After a lot of research, in person browsing/shopping for ideas and reading on here I have opted to go with Victor Canera for a cushion double edge halo with a round center stone. Here is the setting from Victor's site.
https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/the-emilya-with-cushion-two-row-pave-halo#cmp=egrt&p_key=a0602b
My next decision which I am seeking Nicholas's help as well as thoughts from the forum is whether to go with a double or triple row pave band. The double is as seen above and triple would be like the following
https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/...e-with-old-european-cut#cmp=egrt&p_key=a0602b
My concern is that the third row of pave would rub with a wedding band especially if it is a triple row pave band. I think as a stand alone ring triple row would shine even more. My gf is in healthcare and with gloves on frequently would likely only be wearing her wedding band to work. For this reason a triple row pave band would also look great stand alone. But she has also stated when off or out she would prefer to wear both. Would a small spacer suffice in keeping the pave safe without being too large or is the risk of damaging the pave overstated when word together? Could the pave be done on just one side of each band so as the sides that face each other are bare?
Lastly, I have looked at Brian Gavin Black or Signature (whom I purchased BG Black earrings and a BG Signature halo pendant for her), WhiteFlash ACA or Victor's AGS stone or Canera European Round. Below are the stones I have it narrowed to. My budget is $25,000ish and Nicholas gave a ballpark price of $3,500 for the setting with slightly more if I go 3 row pave. So that leaves about $21,000ish for a center stone. All stones are Ideal Cut, Symmetry, Polish and Light Performance with Zero Fluorescence and very close to Tolkowsky's Ideal Diamond Cut.
BG Black 1.738 F VS-2 $22,845
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/.../1.738-f-vs2-round-diamond-bkags-104089113007
BG Signature 1.722 G SI-1 $18,939
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/...ls/1.732-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-104065663001
Victor Canera Canera European Cut 1.492 F SI1 $16,879
https://www.victorcanera.com/diamon...imated-old-european-cut#cmp=egrt&p_key=a0602b
WF ACA 2.39 H SI-1 $22,698
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2994225.htm
WF ACA 2.118 H SI-1 $20,327
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3634195.htm
WF seems to have more options than BG however I admittedly have never purchased from them though see they are highly recommended here. I am slightly leery that I can get a larger 4 Ideal stone from them for a better price than BG. I know the lab reports are there and perhaps they have more leeway with a larger inventory but just thought I would check.
I'd like to go as close to 2ct as possible even if I have to go a tad over budget. But I don't want to compromise quality or brilliance so if I have to go 1.75ct so be it. For reference she wears a size 5. The 1.75is stones seem to be around 7.75mm, 2ct 8mm and the 2.39 is 8.61. Obviously there is a discernible difference between the 1.75 and 2.39. She tried on a 1.3 and 2.0 and liked the 2.0 best. Would 1.75 be a great happy medium with a nice sized center stone plus a halo for more coverage? Would the 2.39 plus halo be overkill and gaudy on her finger?
If only because of my familiarity with BG and having purchased Black stones from him before I am inclined to feel most comfortable with the first stone but trust the judgement of the much more knowledgeable folks on here for some guidance.
Thanks in advance.
https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/the-emilya-with-cushion-two-row-pave-halo#cmp=egrt&p_key=a0602b
My next decision which I am seeking Nicholas's help as well as thoughts from the forum is whether to go with a double or triple row pave band. The double is as seen above and triple would be like the following
https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/...e-with-old-european-cut#cmp=egrt&p_key=a0602b
My concern is that the third row of pave would rub with a wedding band especially if it is a triple row pave band. I think as a stand alone ring triple row would shine even more. My gf is in healthcare and with gloves on frequently would likely only be wearing her wedding band to work. For this reason a triple row pave band would also look great stand alone. But she has also stated when off or out she would prefer to wear both. Would a small spacer suffice in keeping the pave safe without being too large or is the risk of damaging the pave overstated when word together? Could the pave be done on just one side of each band so as the sides that face each other are bare?
Lastly, I have looked at Brian Gavin Black or Signature (whom I purchased BG Black earrings and a BG Signature halo pendant for her), WhiteFlash ACA or Victor's AGS stone or Canera European Round. Below are the stones I have it narrowed to. My budget is $25,000ish and Nicholas gave a ballpark price of $3,500 for the setting with slightly more if I go 3 row pave. So that leaves about $21,000ish for a center stone. All stones are Ideal Cut, Symmetry, Polish and Light Performance with Zero Fluorescence and very close to Tolkowsky's Ideal Diamond Cut.
BG Black 1.738 F VS-2 $22,845
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/.../1.738-f-vs2-round-diamond-bkags-104089113007
BG Signature 1.722 G SI-1 $18,939
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/...ls/1.732-g-si1-round-diamond-ags-104065663001
Victor Canera Canera European Cut 1.492 F SI1 $16,879
https://www.victorcanera.com/diamon...imated-old-european-cut#cmp=egrt&p_key=a0602b
WF ACA 2.39 H SI-1 $22,698
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2994225.htm
WF ACA 2.118 H SI-1 $20,327
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3634195.htm
WF seems to have more options than BG however I admittedly have never purchased from them though see they are highly recommended here. I am slightly leery that I can get a larger 4 Ideal stone from them for a better price than BG. I know the lab reports are there and perhaps they have more leeway with a larger inventory but just thought I would check.
I'd like to go as close to 2ct as possible even if I have to go a tad over budget. But I don't want to compromise quality or brilliance so if I have to go 1.75ct so be it. For reference she wears a size 5. The 1.75is stones seem to be around 7.75mm, 2ct 8mm and the 2.39 is 8.61. Obviously there is a discernible difference between the 1.75 and 2.39. She tried on a 1.3 and 2.0 and liked the 2.0 best. Would 1.75 be a great happy medium with a nice sized center stone plus a halo for more coverage? Would the 2.39 plus halo be overkill and gaudy on her finger?
If only because of my familiarity with BG and having purchased Black stones from him before I am inclined to feel most comfortable with the first stone but trust the judgement of the much more knowledgeable folks on here for some guidance.
Thanks in advance.