After a looonnnggg day, here are my options so far, any comments are more than welcomed and appreciated!
1. T&CO Channel Setting 0.8ct Round Brilliant (1.2 ctw) $11,100
HCA: 0.8
Measurements: 6.04 - 6.08 x 3.64
Color: F
Clarity: VVS1
Cut: EX
Symmetry: VG
Polish: EX
Fluorescence: None
Girdle: Faceted Thin to Medium
Culet: None
Total Depth: 60.1%
Table Size: 57%
Pavilion depth: 42.9%
Crown Height: 14.2%
Pavilion Angle: 40.7
Crown Angle: 34.2
Lower Half: 75%
Star Length: 50%
2. T&CO Channel Setting 1.21ct Round Brilliant (1.61 ctw) $15,200
HCA: 3.1
Measurements: 6.77 - 6.80 x 4.25
Color: H
Clarity: VS1
Cut: EX
Symmetry: VG
Polish: EX
Fluorescence: None
Girdle: Faceted Thin to Medium
Culet: None
Total Depth: 62.6%
Table Size: 57%
Pavilion depth: 43.5%
Crown Height: 15.5%
Pavilion Angle: 41
Crown Angle: 35.2
Lower Half: 80%
Star Length: 55%
3. T&CO Classic Setting 1.25ct Round Brilliant $14,900
HCA: 1.4
Measurements: 6.92 - 6.97 x 4.27
Color: H
Clarity: VS2
Cut: EX
Symmetry: EX
Polish: EX
Fluorescence: None
Girdle: Faceted Medium to Slightly Thick
Culet: None
Total Depth: 61.5%
Table Size: 56%
Pavilion depth: 43.2%
Crown Height: 15.6%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8
Crown Angle: 34.7
Lower Half: 80%
Star Length: 50%
4. T&CO Channel Setting 0.98ct Round Brilliant (1.38 ctw) $11,200
HCA: 1.6
Measurements: 6.44 - 6.45 x 3.88
Color: I
Clarity: VS1
Cut: EX
Symmetry: VG
Polish: VG
Fluorescence: None
Girdle: Bruted Medium to Slightly Thick
Culet: None
Total Depth: 60.2%
Table Size: 59%
Pavilion depth: 43.3%
Crown Height: 13.7%
Pavilion Angle: 41
Crown Angle: 33.8
Lower Half: 75%
Star Length: 55%
5. Cartier Channel 1895 1.04 ct Round Brilliant (1.34 ctw) $14,675
HCA: not known (GIA cert has no angles / %)
Measurements: 6.56 - 6.59 x 3.96
Color: H
Clarity: VS2
Cut: --
Symmetry: VG
Polish: VG
Fluorescence: None
Girdle: Faceted Very Thin to Slightly Thick
Culet: None
Total Depth: 60.2%
Table Size: 59%
Pavilion depth: --
Crown Height: --
Pavilion Angle: --
Crown Angle: --
Lower Half: --
Star Length: --
This is also my order of preference. I must mention that I only saw rings (1) and (3) (and a dozen others that I ended up not choosing). Here are my thoughts:
(1) though it seems small, it has by far the most
FIRE
of them all... It's like it stood out from the display out of all of them. I actually didn't realize at first that it was so small because of the setting. I'm not surprised at all that it has such a good HCA, it actually looked bigger, it had excellent scintillation even with the hand over blocking some of the special store light
I love the fact that it has great color and clarity parameters, much better than I was originally looking at, though smaller. The symmetry is VG which concerns me a bit, is there a big difference between EX and VG? Would you be able to see facets not pointing up, off center table, or misshapen faces? Extra facets??? All in all, I love the fact that it's sensitively priced to my budget, which will probably allow me to also get the Channel wedding band. I saw the 2 together today, they look outstanding (indescribable..
) The center stone seems to be worth about 6.5k - 7k, so if you consider the channel setting at about 2.5k - 3k, the premium seems more acceptable (tolerable).
(2) I haven't seen the ring and I'm concerned with the HCA
Overall, it's a lot of stone for the money with the channel setting, big difference in color and clarity from ring no (1). This also seems to be slightly too high due to a higher and steeper crown, probably this is the cause of the higher HCA. This is at the very top of my budget (overdraft...
) and I won't probably be able to get the Channel wedding band, maybe just the plain Platinum one. I looked at the combination today... not pleasant when compared to the first one... it's like the only thing you notice is the plain band against the sparkling channel setting... you can't even see the center stone...
(3) I saw this last week, first ring. I honestly can't remember it, so I guess it's not that great? The stone seems to not be worth more than 8.5k - 9k, so with the setting at 1.5k - 2k, this one seems to have the highest premium of all. Again, no channel wedding band if I get this one...
(4) I haven't seen this, it's the most stone (total) of all the rings. Big drop in color, ok clarity. It seems to have a big table and slightly smaller and flatter crown. I'm concerned with the VG symmetry as (1) and also the VG polish... What is the difference to EX polish? Certainly you wouldn't be able to see polish lines, would you? The price is ok and will allow for the wedding band, the center stone is probably 5.5k - 6k and the channel setting at about 2.5k - 3k.
(5) I don't even want to talk about this one, the experience at the Cartier store was well below expectations. I'll pass on they're offer.... it's also pricier than T&CO (which is already hmhm
).
I welcome your thoughts and opinions on my selection....
Dan.
1. T&CO Channel Setting 0.8ct Round Brilliant (1.2 ctw) $11,100
HCA: 0.8
Measurements: 6.04 - 6.08 x 3.64
Color: F
Clarity: VVS1
Cut: EX
Symmetry: VG
Polish: EX
Fluorescence: None
Girdle: Faceted Thin to Medium
Culet: None
Total Depth: 60.1%
Table Size: 57%
Pavilion depth: 42.9%
Crown Height: 14.2%
Pavilion Angle: 40.7
Crown Angle: 34.2
Lower Half: 75%
Star Length: 50%
2. T&CO Channel Setting 1.21ct Round Brilliant (1.61 ctw) $15,200
HCA: 3.1

Measurements: 6.77 - 6.80 x 4.25
Color: H
Clarity: VS1
Cut: EX
Symmetry: VG
Polish: EX
Fluorescence: None
Girdle: Faceted Thin to Medium
Culet: None
Total Depth: 62.6%
Table Size: 57%
Pavilion depth: 43.5%
Crown Height: 15.5%
Pavilion Angle: 41
Crown Angle: 35.2
Lower Half: 80%
Star Length: 55%
3. T&CO Classic Setting 1.25ct Round Brilliant $14,900
HCA: 1.4
Measurements: 6.92 - 6.97 x 4.27
Color: H
Clarity: VS2
Cut: EX
Symmetry: EX
Polish: EX
Fluorescence: None
Girdle: Faceted Medium to Slightly Thick
Culet: None
Total Depth: 61.5%
Table Size: 56%
Pavilion depth: 43.2%
Crown Height: 15.6%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8
Crown Angle: 34.7
Lower Half: 80%
Star Length: 50%
4. T&CO Channel Setting 0.98ct Round Brilliant (1.38 ctw) $11,200
HCA: 1.6
Measurements: 6.44 - 6.45 x 3.88
Color: I
Clarity: VS1
Cut: EX
Symmetry: VG
Polish: VG
Fluorescence: None
Girdle: Bruted Medium to Slightly Thick
Culet: None
Total Depth: 60.2%
Table Size: 59%
Pavilion depth: 43.3%
Crown Height: 13.7%
Pavilion Angle: 41
Crown Angle: 33.8
Lower Half: 75%
Star Length: 55%
5. Cartier Channel 1895 1.04 ct Round Brilliant (1.34 ctw) $14,675
HCA: not known (GIA cert has no angles / %)
Measurements: 6.56 - 6.59 x 3.96
Color: H
Clarity: VS2
Cut: --
Symmetry: VG
Polish: VG
Fluorescence: None
Girdle: Faceted Very Thin to Slightly Thick
Culet: None
Total Depth: 60.2%
Table Size: 59%
Pavilion depth: --
Crown Height: --
Pavilion Angle: --
Crown Angle: --
Lower Half: --
Star Length: --
This is also my order of preference. I must mention that I only saw rings (1) and (3) (and a dozen others that I ended up not choosing). Here are my thoughts:
(1) though it seems small, it has by far the most






(2) I haven't seen the ring and I'm concerned with the HCA


(3) I saw this last week, first ring. I honestly can't remember it, so I guess it's not that great? The stone seems to not be worth more than 8.5k - 9k, so with the setting at 1.5k - 2k, this one seems to have the highest premium of all. Again, no channel wedding band if I get this one...
(4) I haven't seen this, it's the most stone (total) of all the rings. Big drop in color, ok clarity. It seems to have a big table and slightly smaller and flatter crown. I'm concerned with the VG symmetry as (1) and also the VG polish... What is the difference to EX polish? Certainly you wouldn't be able to see polish lines, would you? The price is ok and will allow for the wedding band, the center stone is probably 5.5k - 6k and the channel setting at about 2.5k - 3k.
(5) I don't even want to talk about this one, the experience at the Cartier store was well below expectations. I'll pass on they're offer.... it's also pricier than T&CO (which is already hmhm

I welcome your thoughts and opinions on my selection....
Dan.