searching in the ~1100 range bc that's what your WF setting was. I'm posting from my phone so pls excuse crazy run on sentences, etc.

My vote is 3mm for shank. Substantial without being chunky. Has she expressed a pref for wedding band? My ering shank is 2.5 and current wb is 3 so together it's a wall. You might want to consider that too.

 

[Happyguy]

My budget for the setting is about 3k because with the savings on the stone from Whiteflash I have some buffer compared to the Kwiat ring. I think you're right about finding a 3mm band it seems like a good balance. I like the Brian Gavin one as well, maybe I will phone them in the morning and see if the stone can be set any higher.

 

[liaerfbv]

I'm sure they would be able to help! I think the Peggy is gorgeous and the most flattering and modern of the ones you've looked at.

Another thought, do you think she would like a tapered shank? It's still the channel look she wants with more finger coverage! This is over budget but as an example. http://www.ritani.com/engagement-rings/tapered-pave-diamond-band-engagement-ring-in-palladium/4780

 

[stargurl78]

I vote for the BGD Peggy!

 

[Emeraldcutlover]

Kwiat!