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blackberry16

blackberry16

Brilliant_Rock
Trade
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
980
Hi Everyone,
I have a coworker who plans to propose in a few months. He has asked for my help in finding the best ring for his buck. I'm worried because the wish list is pretty extensive for the budget. I know if anyone can help make the best of this situation it is our wonderful PS peeps. Here is what the bride to be wants:

Budget: $2,000

Platinum
Princess cut center stone (she isn't picky about having a terribly high quality stone, eye clean should be fine)
Split shank or twisted band
Pink sapphires on the band
A ring that can have a matching wedding band

She supplied the following pictures

She likes the wide band and colored stones on this ring
ring5_15.jpg

She likes the setting of this ring
ring3_0.png

I feel like the center stone should be about 1/2 ct b/c her fingers are a size 8 and she needs some coverage.
I feel like these wants are a little unreasonable for the budget. Is it possible to hit the majority of requirements? I think platinum is out for sure.

Thoughts, ideas, help?
 
We can do EITHER a wide setting OR the twisted shanks (and the twisted shanks would be more affordable) but not with diamonds in the setting. But in platinum just the setting is going to be over 2k-- without the diamonds! So white gold would be the compromise there and no diamonds. As for the center. If she wants pink in the ring, I would talk her into a square pink sapphire square with that budget. If she works with Dan Stair on the pink sapphire he can get her a nice barion square and then she would go to good local jeweler for the setting (It's an ADWAR stock setting-- twisted shank) and then have the sapphire placed in it.

Alternately we can find her a princess or radiant diamond in a simple setting and she can upgrade the setting later on.

There's this ring (over budget by 500 and not exactly what she wants, but... something's got to give): http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11673190&search=princess&Mo=82&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Sp=S&N=5000043&whse=BC&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=princess&Ntt=princess&No=24&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1 I would HIGHLY suggest she considers this ring. WHY? Costco has a LIFETIME return policy on their jewelry (as long as you don't size it). So she could get this now. Return it later for something else when she can afford it.
 
Okay so... that's not all of her options. If she doesn't want quality-- then she can look at clarity enhanced diamonds. But even that with the platinum setting she wants is going to put her over budget. Her best bet, if she doesn't want to compromise (she'll still have to give on the platinum thing) might be Kay or one of those other mall jewelers or Macys. She'll get the look she wants-- she'll sacrifice all pretense at quality, but she'll get the look she wants.
 
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1510456.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1508607.asp (ask for an ASET on these).

And this setting (I make no claims as to quality): http://www.philipnoel.com/_e/_99_499/product/sm2262a-ring/18K_White_Gold_Diamond_Semi_Mount_0_26_TCW.htm She can ask them to fit it with a princess head or a local jeweler can do that for her.

And then she can get pink in her wedding band. Like this: http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=53_137&products_id=10863

That's my best attempt.
 
A 1/2 ct princess isn't going to give much finger coverage for a size 8 finger - jmho. Especially with a busy setting - the center stone will get lost. But then again maybe she doesn't mind that look...
 
I agree that they should do a pink sapphire wedding band... it's going to be really hard if not impossible to find in the e-ring.

Here are some I Do Now I Don't options...

http://www.idonowidont.com/diamonds/leo-diamond-72-ct-princess-cut-mounted-14k-white-gold-ring-set-diamonds
http://www.idonowidont.com/diamonds/125cttw-diamond-ring (closest to the pics)
http://www.idonowidont.com/diamonds/two-hearts-become-one
http://www.idonowidont.com/diamonds/125-carat-princess-cut-diamond
http://www.idonowidont.com/diamonds/gorgeous-princess-cut-ring

And some pink sapphire rings...

http://www.simplysapphires.com/jewelry/pink-sapphire-pave-diamond-split-shank-ring-14kwg?cPath=141&
http://www.simplysapphires.com/jewelry/brilliant-pink-ceylon-sapphire-diamond-ring-14kwg-2.05-ctw?cPath=141&
http://www.simplysapphires.com/jewelry/pink-violet-sapphire-diamond-ring?cPath=141&
 
I wonder if something like this would fit the bill? http://www.etsy.com/listing/49617112/030ct-round-diamond-flower-patterned She could likely use a princess cut instead, and add pink stones to the shank where the diamonds are, plus make a matching wedding band that includes both pink and white stones. I agree that a half carat princess isn't going to give much 'coverage,' but if she gets a nice sparkly diamond, that's more important. They might want to get the center stone from a vendor that has an upgrade policy.

Edited to add: it could look more like this, but with prongs: http://www.etsy.com/listing/95935975/054-ct-diamond-two-toned-14k-white-and
 
Hi Gypsy,
I agree that this is an unreasonable wish list, I tried to explain that to my coworker. Thank you for the ideas, I will show him and try to explain the issues.
 
ecf8503|1345641848|3255249 said:
A 1/2 ct princess isn't going to give much finger coverage for a size 8 finger - jmho. Especially with a busy setting - the center stone will get lost. But then again maybe she doesn't mind that look...
Click to expand...

Yeah, she doesn't strike me as someone who really knows anything about jewelry and I don't think that she even really knows what she wants. I hate the idea of being a part of selecting a mediocre ring, every girl should have the best quality for the budget.
 
rubybeth|1345646963|3255308 said:
I wonder if something like this would fit the bill? http://www.etsy.com/listing/49617112/030ct-round-diamond-flower-patterned She could likely use a princess cut instead, and add pink stones to the shank where the diamonds are, plus make a matching wedding band that includes both pink and white stones. I agree that a half carat princess isn't going to give much 'coverage,' but if she gets a nice sparkly diamond, that's more important. They might want to get the center stone from a vendor that has an upgrade policy.

Edited to add: it could look more like this, but with prongs: http://www.etsy.com/listing/95935975/054-ct-diamond-two-toned-14k-white-and
Click to expand...

Thanks for the thoughts, I think that a pink sapphire wedding band or a sapphire center stone might be the way to go.
 
Thanks for the ideas and links. Now I can really give my coworker the best options for his budget. I appreciate all the time you all took to find those links for me!
 
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