E-ring shopping in NYC

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

I think the benefit to going custom, like with Leon, is that the ring will be custom made for you stone and he''ll adjust the proportions and widths accordingly, so that the setting won''t overpower your stone (and will look delicate if you want that look).

Good luck on your search!

 

[Bliss]

Ooooh, I am SO sorry you had a bad experience with Stuart Moore. I bought an "eternity" band from them a couple of years ago and really liked the experience. Now with the economy hitting them, I can imagine they would be empty. But to give you bad service? Unforgivable! So sorry to to hear it.

I love the halo RB setting you posted, however! How about going custom? Now that you''ve seen the landscape, maybe you can create something unique with the elements you both loved.

 

[jjc42]

I took another trip to Kwiat today to take a look at their version of a micropave halo setting with RB. I didn''t really care for it as much in person as in the picture. They can make something similar to what I want, which I have mixed feelings about when I can get exactly what I want from Leon and there''s already a picture on his site. I also visited Natalique. They were very friendly, but I didn''t really care for anything they had and wasn''t into the idea of them making a custom piece.
I''m 95% sure I''m going with a halo setting with micropave. The biggest problem is deciding whether I want to do a round or square cushion stone. Several people have told me that cushions are trendy. Is that true?

 

[ScorpioNYC]

Cushions are trendy, but I think a cushion with a halo is prettier than a round visually, but I also think round diamonds close up are much prettier than cushions. Sorry! That was not helpful

 

[jjc42]

Making progress. I''ve decided on the square cushion with the micropave halo, much like the Harry Winston. She really liked the Harry Winston so I''m going to go with that. I have an appointment with Mark at ERD for the stone in a week and a half and just received a quote from Leon for the setting. I''ve revised my criteria for a stone to also include SI1. If I can get an eye clean SI1 it seems like that will get me a roughly 1.8ct stone based on my budget and keeping the G color. I did read somewhere that clarity is more important in cushion cuts because open facets make the inclusions more apparent and not to go below VS2. Is there any truth to this?

 

[Rockit]

Love your choices so far...

 

[jjc42]

So I met with Mark over at ERD a couple of times this week and put a deposit down yesterday on a stone and setting, which will likely be ready in a few weeks. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the stone, but here are the specs...

Cut: Cushion Brilliant
Measurements: 7.55x7.14x4.63mm
Carat Weight: 1.76 carat
Color Grade: F
Clarity Grade: VS2

Depth: 64.8%
Table: 60%
Girdle: Very thin to very thick, faceted
Culet: small

Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Good
Fluorescence: None

Looking at several stones side by side in person proved to be rather difficult to determine the best performing stone. So I trusted Mark's opinion and feel pretty good about this stone.

Mark is also making the setting for me. It will be a somewhat modified version of the Winnie with 1 pointers (1.4mm) in the halo and on the band. Anyone have any thoughts on stone size for the halo? I don't want them to overpower the center stone, but I want them to be noticeable at the same time...if that makes sense.

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 6/25/2009 10:37:36 AM
Author: jjc42
So I met with Mark over at ERD a couple of times this week and put a deposit down yesterday on a stone and setting, which will likely be ready in a few weeks. Unfortunately I don''t have a picture of the stone, but here are the specs...

Cut: Cushion Brilliant
Measurements: 7.55x7.14x4.63mm
Carat Weight: 1.76 carat
Color Grade: F
Clarity Grade: VS2

Depth: 64.8%
Table: 60%
Girdle: Very thin to very thick, faceted
Culet: small

Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Good
Fluorescence: None

Looking at several stones side by side in person proved to be rather difficult to determine the best performing stone. So I trusted Mark''s opinion and feel pretty good about this stone.

Mark is also making the setting for me. It will be a somewhat modified version of the Winnie with 1 pointers (1.4mm) in the halo and on the band. Anyone have any thoughts on stone size for the halo? I don''t want them to overpower the center stone, but I want them to be noticeable at the same time...if that makes sense.

Will be visiting Mark for pretty much the same ring in a couple of weeks so I am very interested on you sharing your experience. Mark seems really patient, is happy to educate on the finer points and really accomodating.

Wasn''t he able to show you halos or pave rings of different sizes in silver? If he doesn''t have halos ask him to show you pave wedding bands with different sizes of diamonds I hope he has some of those.
Please post back what he is able to show you as I will be looking at exactly the same. I have seen the sizes in local jewelers here so I have an idea already but would be nice to see different halos.

I have read here that some HW halos are 0.75 - 0.8 pointers even for larger stones. I think 1 pointers will still look delicate and substantial enough. If you plan on matching the shank size to the halo size like int he HW ring you pretty much can''t go smaller than that anyway and might have to use 1.3 - 1.5 pointers or thereabouts to get a 2mm band. The HW rings are 0.75 - 0.9 pointers and the shank is the same and is about 1.5mm total but its VERY delicate and the shank could bend really easily.

I am really interested to know how it turns out I was really wondering how Mark''s delicate designed halo and pave work compare to Leon Mege''s (they are very close to one another) as it will be between them for who makes my setting.





I beleive the HW pave is 0.8 point

 

[lowphat]

Date: 6/25/2009 11:18:11 AM
Author: ChunkyCushionLover

Date: 6/25/2009 10:37:36 AM
Author: jjc42
So I met with Mark over at ERD a couple of times this week and put a deposit down yesterday on a stone and setting, which will likely be ready in a few weeks. Unfortunately I don''t have a picture of the stone, but here are the specs...

Cut: Cushion Brilliant
Measurements: 7.55x7.14x4.63mm
Carat Weight: 1.76 carat
Color Grade: F
Clarity Grade: VS2

Depth: 64.8%
Table: 60%
Girdle: Very thin to very thick, faceted
Culet: small

Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Good
Fluorescence: None

Looking at several stones side by side in person proved to be rather difficult to determine the best performing stone. So I trusted Mark''s opinion and feel pretty good about this stone.

Mark is also making the setting for me. It will be a somewhat modified version of the Winnie with 1 pointers (1.4mm) in the halo and on the band. Anyone have any thoughts on stone size for the halo? I don''t want them to overpower the center stone, but I want them to be noticeable at the same time...if that makes sense.

Will be visiting Mark for pretty much the same ring in a couple of weeks so I am very interested on you sharing your experience. Mark seems really patient, is happy to educate on the finer points and really accomodating.

Wasn''t he able to show you halos or pave rings of different sizes in silver? If he doesn''t have halos ask him to show you pave wedding bands with different sizes of diamonds I hope he has some of those.
Please post back what he is able to show you as I will be looking at exactly the same. I have seen the sizes in local jewelers here so I have an idea already but would be nice to see different halos.

I have read here that some HW halos are 0.75 - 0.8 pointers even for larger stones. I think 1 pointers will still look delicate and substantial enough. If you plan on matching the shank size to the halo size like int he HW ring you pretty much can''t go smaller than that anyway and might have to use 1.3 - 1.5 pointers or thereabouts to get a 2mm band. The HW rings are 0.75 - 0.9 pointers and the shank is the same and is about 1.5mm total but its VERY delicate and the shank could bend really easily.

I am really interested to know how it turns out I was really wondering how Mark''s delicate designed halo and pave work compare to Leon Mege''s (they are very close to one another) as it will be between them for who makes my setting.





I beleive the HW pave is 0.8 point

Pretty much hit the nail on the head

 

[jjc42]

Date: 6/25/2009 11:18:11 AM
Author: ChunkyCushionLover

Date: 6/25/2009 10:37:36 AM
Author: jjc42
So I met with Mark over at ERD a couple of times this week and put a deposit down yesterday on a stone and setting, which will likely be ready in a few weeks. Unfortunately I don''t have a picture of the stone, but here are the specs...

Cut: Cushion Brilliant
Measurements: 7.55x7.14x4.63mm
Carat Weight: 1.76 carat
Color Grade: F
Clarity Grade: VS2

Depth: 64.8%
Table: 60%
Girdle: Very thin to very thick, faceted
Culet: small

Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Good
Fluorescence: None

Looking at several stones side by side in person proved to be rather difficult to determine the best performing stone. So I trusted Mark''s opinion and feel pretty good about this stone.

Mark is also making the setting for me. It will be a somewhat modified version of the Winnie with 1 pointers (1.4mm) in the halo and on the band. Anyone have any thoughts on stone size for the halo? I don''t want them to overpower the center stone, but I want them to be noticeable at the same time...if that makes sense.

Will be visiting Mark for pretty much the same ring in a couple of weeks so I am very interested on you sharing your experience. Mark seems really patient, is happy to educate on the finer points and really accomodating.

Wasn''t he able to show you halos or pave rings of different sizes in silver? If he doesn''t have halos ask him to show you pave wedding bands with different sizes of diamonds I hope he has some of those.
Please post back what he is able to show you as I will be looking at exactly the same. I have seen the sizes in local jewelers here so I have an idea already but would be nice to see different halos.

I have read here that some HW halos are 0.75 - 0.8 pointers even for larger stones. I think 1 pointers will still look delicate and substantial enough. If you plan on matching the shank size to the halo size like int he HW ring you pretty much can''t go smaller than that anyway and might have to use 1.3 - 1.5 pointers or thereabouts to get a 2mm band. The HW rings are 0.75 - 0.9 pointers and the shank is the same and is about 1.5mm total but its VERY delicate and the shank could bend really easily.

I am really interested to know how it turns out I was really wondering how Mark''s delicate designed halo and pave work compare to Leon Mege''s (they are very close to one another) as it will be between them for who makes my setting.





I beleive the HW pave is 0.8 point

ChunkyCushionLover-

Mark has been very accomodating and willing to spend time with me. I haven''t felt rushed or anything like that, which was a concern with going to Leon. My original plan was to go to Mark for the stone and to Leon for the setting. This is stressful enough and going to Leon felt like it may just add more stress. Anyhow, it''s difficult for me to assess quality but I thought Mark''s settings looked good based on what I saw in person as well as photos on PS. Ultimately Leon would have been considerably more expensive and I suspect less enjoyable to deal with. Also, though I''m not under much of a time crunch, Mark said I should have the ring in three weeks...Leon was closer to six I believe.

Mark did have several different halos to look at. I didn''t think to ask to look at wedding bands.

If I were to see one of Mark''s rings and one of Leon''s side by side I may have something to say about the quality, but just going off of photos it''s very difficult to say. I don''t think there''s a question that Mark does good work, whether it''s on par with Leon I have no idea. I was sold on Mark''s demeanor and the price. I hope that''s helpful.

 

[jjc42]

Here are the CAD drawings from Mark at ERD...

 

[jjc42]

 

[jjc42]

 

[Lorelei]

Beautiful!!!

 

[luv2sparkle]

there is a setting company call Unique Settings of New York that many jewelers use for their settings. Look at their site and see if you find something you like. I think ID gets alot of their settings from them. They have pages and pages. Check it out.