Couple of Questions

[Zaster85]

So I went to Jared''s yesterday trying to expose the GF to some more settings and show her the difference between metals, diamond grades, H&A, etc., and naturally she fell in love with a setting they had.

Problem is, the setting she picked doesn’t fit into my allotted budget. Please refer to http://design.jared-diamonds.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/ring/item_58-5951.asp
I was looking to spend around 1K on the setting, and around 2K on the stone. The setting in question is around $1700 before tax.
Its a beautiful setting: Euro Shank, "certified" side stones, all prong set (which is important to her because she''s not a fan of channel), a non-standard side profile (she likes unique jewelry and likes how there is a design on the side view), and also how the side stones start small and generally increase in carat size until it reaches the center stone.

Do you think this setting is worth the $1700 they are asking for it? Do you think I could have it recreated by a designer for cheaper (or about the same price even)? I have no problem getting her this setting with a slightly smaller stone, .46 instead of .6, and I think both will look great, but Id rather put more money into the diamond rather then a setting.

It was overall a productive experience. I found out she likes H&A diamonds (more money), likes this setting and style (even more money), and more importantly, that my attempts to disguise getting her an engagement ring never worked and she''s known all along.

Also, is a 46 pt a "small" diamond for an engagement ring. I guess I kind of get envy when I see people talking about 10K stone purchases, but I’m pretty sure its okay in size. The other rational is that, as time goes on, no matter I get her, it will be "small" in a few years, so starting out a more manageable number makes it easier to go higher? maybe?

 

[tonyc2387]

I can't comment on the setting... there's a lot going on with that that I haven't really seen in combination elsewhere... but you might be able to contact a few vendors to get an idea. Could you elaborate more on what she specifically likes about that setting? nvm, you did.

As for .46, it's still a great size, especially if it's well-cut. Everyone's budget and situation is different, so you can't pay attention to the folks spending five figures on a diamond... lots of us totally understand just how far that amount of money goes in the rest of our lives, myself included.

but lol yes, DSS can be an issue... why we always say pay attention to the upgrade policy

 

[Zaster85]

Thank you.

By vendors who do you mean?

WF, or more like the designers like Maytal and Leon? I have been checking out there sites, but the items shown seem to be fancy. Who would be a person/group to talk too about replicating a setting like this?

I mean, other posts have recommended Maytal, but If this isnt her kind of work thats fine. Im just not sure who does this kind of thing.

 

[jet2ks]

Many of the PS vendors do custom work and it wouldn''t be that difficult to do something similar to this setting. Do you have a preferred vendor you would like to work with?

 

[Zaster85]

Someone who does quality work and can get the setting to resemble what’s in the picture. I wish I could be more specific as to who, but this is one thing I can safely say I know nothing about. I’ve been researching and viewing diamonds for the past 6 weeks almost like it was a second job, but the setting took me by surprise last night. Getting a setting made wasn’t on my radar of things to research so I’m starting from scratch on that issue.

Ultimately what it comes down to is this: Can the setting be made for cheaper then the $1700 or is this a fair price? If it’s fair, I’ll go for it. I dont want to waste the time of a skilled designer recreating a ring which will cost the same as the one in the store. But when they tried suggesting $4100 for a 75 pt diamond vs2, g color, H&A Ideal Cut, I can only question the price of the setting as well. And if I can get the setting for cheaper, I can begin to move upward on the price of the diamond again.

 

[tonyc2387]

I''ve seen a bunch of folks get custom designs from WF and have been nothing but happy... might as well give them a call, it can''t hurt. Even if you do wind up at the same price, you''ll probably get ACA melee, which I would consider worth it...

 

[jet2ks]

The first vendors that come to mind are Whiteflash and Brian Gavin Diamonds because of the number of custom pieces seen here on PS. Just send them the photo of the setting you like and see what they come up with for estimates. Only they can give you an idea of cost. Both companies have done everything from simple solitaires to intricate designs, so don't feel you are wasting their time. What matters is that you get a great ring at what you feel is fair price.

As a bonus, you could definitely get a gorgeous center stone from either of them, as well. Just as comparison, BGD has a .751ct F VS2 Signature H&A listed for ~$3300. So if you got a setting and diamond both from them, even if the custom setting was a similar price, you would be saving quite a bit.

 

[Zaster85]

yea, I guess Ill try them first. Thanks.

btw, "Melee" is that pronounced like "melee" which means a vicious hand to hand fight?

Trying to figure out if its the same word and how it came to mean small diamonds, lol.

 

[HopeDream]

Re: Melee, yes I think it is the same as the fight term. Both stem from a french root meaning a mix or a jumble.

(French mêlée, from Old French meslee, from mesler to mix)

 

[oldminer]

You might be able to buy a ring with a bit less than 1/2ct of small diamond weight, made a little lighter, maybe a touch thinner in a made to order style from someone willing to work closer to cost, but getting it to $1000 cost may not be truly likely. There is always a risk with a custom made item in that it just may not look or feel quite like the one she loved. It is a lot of mounting for a not too large center diamond. However, I''m sure it pays to make the recipient happy with it rather than worry about "investment" aspects which are virtually nil anyway.

I don''t like to suggest going into debt for an engagement ring, but your budget is not so far off the mark for the ring and the center diamond. How about a center diamond just under 1/2ct with a grade or two lower color/clarity? It still can be a fine cut and sparkle perfectly. Maybe you should stretch a bit on a credit card if the cash is tight and you feel confident the monthly payment won''t extend out more than a few months. Don''t go overboard with long term engagement ring debt, but a bit of a push now may save you a costlty upgrade before you really are prepared for that expense.

 

[outatouch0]

Having been through this process I am not surprised by the sticker shock of a fine setting. I certainly was when I went through it though!!! As it turns out, the setting can be a more difficult issue than the diamond. Its what we get for taking our gal shopping...

I was thinking along the lines of some of what Jet and Oldminer said:
You can definitely get a bigger (well cut) stone for less $$ via a PS vendor. Yes the H&A does come with a higher price tag but it is a much better value overall. Plus it pays of in the appearance and in the sense of a diamond you can be proud of. Awesome scintillation and fire will get noticed well before size esp. when its a larger hunk of glass.
I would suggest also, searching PS vendors to see what type of stones you can get for around 2K. You might find a better size stone to go with that setting that may not break your bank too badly (increasing to 4K total). Even if you had to put it off for a while to save up some more cash this really could pay off in the long run. I would be extremely hesitant to go with any high interest loan even if I "knew" I could pay it off in 6 months.

Another thing to do is to talk with your FI and see what she would prefer. A larger beautifully cut center stone in the 0.7-0.75 range with a simple(r) setting or a smaller stone in a fancier setting. These are the types of choices we will have to make together our entire lives - may as well start right now.

Oh, btw if you decide to go with what you can afford now and plan to upgrade later be sure the prongs can be changed out on that setting. I don''t think a larger stone can be set once the prongs are "clipped" to smaller size stone.

 

[swingirl]

What size stone did the setting have that your FI tried on? Did she like the look of the setting with a 1/2 ct stone? Because when you have that much going on with side stones it might look different if the Jareds model was a .75 or 1 ct stone.

0.61ct F SI2

I think you can get over 1/2 ct for your budget if your FI doesn't find anything else she likes. For some women the whole ring is more important than just the center stone. It goes against the grain of PSers who love the stone first and then want to find a setting.

But your FI is going to be wearing it.

If it were me I'd take something like this 0.74ct H I1 and find a setting for $1200.

Maybe something like this? Beverley K

Just ideas to toss around.

 

[Zaster85]

Hi all, thanks for the comments. I got the cost estimate from WF, turns out to be 1800 for them (100 dollars more), but the quality of the side diamonds is far greater. Jared''s is something like VS2-SL1, H-I color. WF are ACA, F/G color, VS. They would match the WF center stone much nicer then the diamonds on Jared’s ring (unless I pick one of Jared’s center diamonds as well... which is a no http://design.jared-diamonds.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1263244.asp. I was expecting there to be some markup, but this is just a no. WF mostly equivalent: http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-2141795.htm)

I guess question #1 is... does it matter if the side stones are ACA? I mean, id be more than happy for just Ideal/Ideal and save the 15% on the cost of diamonds. Will ACA make much of a difference on the melee? But I guess that would really only save me 100-300 bucks or so, putting me back into the same price of Jared’s (albeit still better quality).

HopeDream: Thanks for the confirmation. Still find it kind of strange, but I guess it makes sense per the definition you provided.

OldMiner/Outatouch0/Swingirl: Jared, or his rep I should say, was very nice and showed us the setting with various sized diamonds. She saw the .75 and .5 inside, and she was happy with either. Naturally, being a female with female friends, if she could get 5 carats she would want it, but I’m blessed that she

A) understands my budget/finances (most of the time, lol),
B) prefers quality (sparkly-ness) over quantity
C) likes unique and small(er) design rather then larger "gaudy" designs

I’m sure she''ll be ok with 50 pts in there (we saw it with a 51 pt stone), and we both didn’t think it looked out of place with a smaller stone in it. I was hoping for a nice 60 pt or so stone, but WF has a ACA in my price range, 46 pt. Smaller then I was hoping, but I have 20/10 vision and really cant tell the difference between a .45 and .5 carat. I believe the head/prongs can be changed and a larger diamond put in place when I’m ready. Perhaps I’m mistaken, but cant most heads be changed (for a cost)?
My GF is very easy going most of the time, but I have the feeling she''s had her ring picked out since she was 6. She''s put a lot of thought into what she wants. She can''t articulate it, nor does she know how to describe it without seeing it and saying yay or nay, but she knows. So having her say she really likes something, really means I’m gunning for it. She’s got a complicated matrix of what works and what doesn’t, and I’ve eliminated soooo many settings because of it.

For instance, Swingirl, I would love to wear that setting. Its gorgeous. But I also know she won’t like it. The engraving is a plus, but the deal breaker would be the pave'' style side stones. I would put the antique/vintage look in a middle category, as she has yet to comment on that style. But by this time, I’m assuming "no comment received" on a particular style means a no. I agree with what your saying though. The original setting I was looking at was http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/open-prong-Side-Stones-ring.html, from James Allen. Then I was looking to get an $1800 60 pt something in it. Just since I know what setting she wants, I’m trying to remake some plans.
And I guess this is just me, but I wouldn’t want to get anything less the VS2 or G (preferable F though). I can see the color difference and to me, a diamond is supposed to be white. The whole Mind/Eye clear thing comes into play for the clarity, and I feel comfortable with a VS2. Nothing less. So I kind of got myself locked into a VS2, F, Ideal H&A diamond. Price only goes up from there.

I will check with WF to see if the head/prongs can be changed. I wouldn''t have thought of checking with them on that. Thanks

PS. Never let me free-write at 10:50 at night. I’ll type all of shake spear’s works faster than Aristotle’s Monkeys with one hand behind my back. Sorry for the long post and have a great night!

 

[outatouch0]

I know what you mean about getting the setting she likes, esp if she is VERY particular. I chose to make the big (for me) stretch to get her the setting she liked while convincing her it was out of the question. The smile on her face and her reaction was priceless. I am just a sneaky SOB when it comes to surprising her. Since she was okay with a half ct center stone then I would say you are in there!!! Also, an ideal cut stone will tend to appear larger than a larger inferior cut stone due to spread, brilliance and light return.

Ask WF for a price with the sidestones being their "premium select" grade (the one with the cherries) which are also quite good and usually only miss ACA by a hair.

 

[swingirl]

Getting the setting done by WF assures not only the stones will be beautiful but the workmanship will be very high. My friend has a G ACA in a WF setting and her G looks very white. Don't rule out G's because the one's you saw at Jarads might not have been GIA or AGS stones (they are much stricter when it comes to color).

I think you are doing a wonderful job of satisfying your GF and keeping to your budget!