Help regarding diamond size/quality for Halo Setting

[SB_Gary]

Hey guys I have posted a couple times on here but not much. I am having a real delema. I am going to be taking my relationship with my girlfriend to the next level soon and want to get her the perfect ring. We have looked around and thought about having a custom one made but then saw this ring from Excel Diamonds.

http://www.exceldiamonds.com/-Engagement-Rings-5/Diamond-Accent-Engagement-Rings-12/Inspired-by-Tiffany-Halo-Engagement-Ring-J6407-1344.html

This is exactly what she wants. My question is do you think that the ring will still look good with having only a .50 carat center stone? My budget is only $2500. We have decided to go with white gold and my girlfriend wants a diamond that is high in colorless range (F or G). I also want to make sure to get her one that has a great clarity level (VS2 or higher). I don't want to worry about inclusions.

Is there really a big difference in size from .50 to .70 when you have a ring that has a halo around it and has the pave diamonds? She has small hands and a ring size of only 4.50. I know she will be happy with whatever she gets but I want to get her the best quality diamond not necessarily the "biggest" and I think that with this setting it will make the diamond look even bigger (plus, she loves this exact setting). I just want to surprise her when the time is right and have the diamond sparkle like nothing she has seen before!

Any advice would be great.

 

[mrssalvo]

I think a .50 stone would look fine in that setting. There are plenty of SI stones that are eye clean so I wouldn''t necessarily rule them out. This is something you can talk about with the vendor. Just don''t sacrifice the CUT of the stone. Are you going to be working with excel to get the diamond as well?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

A couple of thoughts. You won''t be able to ever upgrade the diamond in this setting, so get as much as you can now. I''d definitely look at G and even H color or SI1 as MrsS suggested.
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Here''s a stone that would be nice:

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-1987281.htm#

Actually, they have the halo settings as well (bezel set and prong set):

http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/Halo-Bezel-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-By-WF_940.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/Halo-Prong-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-by-WF_941.htm

 

[AmberGretchen]

Ditto about considering some G or H stones and also SI1 clarity. I thought I wanted a high color and clarity stone when I first started looking, but ended up with a G SI1 and I love it. Honestly, if I could do it again, I would go back and get an I or J color SI1 to have gotten a little more size

 

[Gypsy]

That's a beautiful style and I think a .5 carat stone would look beautiful in there.

But, that actual setting is not one I would buy, necessarily. If you scroll through the photos you do eventually get to close ups of the actual ring (on what looks like a ring holder) and honestly the execution isn't what I'd want it to be. I know many people have purchased happily from excel but the close ups of that setting lack the delicacy and the grace of similar settings to that one that I've seen. The 'first' photo shows a very delicate bezel and not a lot of metal, but that one looks like a stock photo. If you look through the other photos of the ring, with the close ups you see that the bezel and metal in general gets thicker and that the ring looks well, like an inexpensive and obvious copy.

 

[AmberGretchen]

Date: 4/22/2009 11:39:42 PM
Author: Gypsy
That''s a beautiful style and I think a .5 carat stone would look beautiful in there.


But, that actual setting is not one I would buy, necessarily. If you scroll through the photos you do eventually get to close ups of the actual ring (on what looks like a ring holder) and honestly the execution isn''t what I''d want it to be. I know many people have purchased happily from excel but the close ups of that setting lack the delicacy and the grace of similar settings to that one that I''ve seen. The ''first'' photo shows a very delicate bezel and not a lot of metal, but that one looks like a stock photo. If you look through the other photos of the ring, with the close ups you see that the bezel and metal in general gets thicker and that the ring looks well, like an inexpensive and obvious copy.

Ooh! Good point Gypsy - I looked at the pictures closer and I agree. I''d really try to figure out if this would be a concern in the actual setting you''re getting - you really want it to be of good quality and well executed.

 

[Gypsy]

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/beverley-k-jewelry/rings/61PP1/ This one is really lovely and would leave you with a significant amount more for the center stone. I'm sure they can order it for a smaller center. I've seen quite a few Beverly K's in real life and they are really lovely for the money.

Also, a few weeks back there was another poster looking for a similar setting/size combo and they said that they were working with Pearlmans (who can get Ideal cut diamonds in with ease) because Julian had offered to work with them on their 'total' package pricing so that they could get more for their budget. It might be worth a call.

Some others that you might consider:

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/beverley-k-jewelry/rings/100PP1/63/

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/beverley-k-jewelry/rings/102PP1/63/ (personal favorite)

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/beverley-k-jewelry/rings/104PP1/70/

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/beverley-k-jewelry/rings/115PP1/77/

Thanks AG, I agree. This isn't the first 'inspired by' setting that I've seen by Excel where the first photo looks well, a lot nicer than the previous ones that show the 'real' ring and I would for your lady to be disappointed by the quality of her setting, especially as it's taking up such a large portion of your budget.

 

[CravingDiamonds]

I think that a .50 diamond would look fine, but I agree with Gypsy and I like the other setting from Pearlmans over the Excel one. Not trying to influence you, but that is just my opinion, as they just look like better quality.

 

[MrsChil]

Here''s an identical setting from Whiteflash (excellent quality) for $500 less! Isabella Setting (shown with cushion but I think they can make it for a RB)

 

[SB_Gary]

Thank you everyone for all of your input. The whiteflash settings are nice but there are things on it that my GF does not want. Such as she wants it to be bezeled and not set with prongs, she also wants the diamonds around the band to be smooth and not stick out like they are on the whiteflash setting.

I was planning to use Excel for the diamond as well. I have read pretty much only good things about them on here. I know my budget isn''t the highest but I just want to get her what she wants.

Here is a link to someone else who got the exact same ring that I am looking at getting. There are pictures included of the ring. What do you guys think of it? I think it looks lovely and I know my gf would love it. Do you think that the bezel around the top is too big? I think it looks good, but I''m no expert.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/ering-pictures-thank-you-all.111074/

I know what you are saying about not being able to increase the size of the diamond in the future, but my girlfriend and I have talked and I think we would just add another band to the ring in the future, or maybe I would surprise her with another ring.

Anyways, can you look at the pictures and let me know what you think about an actual "live" one that has been sold.

Thank you VERY much!