E-Ring Search, Square stone, different band/setting

[grimm]

Hello everyone, first I want to say this has been a great resource to me and my g/f () : )
I''ve been looking for E-rings for awhile now and thought I was pretty well versed until I came here lol (I admit I''ve never searched for diamonds by table % until I found PS).
Anyway, I know we need a squareish stone, we were keeping it to princesses until we saw a HOF Dream, now we are open to square H&A, good, non-cracked ice radiant diamonds that are square, cut corner squares etc...
I''m very concerned about light performance, leakage etc (which is why I would prefer a RB, but I''m not the one wearing the ring )
So I''ve seen some good ACA princess, AGS000 princesses, and H&A squares, but am not sure which one consistently produces the best light performance? I don''t think I''ve ever seen a princess Idealscope image that didn''t have some leakage at least around the corners, and the usual black X in the middle. Does that mean I''m almost constrained to H&A? They do seem to have the best light performance but my g/f and I haven''t seen enough good princesses in person along side a H&A to decide which light pattern we like best.
Luckily my g/f is 100lbs and has trouble palming a softball with her tiny little hands, so a .7 looks huge, and being a mild mannered elementary school teacher, really doesn''t want anything even close to a carat...which means that my $6-7K stone budget can buy just about the best stone in the world in the range we''re looking for (.6ish to .8ish) most I''ve looked at are actually in the 3-4K range. I really don''t want to go under G (F if possible) and VVS2. I just seem to have trouble finding AGS000/ACA quality stones in this range, H&A/Xfactor/dreams seem to be even more difficult. It just seems like I might actually have to actually compromise and go bigger and yellower and w/ more inclusions to find the light performance I want? How weird is that?

On to the setting () : )
My g/f wants a very thin, very petite band, she has a taste that I havent seen on here before...

If we can find a halo/skirt setting that we like we may go with a smaller stone and an more eternity-looking band, but otherwise she really likes this memoire band, shes likes seeing the roundness of the stones in the band and the scalloped edges on the band.

 

[grimm]

Here we go, but with a princess/H&A etc...

 

[grimm]

Or maybe something like this, minus the 2 side stones.

 

[grimm]

lol like this i guess

 

[grimm]

or she likes this too

 

[JulieN]

Open up to VS2, at least.

 

[grimm]

We really like The HOF Dream Fulfillment setting, but it''s only on earrings and pendants
It''s really the only halo/skirt setting that we like, but we really love it, we saw a pair of earrings in a B&M that had .5 center stones on each stud and they were sure that they could get one with a desired quality diamond that they could then set on a ring...the only requirement would be that HOF would require all the diamonds on the band to be HOF as well, no problem I said, the only concern was the side view of the metal setting, but again they assured us they could make it more "ring-worthy." This would also limit us to the shared-prong eternity style band stock from HOF, or a complete custom in the style of the bands above only with HOF diamonds.

This is the Dream Fulfillment setting in a pendant, could find any good earring pics.

 

[grimm]

This is a side view of the earring, but not the Dream, the B&M said they would have no problem prettying up the side view and getting this on a band.

It would be nice if I could find a cluster setting this flush and tight but not HOF so that I could find a super quality stone to mount in it, without having to customize anything.

 

[grimm]

So what does PS think about finding the most dazzling square stone and the band?

Dream Fulfillment mounted on one of the bands above (but recreated with HOF diamonds?)
Get a total custom job done leaving HOF out of it?
Find a setting/band that looks as good as the Fulfillment but just requiring an awesome center stone set in it by my jeweler?(though I imagine that type of setting has to be customized to some extent to the center stone to be so flush and tight.
Just find an amazing stone and put it in one of the bands above or a shared prong eternity band, and call it a day.

 

[grimm]

Date: 7/30/2007 3:07:47 AM
Author: JulieN
Open up to VS2, at least.

Should it really be necessary to have to factor in another consideration (eye-clean or not) in order to find a stone with exceptional light performance?

 

[JulieN]

almost 0 chance of you finding a <1 ct stone, VS2 or better, with a visible inclusion...

fancies aren't rounds, there are fewer. so you might have to go down in clarity to find something right now.

 

[grimm]

Date: 7/30/2007 3:40:01 AM
Author: JulieN
almost 0 chance of you finding a <1 ct stone, VS2 or better, with a visible inclusion..

Thanks for the tip, I''ll soften my search, it just hurts a little inside lol. Actually having a preference for a smaller stone thus being able to actually afford a AGS000/D/IF that blinds low flying aircraft and not being able to find one lol () : )

 

[Ellen]

Date: 7/30/2007 3:56:10 AM
Author: grimm

Date: 7/30/2007 3:40:01 AM
Author: JulieN
almost 0 chance of you finding a <1 ct stone, VS2 or better, with a visible inclusion..

Thanks for the tip, I'll soften my search, it just hurts a little inside lol. Actually having a preference for a smaller stone thus being able to actually afford a AGS000/D/IF that blinds low flying aircraft and not being able to find one lol () : )

Hi Grimm,

You don't need that to blind people. You can definitely drop clarity, and color a bit. The CUT is what makes a diamond stand out.

Here's a link to a video from Goodoldgold that compares a Square H&A with a Princess, maybe this will help. Also remember, what the camera sees is only about half of what we see (in scintillation, etc.) as it only has one "eye" and we have two.

They also have great tutorials on their site that are very helpful.

 

[InlovewithJHK]

This halo setting reminded me of the one you posted from HOF
http://www.jamesallen.com/products/item_58-1888.asp

good luck in your search!

 

[Jenn5504]

Oooh, I think the setting style she likes is very very pretty. It will looks wonderful on such a petite woman also! I would agree that you can drop color and clarity and be FINE, especially with an AGS000 or one of these other superb cuts you''re looking into. Do any of the settings you''ve shown us have matching bands?

 

[InlovewithJHK]

Have you looked at goodoldgold yet? they have so many wonderful options for you to check out. for instance:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2968/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2969/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3221/

 

[grimm]

Date: 7/30/2007 8:55:11 AM
Author: Ellen
Here''s a link to a video from Goodoldgold that compares a Square H&A with a Princess, maybe this will help. Also remember, what the camera sees is only about half of what we see (in scintillation, etc.) as it only has one ''eye'' and we have two.

Thanks for the link, I''ve spent a lot of time at GOG and their "classic" site since I''ve discovered PS () : )
I''ll have to watch the video when I get home from work

 

[grimm]

Date: 7/30/2007 10:07:47 AM
Author: InlovewithJHK
This halo setting reminded me of the one you posted from HOF
http://www.jamesallen.com/products/item_58-1888.asp

good luck in your search!

That is a pretty nice setting () : ) The band would have to go though :/
It looks like one of the tightest and most flush I''ve seen though, thanks for the link () : )
I kinda wonder if it''ll be too "hard" for her though, the Fulfillment seems to be a little "softer."

 

[grimm]

Date: 7/30/2007 10:14:53 AM
Author: Jenn5504
Oooh, I think the setting style she likes is very very pretty. It will looks wonderful on such a petite woman also! I would agree that you can drop color and clarity and be FINE, especially with an AGS000 or one of these other superb cuts you''re looking into. Do any of the settings you''ve shown us have matching bands?

Hmm...thanks a good question...I think many of the ones we''ve been looking at do. If not our jeweler should be able to whip one up eh? Though the first band would probably have a wierd (IMO for a wedding band) matching band, and the fullfillment-ish settings would either need to sit up higher than we like, or the band have one of those funky curves in it huh? Also Tiffanys says its a very bad idea to put shared prong eternity bands next to each other, and yet all the e-rings and matching bands do just that?

 

[grimm]

Date: 7/30/2007 10:35:47 AM
Author: InlovewithJHK
Have you looked at goodoldgold yet? they have so many wonderful options for you to check out. for instance:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2968/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2969/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3221/

Wow those are hot () : )
Thanks for the help () : )

 

[fleur-de-lis]

I love square cut stones, and if I knew then what I know now, I would have looked at Flanders cut stones. GREAT light return, and not as commonplace as princess.

Good Old Gold gets some in from time to time, but I don't see any currently on their site. A google search should reveal some more information and images.

 

[Gypsy]

Flanders cut, hands down. PRETTIEST cut cornered square short of a Lucida ($$$) or a Jubilee (no longer cut, although they are working of it). I would personally do a G VS2 Flanders in any setting she likes and I'd call GOG and tell them that you want one and for them to, please find one for you. Lucre is nice too. But I REALLY adore Flanders. GOG has them.

In your case I'd work back from the setting price. Pick one, price it out in her size with her approximate stone size. Then subtract that from overall budget and go for the largest F-G VS2 you can get. I can't wait to see this ring, it's going to be STUNNING!

 

[mrssalvo]

the memoire and ritani rings you posted from Pearlmans site are both designed for wedding bands to fit flush. I''d stick with a designer who purposly makes them that way if going with the single prong setting like you attached. Although pearlman''s doesn''t list stones on their site they can and have gotten AGS0 princess stones so you might check into pricing from them. many times you can save some $ if you get the stone and setting from the same place. Plus, the vendor you buy the stone from will keep it insured while it''s being set into the setting you purchase from them which is a huge bonus..

 

[grimm]

Wow thanks for the Flanders tip, that pretty nice, it would be better if I could see a idealscope, but I''m sure the dealor could accommodate () : )

How do ya''ll feel about this statement?

http://www.diamondcuttersintl.com/diamond_education/articles/reference/flanders.html
Smudge Test
While the diamond broke all the rules (65/65 rule) and still managed to look respectful even enchanting under most lighting it crashed and burned when it got dirty. During the smudge test, I roll the diamond between my fingers and perform all the same tests as I did with it clean. A great diamond needs to look good not only when it’s clean but hold its own as it gets dirty. The extra thick girdle and bowl-like effect on the crown promptly flattens and fogs the instant light is forced through unwanted soot. While it is true any diamond will eventually die when covered with enough dirt, this one failed at the first sign of a smudge.

Teaching 1st grade might not lend itself to staying fairly clean? Though I don''t remember her ever coming home with sooty hands lol.

As for the setting..I was kinda thinking that if we could exclude the fulfillment/skirt setting then that would open me up to buying the best stone possible, having it set in some $99 white gold solitaire setting by the dealer, and do a surprise proposal with that, while she decides on what type of setting/band she really wants. Would this make it easier on insurance rather than having a loose stone floating around?

A jeweler that helped us out a lot during our initial search is very good and we liked him a lot. His diamonds were very expensive, but we would kinda like a relationship there and maybe throw the setting his way.
Underwoods His cv
We did like a .71 Princess AGS 2/E/3 he had but it was $6.4K. It also had a "Beauty Grade" of 88%. Which he determined with what I must assume is his own Sarin/Brillancescope/Something..did I mention he had a patent (click full text for the rest of the info) So uhmm I''m kinda impressed. And he spent almost 4 hours with 2 rough looking early-twenty-somethings just back from vacation. I''m not 2x similar diamond price impressed, but I''m "surely he can build that memoir ring for around $5K impressed." "named chairman, Oversight Committee For Advanced Cut Grading for the AGS Laboratory," That right there kinda makes me want to pay for whatever rock he hands me though lol.

 

[Stone Hunter]

Take your time. Don''t rush. These are all important choices. Only you and your GF can know which ones are right for you.

Don''t feel obligated to work with this jeweler if he can''t get you what you want at a good price. Paying a little more for a local store is OK. Paying alot more? Well that''s your call but I wouldn''t.

As far as diamond size goes... think about it. Cut is most important for sparkle but what our eyes see is size (often enhanced by the sparkle of an excellent cut) What size diamonds do her coworkers have? The ones her age and the older ones. What size diamond does her sister, mother, best friend have? And you won''t lose anything by going down in color and clarity a little bit for a great cut!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 7/30/2007 9:08:41 PM
Author: grimm

Wow thanks for the Flanders tip, that pretty nice, it would be better if I could see a idealscope, but I''m sure the dealor could accommodate () : )

How do ya''ll feel about this statement?

http://www.diamondcuttersintl.com/diamond_education/articles/reference/flanders.html
Smudge Test
While the diamond broke all the rules (65/65 rule) and still managed to look respectful even enchanting under most lighting it crashed and burned when it got dirty. During the smudge test, I roll the diamond between my fingers and perform all the same tests as I did with it clean. A great diamond needs to look good not only when it’s clean but hold its own as it gets dirty. The extra thick girdle and bowl-like effect on the crown promptly flattens and fogs the instant light is forced through unwanted soot. While it is true any diamond will eventually die when covered with enough dirt, this one failed at the first sign of a smudge.

As to this statement, I know who said that. Take anything he has to say with a huge grain of salt. If you haven''t already, do a search on here for him....