Buy one on sale tomorrow/today (sale ending) or go custom?

[Akalahab]

Hello,

I bought my ring last year with the amazing help of pricescope and I'm still very grateful. I love my .795 carat stone and don't see myself upgrading as I have small fingers! However, I am looking to reset into a halo that more enhances the stone than my current setting in which it gets a little lost.

I went to Tiffany today to look at their settings and also on a whim stopped by at Quest - turns out they are having an anniversary sale. It ends TOMORROW (Sunday) at 7 pm.

This is the ONLY reset I'm planning to do for this diamond...at least until we are retired! Ideally, I would love something classic, but still interesting, and heirloom quality - love the Victor Emilya, but I am not going to ever convince my husband to spend over 3k on it at this point in our lives (have never asked for a quote though and won't be expecting to get one before this sale ends). I liked how the Tiffany halo was proportioned. Should I buy any of these or would David Klass or another vendor be able to make a delicate halo similar to the Tiffany? Or would IDJ (a 4 hr drive away) have similar stock at a similar and better price? I'm guessing the Tiffany has half pointers in the halo. Would very much value your knowledge and opinions!

My favorite look: Tiffany round soleste single halo with .8 diamond, a perfect reference for my own! Not in the running for purchase.


Next ring: Coast jewelers for $750! - does anybody have experience with the quality of their rings? I'd never heard of them before. This has a 1.5 or 6 mm shank (similar to Tiffany) but my since my ring size is less than 3.5 maybe it will still be sturdy enough??


Next ring: Quest setting for about $1600 something. They seemed to have the best quality melee. But not sure if the melee is too chunky (or maybe it's the that band is thicker than the halo that makes it look less graceful?) and wasn't able to get a definitive answer one whether they would use smaller melee for my smaller stone. The shank was also wider (maybe I need thinner?). The most sturdy feeling setting from these options, they are local, and guarantee for a lifetime.

Side profile:


Next ring: Gabriel and Co $1400 was their pricing to upgrade to vs2 melee, but they also upgrade color? I would have to clarify whether they could use lower colored melee to match my J stone and just upgrade to vs2. Also, the visiting salesperson didn't know about claw prongs and wasn't sure if Gabriel and Co could do them?

Side: the head is a little thicker than the Quest one

 

[SimoneDi]

One thing to note about stock halo settings is that they rarely fit stones perfectly. You will notice how in most of your pictures, the stones sit higher from the profile view and that personally, I find to be an unappealing look. In comparison, if you view the Emilya setting that you like, you will see how the main stone "sits" into the halo, there is no airspace and no gaps. That is usually the benefit of a custom setting. With your budget, I would reach out to David Klass and see what he can make for you that is similar to the VC Emilya. The halos above with a shank width of 1.5mm are too thin, you want at least 2mm for durability.

 

[Akalahab]

One thing to note about stock halo settings is that they rarely fit stones perfectly. You will notice how in most of your pictures, the stones sit higher from the profile view and that personally, I find to be an unappealing look. In comparison, if you view the Emilya setting that you like, you will see how the main stone "sits" into the halo, there is no airspace and no gaps. That is usually the benefit of a custom setting. With your budget, I would reach out to David Klass and see what he can make for you that is similar to the VC Emilya. The halos above with a shank width of 1.5mm are too thin, you want at least 2mm for durability.

Thanks for the reply! They all said that they would customize the setting (Gabriel quote includes that customization surcharge) to the stone and assured me there would be no gaps - the Quest one wasn't sitting in the halo at all; I think they just quickly stuck a cz in there for reference.

I gathered that usually the thinnest pricescopers recommend is 1.8 mm but wondered if a smaller sized ring (3.5 or smaller) at 1.6mm would be more structurally sound than a size 8 at 1.8 mm - something along those lines... I saw one pricescope member who had a .8 stone set in Leon's Adrianna at 1.6 mm.



My only concern with David is that I don't see a lot of examples of more delicate halos from him. The two most sensible contenders would probably be him and the Quest ring - I think their shank was 1.8 mm but the proportions of the melee to stone and shank just didn't look as nice to me. They also had a double halo at 30% off - but not sure if that would dwarf my stone. I actually went to Tiffany to look at the double soleste but it just looked super busy on me. This Quest version might actually be nicer?




I suppose another option would be to look at Ritani rings? Or David still a better option? The budget is a little flexible as I'd rather get something that I will be happy with for a good number of years than throw money away changing settings.

Thanks so much for taking the time to help me think about this!

 

[SimoneDi]

@Akalahab , as far as I have read, Leon Mege has produced some very thin shanks, but that is still not recommended by other PS members. My wedding band was 1.5mm at base, it was very thin and you just have to baby that kind of rings. You can't really work out with them or be super active, but then again, I would say the same about pavè. If you go that thin, just don't expect it to be a "forever" setting and if you are alright with that, then that is fine. Think shanks are much more prone to bending, breaking, especially then there is pavè on shank. I have seen Quest settings and Gabriel and Co, I would actually still say that DKs work is much not elegant and fine. You should look at his IG account for recent work. This halo for example is gorgeous: https://instagram.com/p/BU67vLDgEu3/
If you still want to go with G&Co. - the best prices I have seen come from IDJ in NYC. I am not sure how their pricing will be in comparison with your local jeweler's "sale", but two of my friends purchased G&Co. settings from them made for their center stones and there was never a "customization" charge. Ritanni usually uses tab style prongs, not claw. I personally want a halo setting to be 100% custom. I have seen plenty of stock ones and I never really liked 1, even the two custom G&Co. that my friends have are nice, but there is still an airline and overall they look like stock settings. For gals who are not really into jewelry or don't pay much attn to details, such settings are totally fine, but if you notice details or aim for something more "perfect", I would definitely go custom. I would use DK, but you can also reach out for quotes to BE & CvB. Handforged will be more.

 

[Akalahab]

@Akalahab , as far as I have read, Leon Mege has produced some very thin shanks, but that is still not recommended by other PS members. My wedding band was 1.5mm at base, it was very thin and you just have to baby that kind of rings. You can't really work out with them or be super active, but then again, I would say the same about pavè. If you go that thin, just don't expect it to be a "forever" setting and if you are alright with that, then that is fine. Think shanks are much more prone to bending, breaking, especially then there is pavè on shank. I have seen Quest settings and Gabriel and Co, I would actually still say that DKs work is much not elegant and fine. You should look at his IG account for recent work. This halo for example is gorgeous: https://instagram.com/p/BU67vLDgEu3/
If you still want to go with G&Co. - the best prices I have seen come from IDJ in NYC. I am not sure how thei pricing will be in comparison with your local jeweler's "sale", but two of my friends purchased G&Co. settings from them made for their center stones and there was never a "customization" charge. Ritanni usually uses tab style prongs, not claw. I personally want a halo setting to be 100% custom. I have seen lefty of stock ones and I never really liked 1, even the two custom G&Co. that my friends have are nice, but there is still an airline and overall they look like stock settings. For gals, who are not really into jewelry or don't pay much attn to details, such settings are totally fine, but if you notice details or aim for something more "perfect", I would definitely go custom. I would use DK, but you can also reach out for quotes to BE & CvB. Handforged will be more.

Thanks Simone Di - Very helpful. I think I will go the custom route with DK. I did think it was a little high on the Gabriel quote compared to the prices I saw on IDJs website!

 

[SimoneDi]

I am glad you decided to go custom! Please post your reset once the project is completed!