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Building a custom setting?

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nicknamehere

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 30, 2011
Messages
34
(This is more of a continuation of a previous thread but now the topic is completely different. https://www.pricescope.com/forum/ro...d-diamond-online-or-a-jeweler-t161381-30.html)

Hey guys.. so I am thinking of having a setting custom built because I cant seem to find anything like I wanted.

My ideal setting would be based off of one I saw at Jared - http://design.jared-diamonds.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/ring/item_58-5896.asp. I like how from top down, there are a bunch of small princess cuts, leading up to a baguette, then the main stone. (Like this: ==[][ ][]==). Then I would like round diamonds going about half way down the front and back of the ring, like this setting at WF: http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen.../the-imperial-diamond-engagement-ring-107.htm. The last thing I have to figure out is the way the diamond is held by the setting. I am not sure what the best and cleanest way would be to integrate the stone in to the setting is.. I think having it up on prongs and stand-alone would make my girl nervous. Ideally I think the diamond should be integrated with the baguettes some how, but I don't really know how that would be done. The WF one is okay, but it just seems like too much metal going on there. Would really love to hear/see some ideas in this area.

Also.. 18kt gold or platinum? I know platinum is supposed to be "better" because it is more expensive, but seriously, what is the real difference? It seems like you have to choose between having to have the rhodium plating redone every couple years, vs potential cracking from the brittle platinum. Is platinum really that brittle?

Lastly, what are the best places to have something custom built? I live in NJ and work in NYC, so something local would be great in case of problems, but this is not necessary if I can get a better deal from an online store. I know WF is one that is recommended here often, but would like to check out some others just for comparison too.

Thanks all.
 
Question...is your center stone round or square(ish)?

I have to say that there is a lot going on in that ring and it would be for a particular taste. I think before you go through the
expense/time to do a custom setting that you make sure that she likes that setting (with your changes). You might consider
giving her the stone in a simple 4/6 prong setting then the two of you design the new setting together. Its really rewarding and
you both get your input on something that she has to wear for the rest of her life.
 
The center stone will be square, either a princess, square radiant, or square cushion.

We went around and looked at settings already, and that's how we found the one at Jared. She liked the Jared one a lot but its pretty expensive for what you get (14k) and I've heard the Jared quality is not that great. It would be nice to have the jared one but have the diamond integrated in it more instead of up on a podium of prongs just out there. Plus I don't know if I want to be overpaying a ton for the diamond at Jared, since I want to get both the stone and setting at the same place. I spoke to her about all of the other details as well so we are both on the same page.
 
Ok, thats cool...I saw this on ebay and thought maybe you could somehow integrate the sides like this one to hold the
center diamond up. Not sure how the baguettes would be held up though.

Look at the side profile on this ring...4th picture down. Nice integrated head with side stones.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-72ctG-SI1-Vintage-estate-Diamond-engagement-ring-14k-/200617571998?pt=Diamond_Solitaire_with_Accents&hash=item2eb5bd369e

On another note...that jareds ring is around $2200? You may be looking at that much to go custom with 3/4 carat
stones...but hopefully you will get better quality (stones and setting).
 
White gold is actually more brittle than platinum. Victor Canera writes a great article on his site about the differences here:

http://www.victorcanera.com/platinum-vs-gold/

I am personally a platinum fan and if it's in the budget I'd recommend it but there are plenty of folks here very happy with their white gold rings.

As for your ring design. Since you are in NY, I'd recommend Mark T at engagementringsdirect for your custom ring if you want to work local. He made this gorgeous ring very recently and I think his bench would come up with something very nice for you. Do keep in mind that what you are wanting is pretty labor intensive so it won't be cheap but Mark's pricing seems very competitive and fair. Here's the link to the ring, not anything like you are wanting but you can see the quality...

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/avc-erd-3-stone-with-halo.161821/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/avc-erd-3-stone-with-halo.161821/[/URL]
 
tyty333|1307845597|2943736 said:
Ok, thats cool...I saw this on ebay and thought maybe you could somehow integrate the sides like this one to hold the
center diamond up. Not sure how the baguettes would be held up though.

Look at the side profile on this ring...4th picture down. Nice integrated head with side stones.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-72ctG-SI1-Vintage-estate-Diamond-engagement-ring-14k-/200617571998?pt=Diamond_Solitaire_with_Accents&hash=item2eb5bd369e

On another note...that jareds ring is around $2200? You may be looking at that much to go custom with 3/4 carat
stones...but hopefully you will get better quality (stones and setting).
Click to expand...

Wow... this ring looks incredibly cheap... resale diamond rings are this price? Never realised...
 
I'm still looking at maybe doing it through WF as well. Do you think its better to go through someone local, or is WF just as good at doing it online?
 
nicknamehere|1307925117|2944343 said:
I'm still looking at maybe doing it through WF as well. Do you think its better to go through someone local, or is WF just as good at doing it online?
Click to expand...

WF is just as good doing it online.
 
It is always better to go local if there are good options - I would go with ERD if the price is right. Get quotes from WF and ERD to compare.
 
I recommend ERD as well, they did my custom ring, great workmanship and excellent prices (beat BGD and Whiteflash quotes). And them being local makes it that much easier.
 
Thanks for the suggestions.

Any idea on how to mount that diamond in that kind of setting?
 
So any ideas on how to mount the diamond?
 
tyty333|1307845597|2943736 said:
Ok, thats cool...I saw this on ebay and thought maybe you could somehow integrate the sides like this one to hold the
center diamond up. Not sure how the baguettes would be held up though.

Look at the side profile on this ring...4th picture down. Nice integrated head with side stones.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-72ctG-SI1-Vintage-estate-Diamond-engagement-ring-14k-/200617571998?pt=Diamond_Solitaire_with_Accents&hash=item2eb5bd369e

On another note...that jareds ring is around $2200? You may be looking at that much to go custom with 3/4 carat
stones...but hopefully you will get better quality (stones and setting).
Click to expand...


What did you NOT like about the example above? I think the middle area wear the rounds come up the shank could be
modified to hold a baguette (bar prongs) at the top of the ring where it meets the center stone.
 
You could sort of have it made like a 3 stone setting with very small baguettes on the side. Tell the cad designer you
want round bead set stones coming up the shank and on the sides of the ring.

Sort of like this but picture with a round center stone.
http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=42_43&products_id=11000&cType=ER

or this
http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=42_43&products_id=10997&cType=ER

You could show them something like this but tell them that you want baguettes at the top near the center stone
(show them the jareds pic).
http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=42_43&products_id=2337&cType=ER

Or here is a better example yet...just tell them you need it for a round center stone and you want the
2 side stones to be baguettes
http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=42_43&products_id=11013&cType=ER
 
tyty333|1309126551|2955601 said:
tyty333|1307845597|2943736 said:
Ok, thats cool...I saw this on ebay and thought maybe you could somehow integrate the sides like this one to hold the
center diamond up. Not sure how the baguettes would be held up though.

Look at the side profile on this ring...4th picture down. Nice integrated head with side stones.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-72ctG-SI1-Vintage-estate-Diamond-engagement-ring-14k-/200617571998?pt=Diamond_Solitaire_with_Accents&hash=item2eb5bd369e

On another note...that jareds ring is around $2200? You may be looking at that much to go custom with 3/4 carat
stones...but hopefully you will get better quality (stones and setting).
Click to expand...

What did you NOT like about the example above? I think the middle area wear the rounds come up the shank could be
modified to hold a baguette (bar prongs) at the top of the ring where it meets the center stone.
Click to expand...

That's actually not a bad idea.. I think I just didn't like the setting in general from all the textured metal instead of being smooth.
 
tyty333|1309127218|2955608 said:
You could sort of have it made like a 3 stone setting with very small baguettes on the side. Tell the cad designer you
want round bead set stones coming up the shank and on the sides of the ring.

Sort of like this but picture with a round center stone.
http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=42_43&products_id=11000&cType=ER

or this
http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=42_43&products_id=10997&cType=ER

You could show them something like this but tell them that you want baguettes at the top near the center stone
(show them the jareds pic).
http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=42_43&products_id=2337&cType=ER

Or here is a better example yet...just tell them you need it for a round center stone and you want the
2 side stones to be baguettes
http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=42_43&products_id=11013&cType=ER
Click to expand...

I am actually going to get a square stone - with princess diamonds along the top and round on the front and back (very similar to the Jared one, minus the U shape, and plus some quality) I think I like that last one the best as far as holding the baguettes. Or maybe something like this, with it holding a thin baguette instead of that small princess cut? http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/18k-White-Gold-Bar-Set-and-3-Sided-Ring.html
 
CharmyPoo|1307966112|2944604 said:
It is always better to go local if there are good options - I would go with ERD if the price is right. Get quotes from WF and ERD to compare.
Click to expand...

nfowife|1307972243|2944671 said:
I recommend ERD as well, they did my custom ring, great workmanship and excellent prices (beat BGD and Whiteflash quotes). And them being local makes it that much easier.
Click to expand...

You know, I emailed Mark over there about 2 weeks ago and while he has answered some emails of mine, I still do not have a quote on the ring specs I sent him. I asked him to call me a few times but still never received a call. He replied the same day the first time but was out of the office, then had some comments and questions 2 days later, and then I didn't hear from him in over a week (until I followed up), and then he said he apologies and didn't see my email. He was out of the office again that day and said would send me an estimate, but that was 2 days ago and I still don't have a quote or a phone call. Am I catching some bad timing or is this how they operate? I really would like to work with someone local if I can but if you compare this experience to the nice, prompt, and responsive service I have been getting from WF, it might make me think twice. Any other NJ/NYC people you guys recommend?
 
I don't know what your budget is but my recommendations for custom in NYC are ERD if you want CAD and CAST and Steven Kirsch from Timelessluxery.net if you want handmade pave.
 
Any other NYC guys for CAD designs?
 
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