E-Ring advice for online purchase

[thehierarchy]

Hi everyone

I am researching e-rings online to give my boyfriend a couple of my favourites to choose from.

Budget wise we are looking to spend no more than high $5000's including diamond and setting.

This will mean under 1 carot centre diamond. I have long fingers so I have been looking at different halo options to make the diamond appear bigger. Lately I've been going off the halo look though in favour of a more classic setting with some point of interest - I like the halo style now, but I worry it doesn't really suit me and I might not like it in a year, 5 years time etc.

Below are several designs I really like.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5542
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5470
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5360
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5509
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5665
http://www.adiamor.com/R-1366-R2823-1.htm
http://www.adiamor.com/R-1089-r2801-1.htm?q=r2801

Also whiteflash's "Harmony" and "Elena" styles (the site wont load for me at the moment so I can't attach the links).

The ring photos all look stunning, but you can tell the centre diamonds are a decent size. I worry they wont look that great with a smaller diamond.

I would appreciate any advice on what of those rings might look best with a centre diamond under 1 carot. I don't want the centre diamond to get lost, but at the same time I want the setting to stand out too. I like the split shank style, but not sure if it's best with a smaller diamond (without a halo to support it).

In terms of centre diamond, from preliminary search it seems in my price range (upper limit mid $3000's) I can get a H colour, VS2 - SI1, very good - excellent cut, 0.8 - 0.9 carot.

Am i better off focusing on the cut and clarity?

Many thanks for your assistance

 

[slg47]

I like the truth sleek micropave and the tiffany 6 prong fishtail pave the best but i think any of the settings you posted could work with a <1 carat center. the split shank is pretty but might not work well with a wedding band.

 

[TimMD]

I just wanted to comment because I actually designed the "Elena" myself, it is my fiancee's ring. It is a very delicate design and I think it would look great with a smaller stone. The one in the pictures is 1.311/g/vvs2. We love the design (obviously) and it really came out nice, but I have to admit, despite having it less than 3 months and my fiancee wears it 3 days a week at most, a stone already fell out of the setting. I know this is an inherent risk with delicate settings but just something to keep in mind. Whiteflash's response to it has been less than ideal....but again, beautiful setting and it would look lovely with a smaller stone. It is actually much more delicate that it looks in pictures, but gives it a very unique look. The the 2mm band and delicate prongs accentuate the center stone.

I personally like the halo idea and probably will be making a right hand ring (cushion cut) in the next year or two for my fiancee.

I think either way you can't go wrong and obviously I love the Elena since it was my own creation (and beautiful for the price), just be cognizant of the delicacy and maybe something you can address with Whiteflash upfront.

Good luck to you and I would be anxious to know what you decide, especially if it is the Elena because I would love to see how it looks with other center stone sizes. If you look at my posts, you will see lots of hand shots of the setting so you can get an idea of how it looks on. I hope this helps.

 

[Hospatogi]

Here is a thread to some beautiful ring designs under a carat that might help you decide ! [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/under-1ct-diamonds.25028/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/under-1ct-diamonds.25028/[/URL] Halo rings will probably give you more finger coverage , is very much in style right now, and can be really beautiful but its really a matter of personal taste. Good luck and cant wait to hear what you decide !

 

[Hospatogi]

The vatache caroline setting really makes a center stone pop and the pave around the basket of the ring is quite pretty. [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-new-upgrade-in-the-vatche-caroline-thank-you-gog.128033/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-new-upgrade-in-the-vatche-caroline-thank-you-gog.128033/[/URL]

 

[thehierarchy]

I appreciate the comments so far.

To be honest I haven't really included plain platinum bands in my search thus far as, well I generally find them sort of plain I guess.

However, after the Vatche 'Caroline' suggestion I have viewed a few that have that little point of interest such as the pave band around the basket and I am quite impressed.

I love the pave sides, but I am becoming increasingly worried that it might not be the most practical setting for me.

I own and operate a boutique health club and work out a fair bit myself so I would probably have to remove it most days, which really defeats the purpose of having a nice ring!

I could get a pave wedding band to add a bit more sparkle to a plain band. It would leave a little more cash to spend on the centre diamond too.

A couple of options I am considering are:

BGD 'Eternal Grace' http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5704
Vatche 'Caroline'
I like the Vatche 'Swan' but have read a few posts about difficulty matching it with a wedding band.
WF 'Legato sleek lines solitaire' http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-legato-sleek-line-solitaire-engagement-ring-729.htm
BGD 'Elegance' http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5415
BGD 'Novela Patientia' http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5517

I think I will leave the final decision with my partner - give him 2 or so pave options and similar amount of solitaire options but I would appreciate additional thoughts as he doesn't really know what he's doing - though he has decent taste!

Also, is 4 prong better than 6 for a smaller centre diamond?

Cheers

Jen

 

[Dreamer_D]

I think you are smart to avoid pave. If you really love the look, though, but don't want the hassel of maintenance (there is *always* maintenance with pave, it is part of owing it), then perhaps consider a brand like Ritani, known for the tank-like nature of their pave.

 

[Hospatogi]

I also think the fluid lines of the Dimend Scaasi Alessanda ring is quite pretty if you do not want any pave at all. [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-ring-is-in-pics.158421/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-ring-is-in-pics.158421/..[/URL]. If you mention being a pricescope member they will set your diamond regardless of whether you purchase your diamond through them or not.

 

[Hospatogi]

I am not sure if you are into rings with a more vintage feel but Jewels by Erica Grace ( JBEG) does some really unique rings.http://www.jewelsbyericagrace.com/jbeg_signature_settings__custom_design . A pricescope member has this one done with a suprise diamond .[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/yay-its-done-my-jbeg-julia-thank-you-grace-and-erica.150745/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/yay-its-done-my-jbeg-julia-thank-you-grace-and-erica.150745/[/URL]

 

[E B]

Have you considered a three stone setting of some sort? With side rounds, or baguettes, or pears? You get the extra bling in a lower-maintenance setting (if done right).

 

[Dreamer_D]

Have you considered a three stone setting of some sort? With side rounds, or baguettes, or pears? You get the extra bling in a lower-maintenance setting (if done right).

I like this idea!

 

[thehierarchy]

Thanks Dreamer and EB for you input also.

I have only had a cursory look at 3 stone rings so far (though I did just have a bit more of a search today). I struggle to visualise this style on my finger and whether it will suit me.

Does anyone have any suggestions of some impressive designs that would be within my budget - probably no more than $2300 including side stones. What sort of proportions should I be looking at re side stones versus centre stone?

This is the last of the Halo styles I am considering http://www.adiamor.com/R-1089-r2801-1.htm?q=r2801 but I really have no idea how it will look on my hand. Do you know any links to pics on Pricescope of similar designs?

I will still have the same problem with the pave, so in the end I will probably end up with a solitaire design, but I'm not quite ready to discount the pave styles just yet.

Thanks again.

 

[0-0-0]

I think if you have an active lifestyle pave is probably not the best choice. Of the designs with side stones that you like, something like BGD's Sara http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5470 with channel set diamonds in the shank can be a good choice. It has held up well for my fiancée who's pretty active and somewhat clumsy. I posted some photos in [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/brian-gavin-blue-in-sara.157369/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/brian-gavin-blue-in-sara.157369/[/URL] , but the center stone is well over 1 carat.

My fiancée has long fingers as well, and when she tried on rings in stores the ones with side stones look best on her hand. The ones with tapered shanks and 6 prongs tend to make the center stone stand out more. She tried on 3-stone rings as well, but they made her fingers look oddly stumpy. She did not care for halos so we skipped those.

I think it's really important to go try on different styles and see what you like best on your hand, before committing such a big portion of your budget on the setting.

 

[E B]

Here's a thread with a .90 ct. center and pear side stones with lots of great photos, if it helps at all:

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...n-diamonds-round-with-pear-sidestones.121061/

 

[slg47]

I have a ring with pear side stones! and it was in your $2300 budget

BGD makes several options
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5362
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5367
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5371
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5557

mine was a custom from BGD...so if one o the above is not to your liking you can make some changes and review CADs/etc

 

[thehierarchy]

I like some of those BGD three stones with the pear shaped sides, but what about the below? This has smaller side stones than some of the BGD options, which might be better given my centre stone will be under 1carot. So my impression is the centre stone will still stand out and the smaller side stones will just add a little more bling.

Vatche Open Gallery Classic Pear Shaped http://www.dvatche.com/index.php?page=collection&catID=3,12&id=100

Other than the above, I think I have narrowed it down (with help of partner - he is much more ruthless with culling options than me) to:

Vatche 'Caroline' with pave basket http://www.dvatche.com/index.php?page=collection&catID=3,11&startRow=24&id=53

BGD 'Sara' http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5470

BDG 'Classic Truth Solitaire' http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5369

This barely resembles what I started with, and while I had to cull some designs I really liked, i think all of the above will be a better fit given my active lifestyle.

Any final thoughts before I leave it with my man?

 

[yssie]

A wedding band will not sit flush with some of those designs (with protruding prongs), if that matters to you.


I think many people have a preference for solitaires or threestones, is there any way you could try some on at a local store to find out if you have a strong preference? Those all look like very pretty choices and I think all would suit an active lifestyle far better than something w/ lots of pave!

 

[slg47]

I like some of those BGD three stones with the pear shaped sides, but what about the below? This has smaller side stones than some of the BGD options, which might be better given my centre stone will be under 1carot. So my impression is the centre stone will still stand out and the smaller side stones will just add a little more bling.

Vatche Open Gallery Classic Pear Shaped http://www.dvatche.com/index.php?page=collection&catID=3,12&id=100

Other than the above, I think I have narrowed it down (with help of partner - he is much more ruthless with culling options than me) to:

Vatche 'Caroline' with pave basket http://www.dvatche.com/index.php?page=collection&catID=3,11&startRow=24&id=53

BGD 'Sara' http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5470

BDG 'Classic Truth Solitaire' http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5369

This barely resembles what I started with, and while I had to cull some designs I really liked, i think all of the above will be a better fit given my active lifestyle.

Any final thoughts before I leave it with my man?

ditto yssie...it would be great to try some on to see what you like best on your finger!

also, just wanted to say that BGD can make the ring with smaller side stones...I requested 0.15s instead of 0.20s.

 

[Luminous-MB]

From everything that has been said here the 3-stone idea sounds perfect! It's a timeless look and it adds that extra bling you would otherwise get from the pave. Something I haven't seen posted that maybe could be an in-between since you're really digging the pave, would be a halo design (pave, not micro-pave) but with a plain shank. Maintenance would be cut down in half and you would feel like you got what you really wanted. But of course, this will all depend on you going out and trying on different settings to see what actually looks good on your hand now that you have all this feedback! Best of luck!

 

[thehierarchy]

Thanks all.

I have tried a few 3 stone, halo and solitaire styles at various local jewelers. However, I have struggled to find either the exact style (i.e pear side stones rather than round) or carot size (I tried a nice solitaire yesterday with a similar shank and head to the ones I like but the stone was huge so I couldn't really get the feel for it, and others were too small) or similar halo style to the ones I like online.

I like all the above mentioned rings so I just have to think if I'm likely to grow cold on any of those styles. I also have to factor in the wedding band.

I have heard that some of them won't be that easy to match with bands, but I've seen a few examples on Pricescope of ways around this.

Which of the rings are likely to be problematic?

Cheers