I'm in love!!!

[jules.k]

Yay! Thanks to all your wonderful recommendations, I found the perfect setting from eternity diamonds. Right now I have their replica of the Gwen setting, http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/eng...mond-Ring-with-Split-Shank-(.32-ctw.)-122.htm , and I love it!! They also have a contoured band that sits flush with it.

Just a couple more questions before I pass the info onto my fiance, so he can tuck it away for a bit and then surprise me with it later I was thinking I definitely wanted platinum or palladium so I wouldn't have to deal with rhodium plating white gold. I'm a nurse, so I wash my hands often and use alcohol-based sanitizers (don't know if they harm white gold). I also just liked the idea of the metal being a solid color all the way through (probably more psychological than practical). However for this ring the platinum/palladium setting is $760 more than the white gold, and in our budget ($5000-$5500 total) that would be a significant contribution towards the center stone.

I know that metal choices have been extensively addressed on these forums, but I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts specific to this setting. This pave style makes it so the metal is hardly visible from above, so maybe I just shouldn't worry about it and deal with plating if I have to? What about durability and security for the stones? Any thoughts?

 

[D&T]

do you plan on wearing your ring while at work? my only concern is the pave diamonds on the shank and head because you are probably going to constantly putting gloves on and off so many times a day, and I'm not sure with all the stress of that will cause on the little diamonds and metals on the shank, but of course just get regular maitenance checkups to ensure those beauties don't fall off. You should get whatever metals you feel comfortable with. Palladium is quite light material, have you tried on or seen palladium in person?
with all those melee diamonds on the shank, I would probably go with platinum to ensure that the stress you put your ring through with working with your hands, that the metal holding the diamonds in place don't get snag and break. its more costly with plat to fix and what not, but metal content does not wear away like gold.

 

[Miss Sparkly]

I would go with platinum and not palladium. Too many jewelers don't know how to work with palladium (thinking locally not the vendor) and I've even ran across one who offered to "figure it out" and work on a ring of mine anyway.

 

[jules.k]

Yes I do want to wear my ring at work. I know the pave might not be the most practical choice, but I love it! The stress on the ring is why I was leaning towards platinum. I'll feel better about putting the extra money towards the setting if I know it's actually really worth it in my case.

I've never actually tried palladium in person. I'm not too concerned about the weight, but I've had a hard time telling the difference from photos alone. In any case, it's priced the same as platinum for this setting.

 

[D&T]

Yes I do want to wear my ring at work. I know the pave might not be the most practical choice, but I love it! The stress on the ring is why I was leaning towards platinum. I'll feel better about putting the extra money towards the setting if I know it's actually really worth it in my case.

I've never actually tried palladium in person. I'm not too concerned about the weight, but I've had a hard time telling the difference from photos alone. In any case, it's priced the same as platinum for this setting.

If priced the same, then I would definitely choose platinum. But that is odd that Palladium is just as costly as Plat, usually its actually less than gold even... hmmm. But the ring is BEAUTIFUL!!!!

 

[jules.k]

Yeah, I think platinum over palladium sounds right given they're the same price. Platinum probably is the right choice, but putting that extra $760 towards the center stone is just so enticing...

 

[Rose-E]

haha that's funny. I am in the same situation, although I am deciding between white gold and platinum. I like the slight yellowing of gold. What I got from a few jewelry store people were kinda funny.

The one that was pushing platinum said that it yellowed and then showed me what it would yellow to. They had some gawd aweful rings in "unplated white gold" that looked so dark yellow to even black". This is interesting because I have had work done to an old ring of mone that needed an new shank and saw it when it wasn't plated yet and it looked more gorgeous sunkist white gold.

The one pushing for white gold told me that platinum was more malleable than white gold. That white gold was stronger and would hold the little diamonds in more securely than platinum. He said that if I were to choose any ring with melee, I need to go with whtie gold, and definitley not platinum.

What sales people say....cracks me up now that I know about pricescope.

Haha.

I say platinum, after extensive research. Someone correct me if I'm wrong though.
I also find it strange that Palladium is priced that same as platinum. I thought platinum was priced because it was so "rare". Is palladium also becoming "rare"? It's so new!

 

[jules.k]

I was actually considering white gold too. That's the one that would actually be less expensive, since they price palladium the same as platinum for this setting.

The white gold setting is $725 vs $1485 for platinum. Over twice as much! I've heard the same thing about white gold being stronger for melee diamonds from a couple different places, but I always thought platinum was better. I'm so confused!

Thanks for the input!

 

[jules.k]

I'd just like to note that I just received an email from Yoni at eternity diamonds, and the pricing on the site is actually an error. It turns out the palladium setting is actually priced the same as white gold. That helps a lot!