Kamuelamom
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2003
- Messages
- 1,810
The ring has arrived. With my limited part-time earnings, I purchased this band off the DT December sale thread. Eddie paid for half as a Christmas present to me.
While it is a beautiful band, I do not think that the spread of it is appropriately sized for my 4.5 size fingers. I feel it's way too wide for me. Granted it doesn't even fit properly right now, I knew it wouldn't (it's currently a 6.5 but I was told it could probably be sized without any issues), I feel even if I try to size it the spread would still be too wide. It actually causes a gap between the other fingers because of the flared sides of the outer diamonds. This ring is unique in that the 5 stones taper down in size from the center stone outward from 4mm to 3mm. I louped them today and was able to see some neat black carbon crystals (which don't seem to hinder the sparkle
). I am fascinated by this because my DVatche set does not have any black carbon spots whatsoever. Makes me now feel like I own a VVS when in fact it is an extremely clean SI1. But I digress. Back to the band.
It is in white gold and I only had time to visit one jeweler yesterday. I spoke to the benchman who offered me a few options:
#1 and most economical - Cut away the most outer stones to turn the existing setting into a 3-stone setting, re-join the band, and make earrings with the 2 remaining diamonds, $195-$210. I'm pulling towards this being it is the least costly and nothing will go wasted. I will look at this like I got a 3-stone and a pr. of earrings for $700. The ring cost $500.
#2 - Buy a brand new 3 stone setting and make earrings out of 2 remaining diamonds. This option would run about $395.
#3 - Keep ring as is, and wear on right/middle finger. Least favored option.
With either option 1 or 2, replacing side stones with pink sapphires (.20 ct each)and keep 2 additional diamonds for later, additional $270.
I didn't know pink sapphires were so costly. Benchman also suggested using pink tourmalines. Then I saw some very pretty colored stones in varied shades of green, blue/green & teal color, when asked he said they were emeralds. Yummm....those teal ones were so pretty too but I didn't have the courage to inquire about the cost at that point. Bottom line is the cost of this ring is going up. Even he agreed that as is, even if resized, the ring was just too wide for my ring finger as a 5-stone for my ring finger. It just looks awkward.
What to do, what to do. Of course I could do nothing for the time being, and save up to do it with the pinkies or even the teals, which I really love. In the meantime I can shop around for some nice colored natural stones. If anyone has good sources for these, can you please share them with me? Colored Gemstone Nut, HELP!! I'd like to stay away from ebay because although I bought a few really inexpensive stones, I have no way to tell whether they are even real or not. My guess because of the prices is that they were lab created.
MichaelE contacted me offering different settings for lower cost than I was offered at the jeweler I visited. He presented a couple other interesting ideas. At this point I'm in no rush because it looks like I need to spend at least a little more to get it wearable on my ring finger. I am open to any/all ideas and sources for nice inexpensive settings (of good quality of course).
Final thought for Mara...I was even thinking, as a last resort, to use these stones, save up a little more to buy some nice little melees from Whiteflash, and make that cross afterall.
Hmmmm...but then, I thought in all fairness I'd really like to stay true to the intent of why I bought it in the first place, which was to wear a band alone, which I can't with my Dvatche set because of the contour in the setting.
[edited because I didn't realize the other DT member I mentioned is actually MichaelE, who also posts here. Duh on me. Doink!]



It is in white gold and I only had time to visit one jeweler yesterday. I spoke to the benchman who offered me a few options:
#1 and most economical - Cut away the most outer stones to turn the existing setting into a 3-stone setting, re-join the band, and make earrings with the 2 remaining diamonds, $195-$210. I'm pulling towards this being it is the least costly and nothing will go wasted. I will look at this like I got a 3-stone and a pr. of earrings for $700. The ring cost $500.
#2 - Buy a brand new 3 stone setting and make earrings out of 2 remaining diamonds. This option would run about $395.
#3 - Keep ring as is, and wear on right/middle finger. Least favored option.
With either option 1 or 2, replacing side stones with pink sapphires (.20 ct each)and keep 2 additional diamonds for later, additional $270.
I didn't know pink sapphires were so costly. Benchman also suggested using pink tourmalines. Then I saw some very pretty colored stones in varied shades of green, blue/green & teal color, when asked he said they were emeralds. Yummm....those teal ones were so pretty too but I didn't have the courage to inquire about the cost at that point. Bottom line is the cost of this ring is going up. Even he agreed that as is, even if resized, the ring was just too wide for my ring finger as a 5-stone for my ring finger. It just looks awkward.
What to do, what to do. Of course I could do nothing for the time being, and save up to do it with the pinkies or even the teals, which I really love. In the meantime I can shop around for some nice colored natural stones. If anyone has good sources for these, can you please share them with me? Colored Gemstone Nut, HELP!! I'd like to stay away from ebay because although I bought a few really inexpensive stones, I have no way to tell whether they are even real or not. My guess because of the prices is that they were lab created.
MichaelE contacted me offering different settings for lower cost than I was offered at the jeweler I visited. He presented a couple other interesting ideas. At this point I'm in no rush because it looks like I need to spend at least a little more to get it wearable on my ring finger. I am open to any/all ideas and sources for nice inexpensive settings (of good quality of course).
Final thought for Mara...I was even thinking, as a last resort, to use these stones, save up a little more to buy some nice little melees from Whiteflash, and make that cross afterall.




[edited because I didn't realize the other DT member I mentioned is actually MichaelE, who also posts here. Duh on me. Doink!]
