How long did it take?

[anners11]

Hello PSer's! This is my first post, so nice to meet you all. I found pricescope about 1 month ago and have learned so very much already. I am continually amazed by the vast knowledge that everyone has. Anyway, my boyfriend and I are planning on getting engaged in the next six months or so. I have a good idea of what I would like in my engagement ring (thanks to this site!) and I think in order to get it I will need to do a custom setting. I'm thinking cushion halo, plain shank that flares toward the halo with a few other possible details that I'm not sure will work out. So my question is, for those of you who have designed your ring and picked your center stone, how long did it take you A) to find THE stone and B) to design the setting? I'm wondering if I should seriously start this process now or wait a while so I don't drive myself crazy!

I've been looking at diamonds for about 2 weeks and today I found one with serious potential on James Allen. Unfortunately, I left for a few hours and when I came back to e-mail them about it, it was gone. Boo! So now this has me thinking that this process might take a lot longer than I was anticipating and prompted me to finally post here. Thanks in advance for you help! I am so excited to go through this process and hope to have an amazing piece of bling to share at the end!

A

 

[Gypsy]

Put. Your. Stones. On. Hold. When. You. Find. Them.

 

[Gypsy]

Also cushions aren't as easy to find as rounds. So it might take a few weeks.

Setting it depends on manufacturing time. Anywhere from overnight for something in stock to 8 weeks for a custom hand forged. What setting do you want?

What is your budget for the stone? And then the budget for the setting?

 

[anners11]

Lesson learned about putting stones on hold. That's for sure Gypsy. Interestingly though, when I search through the PS search engine the stone is being listed by ID Jewelry and Union Diamond. I'm not sure what that means?!? I think I'm going to call tomorrow and inquire about the stone. This is a link to the stone I'm referring to: http://www.uniondiamond.com/control/showDiamondDetails?productId=AE0308112
The ID Jewelry link doesn't have the GIA report. I really like the facet pattern on it and the picture that JA had posted looked pretty white.


Anyway, to answer a few of your questions. I have a total budget of around 11k. I honestly have no idea how much a custom setting like I'm thinking would cost. I figure around 4k so that leaves me 7k for the stone but in reality I'd like to spend closer to 8 or 9 and then use the rest of the money towards an awesome honeymoon.

This is my inspiration: http://www.gabrielny.com/amavida/style/ER7563W83JJ
- I'm not a fan of the basket under the halo at all. I think I would like pave struts that are straight and allow for a flush fit band. I also do not want the pave diamonds on the band.
- I am considering a split shank band with a trapezoid bezel set in the "V" portion of the band on either side of the halo. Not sure how this would work or if it would look silly.
- I want it to be simple and showcase the halo but also not be boring and boxy looking.

Should I worry about finding the stone first? Or designing the setting so I'll know how much that costs and then can adjust my budget for the stone accordingly?

Thanks!

 

[Gypsy]

Budget would help me help you. I'd very good with plain shank halo settings. But I need an idea of your budget.

With cushions you need a vendor who can take an ASET image out of it for you. Here's how to read an ASET image. http://www.lexusindia.in/products/gb-aset-scope.aspx

If you tell me your budget I can recommend versions of that setting for you by different vendors and we can work back to a stone budget. But I do need to know what your budget is.

 

[anners11]

Gypsy, I think $4000 for the setting is probably the top of the budget and $7000 for the stone. Is that doable?

 

[Gypsy]

YES! FINALLY! Sorry.

I have a plain shank halo. Your budget is GREAT for what you want. YAY! (sorry we get so many people who want things and have no clue what they cost).

SO here are my recommendations. I would contact either Steven Kirsch (who did my plain shank halo) or Victor Canera for the setting. Your 4k budget is just right for the setting. And it will cost you little less from them and will be the BEST quality possible. I loved Steven and his customer service is excellent and so is his work, and Victor does amazing work as well.

Plain shank cushion halo (I know you want a thicker shank that tapers)

My wires in the undergallery that allow for a flush fit band. DO NOT omit the wires (they can have pave on them if you want)



Now, let's find you a cushion. Here are a couple I would recommend:

http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/modern-x-factor-cushion-gid-81844.html

http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/0.93-carat-g-vvs2-a-cut-beyond-cushion-cut-diamond-gid-15231.html (This is MY FAVORITE CUSHION ANYWHERE)

 

[Gypsy]

You also want the halo to tilt 20 degrees.

 

[Gypsy]

When comparing cushions compare measurements not carat weight.

 

[Gypsy]

This is mine. My melee is 1/2 point. You will want larger melee to balance out your thicker shank. 1 pointers or 1.5 pointers.

 

[anners11]

Gypsy thanks for the input! I love love love your ring! It's so much like what I have in mind. I've looked at both of those diamonds several times before and I'm not a fan of the first one because of the inclusions. I imagine that it's eye-clean but I struggle with the mind-clean aspect of things. I'd know they were there and I'd see them every time I looked so I figure I'll be sacrificing color for clarity as I don't seem to be very color sensitive. Well not as sensitive as I am to inclusions anyway. Damn my extreme near-sightedness! Now, the second one, well it's gorgeous. My only reservation regarding that one is the small table. It seems really really small! How does that affect overall light performance? Does it seem less cushion-y because of the small table?

What do you think of these:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1488271.asp
- Top end of budget. I like the faceting but I'm just not sure if the dark areas would make it appear dead in the center.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1455477.asp
- A wee bit over budget and obviously would be dependent on whether I could deal with the inclusions but seems to have a neat facet pattern.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VVS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1485974.asp
- This one appeals to the mind-clean side of me and it faces up pretty well for be 1.0 ct.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1421438.asp
- Not sure how warm the color would be but there's just something about this one that I like.

Any of these worth getting an ASET on?

So obviously a huge range in price but I figure just because I have $7000 doesn't mean I have to spend it all. What are your feelings on sourcing the stone from one vendor and then having the setting made and the stone set by another?

 

[stargurl78]

I like the first stone that Gypsy posted the best and you can ask Mark if it's eye clean. I don't like the looks of any of the stones you posted from JA, but I am no expert so I would wait for someone else to chime in...

 

[Gypsy]

That ERD diamond with the small table is going to look amazing. The table with a high crown will mean lots of fire. If you poll PSers about cushions and tables all of them will tell you that a smaller table is their preference. When you halo it your halo will be able to influence it to looking cushiony. It would give it a cushion outline so it won't look round.

This is one is fascinating: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1488271.asp Great numbers nice look. I've never seen anything like that faceting before. Get an ASET and a Sarin. Very interesting stone. Definitely worth an ASET.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1455477.asp Also potentially lovely. You've got a good eye with these.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VVS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1485974.asp Not as big a fan of this one. GIA certificate doesn't have the faceting pattern. I'm just wondering if this one is dead under that table.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1421438.asp Faceting is similar to that F and of the two I like the F. I'm pretty sure someone else was looking at this one and the gemologist said it's a lower J closer to a K. I would be okay with that. But since you are haloing I'm not sure it's your best bet.

I would get ASETs of the first two at least. And even the I VVS stone too (never know, could have been an odd pic).


Put them on hold though.

 

[Gypsy]

What are your feelings on sourcing the stone from one vendor and then having the setting made and the stone set by another?

No issue. Both Victor and Steven are used to it. It's easy. You get a note from whoever is doing your setting that you've contracted them for your setting. You submit that withthe diamond documentation (you get an appraisal of the diamond and include a copy of the certificate into the insurance). If you are using Jewelers Mutual they will insure it as a 'ring in progress' (they don't insure lose stones, but if you have contracted for the setting they will insure it that way). Then send the diamond to them. They make the ring. Send it to you. Then you take it in an get it reappraised (so the appraisal now reflects the whole ring) and submit that back to JM.

 

[anners11]

Well I put the 1.05 I VS2, the 1.01 FSI1, and the 1.0 I VVS1 on hold. The JA rep said it would probably be sometime middle of next week before I got the SARIN and ASET images. I'm really curious to see what they look like. Thanks again for your help!

 

[Gypsy]

Great. Looking forward to seeing what they show when you have them!