LiW Cheap stone, expensive setting? Am I crazy?

[JustLikeYou]

Okay, hear me out. I know I shouldn't be looking at settings or sparkley's or anything like that in the first place since I have school to finish and we still really aren't talking about engagement yet, but I think I found the dream ring I want - with some pretty hefty modifications (haha). Now, since I want a sapphire, and a bi-color blue/green one at that, the ones I've been finding are pretty cheap (compared to diamonds obviously, and even "desirable" sapphires).

However, the settings I've been looking at? Not so cheap. I mean, sure there's some nice cheap ones out there, but it seems like I have expensive taste. I really started falling in love with the designs where the ring material "swirls" around the diamond but doesn't come back together, kind of like a semi-bezel? But then I googled across Mark Schneider's jewelry... and fell in love with the attached ring...

I could totally see a really beautiful, sparkly trillion blue-green sapphire in there. I mean, I would probably get something similar custom made with changes (less pave, slight modification to the band, etc) but still. I'm probably looking at a stone that costs about $300 and a band around $3000! Anybody else like me? Or am I the only nut that wants to put a cheap lil' stone in a uber fancy setting?

hah

 

[crossmyfingers]

Hey, if that''s what you want, I say go for it! That is an AMAZING setting, my eyes seriously bugged out when the picture loaded onto my screen, haha!

I don''t see any reason at all not to go with a less expensive stone and a pricey setting if that''s what you like.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

If you like it, you like it. Although everyone here is pretty much obsessed with diamonds

IMO the setting is just as important. If you are going for a simple solitaire look its one thing, but if you want a really unique setting and don''t want to put an expensive diamond in it, that''s your perogative. I say go for it, it would look amazing and really unique!!!

 

[JustLikeYou]

Haha! Well I do like diamonds, don''t get me wrong - I think they''re beautiful. But for my personality, they seemed to let me down a little, as in, they just didn''t seem to match *ME*. When I started looking around for what I might like, I found sapphires, and I was like "YES!". When I found the mottled, multi-color sapphires, with all these awesome streaks and colorations - I was doing backflips. They''re just so MEEEEE. haha. I guess it was just a pretty nice plus that they were affordable.

The setting i attached above is just... gosh, it just looks like a lot of what I like. I wanted a trillion stone, and I wanted something unique... and that encompassing, tender metal brushing against the stone... it''s like poetry.

Minus the diamond in the middle. And a little less pave on the band... haha.

 

[stepcutgirl]

If you like it, get it! I''m a sapphire girl as well, though I have expensive taste with the color of sapphire. I had considered briefly getting a lab grown sapphire and had I decided to do that I would have been in your shoes and I wouldn''t have cared, it would just be my dream ring. Trouble I ran into was a lab gown sapphire wasn''t mind clean for me...so back to trying to find the impossible, that Kashmir color for peanuts.

 

[rierie26]

You idea sounds really cool. I say go for what you want and don''t give a hoot about what the individual parts cost! The important thing is that you get the ring that you want...and that you post pictures here once you get it.

 

[lilyfoot]

First of all, there''s nothing wrong with you looking around and getting a feel for what you like

Second, that setting is gorgeous, and I think a sapphire would look awesome! As long as you''re happy with the hardness level of a sapphire, there''s absolutely nothing wrong with having a "cheaper" stone in a more expensive setting.

 

[vc10um]

I see nothing wrong with that. At all. If it''s what you love, GO FOR IT!!! (And it sounds like it''s what you L

VE!)

Stunning ring, btw.

 

[sunnyd]

My setting was almost twice as much as the stone. The setting was just more important, and there''s nothing wrong with that! Love the setting you picked out!

 

[turboflgrl]

For me, my fingers are short and thin and big styles look HUGE on me (and not in a good way!). That said, the stone my BF bought was ~$1100. I gave him a few options for settings and the cheapest we like is $2500 and extends up to $3500. I completely understand where you''re coming from all the way and don''t feel bad. I knew I wanted a halo setting and with a bigger diamond, it looked like costume jewelry on my hand

We could have gone cheaper on the setting and believe me, for a while I felt like spending more on the setting than the stone was ridiculous but at the end of the day, it''s the look I''m after and it just happens to include more money being spent on the setting.

Good luck with everything!

 

[AdiS]

I say if you want it, go for it. I love that setting, btw.

 

[karpouzi]

I feel the same way! I find it a little sad when people suggest getting the best stone for the total budget and plopping it into a $200 stock setting, almost as an afterthought. If you find a sapphire that you love and a really beautifully crafted setting, you will have a stunner of an engagement ring.

I think the setting you posted will look even better with a trillion in there instead of the round.

 

[YSQueen]

I don''t have anything to add except that that setting is GORGEOUS!!!

 

[ChocolateLover]

Date: 1/13/2010 2:13:52 PM
Author: karpouzi
I feel the same way! I find it a little sad when people suggest getting the best stone for the total budget and plopping it into a $200 stock setting, almost as an afterthought. If you find a sapphire that you love and a really beautifully crafted setting, you will have a stunner of an engagement ring.


I think the setting you posted will look even better with a trillion in there instead of the round.

I agree, I think the setting should be just as if not more important than the stone! A rock is just a rock if its not displayed nicely. Of course, I get why a guy might buy a cheap setting if he doesn''t know what his GF wants, or if its a budget concern.

 

[yssie]

That setting is just gorgeous

It would look fantastic with a greeny bluey sapphire centre!

Go for it! It''s your ring

 

[JustLikeYou]

Date: 1/13/2010 2:13:52 PM
Author: karpouzi
I feel the same way! I find it a little sad when people suggest getting the best stone for the total budget and plopping it into a $200 stock setting, almost as an afterthought. If you find a sapphire that you love and a really beautifully crafted setting, you will have a stunner of an engagement ring.


I think the setting you posted will look even better with a trillion in there instead of the round.

Yeah, that''s what I was kind of thinking too. A lot of people put so much stock in only the stone... it made me feel a little awkward for wanting a really pretty setting.

And when I first saw that setting, I thought it was a trillion in there, which is why I thought it was awesome. Then I noticed it was a round with three little rounds making it look like a trillion. An actual tril would be much better, I think

 

[AustenNut]

I think that''s such a unique and special setting; it will look fantastic with a blue-green sapphire!

We also got a really good deal on my sapphire, and my setting will be significantly more expensive than the stone was. So you''ve got company! I''m definitely a believer in seeing how the whole package looks, and for me that includes the stone AND setting.

 

[oddoneout]

That setting is amazing.

 

[packrat]

Ditto the others, get what you like! I have a colored stone ering and the spinel cost less than the setting-the setting will be about 2 1/2 times the cost of the stone. You know what''s "you", so you should have what you like!

 

[MsP]

As others have said, if you love the setting you should put whatever stone you want in it and it will be a beautiful ring!!


HOWEVER, personally, I know I will want to upgrade in the future so I plan to invest more in the stone so I can recoup more of my money when I trade in. It seems like you can''t get much for settings on tradeins or resales. Some settings can be altered to fit larger stones if you upgrade but many cannot. If you think you may want to upgrade in the future... you might want to think about spending the majority of your funds on a settings which likely cannot hold a larger stone. Just something to consider.

... I do like the setting though. It''s quite striking!

 

[vespergirl]

My friend did that and she''s very happy with her ring. She wanted a huge (4 ct) diamond, and that was out of their price range. She also wanted a really blingy 3-stone setting with domed pave. They ended up getting a $4K WG & diamond setting, and putting a 4 ct cubic zirconia in the center. She didn''t care that it wasn''t a real diamond, she just wanted something that looked big. And, they can always replace the center stone with a diamond some day if they choose to.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

wow vesper, your friend wasn''t messing around in the bling department

Just like You-I can''t wait to see pics it''s going to be stunning.