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Help me build/find an East-West Oval Shape Engagement Ring

BrainGrenades

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 5, 2016
Messages
8
Hello everyone,

I wanted help selecting diamonds and building a ring. I'm from the coast of Virginia and my girlfriend's from Oahu. We met and currently live in Southern California. One idea I like is to find a nice oval shape diamond for an engagement ring and put it in the east-west position. I'm in San Diego and there are plenty of jewlers here but I'm assuming online would be cheaper right? From reading on this board sounds like Whiteflash ACA diamonds, Brian Gavin Diamonds, Good Old Gold Signature Diamonds, or High Performance Diamonds are good spots. I've also spent time on James Allen and really love how I can see the diamonds but can spot issues with just about everything I see. My biggest concern with this style stone would be to avoid the "bow-tie effect" that occurs in many oval diamonds. From research on this I came up with these preferences for the diamond:

Color D - G
Caret Weight .4 - .99ct (I'd love to go over but seems like price skyrockets after 1ct)
Length to Width Ratio 1.25 - 1.5

If possible:
Total depth 59 – 63%
Table diameter 53 – 61.5%

Regarding clarity nothing below SI1. I am going to take the time to find the perfect diamond and make a ring. Regarding bands I'd go with (comfort) Platinum and likely a solitaire (not knife edge comfortable) but am open to ideas. I would really appreciate your help on this. Feel free to post images of rings for ideas or even links to specific diamonds. I'm looking for quality in appearance and in how it feels (some rings my gf has tried on she says feels light and cheap). Feel free to PM me links or post here. I'm in no rush but plan to make this ring in the next year. I'm also open to used rings if I can get more for my money. Thanks so much!
 

Niel

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 23, 2012
Messages
20,044
Re: Help me build/find an East-West Oval Shape Engagement Ri

Can you show a pic of the type of setting she likes?
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
Re: Help me build/find an East-West Oval Shape Engagement Ri

Okay so.

I am going to tell you RIGHT NOW. It's a TERRIBLE idea to get someone an East West Oval (or marquise, or pear, or EC, or Radiant) who has not SPECIFICALLY asked for one AND tried one on. AND loved it.

I am a pricescoper. I have been haunting jewelry stores with like minded folks (we have real life get togethers) for 10 years and I can could on ONE hand the number of times I've seen an east west ring look nice on the hand. They look great in the case and I TRULY adore them. But in real life they really only look good on like 1 in 20 people.

Actually, I just met a pricescoper at a large jewelry store here TODAY to help her try on a variety of rings to narrow down what looked good on her hand AND that she liked the look of.

She went in wanting an oval. Guess what looked terrible on her? Ovals. Set either North/South or East/West (the store we went to has a ton of selection of just about every style and size you could think of) they looked terrible on her. Emerald cuts looked okay, but she didn't like them. Radiant she liked, which was surprising because she didn't like them online, but they didn't flatter her hand either.

You know what looked the best? Rounds and Marquise. Marquise set north south and LOW on her finger. High settings looked terrible too. And the setting she liked the most? A three stone? Looked all wrong on her.

I have average fingers with some meat on them, east west looks horrid on me. She had seriously slim and long fingers and east west looked horrendous on her too.

DO NOT buy that style on a whim.

Does your lady even LIKE ovals?

Would you want her to buy you a car, that you had to drive for the REST of your life without specific input from you?

You need to take SEVERAL field trips to have her try things on and see what looks good on her hands.

If you can do a short trip up to Nor Cal, I can recommend places up here. Or you can go to LA and to several jewelers we know there.
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
Re: Help me build/find an East-West Oval Shape Engagement Ri

Also, what if your budget?

There is one really good antique jeweler in San Diego, I can't recall the name.

Also what does your lady want in terms of size, color and clarity? SHE is the one who will be wearing it. Not you, so you'll forgive me when I say that your preferences aren't paramount, hers are.
 

BrainGrenades

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 5, 2016
Messages
8
Re: Help me build/find an East-West Oval Shape Engagement Ri

Characteristics that she likes:
- solitaire
- Cushion, Round or Oval cut
- cathedral settings
- low setting
- comfort band
- platinum
- channel for french setting (on the band)
- 0.50 to 0.75 carats

Things she does not like:
- 4 prong head setting ***biggest dislike***
- knife edge
- pave setting
- princess or heart shape cut
- milgrain
- 3 stone or halo settings

Very important it must be a sturdy ring, like a heavier ring compared to a lighter one. She says lighter ones feel cheap and give them impression that they skimmed on the material.
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
Re: Help me build/find an East-West Oval Shape Engagement Ri

Okay so here's what I am hearing:

1. Thicker shank solitaire style
2. Platinum for heft and comfort fit
3. Channel set diamonds possibly in shank
4. Round, Cushion, or Oval for center
5. Under a carat in weight.
6. SIX prong head, if prongs.
7. No vintage details.

What I NEED:

1. BUDGET for the whole ring.

2. FINGER SIZE.

3. TIMELINE: WHEN are you planning to buy? I am not going to post stones now unless you are ready to buy, there's no point.

4. DOES SHE LIKE BEZELS OR HALF BEZELS?

I have several styles in mind for her just from this. BUT I NEED YOUR BUDGET and to know if she likes bezels.
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
Re: Help me build/find an East-West Oval Shape Engagement Ri

Here are some settings that fit her requirements. Ones I particularly like for her are marked with an *

I would recommend an 80-90 point round in all of these. And I would STRONGLY recommend you just whip out your laptop and flip through them together and see what her reactions are to each one.

Okay?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/alice-platinum-5953p *
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/classic-style-half-round-platinum-5478p
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/half-bezel-solitaire-platinum-5437p
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pearl-platinum-5967p *
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/freya-platinum-5985p *
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/lola-sholdt-platinum-5341p
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/ava-sholdt-platinum-5343p
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/fiona-sholdt-platinum-5340p

Have her go through these. And also show her the below pictures and see what she thinks. These stones are 6mm-6.2mm (approximately 80-90 points).

sholdt-semi-bezel-oec-diamond-engagement-ring-audball.jpg

_37551.jpg
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
Re: Help me build/find an East-West Oval Shape Engagement Ri

Recommended budget:
1250-2200 for the setting in platinum.
And 3500-5000 for the diamond.

So the recommended budget is "not to exceed" $7000. Is that too much? Lower than expected? Or just right?

Keep in mind we can't guarantee those metal or stone prices for you. We've seen diamond and metal prices drastically rise or even fall over the last few years.

Something like this should be your target stone: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.853-h-si1-round-diamond-ags-104087126008#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/2/

In the size stone you are looking at H color is going to be very white and bright and still very conservative so you should consider H as your floor for color.
 

BrainGrenades

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 5, 2016
Messages
8
Re: Help me build/find an East-West Oval Shape Engagement Ri

Gypsy|1465702754|4043107 said:
Okay so here's what I am hearing:
What I NEED:

1. BUDGET for the whole ring.
$4,000 would probably be the maximum. Ideally $3,000 or less. If they're in good condition vintage/used rings could be an option. We looked at some and she was okay with it.

Gypsy|1465702754|4043107 said:
2. FINGER SIZE.
Size 5

Gypsy|1465702754|4043107 said:
3. TIMELINE: WHEN are you planning to buy?
I plan on getting engaged by May of next year. If I find the right diamond and setting I could purchase this month but am patient enough to wait for the perfect ring.

Gypsy|1465702754|4043107 said:
4. DOES SHE LIKE BEZELS OR HALF BEZELS?
I don't think so. We did some ring shopping and none of the rings she picked out had bezels.

Btw, she's not opposed to vintage rings because we looked at a few.
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
Re: Help me build/find an East-West Oval Shape Engagement Ri

Is it possible you could buy the stone for 3,000-3500 now and then save up for a setting and then get it set next year?

Cause if you could do that, then I think you can do this setting, which is everything she wants:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/freya-platinum-5985p The Freya (no pave) in platinum. It's 1700. So you would have to save up for it. She seems to be very particular with her settings so I want to make sure you get her just the right one.
Alternately this one saves you 500, but it's not as unique as that one:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/classic-style-half-round-platinum-5478p

And for NOW, you could buy the diamond. So one of these (ask for Idealscopes and see if they can provide them for any of these) would work (ask if all VS2 and lower are eyeclean):

http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8407539-0.90-carat-Round-diamond-I-color-VS2-Clarity.aspx?sku=8407539&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com 3500
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8330629-0.79-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-VS1-Clarity.aspx?sku=8330629&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com 2770
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-7997367-0.80-carat-Round-diamond-D-color-VS2-Clarity.aspx?sku=7997367&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com 3200
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8422735-0.80-carat-Round-diamond-F-color-VS1-Clarity.aspx?sku=8422735&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com 3200
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8425373-0.80-carat-Round-diamond-G-color-VS2-Clarity.aspx?sku=8425373&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com 3400
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8412774-0.80-carat-Round-diamond-I-color-VS2-Clarity.aspx?sku=8412774&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com 2300
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8098963-0.81-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-VVS2-Clarity.aspx?sku=8098963&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com 3000
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8321202-0.80-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-SI1-Clarity.aspx?sku=8321202&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com 2900
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8278511-0.80-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-SI1-Clarity.aspx?sku=8278511&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com 2600
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8427775-0.81-carat-Round-diamond-G-color-SI1-Clarity.aspx?sku=8427775&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com 3000


May is a year away. If you could save up 100-200 a month before now and April, you would only need a 2-3 week lead time for that setting.
 

anne_h

Brilliant_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 13, 2005
Messages
1,046
Re: Help me build/find an East-West Oval Shape Engagement Ri

Gypsy, you are so generous to give your time to doing personalized searching for pricescopers. It's like a free diamond concierge service!

Anne
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
Re: Help me build/find an East-West Oval Shape Engagement Ri

anne_h|1465761254|4043287 said:
Gypsy, you are so generous to give your time to doing personalized searching for pricescopers. It's like a free diamond concierge service!

Anne

It's a good distraction for me. :wavey:
 

diamondseeker2006

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Messages
58,547
Re: Help me build/find an East-West Oval Shape Engagement Ri

Like Gypsy, I would be hesitant to do an E-W setting unless the recipient has specifically requested it, but here is my favorite of that style. You'd need to increase your budget to make this work because of the side stones (diamonds instead of colored gems), but it would give a more substantial appearance, too.

http://www.stevenkirsch.com/the-evidence/trio-ring-east-west/

skoval.jpg
 

BeekeeperBetty

Shiny_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 15, 2015
Messages
272
Re: Help me build/find an East-West Oval Shape Engagement Ri

I think you should just flat out ask her. I personally love E/W settings, but my husband really hates them. I think they're very polarizing, and people either love or hate them. She is going to be the one wearing it, presumably, forever, so she needs to pick it out. There's no romance in a surprise gone terribly wrong, so how will you feel if she hates it? And how will it make her feel? You're both adults and considering spending your lives together, take this as a first test in how you negotiate and work together as a real couple. My husband was going to make a surprise out of my ring, and it was going to be a round solitaire. I really don't care for round diamonds, and I don't love solitaires, so when I happened to make an off hand comment about how I felt about it he immediately knew I needed to pick my ring out. It was really fun choosing a stone and setting together. For our anniversary this year we're doing the process again for a RHR for me and I'm enjoying the process very much.

Last bit of advice, too. I have an oval diamond, and when you turn it sideways the bowtie really screams at you. When it's in the normal orientation I don't see it very much, since it flashes white, but on the side it goes dead. If you do choose an oval for an E/W setting, you have to be very careful about the cut, and get one with no bowtie. It will probably be a challenge since ovals aren't a common shape anyway, so you have less to choose from.
 

BrainGrenades

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 5, 2016
Messages
8
Re: Help me build/find an East-West Oval Shape Engagement Ri

Okay so I sent her the links and here's what she says:

She likes most of the rings except for the Fiona. Her favs are:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/classic-style-half-round-platinum-5478p
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pearl-platinum-5967p
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/alice-platinum-5953p

As modern as she would like to get is http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pearl-platinum-5967p or http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/alice-platinum-5953p

I also asked her to give me her most current wish list so her that is:

Diamond shapes:
- Round or Oval

Setting:
- solitaire
- cathedral setting
- east-west setting
- 6 prong is good too
- comfort band

Material and Diamond:
- platinum or white gold (she wants something with weight so whatever feels more sturdy/quality if there's a difference)
- 0.35 to .50 carats (she has small hands and fingers plus I don't have a big budget so she's flexible but I will try to get over .5 if possible)

BeekeeperBetty|1465835573|4043573 said:
Last bit of advice, too. I have an oval diamond, and when you turn it sideways the bowtie really screams at you. When it's in the normal orientation I don't see it very much, since it flashes white, but on the side it goes dead. If you do choose an oval for an E/W setting, you have to be very careful about the cut, and get one with no bowtie. It will probably be a challenge since ovals aren't a common shape anyway, so you have less to choose from.

This is one of my biggest concerns. I found a diamond that is around .6 Carats D and IF in an oval shape and from what I can tell does not bowtie. I'm tempted to buy the rock and then band later as was suggested in the thread. The diamond alone falls under $3,000.
 

Niel

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 23, 2012
Messages
20,044
Re: Help me build/find an East-West Oval Shape Engagement Ri

Photo of the stone please
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Messages
40,225
Re: Help me build/find an East-West Oval Shape Engagement Ri

I think the pearl or alice setting with an 5.8mm stone would be fantastic. Stick to a round though, and oval will bowtie when set in one of those.
Yoh really aren't focusing on the right thing with a D IF. Color and clarity are not what makes a diamond beautiful or quality. Cut is.
 
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