Help and Direction Needed with Selection

[lstoker]

Hi All!

I'm a bit confused and struggling to make a decision here. I've done some snooping around and the pictures below represent the style she seems to like... I'm not crazy about them, as I like simple settings and feel these are busy and distract from what would be a nice diamond. Regardless, I need to find a happy medium that would make her happy, so I know I need to select something that would complement a Pave setting.

All the pictures I've put below are from her pinterest board so it seems she likes thin bands as well. I'm just having a lot of trouble putting all this together and coming up with something that's 'right'...

My first assumption is that round would be best? I know that's where I will get the most fire from, and I want that 'pop' that you get from them. Cushions don't seem to always have that so I'm just operating on assumptions at this point.

I would like to select the diamond somewhere around the $15K mark and get into the setting for under $20K total. It seems like this is a respectable budget to find the quality I'm looking for. Also looking for 1.5+ carat give or take.

What would you recommend I look at? For my fire should I got better color or clarity?

 

[ecf8503]

From the pics you posted she obviously likes the halo look - I would get her what she wants regardless of your opinion, as she will be the one looking at it all the time, and I would hate for her to not like what she gets.

The stones seem to all be in rectangular / squared / cushiony shaped halos. The last pic appears to be a round brilliant in a cushion shaped halo. If you are looking for the most "pop" from the stone, you can't go wrong with an ideal cut round. I would stay away from the radiants she showed, as those tend to not have the scintillation and fire as a RB. Also a square hearts and arrows cut may work - it's square, which she seems to like, but has the optics of an ideal cut round.

With your budget I would looks at Victor Canera or Steven Kirsh to make the setting - it will be very very high quality. And you can have a more narrow halo so she still gets what she wants but it isn't too overpowering for you.

I'd look into this setting:
http://www.victorcanera.com/jewelry/engagement-rings/the-emilya-round-center-in-cushion-halo

with a stone like this:
http://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/ybtibh

Or this:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d.../1.522-h-si1-cushion-diamond-ags-104066027008

Just throwing ideas out there.

 

[lstoker]

Thanks for the ideas, they are truly appreciated!

Canera is new to me, but Brian Gavin is not, I've done business with them in the past.

 

[lstoker]

Does anyone have any input on this H&A from Brian Gavin?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.708-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104068964009

 

[msop04]

Does anyone have any input on this H&A from Brian Gavin?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.708-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104068964009

I think it's a gorgeous stone -- but will be amazing!! I understand wanting a round (this would be my preference), but I'd make sure she'd be okay with a round in a cushion halo... since none of the photos show a round shape.

 

[lstoker]

Does anyone have any input on this H&A from Brian Gavin?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.708-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104068964009

I think it's a gorgeous stone -- but will be amazing!! I understand wanting a round (this would be my preference), but I'd make sure she'd be okay with a round in a cushion halo... since none of the photos show a round shape.

I don't have anyway of figuring that out. To be honest, I want this to be a surprise so that makes it difficult to get any feedback at all. She does comment on "bright & sparkly" all the time, so I'm operating under the guess that the round will give that to her better than the cushion.

 

[heididdl]

From the pics you posted she obviously likes the halo look - I would get her what she wants regardless of your opinion, as she will be the one looking at it all the time, and I would hate for her to not like what she gets.

The stones seem to all be in rectangular / squared / cushiony shaped halos. The last pic appears to be a round brilliant in a cushion shaped halo. If you are looking for the most "pop" from the stone, you can't go wrong with an ideal cut round. I would stay away from the radiants she showed, as those tend to not have the scintillation and fire as a RB. Also a square hearts and arrows cut may work - it's square, which she seems to like, but has the optics of an ideal cut round.

With your budget I would looks at Victor Canera or Steven Kirsh to make the setting - it will be very very high quality. And you can have a more narrow halo so she still gets what she wants but it isn't too overpowering for you.

I'd look into this setting:
http://www.victorcanera.com/jewelry/engagement-rings/the-emilya-round-center-in-cushion-halo

with a stone like this:
http://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/ybtibh

Or this:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/d.../1.522-h-si1-cushion-diamond-ags-104066027008

Just throwing ideas out there.

i love VC i love the first stone and the simple micropave setting these setting depending on quality of stones could run you $3000-$5000 so don't think just because the stones are small that it is a cheap setting. I like the thin pave diamond setting.

 

[msop04]

Does anyone have any input on this H&A from Brian Gavin?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.708-i-vs2-round-diamond-ags-104068964009

I think it's a gorgeous stone -- but will be amazing!! I understand wanting a round (this would be my preference), but I'd make sure she'd be okay with a round in a cushion halo... since none of the photos show a round shape.

I don't have anyway of figuring that out. To be honest, I want this to be a surprise so that makes it difficult to get any feedback at all. She does comment on "bright & sparkly" all the time, so I'm operating under the guess that the round will give that to her better than the cushion.

I understand the surprise thing... just a lot of money if it's not what she wants! Just make sure you choose a vendor that allows returns/exchanges and upgrades! I totally agree that a round would be best for "sparkly" -- but in all fairness, the comment about "bright and sparkly" could be for any cut diamond. People like different things... could you maybe ask one of her friends -- just to get the shape right?

 

[lstoker]

You're right, I need to get over my hangups on the round and get what I know she likes!

H&A cushions seems to be a bit harder to find but a quick search turned this one up.
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.522-h-si1-cushion-diamond-ags-104066027008#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/3/

Seems to have a little bit of light leakage, and it's an SI1, but I'm assuming it's eye clean but I haven't spoken to them yet.

 

[msop04]

You're right, I need to get over my hangups on the round and get what I know she likes!

H&A cushions seems to be a bit harder to find but a quick search turned this one up.
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.522-h-si1-cushion-diamond-ags-104066027008#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/3/

Seems to have a little bit of light leakage, and it's an SI1, but I'm assuming it's eye clean but I haven't spoken to them yet.

She may love a round in a cushion halo, but I'd find a way to be sure -- rounds will show less tint and face up larger than cushions, so those are other things to consider. I have a round in a cushion halo and love! As a matter of fact, people ask me all the time if it's a cushion shape.

 

[msop04]

You're right, I need to get over my hangups on the round and get what I know she likes!

H&A cushions seems to be a bit harder to find but a quick search turned this one up.
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.522-h-si1-cushion-diamond-ags-104066027008#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/3/

Seems to have a little bit of light leakage, and it's an SI1, but I'm assuming it's eye clean but I haven't spoken to them yet.

She may love a round in a cushion halo, but I'd find a way to be sure -- rounds will show less tint and face up larger than cushions, so those are other things to consider. I have a round in a cushion halo and love it -- the best of both worlds! As a matter of fact, people ask me all the time if it's a cushion shape.

 

[lstoker]

I like that, it's a beautiful ring!