Is this totally insane?

[pamplemousse]

I''m fairly new to the Pricescope/jewelry hunting world but this place is AMAZING and I am slowly but surely becoming a ridiculous jewelry addict. Boyfriend and I have an engagement stone and are still gathering setting ideas... but I''m pretty sure I want a small eternity or 3/4 eternity pave or channel set wedding band (simple, classic, etc. etc.).

So I was perusing Pearlman''s clearance section and I noticed that they have a couple eternity bands that are just my size. In particular, they have one with .66 ctw single-cut stones in a yellow gold channel set (I think..) for $700. After all of the reading I''ve done on pave/melee/little stones, it seems like single cut stones would be the best way to go so this seems like a pretty good deal. Am I insane to want to buy it? (I mean, hello, not even officially engaged...)

The other problem: we were looking at white gold or plat for the e-ring. I was thinking maybe we could have the ring rhodium plated. Would that even work? Would it be worth it money wise? Am I two million steps ahead of myself? (Answer to that last one: yes.)

What do y''all think? Is this crazy or should we just go for it? I turn to the experts for advice.

 

[strmrdr]

Its not a good idea too plate a yellow gold ring to white, it will wear and look yucky.

 

[strmrdr]

to answer your other question single cut melee rocks if it has reasonable cut quality.

 

[pamplemousse]

Hmm... Does it make sense to buy it and then just have the stones re-set later? Or should we just wait, do an eternity band with James Allen or someone and see if they can do single cut stones...? So many questions.

I remember hearing that single cut stones were somewhat harder to come by than regular (which makes me think they''re probably more expensive as well). That''s sort of the driving force.

 

[krisvrn]

Date: 3/3/2008 1:03:34 AM
Author: strmrdr
Its not a good idea too plate a yellow gold ring to white, it will wear and look yucky.

question- but arent all white gold rings plated with rhodium to make it white (as i have been told all gold is yellow- no such thing as white gold)? so what would be the difference in buying a yellow gold ring and plating it?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 3/3/2008 1:33:35 AM
Author: krisvrn

Date: 3/3/2008 1:03:34 AM
Author: strmrdr
Its not a good idea too plate a yellow gold ring to white, it will wear and look yucky.

question- but arent all white gold rings plated with rhodium to make it white (as i have been told all gold is yellow- no such thing as white gold)? so what would be the difference in buying a yellow gold ring and plating it?

gold is gold colored(yellow if you really insist) but gold alloys can be many different colors.
The most common white gold alloys are off-white so they are plated.
When the plating wears they are a slightly yellowish white, starting with yellow gold then plating would really show thru as the plating wears or is scratched.
The yellow-white of white gold is much easier to cover and hide.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 3/3/2008 1:21:30 AM
Author: pamplemousse
Hmm... Does it make sense to buy it and then just have the stones re-set later? Or should we just wait, do an eternity band with James Allen or someone and see if they can do single cut stones...? So many questions.

I remember hearing that single cut stones were somewhat harder to come by than regular (which makes me think they''re probably more expensive as well). That''s sort of the driving force.

They are likely a little more expensive but out of the overall cost it isn''t a lot.
It doesn''t make sense to buy it then reset any good benchman is going to want extra matched stones not the exact number it needs and they can break while being removed on top of that.

 

[pamplemousse]

Date: 3/3/2008 1:52:43 AM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 3/3/2008 1:33:35 AM

Author: krisvrn

Date: 3/3/2008 1:03:34 AM

Author: strmrdr

Its not a good idea too plate a yellow gold ring to white, it will wear and look yucky.

question- but arent all white gold rings plated with rhodium to make it white (as i have been told all gold is yellow- no such thing as white gold)? so what would be the difference in buying a yellow gold ring and plating it?

gold is gold colored(yellow if you really insist) but gold alloys can be many different colors.

The most common white gold alloys are off-white so they are plated.

When the plating wears they are a slightly yellowish white, starting with yellow gold then plating would really show thru as the plating wears or is scratched.

The yellow-white of white gold is much easier to cover and hide.

Interesting.. I wondered about that, too.

Anyway.. thanks for the advice!

Time to exercise some self control. Ha!

 

[tberube]

Don''t mind my ignorance - what is a single cut stone? And what is it opposed to?

 

[cara]

single cut stones have fewer facets than normal round brilliants. Typically used today for small melee stones, to get bigger flashes from the little stones, if I understand correctly.

 

[mrssalvo]

I would pass. i know how tempting deals can be, but you''re not even engaged yet and really don''t know exactly what you''ll end up with. Plus, it''s not exactly what you want right now since it''s yg and you want wg. so yes, it''s totally insane

 

[BlueJeans]

Wait, single cut stones are not that hard to come by- Save your pennies for your dream setting!

 

[choro72]

Date: 3/3/2008 1:33:35 AM
Author: krisvrn

Date: 3/3/2008 1:03:34 AM

Author: strmrdr

Its not a good idea too plate a yellow gold ring to white, it will wear and look yucky.

question- but arent all white gold rings plated with rhodium to make it white (as i have been told all gold is yellow- no such thing as white gold)? so what would be the difference in buying a yellow gold ring and plating it?

For example, an 18kt yellow gold is a metal that is 75% pure gold, and 25% of copper, zinc, or other kind of metals that give it a more yellow look.
18kt white gold is 75% pure gold with with 25% palladium or platinum, which gives white gold the whitish look. But since it can''t be completely white, they coat it with Rhodium.

So...I think rhodium coating yellow gold is a bad idea. When the coating scratches off, it''s going to look more yellow than when it scratches off from white gold.

 

[krisvrn]

Date: 3/3/2008 1:52:43 AM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 3/3/2008 1:33:35 AM
Author: krisvrn

Date: 3/3/2008 1:03:34 AM
Author: strmrdr
Its not a good idea too plate a yellow gold ring to white, it will wear and look yucky.

question- but arent all white gold rings plated with rhodium to make it white (as i have been told all gold is yellow- no such thing as white gold)? so what would be the difference in buying a yellow gold ring and plating it?

gold is gold colored(yellow if you really insist) but gold alloys can be many different colors.
The most common white gold alloys are off-white so they are plated.
When the plating wears they are a slightly yellowish white, starting with yellow gold then plating would really show thru as the plating wears or is scratched.
The yellow-white of white gold is much easier to cover and hide.

Thanks for that information. I''ve always wondered about this.