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Is it worth it to get ACA melee?

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peonygirl

peonygirl

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Aug 7, 2005
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1,033
I got two very different price quotes from Whiteflash and Signed Pieces. I''m looking for a 2mm shared-prong wedding set, 3/4 eternity.


Signed Pieces:
"In the engagement ring mounting, there will be approximately 24 diamonds,
weighing 0.55ct tw. In platinum, this will be $1,250.00.
For the matching eternity band, the ring will have approximately 26
diamonds, weighing 0.60ct tw. In platinum this will be $1,165.00."


Whiteflash
"All platinum Ring - $1950.00 This includes approx 19 x 0.03ct ACA diamonds ¾ eternity (.57 ctw)
All platinum band - $1850.00 This includes approx 20 x 0.03ct ACA diamonds ¾ eternity" (.60 ctw)
 
Wow, that''s a pretty big price difference!! The diamonds in the SP setting will be 2 pointers vs. 3 pointers, but I can''t see how that would amount to a difference of nearly $1,400. I have never seen ACA melee, but I do have rings from SP and the diamonds are beautiful and sparkly. I really doubt that having ACAs would make any difference. These diamonds are so small and SP uses ideal to premium cut goods. My appraiser said that most of the stones in my wedding band were ideal cuts. I would go with SP with that kind of savings.
 
Wow! that''s a pretty big price difference! Sorry I can''t help since I haven''t seen a ACA diamond nor seen a SP ring. But I have read that SP only uses Ideal-Premium diamonds and that they are very sparkly.

I''m VERY interested in what people will respond because in a month or so, I was planning on contacting WF and SP for a quote on a 3/4 or 1/2 eternity w-band.
 
Date: 11/4/2005 12:12:08 AM
Author: Demelza
Wow, that''s a pretty big price difference!! The diamonds in the SP setting will be 2 pointers vs. 3 pointers, but I can''t see how that would amount to a difference of nearly $1,400. I have never seen ACA melee, but I do have rings from SP and the diamonds are beautiful and sparkly. I really doubt that having ACAs would make any difference. These diamonds are so small and SP uses ideal to premium cut goods. My appraiser said that most of the stones in my wedding band were ideal cuts. I would go with SP with that kind of savings.
Click to expand...
we wrote the same thing!!! we must have posted at the same time!

I think I''m leaning towards SP since I can always drive down to NYC to look at their selections.
 
If it were me, no. If SP does indeed use fine diamonds, then I don''t think the ACA melee is worth that much more.
 
Great, thanks so much! That''s what I was thinking too.
 
Date: 11/4/2005 12:16:35 AM
Author: radiantlover
Date: 11/4/2005 12:12:08 AM

Author: Demelza

Wow, that''s a pretty big price difference!! The diamonds in the SP setting will be 2 pointers vs. 3 pointers, but I can''t see how that would amount to a difference of nearly $1,400. I have never seen ACA melee, but I do have rings from SP and the diamonds are beautiful and sparkly. I really doubt that having ACAs would make any difference. These diamonds are so small and SP uses ideal to premium cut goods. My appraiser said that most of the stones in my wedding band were ideal cuts. I would go with SP with that kind of savings.
Click to expand...

we wrote the same thing!!! we must have posted at the same time!


I think I''m leaning towards SP since I can always drive down to NYC to look at their selections.
Click to expand...

Ha, great minds think alike
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2 points for 700$ for the setting? and then another 700$ for the exact same weight... Sorry but no. I have seen the SP rings and they are indeed stunning. To me that would be a waste of money that you could spend on your center stone, or something else entirely.
 
Has anyone seen the 1.7mm SP shared-prong rings? I can't decide between the 2mm and the 1.7mm. The only ring I have now is about 1.8mm at the thickest part (I've tried to measure it repeatedly and that's what I estimate), and it's the perfect width for me. Thanks!!
 
Yes, and they are incredible...so full of sparkle and life.
 
Cool, thanks so much Matadora. You''ve been so helpful! So the prongs don''t overwhelm the tiny diamonds then?
 
Is your heart set on Platinum? Is your heart set on 3/4 eternity? If money is an issue it would be worth getting a quote for a half eternity in white gold. In those shared prong eternity bands you don''t see much metal anyway. Just a thought!

I''ve never seen an SP ring in person, but I own a shared prong ACA 1/2 eternity e-ring which I adore. They are incredibly sparkly!

I know this topic has been discussed MANY times before, but it sounds as if the signed pieces shared prong rings rub up against each other and lead to scratching. The WF ones do not.
 
No not at all, I could not even see the metal when the rings were on my hand.
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I haven''t, but I did inquire about them a while back. Isaac called them micropave and pointed out that there aren''t any holes behind the diamonds. They don''t have quite the same look as the regular shared prong -- the sides are flat (which is a good thing if you''re wearing 2 bands together). Do they ever put heads on the 1.7mm bands to use as engagement rings??
 
Date: 11/4/2005 12:39:30 AM
Author: Jelly
Is your heart set on Platinum? Is your heart set on 3/4 eternity? If money is an issue it would be worth getting a quote for a half eternity in white gold. In those shared prong eternity bands you don''t see much metal anyway. Just a thought!

I''ve never seen an SP ring in person, but I own a shared prong ACA 1/2 eternity e-ring which I adore. They are incredibly sparkly!

I know this topic has been discussed MANY times before, but it sounds as if the signed pieces shared prong rings rub up against each other and lead to scratching. The WF ones do not.
Click to expand...
Jelly, that is not entirely true, we have not heard from anyone who has worn the WF rings together as long as Dem did. And the WF do have overhang despite the fact that Bob said they did not. As shown in the pictures I took of anothers ring.
 
Oh, I thought you were talking about this one. Please disregard my previous statements about micropave and no holes. Are you wanting the head to be attached to the 1.7mm band??

14270.jpg
 
Date: 11/4/2005 12:42:26 AM
Author: Matatora

Date: 11/4/2005 12:39:30 AM
Author: Jelly
Is your heart set on Platinum? Is your heart set on 3/4 eternity? If money is an issue it would be worth getting a quote for a half eternity in white gold. In those shared prong eternity bands you don''t see much metal anyway. Just a thought!

I''ve never seen an SP ring in person, but I own a shared prong ACA 1/2 eternity e-ring which I adore. They are incredibly sparkly!

I know this topic has been discussed MANY times before, but it sounds as if the signed pieces shared prong rings rub up against each other and lead to scratching. The WF ones do not.
Click to expand...
Jelly, that is not entirely true, we have not heard from anyone who has worn the WF rings together as long as Dem did. And the WF do have overhang despite the fact that Bob said they did not. As shown in the pictures I took of anothers ring.
Click to expand...
I''m looking closely at my ring and don''t really see noticeable overhang, but then again I am wearing this ring alone.
 
Dem, I'm deciding between a wedding set (e-ring and wedding band) that's 1.7mm or 2mm for each band. So there would be a head attached to one band for the center stone.
 
Date: 11/3/2005 11:56:02 PM
Author:peonygirl


I got two very different price quotes from Whiteflash and Signed Pieces. I'm looking for a 2mm shared-prong wedding set, 3/4 eternity.


Signed Pieces:
'In the engagement ring mounting, there will be approximately 24 diamonds,
weighing 0.55ct tw. In platinum, this will be $1,250.00.
For the matching eternity band, the ring will have approximately 26
diamonds, weighing 0.60ct tw. In platinum this will be $1,165.00.'


Whiteflash
'All platinum Ring - $1950.00 This includes approx 19 x 0.03ct ACA diamonds ¾ eternity (.57 ctw)
All platinum band - $1850.00 This includes approx 20 x 0.03ct ACA diamonds ¾ eternity' (.60 ctw)
Click to expand...
Hi peonygirl,

For discussion purposes, I'd like to provide more detail on the melee and metal being discussed, so apples to apples comparisons can be made:

The melee are 'A Cut Above' cut quality. Of course, color and clarity come into play as well. For purposes of discussion, the ACA melee are F/G (no lower than G) and VS (no lower than VS2). Additionally, the weight and thickness of platinum can be considered. WF platinum is 95% (known as 950, rather than 900). The other 5% in this case is ruthenium (not iridium). Our pricing is done based on the cost/quality of these goods, along with the normal assortment of purchase benefits/services
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Date: 11/4/2005 12:53:51 AM
Author: peonygirl
Dem, I''m deciding between a wedding set (e-ring and wedding band) that''s 1.7mm or 2mm for each band. So there would be a head attached to one band for the center stone.
Click to expand...
Were you told by WF that this was possible? Bob told be they would not do a shared prong that thin...
33.gif
 
No, I only know that SP has bands this thin.
 
I think I''d stick with 2mm. That''s still quite thin and it seems to be the consensus amongst reputable jewelers that going any thinner isn''t particularly safe. From an aesthetic standpoint, I prefer 2mm. I saw the Vera Wang collection at Birks a few weeks ago and those bands are so extremely thin that they didn''t really sparkle much. Just my opinion, though.
 
Date: 11/4/2005 1:02:32 AM
Author: JohnQuixote

Date: 11/3/2005 11:56:02 PM
Author:peonygirl



I got two very different price quotes from Whiteflash and Signed Pieces. I''m looking for a 2mm shared-prong wedding set, 3/4 eternity.


Signed Pieces:
''In the engagement ring mounting, there will be approximately 24 diamonds,
weighing 0.55ct tw. In platinum, this will be $1,250.00.
For the matching eternity band, the ring will have approximately 26
diamonds, weighing 0.60ct tw. In platinum this will be $1,165.00.''


Whiteflash
''All platinum Ring - $1950.00 This includes approx 19 x 0.03ct ACA diamonds ¾ eternity (.57 ctw)
All platinum band - $1850.00 This includes approx 20 x 0.03ct ACA diamonds ¾ eternity'' (.60 ctw)
Click to expand...
Hi peonygirl,

For discussion purposes, I''d like to provide more detail on the melee and metal being discussed, so apples to apples comparisons can be made:

The melee are ''A Cut Above'' cut quality. Of course, color and clarity come into play as well. For purposes of discussion, the ACA melee are F/G (no lower than G) and VS (no lower than VS2). Additionally, the weight and thickness of platinum can be considered. WF platinum is 95% (known as 950, rather than 900). The other 5% in this case is ruthenium (not iridium). Our pricing is done based on the cost/quality of these goods, along with the normal assortment of purchase benefits/services
1.gif
Click to expand...
The platnium used by facets is 950 and the color and clarity minimums are the same.
 
My engagement ring is ideal-cut 3 pointers and my wedding ring was made by WhiteFlash with 2 pointer ACA melee. My e-ring stones are something like F/G VS and I asked them to get the best looking melee they could. The w-ring from WF is something like F/G VVS/VS as John already mentioned.

I find it interesting because I really don't see a visual difference at all between the two. I really thought that somehow you could originally, but in reality the difference between a well-cut regular ideal melee or something that was hand-picked to go into an eternity ring and the ACA melee, as great as the cut quality is....in terms of sparkle, there are no differences. I can maybe count on one hand the times where the ACA melee are somehow better looking than my other stones and maybe that's even delusion.
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If the price difference was small, I'd say go for the ACA melee...why not. It's fun to have precisely cut H&A's in your rings. But for that kind of price difference? To me there's no real justification. SP quality is something like E/F VVS/VS for all their stones, they make a big deal of it on their website. So in reality is that extra ounce of cut quality that worth it in the long run for such small stones? That's ~50% increase to go with ACA melee....add the savings for the two rings together if you go with SP and you could get a whole other diamond for a pendant or earrings or something!
31.gif


My two cents from someone who has both ACA melee and regular ideal cut and loves them both in different ways!!
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Date: 11/4/2005 1:12:13 AM
Author: Matatora

Date: 11/4/2005 1:02:32 AM
Author: JohnQuixote


Date: 11/3/2005 11:56:02 PM
Author:peonygirl




I got two very different price quotes from Whiteflash and Signed Pieces. I''m looking for a 2mm shared-prong wedding set, 3/4 eternity.


Signed Pieces:
''In the engagement ring mounting, there will be approximately 24 diamonds,
weighing 0.55ct tw. In platinum, this will be $1,250.00.
For the matching eternity band, the ring will have approximately 26
diamonds, weighing 0.60ct tw. In platinum this will be $1,165.00.''


Whiteflash
''All platinum Ring - $1950.00 This includes approx 19 x 0.03ct ACA diamonds ¾ eternity (.57 ctw)
All platinum band - $1850.00 This includes approx 20 x 0.03ct ACA diamonds ¾ eternity'' (.60 ctw)
Click to expand...
Hi peonygirl,

For discussion purposes, I''d like to provide more detail on the melee and metal being discussed, so apples to apples comparisons can be made:

The melee are ''A Cut Above'' cut quality. Of course, color and clarity come into play as well. For purposes of discussion, the ACA melee are F/G (no lower than G) and VS (no lower than VS2). Additionally, the weight and thickness of platinum can be considered. WF platinum is 95% (known as 950, rather than 900). The other 5% in this case is ruthenium (not iridium). Our pricing is done based on the cost/quality of these goods, along with the normal assortment of purchase benefits/services
Click to expand...
The platnium used by facets is 950 and the color and clarity minimums are the same.
Click to expand...

Wow. Well, the price quoted is below our cost for the same tcw of ideal/F-G/VS in 950 plat. In that case we suggest she buy it there too… Hey, if it appraises that way we may be asking them to supply us!
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All I know is that my SP wedding band and (former) engagement mounting appraised for exactly what they said it was. The wedding band has more stones that are ideal cut than the ering, but they sparkle just the same. It's strange that the prices would be that much below cost for WF -- how do they do that and still turn a profit??
 
IT IS SOUNDS TO ME A GOOD DEAL ... , 1CT of meelee do not cost too much more $500 better QTY INDIAN CUT ( where 90% meelee came from) . It means if you want to buy a .50 or so carat band suppose .. 5g of platinum it means : 5g pt *32$/ct = 160$ in platinum:
.5ct meelee H+ x500$/ct = + 250 $
Setting stones = $200
waxing & bench works = $ 200
_______________________
$ 810
50% profit $ 405
__________________________
$ 2025

And the offer you have is below $ 2000 , sounds a clear honest prices.....

Congratulations...
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maybe it''s too early (my coffee is brewing as i type) but is it just me or does roughdealer''s math not add up? $810+405 is $1215? Not $2025?
33.gif
oh well, off to pour a cup. maybe that''s the problem.
 
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