I thought I had it licked! And Yet... Engagement Diamond & Ring Material Questions

[wildhawker]

Hello and a huge thanks to all of you here! I was fortunate enough to stumble onto this site a few days ago, and I am glad I did; that being said, I think I have more questions than answers now. I THOUGHT I had it all figured out, but the anal researcher in me is winning out over the rest...

We have already decided on the ring, which will be a Kirk Kara Charlotte (6685-R) with sapphire baguettes in size 5.5 (http://kirkkara.com/#section=gallery&productid=6685-R). She also asked for the matching band, and at this point is leaning towards 18K white gold in lieu of platinum in hopes of reducing the chances that the fine tooling on the sides will wear away.

So now the (too many) questions:

1. Do the majority of you think that 18k white gold makes more sense for this ornate a setting?
2. My goal is/was to find a stone in the following range:
* 1.0-1.5ct Princess shape
* D-F color
* VVS1-VS2 clarity
* Ideal or better cut
* Excellent or better polish and symmetry
* Budget: $15k, although I'd prefer to be in the $9-12K range
* Timeframe: soon, the designer is waiting for the stone specs

The BN diamond is WAS looking at was:
Bank wire price: $10,154
Carat weight: 1.21
Cut: Signature Ideal
Color: F
Clarity: VVS2
Depth %: 68.9%
Table %: 70%
Symmetry: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Girdle: Medium to thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 5.94 x 5.94 x 4.09 mm
Length/width ratio: 1.00

Now that I've read some here about BN, I've used the Pricescope quote page to request quotes for similar stones from the vendors here.

Am I heading in the right direction? I truly want to give her the best stone I can, and I would hope that I'll be able to do that within the budget I have set. It seems that the more I look, the more I sink deeper into my own ignorance! Thank you all so much for your insight and assistance.

Yours Truly,

Brandon

 

[Selkie]

Platinum is actually less likely to "wear away" than gold, in the sense that metal is actually lost from the setting. Both gold and platinum can scratch, but with platinum the metal is displaced, while gold loses actual molecules. If the budget allows, I would (and did, for a detailed engraved ring) personally go with platinum. I LOVE that setting, by the way!. Check out this Q&A for some good info: http://engagementrings.pricescope.com/wgvsplat.asp

 

[chel180]

Platinum is one of the harder materials known to man. Although any metal is scratchable, platinum less so. Also you have to think of both the rings rubbing together. I have worn a 14kt yellow gold ring against a 14kt white gold ring for a few years and it was definitely the white gold one which has shown all the wear.
Fork out for the platinum if you can, especially with all the beautiful engraving to protect.

 

[MustangGal]

Either metal will rub the engraving down if the rings are worn together and not soldered.

I have a set of 18kt white gold rings with engraving like that for about 2.5 years, and they were really starting to show some wear after that amount of time, and I only wore them out of the house.

 

[wildhawker]

Thanks for the advice on the metals; this is the opposite of what I''ve been hearing from local jewelers, and with Platinum being twice the cost of 18k, I wonder why they have been pushing the 18k. In any case, I''ll keep an open mind to this- it looks like I''ll have to hold off on the ring purchase just a bit longer.

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 1/4/2008 7:15:09 PM
Author: wildhawker
Thanks for the advice on the metals; this is the opposite of what I''ve been hearing from local jewelers, and with Platinum being twice the cost of 18k, I wonder why they have been pushing the 18k. In any case, I''ll keep an open mind to this- it looks like I''ll have to hold off on the ring purchase just a bit longer.

many times jewelers will push 18k because that is what they''ve got in their cases. plat is also harder to work with and not all have benchman qualified to do it. there are pros and cons to both metals though. Platinum will develop a patina over time where whitegold may yellow depending on the wearers body chemisry. WG is actually stronger but platinum is more dense. WG will wear away when scratched, plat. just moves around. you can research old threads here, tons of info on the differences b/t the two.

 

[wildhawker]

Have you any thoughts on the stone? Whiteflash is suggesting an AGS stone, but there aren't any 1.25-1.5ct AGS stones available right now

Jamie at Whiteflash found a GIA 1.53ct/F/VS1/EX/EX/N/D-74.3%/T-66%/6.20x6.18x4.59 in my budget, as well as the listed 1.09ct ACA princess they have in house.

For all you in the know, with similar proportions how much size will she notice between the 1.09 and a 1.53, and are the AGS and Whiteflash "in-house" stones worth seeking out?

Thanks!