ER arrived - need opinions - keep it or not :/

[nyquestioner]

How do you/she feel about bright cut pave? I don't think either of these rings is "ordinary," for example.

http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/erika-winters-bridal/laurel-solitaire-engagement-ring.html#.UxkjRxy9V24
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irdcsECu8yk (Leon Mege Cosmo)

 

[ariel144]

this one:

http://www.gabrielny.com/amavida/style/ER7389PT3JJ

 

[Polished]

Your girlfriend's first emotional response for an engagement ring seemed to be for a halo, then she changed her mind in order to be practial for every day. Personally I think a halo on a larger finger looks lovely. I don't see that such a ring would be impractical for every day use. Is there any reason why it would have to be a double halo? I'm just wondering what style of ring would actually suit her and what would she love.

 

[kay1]

Thanks, those are some amazing rings! I'm going to chase up with the vendors and see what can be done

With regards to the Halo...

When we first started looking at rings online (i showed her a couple just on google images to see if she wanted plain, side diamonds, multiple stones, colour or no colour, halo etc), she liked a big center stone and side diamonds.

Then we walked into Debeers and she saw the Auro Halo, and next to it the Aura double halo. She tried both on and definitely prefered the double halo. I'd say this is down to the particular design of the two rings rather than a particular preference to a double halo. The stone was also small on the ones she tried (0.7 ct), so a bigger stone in a single halo would probably look different again.

My personal impression is she just loves that double halo ring, but not particularly as an engagement ring. Even when we later tried wedding bands with it, she did say this looks more like an evening ring. I think this is all down to the particular design of that ring, the shape of their super thin wedding bands etc rather than a 'halo' design itself. I don't have the cooperation (i want to surprise her) to ask her, nor the time to find out subtly either now. There's about 6 weeks left from when I intend to make the big proposal and it involves a bunch of really expensive prepaid things which I won't be able to change

I'm going to get her the 0.7 ct version of the double halo as a present at a later date anyway since she loves it so much - maybe even from debeers (the ridiculous margin isn't _as_ bad on the smaller stones).

In the mean time I think a somewhat more traditional engagement ring will work better. If she totally hates it, i'll suggest we transplant the diamond to a setting she likes and push that the diamond is the main thing in the proposal so she doesn't feel bad about it.

 

[msop04]

I'm going to get her the 0.7 ct version of the double halo as a present at a later date anyway since she loves it so much - maybe even from debeers (the ridiculous margin isn't _as_ bad on the smaller stones).

OP, your FF is one lucky lady!! That's an amazing gift!!

In the mean time I think a somewhat more traditional engagement ring will work better. If she totally hates it, i'll suggest we transplant the diamond to a setting she likes and push that the diamond is the main thing in the proposal so she doesn't feel bad about it.

This is the best idea -- everyone is happy! ...but seriously, how could she not be overjoyed with a 2.5ct stone??!!

Since you mentioned going the more traditional route... what do you think about these? They would all look amazing with that size stone! I can't remember if you mentioned how many prongs she prefers, so I'll post 4 and 6 options. (sorry in advance for the "link overload")

http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/alyshia-channel-set-diamond-engagement-ring-bpid-240-19.html

http://www.dvatche.com/index.php?page=collection&catID=2,18&startRow=66&id=119&alt=0
http://www.dvatche.com/index.php?page=collection&catID=2,15&startRow=72&id=99&alt=2

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/e...ix-prong-fishtail-pave-18k-white-gold-5509w18
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/e.../six-prong-regal-truth-18k-white-gold-5401w18
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/e...prong-sleek-micro-pave-18k-white-gold-5472w18
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/e...ones/truth-micro-pave-eternity-platinum-5473p
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/novela-platinum-5372p

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen...eek-line-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-422.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/scarlet-diamond-engagement-ring-1616.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen...t-motif-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-3331.htm

http://www.dimendscaasi.com/setting...w-designs-set-diamond-engagement-rings-amelie
http://www.dimendscaasi.com/setting...w-designs-set-diamond-engagement-rings-stella **my favorite!**

 

[kay1]

Wow! Thanks for taking so much time to look for those

I'm going through them one by one now. Prongs never really came up actually - originally I always thought 4 prongs made more sense and never understood why people did 6. Recently i've realised 6 give a bit more symmetry from the top (with certain types of prongs), and are usually thinner. I guess it's setting dependant which I prefer.

So, as only i can do, i've been second guessing diamond size. Is 2.5 ct too big? Doesn't it sit too high? Or is nothing 'too big'

Ok back to the settings, you may just have given me 'too much choice'!

 

[kay1]

Some of those look really nice! Ok let's talk prongs....

I like the idea of 6 prongs because they become smaller and you don't see a big chunk of metal on the side, nor thick edges of the prongs from the top:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/six-prong-fishtail-pave-18k-white-gold-5509w18

I love the look of this one - it also has the reverse taper effect I was looking for. From the top the 4 prongs look very subtle. I'm a little worried though about how thick the prongs will get from the side on a 2.5 ct

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/4-prong-sleek-micro-pave-platinum-5472p#more

The Novela has something really appealing about the prongs, I think because they get thinner as you get to the tip of the diamond. It exposes more and more of the diamond where it matters more and more:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/novela-platinum-5372p

There's an equivalent one here at blue nile (badly done), but its good to get a feel for what a 2.5ct would look like. If you go to the gallery and then page 4, there's a video of a 2.52 ct there. The BN setting is horrible clunky in comparison, but you can see how it could look in the more refined BGD setting.

Another option is 4 prongs but to create a sort of basket, I'm guessing this adds strength and means the prongs themselves could be made a lot thinner?

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/legato-sleek-line-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-422.htm
http://www.dimendscaasi.com/settings/settings-platinum-New-designs-set-diamond-engagement-rings-stella

I like the look of the last one there actually, just wish there was a better picture :/

 

[kay1]

So...

I decided to send it back. Blue nile sent me a shipping label, i booked the pickup, the courier arrived, and the label was printer the wrong way round lol. It was set to ship from them to me, not from me to them.

I'm waiting for them to correct it. In the mean time i've got a 2.5ct / J / VVS2 with HCA of 1.8 on hold. I'm going to design something more delicate around that. I'll post picks/updates as thing evolve!

 

[purplesparklies]

In the mean time i've got a 2.5ct / J / VVS2 with HCA of 1.8 on hold. I'm going to design something more delicate around that. I'll post picks/updates as thing evolve!

Outstanding. Sounds like the 2.5ct. Is going to be stunning. I think it will absolutely blow you away when you see it. Look forward to seeing everything progress and come together to your satisfaction.

 

[kay1]

Yeah it should be. Just a tiny bit worried about the colour I guess - but i can design around it to not show the sides. The HCA is good so should face up white. It's also got strong fluorescence (No milkyness).

 

[Tekate]

+1

I think the setting is really beautiful! I would give it to her!

 

[msop04]

So...

I decided to send it back. Blue nile sent me a shipping label, i booked the pickup, the courier arrived, and the label was printer the wrong way round lol. It was set to ship from them to me, not from me to them.

I'm waiting for them to correct it. In the mean time i've got a 2.5ct / J / VVS2 with HCA of 1.8 on hold. I'm going to design something more delicate around that. I'll post picks/updates as thing evolve!

Glad you put that one on hold, kay1! Did you ever decide what type setting you wanted to do? I know we talked about making sure there was minimal side view for the J... Can't wait to see what you decide!!

 

[kay1]

So i'm taking a slight risk because some of the sides are exposed but here's my plan - let me know what you think. Nothing is final yet so any suggestions, tips, recommendations, opinions let me know. You'll have to use your imagination a little bit...

Imagine this kind of band (ignore the head):

http://www.bluenile.com/uk/diamond-engagement-ring-platinum_23170
A 2mm pave - small, delicate - what she seemed to like at debeers.
(gallery -> pge 5, last video to see it in context of a 2.5ct diamond, ignore the head of course)

Imagine this (nasty) head (gallery -> page 4 -> bottom left video - this shows it on a 2.48 ct).
http://www.bluenile.com/uk/diamond-engagement-ring-setting-platinum_23184

BUT,
- The prongs flattened and the edge radius matched to the same radius on the squarer band of the petite pave
- The metal between the prongs curved inwards instead of outwards
- The whole thing shaved down to the minmum that will support the 2.5ct stone

So a little more like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xe-il_EMqQ

The risk is that the curves won't match properly with the band, or too much of the diamond will be visible from the side. I'm going to give it a shot, if it doesn't work well i'll get a local jeweler to modify it or remake the head and put a diamond band around the had, a bit like this:

http://www.victorcanera.com/jewelry/engagement-rings/the-evelyn-solitaire-with-flush-stems

I'm waiting to see what design they come up with - i've just given them the info above for now.