direction/reassurance/thoughts? too much ring freedom

[KipsGirl]

I am running out of people to ask these questions so I am turning to pricescope which I have been creeping for months.

I am very lucky to have an SO who basically told me to find what I want, custom (which I truly prefer as my father designed my mothers ring) or store-bought, he will get it, add some custom details and voila it is done. Problem? Yes. I don't know what to choose. We have moved across the country, keep debating whether the money should be spend on a house (mostly me actually, I feel guilty because I feel like whatever I want is expensive and a house is practical), and the stone! The stone, the stone, the stone! Has been an endless source of frustration for me.
We have had the moissanite convo (thought maybe, then decided no), debated sapphire constantly (white, blue, montana), and whether diamonds are the right choice. We love steps cuts especially Asscher cuts, as drafting is a huge part of our careers. We are both stage technicians, so I need a strong stone and setting but I want something unique. We found a kwiat sapphire ring in a store that we both liked, I showed my sister and it didn't go well, plus the salesman said it was super popular and he had just sold one (which was a nail in coffin for me). A gray diamond would be perfect but they are near impossible to find and I need to see one to know for sure, for a large grey diamond I would compromise shape. But then I think a fancy cut stone (like concave, etc) would give me the uniqueness I crave. It is a never-ending cycle that makes me want to cry, and if I told him to just find something that he thinks I would like, it would just stress him out because he knows how picky I am.

What I really want to know is how did you find your ring? How do you narrow it down? I know this might not make sense, but I some direction/reassurance/thoughts? Is this normal?

 

[Niel]

There's more in there than you think!
Step cuts.
Colored stones
Something unique
You work with your hands you said? So something not too delicate.

That's a lot to work with!

Let me ask you this, is an asscher that far ahead of a emerald cut, in your mind? Because, say you went emerald cut, you could go with a yellow diamond (or blue I'd you went MMD) set it e/w instead of the regular n/s and get a LOT of uniqueness that way. Then its just a matter of finding the setting.

I don't know what you mean by unique, but if its more modern, do a Google search for meavona emerald and see what comes up. Her stuff is so cool!


Also, try not to care what your sister says too much. It won't be on her finger. And she won't be staring at it constantly every day for years!
What's the budget?

 

[KipsGirl]

The budget started as about $10k USD but I would love to keep it under $5k USD.

I would consider definitely blue diamonds, but where can you find a sizable one? I never considered emerald set EW but I will look into it, I most enjoy the symmetry of asschers. If I went with asscher I would definitely bezel it to emphasize the shape. Overall I want the setting & diamond to be able 8mm/9mm to look "normal" (in my opinion) on my hands which I am extremely self conscious of.

Is ebay a good place to look for fancy colored diamonds? Do fancy colored diamonds have the same hardness?

 

[RockyRacoon]

Grey diamond possibility:

http://www.fancydiamonds.net/view_diamonds/12397.htm#.UfXmam1uqKc

 

[distracts]

I think until you start trying on a LOT of things, confusion is normal. I was totally confused until I tried on things and narrowed down what I actually liked on my hand.

I also think that as much as you may think you prefer custom, it might be a lot easier for you to figure out what you want by only looking at either fully-made rings or at settings, at least to find out what you want. Jumping right to custom before having a solid idea is a bit of a putting a cart before the horse scenario.

Just throwing out a few suggestions:
http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-Vintage/Antique-Onyx-and-French-Cut/29877203_38qhCk#!i=2563017471&k=DnDSXpd
http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-Vintage/121ct-est-Old-European-Cut/27852564_Ngj6kj#!i=2349579495&k=gbvCv6W
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/yellow-diamond-ring-102ct-asscher-cut-fancy-light-yellow-vs1-three-stone-ring-r1093
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-diamond-111ct-emerald-cut-fancy-yellowish-brown-sI2-gorgeous-color-r4127
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/halo-ring-special-103carat-di1-emerald-cut-diamond-in-a-diamond-halo-ring
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/natural-yellow-emerald-cut-diamond-r2647
http://www.fancydiamonds.net/view_diamonds/630.htm#.UfXxO2Sgkt0
http://www.greenwichjewelers.com/shop/designers/beverley-k/products/beverley-k-oval-sapphire-and-diamond-engagement-ring
http://www.greenwichjewelers.com/shop/designers/beverley-k/products/beverley-k-square-bezel-set-diamond-engagement-ring

 

[KipsGirl]

It all started with this ring last november
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagemen...aire-engagement-ring-asscher-center-item-3254

Then we went to this ring, but contacted the company and it would be $26k USD
http://pinterest.com/pin/480126010244896031/

This is the Kwiat ring that got the chopping block after the sister/popularity thing happen, its beautiful but I only really like it as a RHR now. The beverly K sapphire is similar.
http://www.kwiat.com/fine-diamond-j...tage-collection-18k-white-gold/p/8520/3/0/337

So, we moved on to the asscher style of this, but worried about how secure the stone would be
http://www.thecutlondon.com/blog/ecutlondon.com/2011/07/tito-pedrini.html

Then we considered merging these two ring styles. I love the impact of the first but worry about matching and it looking odd in the day to day.
http://pinterest.com/pin/480126010245031599/
http://www.kwiat.com/fine-diamond-j...-style-pave-diamond-split-band/p/58128/99/0/0



My SO just walked in and I start to tell him about pricescope and that I asked for help (naturally before he can even make it to fridge). And he suggests trying to find a grey/black diamond and put it in a halo setting, then proceeded to laugh lecture me about not worrying too much about the setting just get what I, because I mostly likely won't wear me ring to long work calls but he "has a plan" so my finger "is not naked". Maybe I should just trust him to find something, haha.

Grey, blue and black are my favorite colors (and teal but I don't want super a teal stone). I like cool colors. Are black diamonds transparent or are they like onyx?

 

[arkieb1]

Finding a grey stone isn't that difficult or unique see links above, finding one that is an Asscher cut would be much more difficult. Another suggestion could be find a X, Y Z coloured stone in an Asscher or an Emerald. If you pick the right one it would face or look like a light fancy yellow so a stone worth a lot more than you actually paid for it. Again, difficult but not impossible to find in an Asscher or an Emerald cut.

I would start by looking at the following websites at existing stones if you don't find anything then try emailing Leibish, Diamonds By Lauren and Good Old Gold and ask what, if anything, they could find for you.

I saw a genuine antique sapphire and diamond ring like the one you loved a few weeks back on ebay but I can't find it any more, that could be another option go to Ebay, put in sapphire ring or diamond and sapphire ring, if you want preloved ie antique only go to the sidebar and make sure that they are used items only, if you don't mind new then find items in the amount you want to pay. There are some stunning original antique and new diamond and sapphire rings for sale for great prices and I don't think its strange to love sapphires!!!!

Places like doverjewelry, and First Dibs and Rubylane also have diamond rings in the type of settings you like preloved from time to time and wonderful sapphire items as well.

 

[Niel]

yeah this was the some I was thinking. Very shallow and faces up very large! I'm not so sure that shallow is a good thing. But if you could see it in person, that might be good.
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/natural-yellow-emerald-cut-diamond-r2647

Here's just one option of a z colored stone. I'd think if you hand someone like good old gold look for one, you might be able to find an even bigger one in your budget

http://www.exceldiamonds.com/Diamonds-1/GIA-Graded-Emerald-Diamond-1-15-Carat-Z-Color-VS1-Clarity-239823.html

Set it in something like this (gog sells this setting too)
http://www.exceldiamonds.com/-Engagement-Rings-5/Designs-By-Vatche-Bezel-X-Prong-Round-Engagement-Ring-183-58546.html

Very pretty.


The reason I say emerald is because they are a bit easier to find, but also are going to have more vertical length and give you some mm size. A 8-9 mm asscher is going to be a large ctw stone.

 

[Niel]

I'm not sure a black diamond is the way to go if you want an asscher. You're tight they look like onyx, so you won't see those lovely steps.

When I was saying blue diamonds, I was talking about mmds, which I can't talk about on this sub forum, but I'd you're interested sub forum is helpful. You could start a thread there too.

I think the last look you pointed, with the marquise, could be accomplished with an asscher or an e/w emerald and a sholdt design like this.

http://www.sholdtdesign.com/Vashon/R3791D.htm

 

[SB621]

Then we went to this ring, but contacted the company and it would be $26k USD
http://pinterest.com/pin/480126010244896031/

That ring could easily be remade by any of the PS vendors. because of the lines I would probably look at WF and BGD for a quote.

 

[Niel]

Then we went to this ring, but contacted the company and it would be $26k USD
http://pinterest.com/pin/480126010244896031/

That ring could easily be remade by any of the PS vendors. because of the lines I would probably look at WF and BGD for a quote.

Question. Is that your pinterest? I ask because it says "would love this without the diamonds"

And if that's the case that can easily be a sholdt half bezel, which isn't near 25k

And done with an oval or we bezel could reach 8-9 mm within budget.

 

[TheGeckoLady]

If you hate this please just ignore it. If you’re open to a 3 stone ring, this would be a unique setting and you could get bezel set asscher cut diamonds within your budget. You could go with asscher cut diamonds for the sides and a colored diamond or gemstone for the center. You can change the shape and size of the center stone so lots of ways to customize. Plus, the high shoulders may help protect the center stone if you accidentally bang it on something while you’re working.

http://www.stuller.com/products/122061/5341210/?groupId=117248

 

[arkieb1]

Would something like this appeal, its brand new & has never been worn, has sapphire sides, was custom made so its totally unique;

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/well-the-engagment-didnt-take-what-now.191781/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/well-the-engagment-didnt-take-what-now.191781/[/URL]

 

[purplesilk]

What about an asscher diamond in a bezel mokume setting?

For inspirational purpose:
http://www.chrisploof.com/cs-11-4/
http://www.krikawa.com/jewelry/body-of-work/item-detail.aspx?id=3690
http://www.nzmokume.com/portfolio/white-gold-and-pure-palladium-with-princess-cut-diamond/
http://www.mokume-gane.com/index.php?page=collections&subpage=diamond_gemstone_rings&pagenum=3

 

[KipsGirl]

Mokume is something I am going to look more into.

The reason I like this ring is because of synthetic corundum they can place in the center, so its not really a simple half bezel that drew me in and that didn't seem like something I could ask just any custom jeweler to create.
http://pinterest.com/pin/480126010244896031/

Thought yellow diamonds are beautiful in their own right, they just aren't me.

Unfortunately ring shopping has not been on my mind at the moment much as my SO is in the hospital but thank you for all your help so far.

 

[distracts]

Unfortunately ring shopping has not been on my mind at the moment much as my SO is in the hospital but thank you for all your help so far.

I hope he gets well soon!! PS will still be here when he's out of the hospital.