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Advice- SO likes a neil lane band

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vinceisvince2

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 8, 2012
Messages
21
It's $2k
http://design.jared-diamonds.com/engagement-rings/neil-lane-bridal-settings/ring/item_476-8994.asp

And I like a diamond from whiteflash that's about 1400. That puts me over budget in a sense. I'm not sure if I can get this ring cheaper or what. Also am I to buy the diamond and have jared set it? Or the other way around? Or perhaps WF can get this setting and maybe it'll be a bit cheaper? I'm looking at their settings and the only one that is pretty good price and a contender is:
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/diamond-braid-diamond-engagement-ring-121.htm

1650 + 1400 = 3000 - 75 - 4% =2808 which is a little better.

Advice?
 
Um, those settings don't look alike. At all. Not even close. Your GF might like the WF setting, who knows? But if she specifically pointed out the Jared/Neil Lane ring, I think you should at least show her the WF setting and see what she thinks before you go that route. Or tell her that the Jared/Neil Lane ring is over budget and you have XX dollars to spend on a setting, and ask what she likes in that price range. She may point out a third setting. You never know. Your other option is to find a slightly less expensive diamond and I know the ladies and gentlemen on this board are always more than happy to help with that!

Oh, and to answer one of your other questions, yes, you can bring the loose diamond to Jared's and they'll set it into one of their settings. That's what I did, and they check my prongs and replate my ring every six months.
 
A few thoughts/comments/answers to your questions:

I don't like that the Neil Lane line at Jared has such low-clarity diamonds. The listing states SI2-I1. Whiteflash uses VS melee (tiny stones) and so it's going to look a whole lot better.

I also don't like the idea of spending more on the setting than on the center stone, but that's just my humble opinion, and that's why my husband did--spent $1k on the diamond and $300 on the setting.

It's a pretty, antique-style setting, but the way that the basket is (the part holding the center diamond), it's going to be impossible to wear a band next to the ring. If she's just planning on wearing the engagement ring with no wedding band, no problem, otherwise she's going to need a curved band, which doesn't look as nice as a stand-alone wedding band if she's ever going low-key without her e-ring (depending on her job, lifestyle, etc.). A style like this would allow for a regular straight band: http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER7506W44JJ

I like the Whiteflash option you posted, but there are quite a few differences between it and the Neil Lane ring (no side stones, curved shank instead of straight), and it would also make wearing a band tricky. Has she seen the Whiteflash option?

Can you ask your girlfriend what it is that she likes about the Neil Lane ring? Is it that it looks antique? Would she still like it if it didn't have the 2 side-stones on either side of the halo? I think there are probably better antique-style halo options we could steer you to.

Oh, and even if you decide the Neil Lane ring is the way to go, I'd see what Whiteflash says about having them set it. I'd strongly recommend getting the loose stone insured if you're going to have it set anywhere other than Whiteflash, and in fact, that may be required, which adds another expense.
 
Ditto - either get her something that looks exactly the same or get her to review the rings on www.gabrielengaged.com and order one from GOG or IDjewelry at their discount. I would be SO disappointed if you got me that braided one if I were expecting the Neil Lane one! BTW, Gabriel & Co can change the shape of the head to match your diamond at a small upcharge.
 
Gog is way out of my league! I'm looking to spend 2-2.5k on band and diamond. I really like the ones from WF and good prices. Now I have to find more diamonds if I go with a Gabriel setting? I read a few things bout Neil lane being a little cheap ultimately, stones falling out, and not being as bright of side stones although in person it looked a lot better than the store brand settings. Well I'm looking for an amazing cut princes around 4.4 mm (~.5 ct). I don't know if I can afford the halo without sacrificing something....
 
You can still get the center stone from Whiteflash and have ID Jewelry or Good Old Gold set it. *Or* there may be a more local jewelry store that carries the Gabriel & Co. line and can do it for you closer to home. I think ID Jewelry and GOG offer a discount off the recommended retail price, though, so it might be cheaper to go with one of them.

Edited to add: I just did a search on James Allen and came up with a potential stone that would leave you a good amount in your budget to get a halo setting.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1481947.asp ($1,143 w/PS wire discount)
 
vinceisvince2|1337795936|3201771 said:
Gog is way out of my league! I'm looking to spend 2-2.5k on band and diamond. I really like the ones from WF and good prices. Now I have to find more diamonds if I go with a Gabriel setting? I read a few things bout Neil lane being a little cheap ultimately, stones falling out, and not being as bright of side stones although in person it looked a lot better than the store brand settings. Well I'm looking for an amazing cut princes around 4.4 mm (~.5 ct). I don't know if I can afford the halo without sacrificing something....
Click to expand...

Buy the setting form GOG or IDJ (like someone else did yesterday on here) and send the setting to Whiteflash for setting (They said $100 setting fee). No need to look at more diamonds. :)
 
Wow gabrielny has some beautiful settings. She was looking through them but I think she is discouraged because she cannot see in person, but there is a dealer nearby so we will check it out!. WF said my best bet would be to have jared set the diamond if we go that route. They cannot purchase any Neil lane. We are still sifting through, maybe YouTube can show some Gabriel settings in real time and that might help. Btw I wanted to spend 1400 or less on a band. Also what is interesting is they have plain ngagement rings but the matching wedding band has many diamonds in it and really spruces things up.
 
vinceisvince2|1337878103|3202688 said:
Wow gabrielny has some beautiful settings. She was looking through them but I think she is discouraged because she cannot see in person. WF said my best bet would be to have jared set the diamond if we go that route. They cannot purchase any Neil lane. We are still sifting through, maybe YouTube can show some Gabriel settings in real time and that might help. Btw I wanted to spend 1400 or less on a band. Also what is interesting is they have plain engagement rings but the matching wedding band has many diamonds in it and really spruces things up.
Click to expand...

Here is a link to the Gabriel & Co. website: http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/locations, fill out the form to find out whether there are any B&Ms that carry their line near where you live. If they do have a place that carries their line in your area, you might be able to see some of their settings in person, your GF can try some on, and then decide what she really likes.

ETA: a better link to Gabriel & Co.
 
Well me and the girl went to a mom and pops looking jewelry store that was incredible customer service and a person who knew what I was talking about ! It was neat that all the things I learned from here she knew. Anyhow we tried on a bunch of there settings and they wrre gorgeous. We went there because they are a Gabriel dealer. But they only had fashion jewelry from Gabriel! So we ended up looming at their stock. Most of there settings were at least 2k . One in particular that she "loved" and made her cry (is that a sign or not ? Lol) was 2500. They didn't have many princess cut loose diamonds but I'm still intent on a wf aca .5 ct. But then I'm reAlly busting the bank since my loose diamond is $1400. I just sent them an email asking what they can do for me. Btw this setting she picked is halo and built around the diamond, so she could never get a larger size....

They said they can get Gabriel rings in for her to look at but at $2k for something she wants and might not even like is it worth it to save 500.

The key thing she likes is halo, and diamonds all over the band. This one is very small diamonds. She likes the side to have something going on, which most ringsu don't do.
 
I went into the jewelry store again, she showed me a .4 ct diamond that had pretty good sparkle and fire, was actually a pretty diamond. I might order one from whiteflash ACA and compare . Apparently I get a good discount from them that is legitimately a good price from what I've seen.
 
I've only started dealing with Yekutiel @ IDJ and they have been soo helpful...... ! definitely reach out to them!
 
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