Cushion Halo Setting for a Round Brilliant

[effervescent11]

Hi everyone,

Thanks again for helping me choose my stone. Now it's time to choose a setting. I'm looking for a platinum cushion shaped pave halo with pave shank that will fit a 1.5 ct round brilliant. I currently have my eyes on the Anita from BGD. I'm looking for sparkle and since BGD uses ideal cut diamonds in their setting, I figured this would do it. Are there any other recommendations?

Also, does anyone have a picture of the Anita? I scoured the Forums and only found one altered one. I'd appreciate any pictures anyone may have. Thank you!

 

[824jagdds]

I am looking at this tacori for my girlfriend. Sounds like what you are looking for. https://www.tacori.com/2620rdlgp

By the time you change it to platinum and have it fit the stone you're talking about it gets pretty pricy. I've seen it in person and it's nice.

 

[Diamond_Hawk]

I cannot comment on a vendor nor make any recommendations due to forum rules - HOWEVER, I can say the cushion halo for a round brilliant has gained some popularity recently and is, in my opinion, a really nice look!

 

[HDer]

I think the BGD looks pretty good if you're going for a higher carat weight halo. Tacori is liked by a lot of people here, but it's more expensive. Ritani is liked by a lot of people as well. Finally there are a bunch of custom designers on here although they would generally be a bit more expensive than the mass produced settings.

Finally, I got mine at James Allen. They tend to run 25% off settings coupons around the holidays and with only a 100 dollar setting fee (I also had to pay another 100 dollar >7mm center stone) it makes their settings pretty affordable. Some people have complained about their quality though, so YMMV.

 

[simon123]

This was featured on High Performance Diamonds social media accounts. Custom job by Wink’s workshop. Very striking. There are more photos on HP Diamonds Facebook and Instagram.

 

[msop04]

@effervescent11
First off, I love a cushion halo on a RB... that was my last setting before I upgraded my stone.
However, I wouldn't pay the price for the Tacori one. You can get a hand forged setting for that price... and better quality. I'm just not impressed with Tacori's quality.

VC's Emilya cushion halo for rounds is gorgeous, and you can customize any aspect of it to your liking.

ETA: BE (formerly ERD) does beautiful work as well... there are several PS vendors that I would choose before going with Tacori (in cast as well as hand forged). David Klass does really pretty settings for a very fair price, and he has a new uber bench!

 

[824jagdds]

@msop04 I am curious as to what you have found lacking in Tacori's quality? Have you owned a Tacori and had a bad experience? How was their customer service? They make strong claims about both so I wa surprised to hear that someone was less than impressed. Since I am considering a whiteflash aca set in tacori, I would like to know ahead of time what is wrong with the brand. Thank you.

 

[msop04]

@msop04 I am curious as to what you have found lacking in Tacori's quality? Have you owned a Tacori and had a bad experience? How was their customer service? They make strong claims about both so I wa surprised to hear that someone was less than impressed. Since I am considering a whiteflash aca set in tacori, I would like to know ahead of time what is wrong with the brand. Thank you.

Sorry -- just seeing this.

Okay... So I was literally obsessed with Tacori when I was about to get engaged (2012). I'd saved numerous photos of many styles to my Pinterest and the whole bit... Then I saw them in person. For most of the designs, I was underwhelmed -- especially at the high price point. I didn't think their prong work or milgrain was very nice when compared with some of the other designers in the showroom. Later, after being on PS and seeing so many examples of other designers (and owning a few myself) I can definitely say that the Tacori settings I saw didn't look nearly as "finished" as other designers/benches that are in the same (or even lower) price range. This is simply my opinion.

I never owned one to have had a bad experience, because I was so disappointed in them when I saw their pieces IRL. They look AMAZING in their ads, but not so much in person. Just not what I was expecting for such a high price. That said, there are many Tacori rings that I think are really beautiful... there are also certain styles that only Tacori does well (meaning, if you were really in love with one of those, then I'd just go with Tacori), but only so many. The photo you posted looks to be an easily duplicated style (from face up view). I can't remember what the profile looks like on that particular one. It would be a little different if they weren't so expensive, but their prices can get CRAZY.

Just to give an example, the setting I was looking at was the 2525RD baguette halo (which I still believe is gorgeous and would lump it into one of those settings that only Tacori does well -- because I've never seen many other jewelers attempt to duplicate it, and the ones I have seen didn't do it well). I want to say it was Monique Lhuillier who tried to do a similar style, but it was not even close to as nice. Don't quote me on that!

When I was looking, the price for this setting with a 1.5 ct center was over $5K, which now I know is rather expensive for that type of setting. When I had them give me a price for my 2 ct stone, it was over $8K!!! What??!! I couldn't shake my love for this setting, so I had my jeweler request that Tacori send a ring with a 2 ct CZ equivalent so that I could at least see it before considering spending all that money... on the setting alone. I'm so glad I did, because it looked heinous. The delicate aesthetic of the stock setting I fell in love with was completely changed, and I didn't like it -- at all. Thank GOD.

FWIW, my SA and I became good friends in the process of my ering shopping, and he eventually left Diamonds Direct and went back to the high end family-owned store he'd worked in for years prior. He mentioned that, although Tacori is one of their most popular brands (at Diamonds Direct), they had a lot of problems with them regarding customer service. Lots of refused repairs stating they believed that another jeweler had worked on the ring when they most definitely had not (that voids the warranty forever). Also, a lot of times Tacori would claim a setting was damaged from abuse or "not normal wear" to not have to honor their warranty. There were several other things he told me, but those were the worst ones. He told me this AFTER he left DD. I know these weren't just random or isolated incidents, as he was their #1 seller of Tacori (as well as in overall diamond and setting sales) every year he was there -- so he dealt with a LOT of volume for every brand. So their warranty is pretty much crap... and it shouldn't even be a selling point IMO, as any trusted vendor/bench will stand behind their work.

I just know that if I'd ended up loving the sample they sent with the 2 ct so much that I'd purchased it for my ering... I would've been sick to my stomach after finding out I could've had an amazing HAND FORGED setting from pretty much any PS jeweler (Victor Canera, Steven Kirsch, Leon Mege, Caysie Van Bebber, Erika Winters, etc...) for less than what I would've paid for that particular Tacori. I'd really hate for anyone to have that type of regret. But at the end of the day, it's your money to spend as you please. This was just my experience. I am not saying there is anything "wrong" with the brand... what I am saying is that I believe Tacori is VERY overpriced for the workmanship you get when compared with other benches/brands.

Hope this helps.

 

[WillyDiamond]

To keep within your budget, have you tried Chris at BE?

 

[824jagdds]

Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed reply. It's very much appreciated.

 

[ringbling17]

Hi! I am actually looking at a cushion shaped bezel for my round brilliant. I'm trying to decide if I want diamonds or not. Here is one setting without diamonds that I absolutely love by David Klass but I would like to modify the shank and make it more plain. His prices are excellent and so far I've had two items designed by him and I've been more than happy with the results.
As far as quotes- I have a quote for the Emilya by VC without diamonds on the shank or donut, with platinum head and rose gold cathedral shank for under $4k.
The setting I'm posting below by DK was under $1k for a platinum head and rose gold shank with no diamonds.
I'm still trying to decide if I want diamonds or not.