Howdy Pricescopers! I'm a long time reader, first time poster, looking for advice on how to use my grandmother's heirloom diamonds for an engagement ring on a relatively short timeline. My girlfriend and I are going on a trip to the beach during the weekend of 9/14-9/15, and I'd like to propose to her there. My mom has kept seven of my grandmother's diamonds (one large, six small), and offered to send them to me so I can make an engagement ring out of them. However, my mom lives out of state, so she'd have to ship the diamonds to me. I would like to use my grandmother's diamonds, but I'm not sure how to get them (or at least the large one) in a ring before our 9/14-9/15 trip to the beach.
My girlfriend and I have been talking about getting engaged since June. She wants her e-ring to be a surprise, but she wants something that's not "busy or fussy" in white gold. Based on her other jewelry, I think she would love a classic, sleek setting in 18k gold (I think she would love something like this: http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/sleek-line-solitaire-engagement-ring-432.htm). I've also been looking at pave ring styles, since my grandmother had six smaller diamonds. However, I'm not sure there's enough time to put the smaller diamonds into a ring; the smaller stones could also be used for a wedding band.
I've attached the local jeweler's report of the diamonds, which is based on examining them while still in the old setting. There's one 0.70 ct (estimated) round brilliant, I color, VS2, excellent cut, and six "full cut" stones 0.72 ctw, with one diamond chipped. The largest diamond has an HCA score of 2.8. I don't have details about the small diamonds, but they all look about the same size in the picture.
As I see it, I have four options:
1. Take the diamonds to a local jewelry store and have them make a ring, either using the largest diamond in a solitaire setting or the largest with some of the smaller ones in a pave setting. That might take the least time (especially with a solitaire setting), and they may be able to use my grandmother's smaller diamonds in a pave setting before our trip. However, it will be very pricey (over $2,000).
2. Send the diamonds to an online site like Whiteflash to have them make a ring. That'd probably be less expensive (under $1,000 including the PS wire price), but it might not be ready before our trip, even if it's just for a solitaire setting.
3. Order a setting from somebody like WhiteFlash and take it along with my grandmother's largest diamond to a local jeweler to have the diamond set. This feels like the best option because the setting would be less expensive and I wouldn't have to wait to ship anything to another jeweler, but I'm not sure if WhiteFlash and other online jewelers will ship settings alone. Also, I'd have to use a solitaire setting or a pave setting that doesn't include my grandmother's smaller diamonds.
4. Use a substitute ring for the proposal and sort out the "real e-ring" later. I've already bought a copper and nickel ring from an amateur jeweler that my girlfriend likes in case I need to do this. I could really surprise her by proposing before the beach trip, and it would give us plenty of time to find the perfect ring from a local jeweler or someone online. However, she might want something larger than 0.70 ct., meaning I couldn't use my grandmother's diamonds.
So, any advice? I'd especially love to hear if you've ordered a setting online and had it set with your diamond locally.
My girlfriend and I have been talking about getting engaged since June. She wants her e-ring to be a surprise, but she wants something that's not "busy or fussy" in white gold. Based on her other jewelry, I think she would love a classic, sleek setting in 18k gold (I think she would love something like this: http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/sleek-line-solitaire-engagement-ring-432.htm). I've also been looking at pave ring styles, since my grandmother had six smaller diamonds. However, I'm not sure there's enough time to put the smaller diamonds into a ring; the smaller stones could also be used for a wedding band.
I've attached the local jeweler's report of the diamonds, which is based on examining them while still in the old setting. There's one 0.70 ct (estimated) round brilliant, I color, VS2, excellent cut, and six "full cut" stones 0.72 ctw, with one diamond chipped. The largest diamond has an HCA score of 2.8. I don't have details about the small diamonds, but they all look about the same size in the picture.
As I see it, I have four options:
1. Take the diamonds to a local jewelry store and have them make a ring, either using the largest diamond in a solitaire setting or the largest with some of the smaller ones in a pave setting. That might take the least time (especially with a solitaire setting), and they may be able to use my grandmother's smaller diamonds in a pave setting before our trip. However, it will be very pricey (over $2,000).
2. Send the diamonds to an online site like Whiteflash to have them make a ring. That'd probably be less expensive (under $1,000 including the PS wire price), but it might not be ready before our trip, even if it's just for a solitaire setting.
3. Order a setting from somebody like WhiteFlash and take it along with my grandmother's largest diamond to a local jeweler to have the diamond set. This feels like the best option because the setting would be less expensive and I wouldn't have to wait to ship anything to another jeweler, but I'm not sure if WhiteFlash and other online jewelers will ship settings alone. Also, I'd have to use a solitaire setting or a pave setting that doesn't include my grandmother's smaller diamonds.
4. Use a substitute ring for the proposal and sort out the "real e-ring" later. I've already bought a copper and nickel ring from an amateur jeweler that my girlfriend likes in case I need to do this. I could really surprise her by proposing before the beach trip, and it would give us plenty of time to find the perfect ring from a local jeweler or someone online. However, she might want something larger than 0.70 ct., meaning I couldn't use my grandmother's diamonds.
So, any advice? I'd especially love to hear if you've ordered a setting online and had it set with your diamond locally.
Welcome to PS!
Since you need to pull this off in under 10 days, I think that you're best bet is going to be using a local trusted jeweler close to you. It may not be possible for even a local jeweler to pull off a custom design in under 10 days, but they should be able to set the larger stone into a solitaire setting for you, and they perhaps have a special custom setting created for a special anniversary? I also loved the idea of using the 6 smaller diamonds in the wedding band. A solitaire with a diamond wedding band is so classic and elegant to me! 
300x240.png)