Help!!! Newbie Here.

[SaraG]

I have been lurking on this site for the past month or so and I finally decided that I need everyone''s expert advice.

My bf has recently been pushing me to decide on a ring. I had never looked before and always thought it would be an easy decision. BOY was I wrong!!! I soon realized I have absolutly no idea what I wanted or even what to look for. My bf wants to be involved in my selection but I am not about to let him go out and surprise me (it maybe sweet to some, but his taste is not exactly in line with mine). Considering I have to wear this for the next 40 or so years, I don''t want any surprises. We agreed he can surprise me on the date and location, but not the ring (to a certain extent).

Anyways....

Based on what I have read and research this is what I have come up with thus far:

I LOVE cushion cut diamonds - originally opted for a princess but did not like the harsh lines. So Cushion it is!

From what I have seen online and in magazines, I love the cut with a halo (something thin), I''m not one for chunky rings. I believe I want a bezel set, everything I have seen has been prong (but the center stone appears to sit too high up on the finger for my liking) I believe bezel will sit low to the finger??

I recently saw a split shank setting and fell in love with this...not sure if this would work with the above as I do want a bit of overhang.

PLEASE HELP!!

I''m new to this and I don''t know if the above is doable to find or if I sound like a diva. I don''t want to give my bf an ulser looking for this so any advice would be great.

Interms of the actual stone, I have no idea what to look for. I have been looking in jewellery stores at cushions and my untrained eye is hopeless. Unless I am looking at a K colour I can''t seem to tell the difference. For the size of stone, that really depends on price point. I have been looking at 1ct but wouldn''t mind going bigger depending on the cost of the setting.

Any advice would be great!!! Just let me know what other details you require.

 

[neatfreak]

The best thing to do for both stone (since it is a cushion) AND the setting, is just don't give yourself a headache and call Mark at Engagement Rings Direct.

He will find you a GORGEOUS cushion and either find the perfect setting for you or make one. And his custom work is great. I have a cushion and a custom ring from Mark and he is fantastic.

The ring you are describing might need to be custom, but it is most def. possible. Just might be hard to find something with all those elements together in a pre-made ring.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/17/2008 11:44:55 AM
Author: neatfreak
The best thing to do for both stone (since it is a cushion) AND the setting, is just don''t give yourself a headache and call Mark at Engagement Rings Direct.

He will find you a GORGEOUS cushion and either find the perfect setting for you or make one. And his custom work is great. I have a cushion and a custom ring from Mark and he is fantastic.

The ring you are describing might need to be custom, but it is most def. possible. Just might be hard to find something with all those elements together in a pre-made ring.

Welcome Sara!

I ditto Neat, contact Mark, tell him your budget, preferred size, colour and clarity, and see what he can find for you. He is known as the Cushion King for good reason, he has found many PSers some superb cushions.

www.engagementringsdirect.com

 

[neatfreak]

Here is one of Mark''s custom rings that has everything but the split shank. It''s called the "Heather":

 

[SaraG]

looks like Mark is the go to guy.

Anyone have his email address??

Thanks again for the great help!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 5/17/2008 8:24:04 PM
Author: SaraG
looks like Mark is the go to guy.

Anyone have his email address??

Thanks again for the great help!

Sara, if you look up top at RESOURCES and then VENDORS, you will find Engagement Rings Direct and Mark is the owner there.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/17/2008 11:49:39 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 5/17/2008 11:44:55 AM
Author: neatfreak
The best thing to do for both stone (since it is a cushion) AND the setting, is just don''t give yourself a headache and call Mark at Engagement Rings Direct.

He will find you a GORGEOUS cushion and either find the perfect setting for you or make one. And his custom work is great. I have a cushion and a custom ring from Mark and he is fantastic.

The ring you are describing might need to be custom, but it is most def. possible. Just might be hard to find something with all those elements together in a pre-made ring.

Welcome Sara!

I ditto Neat, contact Mark, tell him your budget, preferred size, colour and clarity, and see what he can find for you. He is known as the Cushion King for good reason, he has found many PSers some superb cushions.

www.engagementringsdirect.com

Sara I already posted Mark''s email address for you, see highlight.

 

[kcoursolle]

Mark is the guy to go for a beautiful cushion stone and you really can''t go wrong with him. However, here are a couple of other ideas to look at.

I''m not sure what your budget is, but this ring is a daniel k on closeout price and it is incredble and a great deal: http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-specials/closeout-jewelry/rings/253CO1/0/

Here is a setting that has a thin halo and a split shank that is pretty affordable that could probably be made to fit a cushion: http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/beverley-k-jewelry/rings/92PP1/12/

personally though, I prefer *either* a halo or a split shank, but both in a ring looks a little bit overwhelming.

Here is another affordable thin halo setting: http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/beverley-k-jewelry/rings/116PP1/54/

 

[jarbatz]

Hi Sara! I feel like you wrote my story to the tee! Started out looked at the princess cuts and was pretty much ready to pull the trigger and then fell in love with the cushion. Also looking at halos. And the same as you, my BF is letting me pick out the ring and everything else will be a surprise. As everyone here has told you, Mark (or Gary) at Engagementringsdirect.com is the guy to go to for cushions and can pretty much get you any setting you want or can design something if you give him a picture.

I LOVE the Heather, which I think someone mentioned above, but it''s $2400 in 18k white gold, which was too high for our budget. And I also wanted an e ring that would allow a wedding band to sit flush, which the Heather does not allow due to the "surprise diamond" on the underside.

Check out my thread which shows the one setting Mark sent me and then another setting that I found on my own. https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/opinions-on-these-2-settings-erd-vs-vatche.84998/

I am ending up going with a setting like the Vatche Grace, but Mark is designing the ring himself to make it exactly like what I want.

Oh and I thought I wanted bezel set too but if you look at the Vatche Grace, it is prong set but set so low that you can barely see the prongs. It''s a matter of preference but I decided I wanted as much of the diamond to be exposed (while still sitting as low as possible).

Anyway...check out ERD''s website and do a search for "ERD" and you will see all the people who''ve worked with Mark and seem to be thrilled!


Good luck!