Diamond and Setting Advice Needed - 30k budget

[lpb]

I am getting serious about purchasing my 15 year upgrade. RB, 2.0-2.5 carat, eye clean, Highest cut available, want it to look white but not overpay (thinking H?) with a budget for diamond, setting, and new thin wedding eternity ring at about 30k (with some flexibility).

I have been leaning toward this setting (requirements: pave band, 6 prong, simple):

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen...set-eternity-diamond-engagement-ring-3590.htm

For a diamond I am currently leaning toward a 2.424, ACA, H, SI1 (noted as eyeclean)

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3639112.htm
Does anyone have any experience with Whiteflash’s in-house settings. Is the 1.8mm stable enough to support a large (to me) diamond and withstand normal, everyday wear?

I had actually decided to have Victor Canera set my diamond. I adore this setting:

https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/engagement/six-prong-pave-solitaire-with-scalloped-basket

But he will only set his own stones right now and although he has an amazing 2.070 stone, I am really thinking I want to go closer to 2.5 on my forever stone (still somewhat considering Victor’s though).

Assuming I go through whiteflash, I wanted a very thin pave eternity band wedding band and found one I planned to get from blue nile that I thought would compliment (and pretty cheap) but I saw Gypsy post that Blue Nile has had some pave quality issues? I plan to stack bands in the future so wanted tiny and I honestly have had little luck finding eternity bands anywhere.

http://www.bluenile.com/pave-diamon...r=customizer&track=alternate-metalsCustomizer

Any expert opinions on the diamond and setting? Also - should I be considering "I" on the diamond instead of "H"? I want it to be beautiful and look white but I am certainly no expert. My current 1 carat princess cut is an I in color and I have never been bothered by any "color" in it. But since I am going bigger I didn't know if I needed to go up a letter to compensate for the impact of size on color? Also - trusting whiteflashes "eye clean" icon is safe, right? I had read that you couldn't have eye clean below a VS2 in 2+carat rings but based on their website you can?

Thoughts and advice would be much appreciated!

 

[po720]

But he will only set his own stones right now and although he has an amazing 2.070 stone, I am really thinking I want to go closer to 2.5 on my forever stone (still somewhat considering Victor’s though).

LPB, congratulations on 15 years!!!! that is an amazing upgrade, I am very excited for you !! just as FYI, I contact VC for a quote on a 2.5 yesterday and he had a H color VS2 2.5 stone for around 25k. I just wanted a quote for the setting and wanted to see how close his 2.5 pricing would be to my Blue Nile upgrade but when I saw your post of looking for a 2.5 from VC, I had to chime in to let you know that he can definitely get you an H color 2.5!! Email [email protected] and tell him exactly what you are looking for in a stone and ask him for a quote on the stone and setting together... he had a stone and sketch of the setting with a quote for me in less than an hour! Good luck and looking forward to hearing/seeing more on your upgrade journey

regards,
P

 

[tyty333]

Do you really like that setting from WF? I think of it as a pretty generic setting that you could plop any head
on. The cathedrals are just left hanging in the air. Sorry WF, just not a fan of that setting especially for a $30k ring.

I much prefer these.I would ask for the prongs to be made as small as possible...the head/basket are incorporated
and the cathedral arms arent left hanging in the air.
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/petite-open-cathedral-diamond-engagement-ring-1539.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/felicity-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-by-vatche-1649.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/elena-diamond-engagement-ring-1364.htm

That stone is a beautiful and would make a lovely engagement ring. I would ask at what distance it is no longer eye-clean.

 

[lpb]

1) I plan to email Victor today and ask about the 2.5 carat mentioned. However, we have communicated via email already as he responded to my quote request and recommended the 2.0 stone and when I said I really wanted to go closer to a 2.5 stone he nicely told me he is only setting his own and advised me to go with a different vendor. But worth a shot... Regardless thanks for the heads up. Maybe he and I somehow miscommunicated. I might ask how frequently he gets new stones in as well. My anniversary was June so I am already late... what's a few more months...

2) I do like the Felicity setting and have looked at it as a potential setting. The only thing I didn't like quite as much is that the pave is 1/2 around the band instead of 3/4 - which might not be that big of a deal? I had not even NOTICED the floating cathedral arms!!!! 1/2 pave might offset that. I'll think about it. And note - I am not stuck on cathedral at all. The Victor Canera setting (my fave) isn't cathedral. I just want it very simple and elegant.

 

[egemnoel]

Hi LPB,

I was in the exact same situation about 8 months ago. After doing all the same re-search I ended up with Crafted By Infinity. Don't forget to check in with Wink from HPD / Crafted By Infinity. In my opinion they cut the best diamonds and have the highest quality standards.

See my thread below.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-crafted-by-infinity-masterpiece-by-wink-jones-leon-mege.217915/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-crafted-by-infinity-masterpiece-by-wink-jones-leon-mege.217915/[/URL]

good luck.

 

[lpb]

Victor responded and said that the 2.5 carat diamond was not one of his own and instead from the virtual inventory. I was hoping he had a top secret library of his stones not published on the website. But that is not the case. I was really trying to end up with an amazing cut and all the sparkle that comes with it so hate to go with an "unknown".

But thanks so much for the heads up to reach out to him on it.

I'll play around with the other vendors mentioned that I haven't looked at and see if I like anything. I really hadn't planned to go custom- I feel like what I want is so NORMAL that everyone should have one just in stock. I am shocked that I am having issues with setting.

 

[lpb]

egemnoel-

Your ring is absolutely amazing. I'll definitely check out your vendors. I did notice that Gypsy said there had been problems with Leon Mege rings in her post yesterday? I assume you have had no issues?

 

[egemnoel]

No Issues with Leon at all. He is an interesting character and his work is brilliant. Some people find him 'tricky' and if you try to manage him it will not work out well. I told him what I wanted and he delivered the goods. No more that 5 emails max where exchanged. I find he has an eye that many benches just cannot match.

Wink, also makes amazing rings so you could have both done under the one roof and I am sure he will discount the setting also. Keep us posted and before you jump into anything let the forum know. Lots of good people will keep you right!

 

[lpb]

I have not done anything yet... and will definitely check it out! I can't open all of the links right now but is there a close -up of the diamond (showing where the inclusions are) and the AGS report showing the inclusions? I definitely want an eye clean stone.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I personally would go through WF or GOG and then have the stone set by Steven Kirsch since Victor doesn't have a diamond with your specs now.

The one you chose looks great:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3639112.htm

**edited to remove discussion of previously advertised sale by another poster**

 

[Ella]

Folks, no sales on RockyTalky per the policies. I have removed the pertinent posts. Only warning please.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I would encourage you to look at Steven Kirsch if Victor is not possible. I've been here for 10 years and will just tell you that I would go with Victor or Steven for a handforged pave ring based on their workmanship and integrity. You can work with any vendor and have them send him the diamond.

http://stevenkirsch.com/gallery/