about to pull the trigger, please help! what do you think of this one?

[gregdole7]

I wanted to get your opinion on this ring. My girlfriend picked it out, at a very reputable jeweler here in Atlanta. They are selling it for about $9K--setting and stone. It is a Henri Daussi piece. Please share thoughts, and thank you in advance.

 

[gregdole7]

GIA for center stone

 

[Rod]

Welcome

The ring look''s quite lovely. If you are looking for advice as to whether you should buy this or not, at this point, I''m not sure you''ll receive too many replies. The ring is beautiful that''s for sure. More would need to be known about the cushion, such as crown and angle, but in fancy cuts, the stats only provide typical reference, where seeing will provide the real answers. If your intended has seen this ring and loves this ring, you''ll likely be a hero and unquestionably make her happy if you purchase this ring.

Good Luck with your engagement!!!

 

[gregdole7]

Hi Rod,

Thanks for the reply. That is one thing I was wondering about--should I have a new GIA report done? My understanding is that a newer report would provide the crown and angle--and even a color grade (G1-5).

Also--is there a general impression re: the quality of daussi''s work?

 

[gregdole7]

rod--also, if you had any general impressions on the stone after seeing the measurements/depth/table that would be helpful. I noticed the cushions for sale on Leon Mege''s site have significantly more depth (80+), but I didn''t know if that was a good thing. I did talk to leon about making a ring like this, and he did not have very nice things to say about the picture--that made me nervous, but I also didn''t know if I should take it with a grain of salt or not.

 

[Rod]

Sorry Greg, I''m not a knowledgeable about cushion cuts, but there are others here who know way more than I do. From the picture (and pictures can be misleading), the stone look''s very nice. Is the setting white gold or Platinum?

 

[gregdole7]

this is a platinum setting.

 

[belle]

don''t bother to get it regraded. it''s not worth the time, effort or $$$$. if your gf loves it, then that is all that matters. it looks like good quality work. as much as one can tell from a picture anyway.
unless leon can make it for the same cost, take what he said with a grain of salt. he is very good at what he does but unless he can produce something better for a very similar amount (the price is already up there!) there is no reason to redesign the wheel.

 

[mrssalvo]

cushions are just so hard to judge by the numbers alone. you have the advantage of seeing the stone. I will say that the price seems high to me. Do a search by cut on the home page entering your specs for a 1 carat cushion and you''ll get an idea of pricing. Not sure how much the setting would cost but I''m guess you could probably do better online. However, if you GF fell inlove with this ring and it''s fits in your budget it might be worth paying more to make her happy as well as the convenience of working with a local jeweler having a place to go for minor repairs and cleanings. Just curious, what did Leon say was wrong with the setting?

 

[gregdole7]

thanks for the reply.

He said it would be about $12K with the stone listed on his site (1.03ct F, VS2 56% table, 81.4% depth). I can see that he does great work, and I was loving this ring until I heard his comments about it.

 

[gregdole7]

/

 

[mrssalvo]

I would not buy a center stone from Leon. If you're wanting a great cushion, have Mark T at engagementringsdirect find your stone, he's got a great eye for them and being in NY has access to many that many vendors can't see without paying to call them in. He also works with Leon so that might be an option to do the whole thing through mark. But, 12K when you can get the ring she already wants and loves for 9K....I'd go with that....

 

[gregdole7]

from what I can see online, this stone looks like its worth about $6K.

What would you think the setting should cost?

PLATINUM HENRI DAUSSI DIAMOND RING CENTER CUSHION 1.03CT G/VS2 GIA, 2 SIDE SHIELD DIAMONDS =.47TW G/VS1 AND PAVE DIAMONDS =.31TW

 

[belle]

Date: 9/13/2006 12:15:14 PM
Author: gregdole7
He did not give me any specifics as to what he did not like. He said ''ths is just not good work. I wouldn''t take this ring if it was free, you could buy this at Macy''s, etc.''

how nice!

with an approx. 6k for the stone, an extra 3k for the setting would be about right. it is designer plat/diamonds. that''s what you''re going to pay.

 

[mrssalvo]

I did a search and the stone averaged $5500 so a little less than 6k but in line for a B &M.

as for the setting, is it cast or handmade? that will affect the price, but I agree with belle that the price seems inline for what it is.

 

[gregdole7]

I am not sure if its cast or handmade, I can ask.

 

[gregdole7]

this is from the daussi site--I''m guessing this means its handmade:

Each of our handmade signature pieces is truly unique. It all begins with a piece of rough diamond hand selected by one of our expert cutters in our European facility. Using modern techniques coupled with old world craftsmanship each stone is cut to reflect its full potential and beauty. Next, each piece is individually handcrafted around the finished diamond. Finally, each piece is inspected personally by a member of the Daussi family to ensure superior quality, and ultimately your satisfaction.

 

[mrssalvo]

sounds like it''s handmade then so it''s definitely a fair price for the entire ring. If you are happy with the stone and the quality of the setting and she loved it, looks like you have a winner...

 

[Rod]

I agree, this seems like a reasonable price for a handmade ring in platinum. Sorry about the comments made from Leon. It''s not good form to criticise someone else''s work. To me this decision should be pretty simple. This appears to be a beautiful ring. You''d be buying locally and have access to local service, sizing, cleaning, polishing if needed. AND, since (correct us if we''re wrong) your girlfriend loves this ring, you''d be foolish to pass it up.

Have you asked them if $9K is the absolute best they can do? I would offer a little less and see if they are willing to go a little lower. Otherwise, I hope this rings cements a beautiful life together.

Best wishes..........

 

[studiorack]

Hi Greg,

I'm in the same boat you are. I've been searching for a different cut from you (Round Brilliant), but there's a couple of things about the diamond that I'd caution you on. I've noticed a very strong correlation between cut evaluation and light performance. Most people here would agree with that. I've see it in person first hand also. After looking at about 50 diamonds of various cut qualities, I'd recommend going with something with at least 'very good' for cut and symmetry.

Money is still a consideration for me also. After searching and searching with PriceScope's cut adviser, I was able to find some excellent cut and symmetry center and side stones in the same Carat, Color and Clarity for nearly the same price as other vendor's 'Very Good' or 'Good'. You could find a better deal if you're willing to do the leg work.

 

[gregdole7]

thanks for the feedback everyone, I am a bit more encouraged.

Studio,

where do you see the cut and symmetry on this cert posted above?

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 9/13/2006 3:16:25 PM
Author: gregdole7


Studio,


where do you see the cut and symmetry on this cert posted above?

it''s toward the bottom under finish and both polish and symmetry are listed as good. Honestly, in a fancy like a cushion, i wouldn''t be too concerned about it since you''ve seen it and like it. I was hunting a cushion for a while and ex/ex are very hard to find in that shape. I''ve seen some gorgeous cushions with only good or very good. Now, in a round, i''m much more picky and ex/ex is the only way I''d go

 

[Cehrabehra]

I just wanted to say that my stone has the same cut as yours, a tiny bit more square and it''s a really fun stone. I can''t help you on anything else, just like the picture of it in the setting

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/13/2006 11:55:43 AM
Author: gregdole7
Hi Rod,

Thanks for the reply. That is one thing I was wondering about--should I have a new GIA report done? My understanding is that a newer report would provide the crown and angle--and even a color grade (G1-5).

Also--is there a general impression re: the quality of daussi''s work?

don''t bother regrading - they don''t list those numbers on cushions anyway... mine was graded this year and they''re not on the cert.

 

[devientdrow]

Thats absolutly gorgeous. I love that ring!

Also you can go to GIA''s website and put in the number and it will pull up the angles and what have you. At least thats what I did for mine, which was a 2005? cert. Possibly 2004? Can''t remember off the top of my head. But none of the angles were included in the cert but I managed to use to GIA site to get them.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Being in the process of looking at settings, $3000 is a good deal on a platinum handmade setting with sidestones that large. In fact, I''d wonder if it was made before platinum went through the roof. I priced an antique style setting with pave, engraving and two side diamonds two weeks ago and it was $3900. So I think the ring sounds like a fair deal. I''d probably take a closer look at the diamonds and setting with a loupe before deciding, but it looks like a good choice!

 

[gregdole7]

Thank you so much for the quick responses. Today brought a lot of updates, and I'll still need the help of this wonderful pricescope community. Thanks again in advance.

I went and looked at the ring again--its beautiful. The one thing I was not sure about is the pave around the center stone has more fire than the center stone. The centerstone is brilliantly white, and so very clear. I think the nature of the cushion with less facets is to sparkle less, so that makes sense. The impression I had was the ring was so great it took away a bit from the center stone.

I did visit another local jeweler who said he could have the same ring made for $2200 or so. While that makes me somewhat nervous, I am willing to explore the option.

With the aforementioned "fire" issue--we are also now open to looking for a radiant cut if we make the ring ourselves. The radaint having more facets, the thought is that it would shine more and not get so lost in the pave.

So--wonderful forum people--I'd like to start a poll. What is the best cusion or radiant (rectangle) you can find me for $6k or less? My girlfriend says that as long as the stone does not look grey, she is fine with any color--so I think we should look in the F-H range. For clarity an eye clean VS1-SI1 would be great--or even an SI2 whose inclusions are at the side of or bottom of the stone and will be hid by the setting. I would like to move up some in size and cut if we can.

You can see what I have with the cert above--can you help me do better?

Thanks in advance--and for those who love the ring, here is another shot from the daussi site.

 

[gregdole7]

also, if anyone has general feelings about having a ring made from pics, please let me know,

thanks again

 

[mrssalvo]

honestly, I think any stone you put in that type of setting is going to have some competition. it''s a very detailed ornate setting. I personally much prefer cushions so I''d probably just stick with the stone and setting rather than go the path of custom. Custom can be tricky and just asking another jeweler to copy someone''s ring can be a slippery slope in ethics, plus I normally would rather have the person that has made it, makes it often, do mine rather than someone who has never done it before or at least not as often. But that''s me

 

[gregdole7]

I understand what you''re saying and have had the same thoughts myself. She did say she might like pave on the band, so that is one thing we could change with a custom job that she might prefer.