Estimates and Advice - Antique Engagement

[jameson_nj]

Greetings to all! This is my first post, but I''ve been a frequent visitor to PriceScope and am most certainly appreciative of all of the unexpurgated expert advice I''ve come across during my drop-bys this year.

It is now "that time" for me. I am absolutely, positively smitten with my honey and after 2 years, its time to ensure that I wake up every day knowing all is well because she is my wife

Looking for advice, quotes, heck - anything useful you can throw at me in making my journey towards the perfect ring complete.

Here''s the scoop: my girl is enormously fond of antique-style settings. She flips over Edwardian style; has a gothic sensibility - and is a true romantic thru and thru. She emailed me this ring, which ironically she found while browsing through Ebay (no need to send up the warning flags - I know the Ebay horror stories - not buying through Ebay See attached pic: I call it "bling around the middle" lol. I do like the setting - this vendor had it for a buy-it-now of 4K and said it was 1.0K center NGL(??) cert at VVS2 and color F, 2.15K total with set stones. Platinum. Any guesses on what it really is worth?

Now - here''s the cool part. My gal is blessedly low-maintenance - she would like an oval - 1 carat center, but her only prerequisite is that it be "shiny, not milky or yellow, and have no eye-visible flaws." ----- **whew**. Really, she sincerely doesn''t care about it being loop-clean. As long as you can''t see it with your peepers - she is good. In this case, I would even go SI1 if I knew the occlusion wasn''t naked eye visible --- and I''d rather sacrifice clarity for color and polish. Oh - and she prefers white gold over platinum hands down. Don''t ask why - I certainly won''t complain!

One other thing - with the setting that she''s seeking - it seems to me that light would refract differently in this antique-style setting as opposed to say a Tiffany open-setting. Any advice on cut?

Budget: I''m looking to go under 5K. Doable?

**Whew** - my first post and I''m long-winded. Apologies and great thanks - this site is unbelievable. You folks are the best!

I am in NJ - diamond district is a hop skip and jump --- would prefer doing the setting and stone from the same dealer. So any advice on who to go to -- pricing --- questions -- all that fun stuff
- let ''er rip with my absolute thanks to you in advance!!!

~Jameson

 

[phoenixgirl]

Good Old Gold is near you on Long Island and has the most comprehensive info on oval cuts I've seen. The only downside is that the prices are not listed for some of those stones.

In general, table and depth should be around the same as for rounds (mid to high fifties for table, high fifties to low sixties for depth), although the combination of angles is more important than the numbers themselves.

 

[oldminer]

The style your intended found on ebay is just a rather modern "cluster ring" with some further small diamonds set into the shank (the shoulders of the ring). It is certainly not Edwardian or even old.

You can absolutely find a similar style readily. Just save the photo and one of the vendors here can make something very nice much like it. Check out the Pricescope search for an oval of the size, color and clarity you want to see where that takes you. Try 1ct oval, G-I color, VS1 to SI1 clarity....I didn''t do the search, but you should It will give you an idea of what to budget or at elast a range of possibly choices.

Getting such a reasonable lady a nice diamond should be rather easy. Now, let''s see if this is truly the case. Keep us posted.

 

[jameson_nj]

I just want to say - THANK YOU SO MUCH for the immediate responses! This forum is truly terrific. Both posts were very helpful!

David - now that I''ve been around visiting antique diamond sites, I see exactly what you mean in regards to the example I posted above. I believe she must have been mislead by the accompanying ad copy that appeared with the ring on Ebay stating it was antique.

I''m not even sure if my little cutie knows Edwardian from Art Deco - but alas, I''m in the same boat - but looking around, I''m learning. I think she has an affection towards the engraved setting of an Edwardian - but with the fancy accompanying stones of some of the Art Deco settings I''ve seen. If anyone can reccommend a dealer that carries GIA stones and has a penchant for these fancy settings, it would be greatly appreciated. If you are a dealer - PM me and I''d love to visit you in person in NYC.

Here are some more thorough examples of settings that wet her whistle:

This kind of antique flair (and would you consider this almost "halo" style - please, giggle away - I''m a newbie in white gold would be ideal.

Thanks again to you all!!! PRICESCOPE RULES!!!!!!
Jameson

 

[mrssalvo]

I would definitely check out Good Old Gold in Long Island. They also carry Sheldon Speyer settings which are antique replica''s than can be made in whitegold.

 

[mrssalvo]

you also might want to check out Fay Cullen for a huge selection of antique and antique replica rings. and antiqueengagementrings.com for some more ideas.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 7/12/2005 3:18:37 PM
Author: jameson_nj

Here are some more thorough examples ...

The one in the middle looks like an old ring, the others are modern styles... forwhat that matters (and as far as I can tell).

I liked the first choice because of the ''cluster'' look - meaning the diamonds around the oval center were relatively large. With such a setting, the ring will turn out quite impressive, even if the oval is not very large.

Speaking of which... well, F/VVS certified by NGL is not very good news - such high grades from a lab that is a bit far from mainstream beg a question.

Cluster rings are very traditional and elegant, but not offered ''off the rack'' often - the setting needs to fit the stone and what not.

From your description, Si1 for the center and VS for the side diamonds should do great, and having a cluster setting made would turn out a wonderful piece IMO. Perhaps with diamond set band, or just a thin one - in line with the perception of ''antique rings''. Color is much of a matter of choice - G is super safe, and given the size of the stones I-J would be worth taking a look (to keep it conservative). Not that D-F is a waste of cash - if the right one turns up, why not. Without proper certification or independent appraisal, these grades do not mean much though. No idea what NGL calls ''F'' - many obscure lab reports beg to differ from GIA standards and not by being too strict - quite the opposite.

Ovals are somewhat less expensive per carat than rounds. And old cut diamonds fit that description as well. How about a ring carrying such an old cut stone ?

Like this:

link to source

That is probably new, although Edwarian (?) style... The ones below are vintage rings, all from Adin (www.adin.be)

I can''t quite say how I came up with these four out of many - two are clusters (and the sapphire cluster ring really caught my sight !) and the others textbook Art Deco constructions fit your demand for something obviously romantic andantique.

Hope some of this is remotely useful. Best of luck !

 

[jameson_nj]

WOW! I can''t even stop to grab my jaw from off the floor! Thank you!!!! All of you!!! Such wonderful suggestions, such an incredible crowd!!!!

I agree, cluster is fantastic and its where I''m leaning; but after some of those edwardian samples - oooh mama!

I know she''s not a fan of colored stones in her setting; but the styles are stunning.

Just curious to know if anyone has experience with Fay Cullen? The styles there are so appealing; I''m just curious to know if they are graded appropriately.

I found a really cool oval (not leaning towards buying because its a leap from the styles that really appeal to my lass) here:

http://www.faycullen.com/edwardian_engagement_rings/800/a625r4d.html

....but I was curious to know your thoughts on it, because it says the center color is P. I know that is wayyyyy down the scale colorwise. Yet Lynn B (Hi Lynn!! You are a DOLL!) has stated she has a J color that is white and stunning to the eye ---- is that a polish/cut thing?

So do give the scoop on Fay if anyone can; and THANK YA''S!!!!!!
Jameson

 

[mrssalvo]

A lot of old cut stones are low on the color scale. it's rare to find a high color one that hasn't been recut if possible. I know fay cullen doesn't have the best return policy so many people shy away from purchasing through her. the P ring is one you would have to see but would imagine you would notice the color going that low. some people like the warmer/lower colors in antique rings. also, many antique rings are appraised in the setting b/c they don't want to remove the stone for whatever reason. the appraisal can be slightly off in that case.


edit: and yes, J's that face up white is a cut thing