Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Engagement ring - fancy brown with halo? Help please!

U

urchin

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 29, 2013
Messages
29
Hi,

First of all, PriceScope is AMAZING! I found it by accident and now spent WAY too many hours reading all the tutorials and threads! :)

We are looking for an e-ring and decided we'll go with a temporary one with the idea of upgrading it next year. We looked at some rings in person and decided I want a big rock (5+ct :naughty: ), probably cushion with a great cut, but for now we are thinking of something around $20k. BUT, I still want to get something kinda large'ish and a bit of a statement. I am 5'10 and like big jewelry (finger size 4.5 though).

So with that in mind, I looked on GOG and JA and few others and found this stone:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9250/

It is in our price range and GOG has the trade-in guarantee for when we decide to upgrade.

And we would probably set it in something like this in YG or RG:
http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/cinde-contemporary-micro-pave-halo-engagement-ring-bpid-117-19.html
http://www.etsy.com/listing/116823143/morganite-engagement-ring-diamond-halo


Sooooo.... I have a few questions!

1. What do you think of that stone and the setting? It's a bit non-traditional (vs white) but I do like fancy colors.

2. Would we be able to trade in the stone to jewelers other than GOG? Or will the color make it harder?

3. We also really like the idea of antiques. Perhaps we should try to find an antique ring instead? If we do go that route, will we be able to resell it or trade it in at close to original price? Or it all depends on the diamond/etc? E.g. this is very pretty (but the center is a bit smaller than I'd want):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TACORI-1-51-ct-J-VS2-Platinum-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-GIA-Certified-/321089065464?pt=Diamond_Solitaire_Rings&hash=item4ac26651f8

4. The 2.94ct fancy brown has a pretty large spread. Afaik I wouldn't be able to get something similar in white and stay in our price range. Or am I wrong?

5. Perhaps you have other suggestions for our price range with the idea of being able to trade in/up?

Thank you so much!!!
 
I have always loved that 3c AVC brownish yellow. Have you watched the video with that stone? It has a pinkish tint at times too. It is really a beautifully performing stone. IMO, Set in rose gold halo would be awesome. For the $$ it is an awesome large diamond and would make a stunning engagement ring. Have to hunt for the video on my other computer.

I don't think the performance of those other 2 stones would come close to how beautiful the AVC performs. It would definitely be my choice.
 
I would also definitely pick the AVC of those options. And if I was going to be looking for a 5 carat top performer, GOG is who I would work with on that search anyways so it's a great place to have your trade in.

If you're not going to keep this stone as a right hand ring or alternate engagement ring, then you probably don't want to spend too much on the setting. In that case having ERD do a halo setting is a great idea. If it was going to be kept and cherished forever, I'd have Steven Kirsch do something like the picture below. It would be divine with a fancy brown.


http://www.stevenkirsch.com/engagement/halo/r0102-189.html

imageuploadedbytapatalk1364613152.jpg
 
ariel144|1364612521|3416468 said:
I have always loved that 3c AVC brownish yellow. Have you watched the video with that stone? It has a pinkish tint at times too.

I don't think the performance of those other 2 stones would come close to how beautiful the AVC performs. It would definitely be my choice.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your answer! Yes I saw the video and it looks beautiful. Very nice "bling" and an interesting color :)

AVC is a great cut and I must say, the trade-in option is a big selling point.
 
Rosebloom|1364613176|3416485 said:
I would also definitely pick the AVC of those options. And if I was going to be looking for a 5 carat top performer, GOG is who I would work with on that search anyways so it's a great place to have your trade in.

If you're not going to keep this stone as a right hand ring or alternate engagement ring, then you probably don't want to spend too much on the setting. In that case having ERD do a halo setting is a great idea. If it was going to be kept and cherished forever, I'd have Steven Kirsch do something like the picture below. It would be divine with a fancy brown.


http://www.stevenkirsch.com/engagement/halo/r0102-189.html
Click to expand...

Thank you! Ohhhh and that setting is SOOO gorgeous... as well as the stone in it :)

I was thinking of potentially keeping the stone as an alternate engagement (I like both WG/plat and YG and wear both), as it would be nice to have options. Plus, I've never been able to part with a beautiful piece of jewelry! lol.
 
Also now, as I was doing more research and googling pictures of brown diamond rings, I am also thinking of something along the lines of this for the brown 3.13ct pear I posted above:

http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/semi-mount-ring-platinum-princess-halo-ring-custom-made-perfection-so2436

If I were to do the pear with large halo diamonds around it, then I would definitely keep it as an alternate ring.

(here's the pear again:
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/fancy-color/brown/pear-cut-3.13-carat-vs1-clarity-sku-167457)

PRO's:

- very large spread (14.45x8.52 for the pear, and another 2-3mm for the halo)
- ring would look very bling :lol:
- I will probably keep it as an alternate

CON's:

- I am not sure how well the brown would look with white diamonds around it, vs yellow?
- that pear is a shallow cut. it doesn't look like it has a bow tie, but will it have sparkle and play like AVC?
- if I decide to trade it in, would JA be able to have as many stone options as GOG?
 
Hands down I would go with the AVC. You know it's gonna be a top performer and like you said, trade-in potential is really nice.

I'd do something really simple like this VC solitaire with double claws in 18k rose gold. :lickout: http://www.victorcanera.com/jewelry/engagement-rings/the-trueste-solitaire-with-emerald

Whoops just saw you want a halo. Halo'ed would be beautiful too!

ETA: Actually, maybe just buy this? http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-Vintage/348ct-Antique-Cushion-Cut/28668127_MbbxQv#!i=2432135827&k=NGCgcGh
 
lin_ny|1364617031|3416525 said:
Hands down I would go with the AVC. You know it's gonna be a top performer and like you said, trade-in potential is really nice.

ETA: Actually, maybe just buy this? http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-Vintage/348ct-Antique-Cushion-Cut/28668127_MbbxQv#!i=2432135827&k=NGCgcGh
Click to expand...

Everyone seems to prefer the AVC! :)

Am I totally missing why? Is it the "sparkle" or the general shape preference or the cut quality? I've been playing with paper cutouts of these stones on my finger :oops: and the pear just seems more *substantial* (well, in paper form, that is). I also really love pears though, so would eventually LOVE to have a fancy color huge pear... a girl can dream!

I do like the antique ring you posted! Do you know what the price point would be? BF loves the idea of vintage and unique with a history but I am super picky afa settings and stones... and we are spending a TON of money so I want to make sure the ring we get is both awesome and upgradeable.
 
urchin|1364619647|3416553 said:
lin_ny|1364617031|3416525 said:
Hands down I would go with the AVC. You know it's gonna be a top performer and like you said, trade-in potential is really nice.

ETA: Actually, maybe just buy this? http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-Vintage/348ct-Antique-Cushion-Cut/28668127_MbbxQv#!i=2432135827&k=NGCgcGh
Click to expand...

Everyone seems to prefer the AVC! :)

Am I totally missing why? Is it the "sparkle" or the general shape preference or the cut quality? I've been playing with paper cutouts of these stones on my finger :oops: and the pear just seems more *substantial* (well, in paper form, that is). I also really love pears though, so would eventually LOVE to have a fancy color huge pear... a girl can dream!

I do like the antique ring you posted! Do you know what the price point would be? BF loves the idea of vintage and unique with a history but I am super picky afa settings and stones... and we are spending a TON of money so I want to make sure the ring we get is both awesome and upgradeable.
Click to expand...
It's the cut quality with AVCs. Light performance. And they're just 'easy' because you already know it's gonna be an amazing performer. Personally, I think I'd prefer a true antique, although it's way harder to find something that will perform as flawlessly as AVCs.

That ring I believe is just over $22k. Isn't listed officially on the website yet, though.
 
lin_ny|1364621049|3416564 said:
It's the cut quality with AVCs. Light performance. And they're just 'easy' because you already know it's gonna be an amazing performer. Personally, I think I'd prefer a true antique, although it's way harder to find something that will perform as flawlessly as AVCs.

That ring I believe is just over $22k. Isn't listed officially on the website yet, though.
Click to expand...

So you think the pear would be nowhere near as "sparkly" as the AVC? (sorry, I am still learning my terminology, it's probably more appropriate to call the quality I am looking for "brilliance"). What about the setting with the biggish halo that I posted earlier from Diamonds by Lauren - wouldn't it help with the overall sparkle? I am imagining the ring in my head and it is looking quite beautiful, lol. With imaginary sparkle and all :)

I would also LOVE a true antique (from the 18th or 19th cent.) but I am a bit of a size w**** (as people say here on PS) and a total perfectionist :) And I'd also want an amazing diamond, a great color, a setting I love, and a reasonable price... a tall order. That's why I am shopping for fancy colors right now since I want to get as close to 3ct (or over!) as possible.
 
That AVC is gorgeous! :love:

Since you're shopping for a colored diamond I'd also check out Leibish & Co. at www.fancydiamonds.net...
They have a huge inventory of around 1,000 diamonds and 52 of them are Brown.

I bought 20 FCDs from them and returned 8 with no hassle so I can vouch for this vendor.
Also, after viewing 20 examples I have found their photography to be quite accurate in terms of the color and the way they light the diamonds reveals the cut.
 
I thing that brown AVC is nothing short of luscious. And, although I'm not a huge fan of halos, I think it would look great with a contrasting white halo. You'd really have a unique statement piece! However, I think the large stone halos you're looking at might distract from the subtle lines of the AVC cut... for which you're paying good money! Most of the rings you're looking at with the large stone halos have center stones with more of a "cracked ice" look, with the result that they can probably hold their own more easily against the larger halo stones. In this case a more delicate pave might allow the center stone to shine more.

But I'm guessing because really we're in kind of new territory here. You might ask GOG if thy can show the stone in some different semi-mounts (without actually setting the stone) to see how it looks with various halos.
 
Go the AVC. It's STUNNING! And different. It's also classic. I love pears but I wonder if you will get bored of it? You'd never get bored of that gorgeous cushion and when you want to upgrade you can get full value for the stone at GOG... Which would definitely be an advantage.

If you are going to halo it, definitely go for smaller melee. It will make that baby POP!
 
Another thing to consider is that in the chunky cut TRUE antique stones, FANCY colored stones are extremely rare. I've been looking at antique stones for a long time and rarely see a fancy yellow/brown chunky cut diamond. There is an orange brown OEC on RubyLane in a halo, if it hasn't sold yet. Not there anymore...think it was listed for around 26k.

Almost all recently cut colored stones are the crushed ice faceting because that cut shows color more so they cut them like that. Too bad IMO.
 
kenny|1364627766|3416597 said:
I'd also check out Leibish & Co. at www.fancydiamonds.net....
They have a huge inventory of around 1,000 diamonds and 52 of them are Brown.

Also, after viewing 20 examples I have found their photography to be quite accurate in terms of the color and the way they light the diamonds reveals the cut.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Leibish & Co. have quite a selection. I was mesmerized by all the yellows :)

But they don't have prices on their website... hmm not very convenient for online shopping!
 
VRBeauty|1364628588|3416601 said:
Most of the rings you're looking at with the large stone halos have center stones with more of a "cracked ice" look, with the result that they can probably hold their own more easily against the larger halo stones. In this case a more delicate pave might allow the center stone to shine more.
Click to expand...

I don't mind the "cracked ice" look for colored stones. The AVC has larger "flashes" which is great but because colors don't show off as much as white stones, I think smaller "flashes" are useful for fancy colors.

I do agree though that I have to be careful with the halo or it might distract from the stone itself.
 
ariel144|1364658606|3416705 said:
Another thing to consider is that in the chunky cut TRUE antique stones, FANCY colored stones are extremely rare. I've been looking at antique stones for a long time and rarely see a fancy yellow/brown chunky cut diamond.
Click to expand...

I probably wouldn't go with a color for an antique. I am looking at colors because that seems to be the easiest way to go up in size without sacrificing too much of the quality. I.e. with the AVC - a comparable white stone would be significantly more $$. Unless I am wrong here?
 
urchin|1364662052|3416743 said:
kenny|1364627766|3416597 said:
I'd also check out Leibish & Co. at www.fancydiamonds.net..........
They have a huge inventory of around 1,000 diamonds and 52 of them are Brown.

Also, after viewing 20 examples I have found their photography to be quite accurate in terms of the color and the way they light the diamonds reveals the cut.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Leibish & Co. have quite a selection. I was mesmerized by all the yellows :)

But they don't have prices on their website ... hmm not very convenient for online shopping!
Click to expand...

Are you sure?
I can see prices.
AFAIK everyone else has always been able to.

I wonder why you cannot see them.
Can you tell us what country you're in? Perhaps certain countries block the prices.
I can think of no other explanation.

Here's what I see:

screen_shot_2013-03-30_at_3.png

screen_shot_2013-03-30_at_2.png
 
I've been in love with that AVC for a long time, but the inclusions always bug me when I watch the video.
 
kenny|1364682394|3416939 said:
Are you sure?
I can see prices.
AFAIK everyone else has always been able to.
Click to expand...

I figured it out. It was Safari - for some reason it doesn't display the prices, but Chrome does.
 
I also tried on a few rings today at a fancy jeweler. Confirmed yet again that cushions and pears (!) are my favorite shapes :)

They had this one GORGEOUS white pear that I loved. It was very shallow and didn't have much sparkle but the "finger coverage" and shape were both to die for.

Sooo.... even though everyone here is hugely in favor of AVC (and I agree, it's definitely a better stone) I am still torn. Decisions decisions! :)
 
urchin|1364793455|3417755 said:
kenny|1364682394|3416939 said:
Are you sure?
I can see prices.
AFAIK everyone else has always been able to.
Click to expand...

I figured it out. It was Safari - for some reason it doesn't display the prices, but Chrome does.
Click to expand...

Strange, because I use Safari and can see the prices.
FWIW I'm on Safari version Version 6.0.3 (8536.28.10) and automatically keep current with all apple software.

FWIW, pears face up very large for their carat weight.
Enjoy shopping!
 
urchin|1364794218|3417759 said:
I also tried on a few rings today at a fancy jeweler. Confirmed yet again that cushions and pears (!) are my favorite shapes :)

They had this one GORGEOUS white pear that I loved. It was very shallow and didn't have much sparkle but the "finger coverage" and shape were both to die for.

Sooo.... even though everyone here is hugely in favor of AVC (and I agree, it's definitely a better stone) I am still torn. Decisions decisions! :)
Click to expand...

It doesn't matter what everyone else thinks - go with your heart. If you want the pear, get the pear. It's a stunning stone. So sparkly!
 
Maybe it's just my monitor, but I love the color of the AVC ("brown-yellow") and rather actively dislike the color of the pear ("brownish yellow"). The AVC reads as a warm brown and will look lovely and warm and chocolatey in RG... but the pear just looks kind of like badly faded wood paneling to me. Or... very sparkly baby poop? (Sorry, pear, I know that was mean, but I can't think of any other good comparisons.) Cut issues aside, I think the AVC's color is much nicer, and you'll have an easier time reselling it if you don't end up using GOG's upgrade policy.

ETA: It sounds like you :love: the face-up size of the pear. Why not try that one out, test it against your skin and in different lights, and see if you love the color and light performance? Maybe it's gorgeous in person. Or maybe it's gorgeous enough that the size pushes you over the top! But if it isn't, you know you have a fabulous backup option in the AVC. :)
 
evergreen|1364834560|3417959 said:
ETA: It sounds like you :love: the face-up size of the pear. Why not try that one out, test it against your skin and in different lights, and see if you love the color and light performance?
Click to expand...

kenny|1364804830|3417780 said:
FWIW, pears face up very large for their carat weight.
Click to expand...

Yes... I am a bit ashamed to admit it but I really love how pears look BIGGER for the same carat weight! And the pear I was looking at this weekend was *extremely* shallow (around 34% depth!) so it had ridiculous spread and just looked so FANCY on my finger :) I felt like some heiress on a "Dallas" episode with a huge rock :lol:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top