Help with setting a ~2.5ct MRB - VC worth it for a solitaire setting?

[can24]

We are looking at between 2.3-2.5ct MRB with J color and fluoro being set in either a white gold or platinum solitaire setting.

I originally fell in love with VC's Emilya, but, I have to admit, after seeing a halo on my finger, it just doesn't work for me. I absolutely adore all of the Emilyas out there though!

We found VC's classic solitaire with scalloped basket, and this seems like the most simple, clean, and elegant solitaire setting I can find. [https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/engagement/classic-solitaire-with-scalloped-basket]

I'm wondering if a) I will even notice the difference between VC's and say, this $400 solitaire [https://www.yadavjewelry.com/products/the-halle-ring?taxon_id=30], and b) if there are other options available out there for less $$. I'm all about paying for quality, but it does eat up ~15% of my stone budget .

For the VC version, I would ask to use double wire prong claws since the stone will be over 2ct.

Thanks!

 

[LLJsmom]

Sharing from my own personal experience only, I can say that only YOU can decide whether it is worth it. Yes, he is more expensive than stock settings. Here are some questions I think you need to ask yourself. I wish I did, but I didn't know myself well enough at the time to make the right decision, or even ask the right questions.

1. How much does the wearer care about the details? Are you the wearer or are you buying for a to-be fiance? I thought I didn't care about the details. I bought my original 2.59 MRB from BlueNile and chose a stock setting. As I wore it more, I kept feeling like the diamond just wasn't being shown to it's best advantage. I thought it should look a lot better. There were a lot of things wrong with the setting. Some were quality issues, size and shape of prongs, shape of basket, unfinished state of the platinum in the basket, overall finish. Of course I did not know I would notice or care before I chose the setting. Only after wearing, staring at it day in and day out, did I find out that prong size really matter to me. I also discovered that my eye, when looking at my original setting, kept being distracted by those huge prongs rather than focusing on the beauty of the stone. That may not be your wearer. Your wearer may be totally ok with it. My original prongs looked a LOT like the yadev setting you linked. So truly it depends on the person.

This is my old VC setting. It's the jocelyn with scalloped basket on his website.
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/victor-canera-jocelyn-with-scalloped-basket.208952/

This was before I upgraded by stone to a larger OEC that would not fit into this setting.

2. I also learned that the basket also matters to me. Because I am on the computer a lot, most of the time I see my ring at an angle. This means I see a side view, the basket, more than I see a top down view. Thus, staring at this sharp edged construction zone of a side view (forgive me, really just my opinion) of the one your linked really really annoyed me. I have another old setting that had a basket that looked like that. The link below shows you my second attempt at a setting. Sadly, I discovered that I really wanted more beauty and bling in the basket. I would not have known that if I did not actually wear this old setting for a while.
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-reset-finally-my-pretty-stone-is-home.190977/

Just FYI. This was a stock setting by Derco. Solid construction. Would survive a nuclear war. But just too unrefined. I work with Derco on other things, but I recently considered having them make a much cheaper plain setting. They are happy to do a wax mold and create it for me. But, specifically asked them, (And they know how picky and demanding I am) can you create sharp, small clawing prongs for me. And their answer, "well, it can't be too sharp or small or else it won't hold the diamond." Then I showed them the picture of my old setting, and I got a..."we can try our best". Forget it. I'm not gonna blow $1100 on an attempt at a temporary setting. I have learned what I cannot live with.

After two failed attempts, and painfully discovering what I liked and didn't like, I decided I wasn't going to throw any more money away on settings that I could not live with. I had made some bad choices for myself. I had looked at lots of Victor's settings, and thought his aesthetic would be most in sync with mine. I wanted things customized to be how I wanted it. I wanted diamonds in the basket. I wanted very fine work on the pave so I can barely see the prongs holding each tiny melee stone in place. I knew that was what I wanted, and I was willing to pay for it. I had confidence that Victor could make what I wanted, and that was "worth" the money I planned on spending. If I didn't upgrade, I would still be using that setting.

You don't have to have Victor create your setting. There are others who make beautiful settings. I chose him because I'm in northern CA and I wanted to go to his workshop, meet him in person, make sure that I could work with him as a person, that I could see his pieces IRL and be sure that they were as beautiful as they were on PS pictures before I committed. I had screwed it up twice already, and I didn't want to make a mistake the third time. If I was in the east coast, I would have probably tried to meet with Steven Kirsch, who I did on a trip to NYC. He's a wonderful guy too. I would not hesitate to work with him.

I love the fact that the setting was custom made, hand forged, for my stone. That's just me. The creator cares about making a beautiful setting and wants to show off the stone to it's utmost as much as I do, because each piece he creates is a statement he makes about himself. And I am guessing that this is true for all the custom jewelers. Caysie, Steven, and many others. I use other jewelers for other pieces. I love the martini studs I received from WF. Derco's made a plain basket setting for my pendant. All good enough. For my e-ring, I know my crazy won't allow me to settle. Sorry, way longer than you probably wanted. I guess my final message is...Know Thyself...

 

[can24]

Oh, LLJsmom! Thank you so much for your reply. I am the to-be wearer of the stone (we are engaged, but with a 'placeholder' ring for now - he wants us to pick out the e-ring together, but understands that I'm the wearer). Before we went ring-style-tryout-shopping last weekend I was deadset on a VC emilya with no pave on the band. Then I tried on some halos and they just...weren't me. So that actually lead me to *your* thread on your Jocelyn!!

1. How much does the wearer care about the details? Are you the wearer or are you buying for a to-be fiance? I thought I didn't care about the details. I bought my original 2.59 MRB from BlueNile and chose a stock setting. As I wore it more, I kept feeling like the diamond just wasn't being shown to it's best advantage. I thought it should look a lot better. There were a lot of things wrong with the setting. Some were quality issues, size and shape of prongs, shape of basket, unfinished state of the platinum in the basket, overall finish. Of course I did not know I would notice or care before I chose the setting. Only after wearing it did I find out that prong size really matter to me. I also discovered that my eye, when looking at my original setting, kept being distracted by those huge prongs rather than focusing on the beauty of the stone. That may not be your wearer. Your wearer may be totally ok with it. My original prongs looked a LOT like the yadev setting you linked. So truly it depends on the person.

So, yes, I'm an engineer and care about details. I didn't realize that a BlueNile ring would have so many quality issues wrong with it - how infuriating!! My fiancee and I both have been commenting on prong size on solitaires, so your comment on the prong size from the Yadav post is really spot on. I *love* your teeny double claw wire prongs!!

2. I also learned that who the prongs rise from shank to form the basket also matters to me. Because I am on the computer a lot, most of the time I see my ring at an angle. This means I see a side view, the basket, more than I see a top down view. Thus, staring at this sharp edged construction zone of a side view (forgive me, really just my opinion) of the one your linked really really annoyed me. I have another old setting that had a basket that looked like that. The link below shows you my second attempt at a setting.

Ok, that is exactly what I was thinking re: I will be staring at the basket a lot, because I am also on the computer all day every day.
Re: construction zone - - so true!!

You have officially convinced me to just go for it with VC.

Now for the choice of setting:
I am leaning towards the VC solitaire with scalloped baskets because the stone looks like it is set lower than your Jocelyn, which from a practical standpoint, appeals to me. I will definitely request the double claw wire prongs. The pave on your basket of your Jocelyn really intrigues me - does it 'convince' your eye that you're not looking at the platinum? Or do you think it enhances the stone? I know that is a minute detail, but I think it's the last decision I have to make before we pull the trigger!

Thank you thank you!!

 

[LLJsmom]

I used single cut melee, which has fewer facets than full cut. I could see the round outline of every little melee in the basket. I am not lying. I can. I have a Tiffany soleste double halo, and I cannot see the round outline of the melee in the halo because those are all full cuts. I think single cuts make a HUGE difference. I loved that about my basket. Those single cuts sparkle and are very white. He uses high color melee as a rule. It is actually harder to get lower colored melee. So to answer your question. YES. DEFINITIVELY. I am NOT looking at platinum. Even with my 45 year old eyes, I can see the round outline of each little melee in the basket. And I personally love the big flashes of light from single cuts.

https://www.victorcanera.com/blog/single-cut-and-full-cut-melee-explained

Here he explains the difference between single cut and full cut.

I don't think it enhances the center stone as you are talking about your basket, correct? I do think it enhances the overall look and feel of your ring, if you want to see bling on the side.

It takes quite a bit of foresight for you to ask yourself these questions early on. I sure wish I did. Would have saved me a ton of money.