Few questions from a noob, please help

[austbuyer]

Hi all,

I’ve been having a browse on the forum as well as the online sellers (WF, JA, BN GoG) for a few weeks now. I think I finally have enough knowledge to understand a bit of tech talk and ask a few questions.

Anyway… The gf is currently a med student and would regularly need to remove all bling. That being the case, anything I buy has the potential to be knocked around a bit and would need to be sturdy.
The issue is that she likes dainty, thin styles, so I’m really concerned about stones coming loose or damage over time.

Atm I’m leaning towards WF’s Legato Sleek Line Pave’ in yellow gold with a platinum head. http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/legato-sleek-line-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-424.htm... If anyone has any pics with a .6 - .75 princess cut I’d love to have a look.

1. Does anyone with firsthand experience with this ring (or similar) know how it will hold up if removed/placed in locker every day? It looks very delicate to me.

2. Also, are the side diamonds flush with the rim of the ring or do they protrude slightly? I.e. would she be better off with a similar design in a chanel setting to prevent damage?

As we’re on the other side of the world, ideally I’d like to purchase a stone with a refund policy which allows enough time for a local appraisal, proposal and a week for her to decide if it’s for her. So I’d really need to get the timing right.

The only stones with on 30day (which is pushing it) refund policy on WF are the ‘A Cut Above’ of which my budget could only stretch to a 0.6ish princess, maybe a bit bigger.

3. Is there really a noticeable visual difference between a 0.6 and 0.75? If I choose a lesser quality diamond I can up the carat but I’d lose the 30day refund policy. 0.6 stones are aprox 4.6mm and 0.75 are about 4.8mm. It sounds like a tinny difference.

Any advice appreciated.
Thanks

 

[distracts]

Most med students and doctors I know have plain or bezel-set solitaires or three-stones with plain or channel set bands. If you get a bezel-set solitaire, she will be able to slip her gloves on over it without the risk of tearing associated with prongs.

The ring you linked to will be fine if removed and placed in the locker every day. If you're worried, make sure she takes a ring box to work! A thing I did, that is only okay if you're okay with the potential for scratching the inside of the ring with a chain (which was not a problem for me, but could cause worry for some people, was to wear it on a ring around my neck when I was working (I didn't work in the medical field but my hands DID get bumped a lot so I wanted it relatively safe). But really, removing your ring and letting it sit somewhere is much safer for it in terms of damage than leaving it on. Your hands are constantly getting knocked around and having pressure put on them, and lots of people unknowingly do things every day that put their rings at risk (sleep in them, lift weights while wearing them, garden, swim, etc).

A channel setting would be more sturdy and the diamonds would be more "flush" to the band but you'd lose some delicacy. What I think you should do if she is fine with taking it off at work every day is get her that engagement ring but a plain, no diamonds wedding band (a channel-set one would kind of clash with the pave, I think). Or if you think she wouldn't like that, get her a fairly fine and dainty solitaire and a channel-set wedding band. If you're getting a princess stone, you should probably try to get the channel-set stone to be princesses (I think they look better channel-set than rounds do anyway). I'm not sure how hard channel-set bands are to clean, though, and keeping the rings clean is even more important to medical professionals than it is to ordinary people.

For a princess cut stone, I would honestly not risk not getting a well cut one. There are a lot more ugly princess cuts than there are round cuts. The extra .2 mm is a little bit noticeable, but I'd only do it if the stone was at least decently comparable in looks to the larger one. It's okay to not get an absolutely ideal cut stone, but the WF virtual selection doesn't have actual pictures of the stones they list and I'd be worried about buying sight unseen. I've never bought from them and honestly don't know what kind of pictures/ASETs they may give you if they call the stone in.

Do you know what kind of setting and stone shape she wants specifically or is this all based on conjecture? Have you guys been to try on settings together?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Realistically she probably should leave the e-ring at home if she is going to be taking gloves on and off all day and washing hands repeatedly. I would have the wedding set plus an additional plain wedding band that could be worn alone when she is working. I like the Legato Sleekline a lot, but I would probably try to go for a larger stone and go with one of the vendors who would give you 30 days. Do you know for sure that she wants a princess cut stone and yellow gold? And what is your stone budget in US$?

 

[austbuyer]

Thanks for the quick reply. Wasn't expecting that
I'm 90% sure that whatever she has will be removed and left in a safe place. She never gloves over jewellery so it's more the daily 'on/off,' being placed in a bag etc. that I was concerned about. The box in a locker idea is good but I doubt she'll be that proactive .

We haven't been looking together and I'd rather not. I think to her the gesture is more important than the actual ring, so I'd rather go for a surprise (with a good refund policy in case I totally stuff it up).
From my experience with her (4+years, various costume jewellery, what she takes notice of), I just don't think she'd like a bezel-set or anything 'round.' She'd kill me if I gave her any white metal.

I think a chanel set would work if it was a very thin chanel (not the full width of the ring) and tapered in towards the main stone. Like what I posted I guess. I can't really find anything like that though.
She also loves sapphires, so an alternating pave' (diamond/sapphire...) would be great but may look to 'busy'?

Any ideas please post them up

I hear what you're saying about the cut and thought as much.
I'm sure she'll be able to find a wedding ring to match regardless. Not my problem

thanks

 

[austbuyer]

Must be princess cut and yellow gold.
She's a fairly small girl (5"3 I think) so I don't think a large stone would look great.
I'm also pretty sure she think an expensive ring is a waste. We've both got student loans, rather save for a house...
What ever I end up with I'll probably have to lie about the price (tell her less than what I pay) to keep her happy
I'd like to keep the stone below 2k and the setting below 1.5k, plus Aust taxes would bring the total to aprox. 4k which is what I've got saved.

 

[Lotus99]

This setting may be more than you want to pay, but it might work. http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/classic-truth-with-princesses-18k-yellow-gold-5500y18

The sidestones are princess cut, which I think would look nice with the princess center stone.

This one is less expensive, but I personally don't like its lines: http://shop.goodoldgold.com/index.cfm/a/catalog.prodshow/vid/40105/catid/162

A simple solitaire can also be just as beautiful.

 

[austbuyer]

^^ thanks. I haven't seen the briangavin settings before. Look great. I'll have to have a proper look

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Sounds like you have a good idea of what she's like! (But no sapphires in the wedding set...save that for another ring!)

I would put more money into the diamond and less into the setting if a compromise has to be made. This is the best one I am seeing at the moment after doing searches of 3 vendors.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9227/

 

[austbuyer]

thanks for the search.
I'll probably get a stone and setting from the one company. Do each stores 'signature' stones really vary that much?
I thought it would be best to find a setting and then go for the best stone (within budget) from the same site.
Would you recommend the other way round?
thanks

 

[slg47]

thanks for the search.
I'll probably get a stone and setting from the one company. Do each stores 'signature' stones really vary that much?
I thought it would be best to find a setting and then go for the best stone (within budget) from the same site.
Would you recommend the other way round?
thanks

yes, I would focus on a great stone first and then look for a setting. It is definitely easiest to get both from the same vendor.

and yes, each store's 'signature' stones vary a lot! some are backed up with images and ASET images, others have no images so you really have no idea of the cut quality.

 

[misssoph]

I am an Australian dr who has always worked in teaching hospitals.
I would never plan to leave a valuable item in a locker, even theater change rooms. Things get nicked, frequently. If I knew I was going to scrub I would leave my rings at home, if I had to unexpectedly I would always put them on a necklace around my neck.
Also I would look for a simple setting with good access for cleaning. Hospital liquid soap seems to cake onto rings, and On a single ward round you might wash your hand 20 times!
Good luck

 

[austbuyer]

I am an Australian dr who has always worked in teaching hospitals.

Which one? Maybe you could ask her

Solitaires do look great but I just don't think it's her.
I guess a princess solitaire would go well with a chanel set wedband...
Back to the drawing board.

 

[Mico]

Though I'm not sure how much help I can be, I guess being in the medical profession I could tell you my preferences. I'm currently browsing the internet after my boyfriend attempted (multiple times in passing) to show me rings he was thinking of purchasing me, and me having no idea what he was actually doing (surprise proposal) dismissed them all without a second glance . Now he's fessed up and basically told me: pick one out and we'll see what happens.

So far I'm also between the pave ring settings, but i'm leaning towards a plain shank BECAUSE of the antibiotic lotions we have to apply. I've looked at my of my friend's engagement rings who complain of how dull they look and about their cleanings because of how often we apply that sticky gel. Pave set diamonds seem to be the most affected, which is sad because of how pretty they are.

Also, some settings do well in gloves if a bigger size is worn. If she's going to pursue a surgical career, she obviously won't be able to wear the ring (or bracelets) regardless of cut due to isolation precautions, however if she's going to pursue a career in medicine that doesn't require the need to wear fitted gloves on a regular basis (as in - throw out critical care or other procedural based fields like emergency medicine) you can do well with a lower cut setting.

I would caution, however, more delicate settings that could have stuff cake into them with lots of intricate patterns.

as always, i'd like to mention this is my personal preference but it may help you in your decision making process. (and also know i too am confused as to what i want and how to get it) so take this with a grain of salt

best of luck!

 

[austbuyer]

Thanks Nic,

At the moment she’s thinking of paediatrics or a GP, definitely not surgery. I’m pretty sure she only ever wears a watch when in hospital (to measure heart rates and other fancy dr stuff) but I’d need to check. Currently that's only 1day per week, 4days at uni.

If that’s the case, I might still go with a pave e-ring and a plain wedding band. She could then wear the wedding band full time and e-ring on and off when it suites to keep it clean and shiny

I asked WF about a custom design, legato sleek with chanel set instead of pave. I think this would be easier to keep clean? The estimated price was significantly higher though so I’d have to be sure.

Please let me know what you end up deciding on It sounds like we have similar taste/concerns.
Thanks

 

[Mico]

hi!
honestly, i think anything will get "goo" in it, who knows. I'll quote a friend who I spoke to about this earlier at work "don't pick a ring based on that [goo], pick one that makes you happy."

touche

also if she decides to be a GP and not a hospitalist, she won't be in situations where she'll need to gown up as often and could just wash hands in between patients. I'm just going to see what I like more and go with it. The channel setting seems to be the safest option in our line of work but I think it's based on preference. I'll let you know in the future (maybe PM?) when I decide on what I like. We're waiting for a trip to a big city where I can try things on before he takes over

let me know what you decide!

p.s. the boy tried to be sneaky and point similar types of rings out to me in his attempt at finding my style. You could possibly show her some ring to buy a family member with a channel setting and see what she thinks?