Another "Help me decide" Post

[sparkle_more]

I am looking for a ring(s) to replace my current set that is 19 years old.

Originally I wanted an oval center with two side pears, however the more I have looked the more confused I've gotten about what I want.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/grace-3-stone-pears-18k-white-gold-5557w18

At this point though I think that I want something with a lot of flash (I've always liked my current ring but it isn't very sparkly). I'm considering a 5-stone trellis ring like the one from WF with graduated stone. My ring size is about 9.25 so I can go a little bigger on the stones, but I don't want them hanging off the edge or rubbing my other fingers.

http://www.whiteflash.com/right-hand-rings/5-stone-trellis-diamond-right-hand-ring-2315.htm

So here is my other dilemma besides what setting to choose. I have a pretty tight budget and I want the biggest center stone I can get. I'd like to have a full carat, but I don't think that is possible (~$4000 for the biggest stone is my limit).

Should I:
a) go with a smaller diamond now and get one that I can upgrade later at WF?
b) get a similar setting at BGD and get one of their upgradable diamonds?
c) not worry about an upgrade and buy one of the cheaper, larger stones?

Are the BGD blue and signature and WF ACA worth the extra money?

If I get one of those stones do I even have to worry about finding a "good" one or are they all just terrific?

I am looking for something stunning on a smaller budget (~$6500 total)

TIA,
Michelle

 

[tyty333]

If you know you want to upgrade in the future I would probably just go with a solitare setting. You can pretty much trust all
BGD and ACA stones. A blue would be a good way to get more bang for your buck.


http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.024-k-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104062571013
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.098-k-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104062032020

with a setting like this or an even cheaper setting
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/classic-tiffany-style-half-round-18k-white-gold-5478w18

 

[bunnycat]

I am looking for a ring(s) to replace my current set that is 19 years old.

Originally I wanted an oval center with two side pears, however the more I have looked the more confused I've gotten about what I want.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/grace-3-stone-pears-18k-white-gold-5557w18

At this point though I think that I want something with a lot of flash (I've always liked my current ring but it isn't very sparkly). I'm considering a 5-stone trellis ring like the one from WF with graduated stone. My ring size is about 9.25 so I can go a little bigger on the stones, but I don't want them hanging off the edge or rubbing my other fingers.

http://www.whiteflash.com/right-hand-rings/5-stone-trellis-diamond-right-hand-ring-2315.htm

So here is my other dilemma besides what setting to choose. I have a pretty tight budget and I want the biggest center stone I can get. I'd like to have a full carat, but I don't think that is possible (~$4000 for the biggest stone is my limit).

Should I:
a) go with a smaller diamond now and get one that I can upgrade later at WF?
b) get a similar setting at BGD and get one of their upgradable diamonds?
c) not worry about an upgrade and buy one of the cheaper, larger stones?

Are the BGD blue and signature and WF ACA worth the extra money?

If I get one of those stones do I even have to worry about finding a "good" one or are they all just terrific?

I am looking for something stunning on a smaller budget (~$6500 total)

TIA,
Michelle

Hi Michelle-

I can only give you my opinion from personal experience but in the end, you need to prioritize where you will. You are also probably going to get a lot of varied replies about what you should do and in what order.

First answer. I do entirely think a signature stone can be worth it, though there are certainly other very nice stones out there. The stone I had in my setting before this stone was and AGS 0, and very well cut. I preferred it over any of the other stones I looked at (and I looked at quite a few,all nicely cut). Then I made a somewhat lateral move to the stone I have now for future upgrade reasons later on, and it happens to be a branded stone. I can only say the others pale in comparison (for me), but I made this decision with some VERY tight specifications. I knew exactly what parameter I wanted and I am not disappointed. Some people may not think the extra cash is worth it, but having seen a variety of GIA XXX and AGS 0 in person, at home, myself, I do.

With that said, if you are aiming for a signature stone as the center, $4k isn't enough of a budget for what you want. If a branded cut is what you want, then perhaps consider the ring a 2 part process and put a significant portion of the budget in the center in a temp for now, then come back and work on the setting. You could probably get ID Jewelry to do a 5 stone with some nicely picked sides for your branded center that aren't branded and that route may give you the nicest bang for your buck.

For instance, say your entire ring budget right now is $8K. (I have NO idea how mucg a 5 stone runs!) So I'd pick a nice size and awesomely cut center:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.077-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104062571009

then I'd bank the leftover and start working on the setting. Oops- I just saw your budget. You can save a little more by dropping to J, and you also get a PS discount (but you have to call them). Wire is cheapest. You are correct you are going to have much less to worry about with a branded stone in terms of light performance. Mostly it's going to be a given. The reason we are pointing you to fluorescent stones is because that will help them face whiter, and they are a little cheaper than a non-fluor stone.

 

[JulieN]

They are all spectacular, but you might not want to sink money into into a 5 stone trellis setting if you want to upgrade soon.

 

[sparkle_more]

It will probably be a few years before I can do any upgrading. My current ring is tired looking and it about to wear through the shank (it was very thin to begin with).

I assumed that I could upgrade the diamond in the trellis setting and keep the setting. Am I wrong?

I don't want a solitaire. I don't think they look very nice on me. I'm am too used to wearing a ring with 7 stones to go to a solitaire and I feel too old to wear one.

I'm ok with somewhat smaller stones right now. My current is a ~.5 marquise (.75 ctw) so anything bigger will be a huge difference for me.

I know I can't afford this ring right now, but it is my inspiration and what I am working towards (even if it takes me 10 years!):
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/5-stone-graduated-trellis-from-bgd.170896/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/5-stone-graduated-trellis-from-bgd.170896/[/URL]

Thanks!
Michelle

 

[Niel]

Would you consider a different shape, you could get a really really lovely three stone with pears made from engagement rings direct. They quoted me one for my 8.5x5.5 pear at I think around 2700. Leaving you near 4k for a pear. You could get at least a ct in an h or higher with that. And it would come out just stunning and a lot of finger coverage.

 

[sparkle_more]

At first I was going to go with an oval. I've looked at a lot of them and even bought and returned one. But I really want something bigger/nicer than I can afford right now. Most places will only let you upgrade their in house stones and most of these are not ovals. So I decided to go with a round that I could upgrade at a later date. I thought I'd could probably get something at .75 or .8 in a lower color but it would still be big enough for me for now and have good fire. Then I could upgrade a little each year or every other year (if I could keep the same setting).

Michelle

 

[bunnycat]

It will probably be a few years before I can do any upgrading. My current ring is tired looking and it about to wear through the shank (it was very thin to begin with).

I assumed that I could upgrade the diamond in the trellis setting and keep the setting. Am I wrong?

I don't want a solitaire. I don't think they look very nice on me. I'm am too used to wearing a ring with 7 stones to go to a solitaire and I feel too old to wear one.

I'm ok with somewhat smaller stones right now. My current is a ~.5 marquise (.75 ctw) so anything bigger will be a huge difference for me.

I know I can't afford this ring right now, but it is my inspiration and what I am working towards (even if it takes me 10 years!):
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/5-stone-graduated-trellis-from-bgd.170896/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/5-stone-graduated-trellis-from-bgd.170896/[/URL]

Thanks!
Michelle

I don't know how much you can upgrade a center in a trellis. Most likely if you made a graduated trellis, the stones would be proportioned to the center you choose, then if you upgrade the center, the others may look out of proportion. That would be a good question for a vendor. I suspect if you go from something like a .8 center to a 1ct center, it might not be a problem, but a .8 to something like 1.25 you'd likely end up needing to redo the ring, and that would be expensive.

If you don't like solitaires (neither do I in general) then you could get a larger center and put it in a slightly blingy-er setting than a plain temp:

http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=42_43&products_id=24462&cType=ER

but with most of your budget on the center. You'll take a hit eventually reselling the setting as you move the ring in to a finished phase, but it could work.

 

[Niel]

I do believe James Allen let's you upgrade on any shape.

 

[bunnycat]

Alternatively- you could call ID Jewelry and see what could be done with your current budget. Yekutiel is very good at picking nice stones for people. Just tell them you are from PS.

 

[Niel]

My suggestion is the lower the better (if your eyes can handle it). Theres a. 95 L over at good old gold for like 3500. You could easily get matching sides at that budget

Or go lower you could get a huge rock for your budget. Sure you might have to go solitaire for a year or two, but they you wouldn't constantly be shipping rings for upgrades
http://www.exceldiamonds.com/Diamonds-1/GIA-Graded-Round-Diamond-1-74-Carat-M-Color-VS2-Clarity-193613.html

 

[sparkle_more]

Thanks everyone!

I've been giving a lot of thought to your advice. I think it's obvious that I'm not going to get my dream ring this go around. I do want to get something that I am happy with for awhile though because I'm not sure when I will be able upgrade (grad school, kids in private schools, etc. etc.).

This WF setting might be one that I'm able to live with for a year or two. It's more than I'd like to spend, but I just can't wear a solitaire for 2 years and there's no sense in having a $5000 diamond sitting around that I won't wear.

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/cathedral-channel-set-diamond-engagement-ring-1223.htm

There's also this one that is a little cheaper at IDJ. Will IDJ and WF work together, at least in that I purchase the setting for IDJ and then send it to WF. WF has a similar setting but it is about twice as much because it is Vatche.

http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_28&products_id=24486&cType=ER

I think I want to go with WF for a diamond because their upgrade policy seems the most lenient and they have the most stones in my pricerange right now. Here's one that I'm thinking about:
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2772513.htm

This all still puts me a little over budget but I think I'll manage.

TIA,
Michelle

 

[04diamond<3]

That diamond has far too much leakage in the center! I'd drop it!

 

[sparkle_more]

Is this one better?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.801-h-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104063639040#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/1/

 

[bunnycat]

Is this one better?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.801-h-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104063639040#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/1/

It is. with the Blues, you ought to be able to drop down a bit in color. The fluor is going to help it face whiter. I know mine does. It's an I and so well cut I don't ever see any issue with it color-wise. It's just sparkle all the time.

To be in line with upgrade policies at places like Whiteflash and BG you'll need to look through the in-house stones only. Virtual stones brought in wouldn't be part of an upgrade policy.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2782653.htm

ALternatively- I do think with your budget and since you are already looking at the 3 stone pear at IDJ, you might consider giving Yekutiel a call. He has got a really good eye for stones, and if you tell him you are from PS, he'll be able to match you to a winner and probably get you more stone for your budget. There's one ring on here somewhere that was a 5 stone from IDJ and it had 3 rounds with little marquis on the ends. You could always save the pears as an "end" or find a 3 stone round setting from them and let him pick a center for you. He will send Idealscope images as well so we can debate it all here. Then you'd already have 3 pieces of a 5 stone taken care of.

I hope WB doesn't mind me posting, but here's a link to his IDJ 3 stone journey:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/3-stone-setting-advice.186239/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/3-stone-setting-advice.186239/[/URL]

 

[04diamond<3]

Is this one better?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.801-h-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104063639040#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/1/

Yes, it's a lot better. But the other one recommended to you in the post above from whiteflash has the same problem as the other whiteflash stone so I'd skip on that too. This one from BGD is the best one so far.

 

[bunnycat]

Here's another option that gets you over the 6.1mm mark:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.854-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-c-104061069089

If you could swing it, and really want to go with a BLue, I'd try for something like this to get you to the size you want:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/3-stone-setting-advice.186239/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/3-stone-setting-advice.186239/[/URL]

I don't know if you'd have to send the stone to IDJ or send the setting to BG. I guess you'd have to ask both of them.

 

[bunnycat]

argh. I didn't see that I didn't get that link copied:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.048-j-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104062571020

 

[sparkle_more]

The one above is the best contender right now. BDG just doesn't have a lot right now in my price range. I have even bumped it up to $6000 because I don't think I'll be happy with a .8. I haven't looked at their "select" diamonds because they don't have pictures or measurements. I have asked about getting them, but haven't gotten a reply. Any other opinions about this one?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.048-j-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104062571020
HCA=2

What about going to an "L" ? That sounds too low to me, but I just don't know.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.308-L-VS2-Round-Diamond-AGS-BL-104062571040
HCA=1.9

Except for color, everything looks better than the 1.048 above.

Opinions? Advice?

I still will contact IDJ, but I I'm really ready to buy something.

Thanks again,
Michelle

 

[bunnycat]

The one above is the best contender right now. BDG just doesn't have a lot right now in my price range. I have even bumped it up to $6000 because I don't think I'll be happy with a .8. I haven't looked at their "select" diamonds because they don't have pictures or measurements. I have asked about getting them, but haven't gotten a reply. Any other opinions about this one?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.048-j-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104062571020
HCA=2

What about going to an "L" ? That sounds too low to me, but I just don't know.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.308-L-VS2-Round-Diamond-AGS-BL-104062571040
HCA=1.9

Except for color, everything looks better than the 1.048 above.

Opinions? Advice?

I still will contact IDJ, but I I'm really ready to buy something.

Thanks again,
Michelle

I know for me, an L in a modern would be too much but people do vary. If you are going white metals I think it's fine down to J to not worry about the metal color, K starts to get a little iffy and below that I'd take it on a case by case basis and find the best metal for the stone's tint. Still, you can call BG and ask them their opinion of the color on the J, Brian will be honest with you. The fluor on it really is going to help.

I do agree that with your finger size, you'd probably not be happy for long with a .8 stone (after the "ooh-shiney" effect wears off).

Here's my really bad picture of 2 BG Blue stones sitting next to my old stone in the halo which was an H. The middle one is an I and on the end is a J.

 

[Niel]

Did you happen over to mayks post about her k emerald cut? Its right on the front page here if you haven't go look. The stones Are k and they looks so good, and emerald cuts hold more color than rounds.