Is my dream ring a possibility?

[becauseyes]

My boyfriend and I are getting engaged soon, and the search for the ring has begun. Unfortunately, I've dug myself into a hole right from the start! I fell in love with an antique ring that's already been sold, and it's out of my budget. Here's the original listing, for reference: http://antiqueengagementrings.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=6762

I'm looking at having a custom made repro created. I just can't get this ring out of my head! Nothing really compares. Please forgive me if I ask simple questions - this is a whole new world for me:
Can this ring be custom made, including stones, for under 10k?
Ballpark, how much would JUST the setting+halo diamonds cost?
Since I'm setting in yellow gold, a lower color OEC is fine by me - I just don't want it to appear yellow. I'm looking for warmth and those OEC pastel flashes that we all love - can anyone suggest a center stone? I'm looking for anywhere between 1.5-2 ct, and I'd like to avoid the "black nail-head" that some OECs have.

Thanks in advance! And please, if I'm being completely unrealistic, someone just tell me so I can try to get over this gorgeous ring.

 

[LLJsmom]

The ring seems overpriced to me. However I don't think you would be able to get one for $10k and be as beautiful as you would want it. It will likely be somewhere in between.

Go to preloved and see mochiko's 1.72 OEC. That looks like a really beautiful stone. I think sh will sell the stone the alone. Then you need to find a vendor to make your halo setting. The melee look bigger than the half pointers that are more popular so that halo won't be cheap. And if you pay for cheap you are going to get cheap lookIng. Just keep that in mind. And all the melee stones are single cuts or OECs . You will need t find a vendor that uses single cuts. THose aren't cheap.

The stones look clear and not included. You will pay more for that too.

 

[soxfan]

I love this stone:

http://www.loveaffairdiamonds.com/1-79ct-old-european-cut-diamond-ags-n-vs1/

And the only person who is going to be able to recreate that setting for under $3000 would probably be David Klass. The person I would use would be Caysie Van Bebber, but I'm not sure how much she would charge. I would reach out to her and ask. I have NO idea how much it would cost to find smaller OEC's for the halo- she could maybe source them for you.

http://www.cvbinspireddesign.com

 

[dazzlerazzle]

A similar ring, but with a ruby center:

http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/rings/vintage-antique/1-75ctw-antique-ruby-and-old-european-cut-diamond-ring#.WBt9cdUrK70

This is a good stone, and was listed for $7,000 before they set it. You might contact Grace and see if she'll sell the stone by itself:

http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/rings/vintage-inspired/1-54ct-old-european-cut-diamond-solitaire-gia-l-vs1-grace-solitaire#.WBt9vdUrK70

http://jewelsbygrace.smugmug.com/Loose-Diamonds/100-200cts/154ct-Old-European-Cut-Diamond/

 

[rubybeth]

I have a question that may affect your love for the original setting--do you want to wear a wedding band flush with your engagement ring? If so, that setting won't allow for that, because the solid metal basket will prevent it.

If you don't mind a large gap, or you won't be wearing a separate wedding band (or can wear a band and the engagement ring on different hands after the wedding), then I think David Klass might be your best option to stay in budget for an antique style cluster ring with a 1.5 carat stone. Take the advice of the OEC experts here.

 

[ac117]

Keep an open mind here....this ring is very similar and a good price. Maybe contact Grace and see if she could pop out the ruby and pop in a beautiful OEC in its place?
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/rings/vintage-antique/1-75ctw-antique-ruby-and-old-european-cut-diamond-ring#.WBuC8PmANBc

 

[LadyMCh]

Okay, your inspo ring looks very similar to some of the inspo rings I sent Caysie van Bebber when she was designing my ring. Just to give you and idea of proportion, my center OEC is ~10.3-10.5mm across, and the halo OEC stones are 7 points a piece (so, BIG for halo stones). To give you an idea of price, it was just over $5k. You can see it here:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-not-so-little-fancy-yellow-oec-that-could.225650/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-not-so-little-fancy-yellow-oec-that-could.225650/[/URL]

You could always search for your dream stone now then upgrade the setting later!

 

[becauseyes]

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful contributions! I've reached out to both David Klass and Caysie Van Bebber for quotes.
You're all absolutely right - I want this to be done at a certain level. I'm hopeful that I can find a way to make it work, but if it's not feasible within my budget, it may be best to find a new dream ring!

@LadyMCh What a GORGEOUS ring! Now you've got me lusting over all CvB's work.

@Rubybeth - I'm not worried about a flush wedding band. I was planning on wearing a simple gold band on my other hand. Thanks for the tip!

@LLJsMom - Thanks for the helpful info! Mochiko's ring is so gorgeous

 

[LadyMCh]

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful contributions! I've reached out to both David Klass and Caysie Van Bebber for quotes.
You're all absolutely right - I want this to be done at a certain level. I'm hopeful that I can find a way to make it work, but if it's not feasible within my budget, it may be best to find a new dream ring!

@LadyMCh What a GORGEOUS ring! Now you've got me lusting over all CvB's work.

@Rubybeth - I'm not worried about a flush wedding band. I was planning on wearing a simple gold band on my other hand. Thanks for the tip!

@LLJsMom - Thanks for the helpful info! Mochiko's ring is so gorgeous

Thanks, becauseyes! Have you looked on LoupeTroop? A couple PS-ers, including Sunfish, are selling sizable OECs on there right now.

 

[LadyMCh]

To be honest your best bet is Davidson Designs. His site is http://www.davidsondesigns.ca/... He specializes in custom made engagement rings. The thing great about him is he will give you the best workmanship for the best price. He has a full on workshop and can do anything from scratch. Anyway, I recommend shooting him an email or calling him with what you are looking for and he'll let you know if it's possible. He can ship anywhere too. I hope that helps!

Lily, you only have 2 posts, and they're both promoting Davidson Designs. I hope you're not trade and shilling for them, as that is illegal per the rules of this site.

 

[dollyanjuli]

This Lily person now has 5 posts all about the same company- lol. I smell a trolllll...

that said- CVB could make that ring above beautifully! I think it will be more than 3K though...

For a big stone, I saw an oec on love affair diamonds that is a lot of bang for the buck- a bit more included and a bit off round, but if you are ok with those two things it may work for you-

http://www.loveaffairdiamonds.com/1-91ct-old-european-cut-diamond-gia-k-si2/
https://loveaffairdiamonds.smugmug.com/Loose-Vintage-and-Antique-Diam/1c91ct-Old-European-Cut-Diamond-/i-mKDx45B

If it is bezeled and then has the larger stones around it, it could hide the off round shape. Erika had it on her IG and i couldnt believe it was under 8K!

 

[dollyanjuli]

was just browsing around on Grace's site ( as this is what I do before bed every night, troll the jewelry sites lol ) and saw this one also-

http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/new-additions/1-72ct-old-european-cut-cut-diamond-gia-l-vs2#.WBweF4X4_Gw

what a beauty!

 

[Gypsy]

It is possible, yes. But not with the size stone you want.

With this stone: http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/loose-diamonds/1-ct-to-2-00/1-28ct-old-european-cut-diamond-gia-m-vs1#.WBwhhiRn3IU you can get the ring you want. That leaves 6k for the setting. And that will give you the setting you want and a beautiful center stone.


If you can increase your budget by 2k, I think you can buy this stone: http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/loose-diamonds/1-ct-to-2-00/1-55ct-old-european-cut-diamond-gia-l-vs1#.WBwhoSRn3IU And then get the setting you want.

 

[Gypsy]

I just had a thought. Adam at Old World Diamonds has a lot of true antique and vintage settings. It might be worth a call to him to see if he has anything on hand that is close. If the stones are good, you can just buy it and reset the stones.

Or he might have the stone just loose. Either way, worth a call.

 

[Niel]

Saw this and thought of you. Stone is very tinted but that could help get it in budget

Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/132029651822

 

[tmot14]

I also wanted to chime in and encourage you to look at the Tacori full bloom ring. This setting looks very similar to mine, so wanted to throw that out there as a possibility.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Caysie can redesign the gallery area so that you can wear a band. She has already done round halos such as the Casablanca and Ladymch's ring that have a gallery that curves down to a doughnut at the base. That is a much better way to make it, in my opinion.

If you don't want much of a tint, then I would go with no lower than K color for the diamond. Here are the best ones I can find.

http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/loose-diamonds/1-ct-to-2-00/1-41ct-old-european-cut-diamond-gia-k-vs1#.WE1YWOYrI2w

http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/loose-diamonds/1-ct-to-2-00/1-65ct-old-european-cut-diamond-gia-k-vs1#.WE1Ys-YrI2w