Buying anniv. ring - setting/stone help

[faked_you]

I have been a lurker here for a while now and as I am getting closer to my 10 year, I am getting serious about buying a ring and finally posted here.

I am looking at settings that have 5 diamonds set in a white metal band. I have been to a couple local stores and have decided that I do not like the channel set bands but I did find a few unique open settings - what I mean is that the diamonds have a large area of the pavillion showing from the side of the ring.

I have gone off a lot of good experiences that I have seen on this forum (Whiteflash, Good old Gold, Wink Jones, Blue Nile, etc) and have narrowed my setting style down.

I really like a setting that Whiteflash sells - however, I have to pick out the stones separately as it is sold as an empty setting. They also have one that has stones, but is smaller in ct weight.

#1 Here is the setting ready for five ~0.3 ct stones:
Whiteflash empty setting

#2 Here is a similar setting, but with 5 main stones and 10 melee stones included (~0.77 ctw)
Whiteflash Ring w/stones and melee

I really like the simple 5 stone rings (not sure about melee yet) and do not like the channel set rings - if you look at my #1 choice, it has a "open" setting which I really like but can not find many around.

#3 I found this one on Wink's site, but the build time hurts (~4 weeks):
Wink Jones empty setting - neat design

#4 This is on Blue Nile's site and is another 5 stone ring - but not so open on the sides:
Blue Nile - nice but not open on sides

I am still torn where to go from here. With what I have seen in person, I found that the more open sided settings really allow the stone to shine. Nothing against channel sets, this is just my observations.

Has anyone else seen similar settings as these? I am picky about a clean and simple setting - I don't care for a lot of busy prong-work if you know what I mean.

Thanks for any help, the forum has been great!

 

[faked_you]

Oops, also - is this open style a little on the risky side (as far as loose mounting after ring bumps/bruises)?

 

[Ellen]

Date: 6/8/2009 12:44:14 AM
Author:faked_you

Has anyone else seen similar settings as these? I am picky about a clean and simple setting - I don''t care for a lot of busy prong-work if you know what I mean.

Thanks for any help, the forum has been great!

BGD makes them also. Here''s a thread with a similar one. This was custom, so you could make it any way you wanted. And they are great to work with.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/uh-oh-i-have-created-a-monster-my-mother.111965/


And here''s the thread that came from, so you can see more of their work.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-brian-gavin-rings.116157/


Their site.

http://www.brianthecutter.com/

 

[Ellen]

Date: 6/8/2009 1:04:16 AM
Author: faked_you
Oops, also - is this open style a little on the risky side (as far as loose mounting after ring bumps/bruises)?

Not if it''s made well.

 

[faked_you]

Date: 6/8/2009 9:14:18 AM
Author: Ellen
>
Their site.
http://www.brianthecutter.com/

Wow, thanks Ellen, that is a great ring indeed! I am reading the blog story on it now.

I had not looked at BGD's site as the link was bad when I first came across the BGD term (had to look it up).
I checked out your link and it works - however, I could not find any "collections" online.
Does BGD only do custom pieces by the order?

So, if I said I wanted the same ring with very minor changes, what kind of turn-around time does BGD offer?

Thanks for the suggestion and keep them coming as I missed BGD.

 

[faked_you]

Nevermind Ellen - I just spoke with BGD and they filled me into all the details.

Wow, I have got some choices to make...thanks for the suggestions and keep them coming!

 

[Ellen]

They have just started their own company in the last few months, and are slowly building up their "collection" of inventory, so they don''t have what one would expect like other vendors. But they can do whatever you want, seriously. I am not sure on turn around time, but just give them a call. Lesley is a delight to work with, and she will answer all your questions!

 

[Ellen]

lol Nevermind my post then!

 

[tyty333]

Date: 6/8/2009 9:50:18 AM
Author: faked_you

Date: 6/8/2009 9:14:18 AM
Author: Ellen
>
Their site.
http://www.brianthecutter.com/

Wow, thanks Ellen, that is a great ring indeed! I am reading the blog story on it now.

I had not looked at BGD''s site as the link was bad when I first came across the BGD term (had to look it up).
I checked out your link and it works - however, I could not find any ''collections'' online.
Does BGD only do custom pieces by the order?

So, if I said I wanted the same ring with very minor changes, what kind of turn-around time does BGD offer?

Thanks for the suggestion and keep them coming as I missed BGD.

Faked out - if BGD can do it in your time frame I vote for that ring! I have (along with many other PSers) LOVED
that ring ever since the pictures were posted. It will knock her socks off!

 

[faked_you]

Thanks for the suggestion tyty333.

It is getting tough to decide. There are so many options to weigh like:
setting
stones
customization
cost
service
warranty
build/ship time
etc.

I am in the process of gathering info from several vendors now.

Regardless the knowledge I gained from lurking has REALLY helped but I am still learning a lot. I''ll post my experiences as I go along.

One less that favorable experience was trying to covertly getting my wife''s right hand ring size - I finally confessed I was working on something but have fed her much deception and disassociation to try to lead her astray...hopefully it works.

We typically do not get to celebrate our anniv. on the date due to work so I have some cushion of time to work with and that makes me feel a lot better working with some of the more custom designs.

I am nervous about some of the experiences of PS members saying some vendors rings ran a little large....not to mention buying stones without seeing them first.

A lingering concern is that I will buy a certain color - get it - and then wish it was better. I know most everyone has great return policies, but I want to get this right on the 1st try. I don''t know if I could stomach sending a piece through the mail twice

Finally, one other question.

I have seen some amazing pics on the forum that just do not seem like they are lower colors or clarity gradings. This comes from seeing some less than savory pieces in local stores which may be an influence here.

With the top of the line cuts (super ideals, H&A, Ideals, or whatever the vendor calls them), has anyone gotten a lower color and clarity that would normally be in their "comfort zone" and been absolutely blown away by how great they look?

Something like this (I know, impossible but you get the point):
"I ordered a 2.5 ctw. diamond that was a Z in color, I3 in clarity, and Poor in cut. It had a certificate from some guy named Joe that was written on a napkin. But when it arrived, it was clear as glass and sparkled like it was on fire. My local jeweler demanded to know where I got such a magnificent stone..."

Any stories like this would be appreciated!
Thanks again!!

 

[faked_you]

Thanks for the suggestion tyty333.

It is getting tough to decide. There are so many options to weigh like:
setting
stones
customization
cost
service
warranty
build/ship time
etc.

I am in the process of gathering info from several vendors now.

Regardless the knowledge I gained from lurking has REALLY helped but I am still learning a lot. I''ll post my experiences as I go along.

One less that favorable experience was trying to covertly getting my wife''s right hand ring size - I finally confessed I was working on something but have fed her much deception and disassociation to try to lead her astray...hopefully it works.

We typically do not get to celebrate our anniv. on the date due to work so I have some cushion of time to work with and that makes me feel a lot better working with some of the more custom designs.

I am nervous about some of the experiences of PS members saying some vendors rings ran a little large....not to mention buying stones without seeing them first.

A lingering concern is that I will buy a certain color - get it - and then wish it was better. I know most everyone has great return policies, but I want to get this right on the 1st try. I don''t know if I could stomach sending a piece through the mail twice

Finally, one other question.

I have seen some amazing pics on the forum that just do not seem like they are lower colors or clarity gradings. This comes from seeing some less than savory pieces in local stores which may be an influence here.

With the top of the line cuts (super ideals, H&A, Ideals, or whatever the vendor calls them), has anyone gotten a lower color and clarity that would normally be in their "comfort zone" and been absolutely blown away by how great they look?

Something like this (I know, impossible but you get the point):
"I ordered a 2.5 ctw. diamond that was a Z in color, I3 in clarity, and Poor in cut. It had a certificate from some guy named Joe that was written on a napkin. But when it arrived, it was clear as glass and sparkled like it was on fire. My local jeweler demanded to know where I got such a magnificent stone..."

Any stories like this would be appreciated!
Thanks again!!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 6/8/2009 11:36:23 PM
Author: faked_you
Finally, one other question.

I have seen some amazing pics on the forum that just do not seem like they are lower colors or clarity gradings. This comes from seeing some less than savory pieces in local stores which may be an influence here.

With the top of the line cuts (super ideals, H&A, Ideals, or whatever the vendor calls them), has anyone gotten a lower color and clarity that would normally be in their 'comfort zone' and been absolutely blown away by how great they look?

Something like this (I know, impossible but you get the point):
'I ordered a 2.5 ctw. diamond that was a Z in color, I3 in clarity, and Poor in cut. It had a certificate from some guy named Joe that was written on a napkin. But when it arrived, it was clear as glass and sparkled like it was on fire. My local jeweler demanded to know where I got such a magnificent stone...'

Any stories like this would be appreciated!
Thanks again!!

lol Um, not quite to that level! Any I3 and good cut is not going to blow someone away, at least in a good way!

However, yes, there have been many that have gotten excellent cuts (key) in lower colors and clarity that are extremely happy. One thing to remember, in smaller sizes you can get away more easily in lower coilors. As the stone gets larger, then you see the warmth more easily.

But, if you are just not sure about the level you and your wife would be comfortable at, I would suggest keeping the stones at H-SI1 (eyeclean). I really believe that would be totally safe, but not so hard on the pocketbook.