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Kicking off the proposal process, all help appreciated!

I

icetea

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 3, 2010
Messages
54
Hello!

About a year and a half ago I started seriously thinking about a proposal (with the notion I''d do it within a few years time), and given my complete lack of knowledge on the diamond subject somehow I found this site. On and off over this time I''ve visited and tried to glean various bits of information, some now forgotten. The time has now officially come and all that stands in my way is figuring out the when (proposal) and what (ring, proposal).

Ideally I''d love to get something in the 1.5 carat range but clarity / cut are more important and I will sacrifice size if necessary. Eye-clear with maximum fire. I want to go with a solitare round but I would love to have control over the design of the setting, hoping to recieve excellent help with it and/or direct guidance when necessary. I''d like to stay in the $7,500 - 10,000 range inclusive (diamond / setting / help).



I haven''t yet figured out EXACTLY what I want it to look like but I know I don''t want something that sticks up too high (something that has curves up to the diamond''s top, my girlfriend works in the medical field and wears gloves a lot), and the diamond should be visible as much as possible from the side. I haven''t seen many settings with beautiful side views and this is one of the main reasons I want to help design the setting myself.


Are my price ranges reasonable?

Any suggestions on who I can use to accomplish getting the diamond, and helping with design and how much these services tend to cost? I''m not sure if my needs will be TOO big, and does the cost of these services directly relate to how much work they do?


I''d be comfortable doing it online with enough testimonials to know that everyone who''s used a merchant couldn''t have been happier (ie, whiteflash or briangavin?), but B&M is perfectly fine if someone has any knowledge of this in the Seattle, WA area on the eastside.

Thank you all for your help, I appreciate all the knowledge PS has given me thus far and everything I''m sure it will still give me over this exciting experience. I still have to figure out the exact date and what I plan to do, but I want to get this process kicked off.

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icetea

 
Might be just doable with a J SI1 stone, maybe go down to SI2. So, really depends on how much you going to leave for the customize setting.
 
You will only be able to get above the 1.5ct mark if you go to J color and SI1 clarity. Are you ok with that?
 
SI is not eye clear correct? Slightly visible inclusions?

I would probably drop the size down to 1 - 1.25 carat if I have to sacrifice on cut or clarity. I''m not too familar with color and would probably need to compare some in person to make a comment on that (I''ve never really paid much attention to color before).

In regards to the price, that''s one of the main reasons I''d like to have an idea of what getting help with a custom setting will cost, as I have no idea what is charged for this type of thing and how much it will be compared to the diamond, or if I should just go with a (GASP) prefab setting that I like.
 
Date: 5/3/2010 5:40:28 PM
Author: icetea
SI is not eye clear correct? Slightly visible inclusions?

I would probably drop the size down to 1 - 1.25 carat if I have to sacrifice on cut or clarity. I''m not too familar with color and would probably need to compare some in person to make a comment on that (I''ve never really paid much attention to color before).

In regards to the price, that''s one of the main reasons I''d like to have an idea of what getting help with a custom setting will cost, as I have no idea what is charged for this type of thing and how much it will be compared to the diamond, or if I should just go with a (GASP) prefab setting that I like.
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SI1 can most definitely be 100% eye clean! But really, it does not matter becauce you would need J color to jump the 1.5 mark anyways and with J color, clarity does not impact price as much. Go to Jared''s and check out their Peerless line, they are AGS0 cut grade, and ask to see J color stones in the 1.5ct size range. See what you think. Then decide the rest.

Are you obsessed with a custome setting? I think it is a risk unless you gf has given you clear ideas about her likes and dislikes. Many men will buy the diamond and then spend about $250 on a lovely simply white gold solitaire and then will propose and design the dream ring with the gf later on.

But either way, if you are talking hand made with pave and diamonds you are looking at $3000 - $5000 or more for a Leon Mege or similar. If you want just plat and hand made you are looking at around $2000. If you want CAD with diamonds seems to run around $2500 and without around $1500. Depends on lots of factors though.
 
I think you should go prefab for a number of reasons, I am willing to bet a lot of moolah there are lots of rings out there that meet your desires if you know where to look.
 
Not obsessed.
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The main reason I wanted to go this route is simply that I have looked over hundreds of rings and have not seen a particular one that I love, and know I could design one that would give me everything. Given I find the right one (which I''m sure exists) it wouldn''t need to be customized. A custom setting sounds as if it will be a bit pricey, so with that said, I have no qualms about getting something a bit more simple and redesigning it later, with the few restrictions I mentioned above for the setting.

What is the right way to go about this, however, if I find a setting I like at some random place but get the diamond elsewhere? I assume I would end up buying the diamond separate (where do people tend to buy loose diamonds around here?) from the setting and having to get it set (where to get this done?).
 
Date: 5/3/2010 6:08:42 PM
Author: icetea
Given I find the right one (which I''m sure exists) it wouldn''t need to be customized.
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I thought my idea must surely exist too... I looked through probably 10,000+ designs and didn''t find it. I mailed my $5600 deposit to Leon about 2 hours ago.

Best of luck in your search.
 
what type of setting are you looking for exactly? maybe we can help you find one
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Date: 5/3/2010 6:32:59 PM
Author: Shadowplay

I thought my idea must surely exist too... I looked through probably 10,000+ designs and didn''t find it. I mailed my $5600 deposit to Leon about 2 hours ago.

Best of luck in your search.
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I hope it turns out amazing! Were you thinking of something fairly simple or is it a bit more elaborate, have multiiple stones, etc? Or something simple like myself?
 
Are you looking for something like a tension setting or a mock tension? Or something more ornate.

The problem is, if you want the sides to be visible that might preclude a lower color, since the sides will show more color than the top.

Also, before you go crazy with the custom route, do be sure you know exactly the style of ring your GF will love. Sometimes what gets a guy excited isn''t what gets his girl excited.
 
Sounds like you want a semi-bezel setting.
The most popular semi-bezel on PS is the Sholdt version seen here: http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/sholdt-jewelry/rings/08ZZ1/14/ It will cost less in white gold and Pearlman''s is a trusted PS vendor who offers discounts to PS people, call to ask.

Focus on the diamond first. It is the major expense. Then when you have selected that, move on to the setting.

We can help you find a great diamond, but you need to go and see diamonds of different colors first to see if you are ok with a J. But since you have no preconceived notions about diamond color then I suspect you will be fine with a J
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Does your gf know diamonds? Does she have family who are diamond types?

I would do this in your shoes:

Diamond: http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-56488.htm Check is eye clean.
Setting: http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/metals/platinum/the-keystone-solitaire-engagement-ring_1313.htm#
Here are more pictures of the setting: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/wf-keystone-half-bezel-wf-bezel-diamond-studs.141362/
 
Date: 5/3/2010 6:59:22 PM
Author: icetea
Date: 5/3/2010 6:32:59 PM

Author: Shadowplay


I thought my idea must surely exist too... I looked through probably 10,000+ designs and didn''t find it. I mailed my $5600 deposit to Leon about 2 hours ago.


Best of luck in your search.
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I hope it turns out amazing! Were you thinking of something fairly simple or is it a bit more elaborate, have multiiple stones, etc? Or something simple like myself?
Click to expand...

Me too! I''m sure yours will too!

I just wanted a ~2mm band in pave or shared prong with a 6 prong head that would allow another (matching wedding) band to sit flush with it. Yes, I know the negatives of pairing this band with another identical wedding band, but I might just have to learn this lesson the hard way. We''ll watch it for damage and add a small plat spacer if we have to. The center is a gorgeous 2.14 eye-clean G-SI2.

If you''re patient (and you certainly sound like it). You can definitely get an eye-clean SI-1 and even SI-2. Your best bet is to call the vendors with in-house stones and ask them what they have. They can probably direct you to an AGS or GIA report # and you can plug the numbers into the HCA to see if you want to hear more about the stone or disregard it. If you''re speaking with someone that sounds knowledgeable have them get the stone in front of them while you''re on the phone and ask them their honest opinion of the stone. Ask all about eye-cleanliness, inclusions that might affect performance, how great/poor the light performance is, etc. Ask them if they think it''s one of the prettier stones they have seen and how it compares to the other ones you asked them to grab. Which ones are the most brilliant, have the best fire, etc. Considering how many stones these people see, I think you should utilize their best judgement to help you find a stone. Then when the stone comes in - if you don''t agree with their observations you can certainly call them about it and return the stone. I don''t think that will be an issue if you''re thorough with them and you use a PS vendor. I''ve personally had good luck with Ashley at Solomon Brothers.
 
Sholdt is in Seattle! That''s helpful, I really do like that semibezel setting Shadow that you linked to, I prefer it much more than the second WF one, it seems like it would work excellent for someone who has to wear gloves and looks like you can see the whole diamond from the side. I will see if I can arrange to see one. There''s a dealer nearby and if they don''t have it Sholdts is extremely close. I would need to see what it might look like with various sized diamonds, since it seems to wrap the whole diamond, and if it were too small it might not look as good (proportional to the band width).

I am leary of buying diamonds from B&M stores around here simply because I don''t know any well enough or haven''t heard anything about them, so I''m not sure which are reputable. When trying to find a diamond, is it really just about finding someone you trust or that you know many others have had success with?

Have many people on here purchased the stone separate? I''m wondering how easy it will be to buy the stone and setting separate, and then how do you go about finding someone to set it (and how much is that?) or does it make more sense to try and get the diamond from the same place doing the setting?
 
Wow how quickly things can change.

Our engagement has never really been a secret or a huge surprise (now that date is another matter). We''ve been together for 4 years and have been talking about the other details for quite some time, what type of stone she wants, what size, solitare or sidestones, channel set, etc, etc. And over the past year or so when we''ve looked around, everytime its something different. She''s sent me pictures of things she''s liked, I''ve sent her pictures of things I''ve liked, but it seems the choices are ever expanding and it''s never really been narrowed down.

She''s loved every piece of jewelry I''ve ever given her, and I can usually walk into a store with her and show her the things she would like and she completely agrees. Unfortunately, she has gone back and forth so much on what she likes and doesn''t, the seriousness of how quickly I''d like to do this led me to talk to her about it.

I will propose when I want, with whatever stone I want, but we will choose a setting afterwards together.

It''s strange, the romantic notion of picking out the perfect ring is something I thought was most important to her, but she''s been concerned not that I will choose the wrong ring but that she knows she doesn''t know what she wants. We decided it would be best to do the above, and I''m sure the experience of choosing one together will be fun. I still have the proposal to be my own, but I want her to have the perfect ring.

With that said, what''s the best way to buy a diamond with a temporary setting and then choose one afterwards? Can someone speak to this or have a few threads that talk about it? Is this just as easy to do getting the diamond online through WF / BGD or since I''m getting it temporarily set does it make sense to do that?

Thanks all, youv''e been very helpful!

icetea
 
Date: 5/4/2010 2:49:32 PM
Author: icetea
With that said, what''s the best way to buy a diamond with a temporary setting and then choose one afterwards? Can someone speak to this or have a few threads that talk about it? Is this just as easy to do getting the diamond online through WF / BGD or since I''m getting it temporarily set does it make sense to do that?
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Good choice, it is what I always recommend to men who are not 100% about what they want to get, or for girlfriends who are not sure, as the case may be.
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Find the diamond you love from the online vendor of your choice. All of them offer very inexpensive but attractive white gold settings in the $300 range. Propose with the diamond in that ring. Get the ring insured either through a rider on your insurance or an independent policy from a company like Jeweler''s Mutual, and then you can get the setting wherever you want without worry about the diamond being damaged during the setting process.
 
iceatea,

I love that you will be picking out the stone alone, but the ring TOGETHER. That's completely romantic.

Here's an unusual idea. Have you thought about picking the stone and having it temporarily set as a necklace (like this one from Whiteflash for $195: http://www.whiteflash.com/fine-jewelry/pendants/four-prong-basket-diamond-pendant_1166.htm ) first? I bet she will love telling her friends the story. Then, when you finally DO choose the setting together, it won't be like the ring has "changed". And you can always put in an inexpensive pink tourmaline or her birthstone in it after the ring setting is chosen. It would be a great story to tell
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My BF did something similar, except he was sneaky (in a good way) and although I thought the pendant stone was going to be my engagement stone, he got me another engagement stone. But I would have been totally happy had the pendant stone ended up being my engagement stone. He was just garnering info on what I liked when we got the necklace stone!

It's just an idea. But the setting is inexpensive yet classy, and some women (not all women) would love the idea of the pendant stone going into their ring.
 
I absolutely LOVE that idea. :) Especially since it''s possible the temporary setting won''t let her wear it easily at work when she is using gloves / etc.

My only concern is that she might not like not being able to show it off on her finger... or maybe there''s some kind of necklace / ring looking combo that would make it feel the same way to her. I''m certainly thinking about how I could do something like this, necklaces are my favorite and I think it would help to get rid of that ''changing my ering'' icky feeling I would expect you might get otherwise.
 
I didn''t quite make it through all the posts but if you want to spend a maximum of 10k and looking for a 1.5 round here is one from BGD Signature line. Then you can just get a simple setting for 250 (if it''s white or yellow gold) and pick one later like you are saying.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040407590017

They have lots of other non Signature diamonds that fall well below 10k and are still 1.5 carats. You just have to do more work to ensure it meets your critera of eye-clean. If you or your gf is not color sensitive a J diamond can be plenty face up white. I suggest you go look at some in stores that are ideal cut so you can get a sense of what you can detect.
 
One thing to keep in mind (I think a couple people mentioned this) is that the setting I will eventually get is likely to show the diamond as much as possible from the side which I never knew would matter, but I''ve now read various people say that color varies on top or on the side. What range should I look at to make sure it''s colorless (once I visit a store and determine what colorless means to me, let''s assume I''m normal for this) from the top AND side?
 
icetea,

I'm glad you like the necklace-to-ring idea. If you decide to go for it, you may want to speak with Sheerah at WF (she just helped me with sonething). This is the necklace holding what I originally thought was going to be my e-stone. My original thinking was that after the engagement, the halo in the necklace would stay, and the stone goes into the ring. If you end up going this route, WHiteflash can definitely help, and you can mention my necklace. I know you'll do well no matter how you end up proposing, because you're putting so much effort into it!

I called it my "engagement necklace" when I originally thought the stone was going into the ring. Everyone loved the story.

I just saw the question on color from the side. I know a lot of the others will have good advice for you.

NecklaceFromNigel3.JPG
 
Date: 5/4/2010 6:50:02 PM
Author: icetea
One thing to keep in mind (I think a couple people mentioned this) is that the setting I will eventually get is likely to show the diamond as much as possible from the side which I never knew would matter, but I've now read various people say that color varies on top or on the side. What range should I look at to make sure it's colorless (once I visit a store and determine what colorless means to me, let's assume I'm normal for this) from the top AND side?
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With a 1.5ct stone in plated wg would stick to G and above. Plat is a little darker and greyer, which helps hide tint a bit more I think, so you might be okay with H. I/J will definitely show colour from the side unless you are particularly colour-insensitive.
 
Date: 5/4/2010 6:50:02 PM
Author: icetea
One thing to keep in mind (I think a couple people mentioned this) is that the setting I will eventually get is likely to show the diamond as much as possible from the side which I never knew would matter, but I''ve now read various people say that color varies on top or on the side. What range should I look at to make sure it''s colorless (once I visit a store and determine what colorless means to me, let''s assume I''m normal for this) from the top AND side?
Click to expand...

I think you might find this helpful: http://www.vimeo.com/3288695

"Colorless" by definition is D-F, but I think you''d be just fine going with a G. Unless someone has a D and they''re comparing them side by side or in front of a white piece of paper, most people would be unable to see the color in a G. I think in H is where it might start getting iffy. If you want a diamond that falls into the colorless category, then you''d have to get a D-F.
 
Date: 5/4/2010 7:06:10 PM
Author: yssie


Date: 5/4/2010 6:50:02 PM
Author: icetea
One thing to keep in mind (I think a couple people mentioned this) is that the setting I will eventually get is likely to show the diamond as much as possible from the side which I never knew would matter, but I've now read various people say that color varies on top or on the side. What range should I look at to make sure it's colorless (once I visit a store and determine what colorless means to me, let's assume I'm normal for this) from the top AND side?
Click to expand...
With a 1.5ct stone in plated wg would stick to G and above. Plat is a little darker and greyer, which helps hide tint a bit more I think, so you might be okay with H. I/J will definitely show colour from the side unless you are particularly colour-insensitive.
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Ditto this. But be aware that you will be looking at the 1.2ct size range if you want G color. I personally would opt for a larger tinted stone in a different type of setting over a smaller colorless stone, but everyone feels different about their priorities. Do you know you gf's priorities re color and size?

As a side note, I personally would not like a necklace for my engagement because I would want to show off my ring to people, and when you tell them you are engaged they all want to see the ring. I also personally don't like necklaced because I like to look at my diamonds
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My point is, if you want to do soemthing unusual like that then see how your gf feels first.
 
I would certainly like to keep my options open for resetting, whether it be white gold or platinum or visible on the side, so it sounds like it''d be best to just make sure I stick with G or better.

After looking over my price options, and the timeframe that I''d like to do this, I''m pulling my budget down to $8000 inclusive (temp ring setting or now possibly a necklace) so that I can have it by end of summer / beginning of fall. Since getting the diamond can be done earlier before having the money for the setting my gf will be ecstatic I get to propose sooner!

On the necklace note, I will have to think about my options here... it''s a drastic departure from my original thinking so I need some time to let it sink in and figure out what to do here. :)
 
Dreamer, you''ve nailed my concerns, so I''m certainly thinking about that. I wouldn''t want to get her a necklace if she would hate not being able to show the ring when people ask about it. I''m not sure if it''s a good feeling. Maybe I''ll consider getting the stone reset and then taking the original setting and crafting it into something new for her so she still has it.

I know I would have to sacrifice on size, but of all the things I''ve heard my girl ask for is she wants to be able to see the diamond from the side.... oohhhh what to do. When I get to a B&M to check out sizes and color, maybe I''ll find that it looks okay from the side if I go a bit lower on color scale, and then I can bump back up towards 1.5.

For a 1.2 in my space it seems to be in the 7k range. Are there any ''jumps'' in this range I should be aware of or specific C''s that don''t have too much an impact when changing in this area? (ie, the kind of jump when going from .9 to 1 carat) Dreamer, what do you think given my new budget (I reeeeally want to propose sooner rather than later
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).
 
Date: 5/4/2010 2:49:32 PM
Author: icetea

It''s strange, the romantic notion of picking out the perfect ring is something I thought was most important to her, but she''s been concerned not that I will choose the wrong ring but that she knows she doesn''t know what she wants.

...With that said, what''s the best way to buy a diamond with a temporary setting and then choose one afterwards?
Click to expand...
I''m glad you had this discussion, then, before you bought a ring. Yes, it''s easy enough to buy the diamond online first and have them set it in a cheap 14K temporary setting. They''re usually around $100. Then, when you''ve settled on a design, you can have the stone sent to the vendor. If you end up going locally, to someone who may not be familiar with online diamond purchasing, be warned that some get very miffy if you tell them you bought your diamond "on the internet."
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I tend to tell them its a family diamond or I bought it from a jeweler "out of state."
 
Date: 5/4/2010 7:31:30 PM
Author: icetea
Dreamer, you've nailed my concerns, so I'm certainly thinking about that. I wouldn't want to get her a necklace if she would hate not being able to show the ring when people ask about it. I'm not sure if it's a good feeling. Maybe I'll consider getting the stone reset and then taking the original setting and crafting it into something new for her so she still has it.

I know I would have to sacrifice on size, but of all the things I've heard my girl ask for is she wants to be able to see the diamond from the side.... oohhhh what to do. When I get to a B&M to check out sizes and color, maybe I'll find that it looks okay from the side if I go a bit lower on color scale, and then I can bump back up towards 1.5.

For a 1.2 in my space it seems to be in the 7k range. Are there any 'jumps' in this range I should be aware of or specific C's that don't have too much an impact when changing in this area? (ie, the kind of jump when going from .9 to 1 carat) Dreamer, what do you think given my new budget (I reeeeally want to propose sooner rather than later
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).
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Honestly, the size difference between 1.2 and 1.5 is not that noticable once a diamond is set. So if she wants to see the whole diamond then get her what she wants. You can also save a bunch by dropping right below the 1.2ct mark. If she is not a "size girl" then don't kill yourself by trying to stretch. You can always get an upgradable stone if you think she might like that option in the future.

There is a large price difference between G and H, and also between VS2 and SI1, and color and clarity interact to predict price
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. A 1.2ct G VS2 is almost $10k (branded H&A), whereas a 1.2ct G SI1 is closer to $8k. The effect of clarity is not so huge for H color and even less for I/J color. So I think you will need to stick with a G SI1, or perhaps an H VS2 to keep it under $8k if you want a branded H&A. A non branded ideal cut will cost about $1k less on average for these size ranges. Lots of SI1s are eye clean, just work with a good vendor. Though if you want an exposed pavilion you may need to think about eye cleanliness from the side too.
 
Thank you so much for all your help everyone, it''s extremely helpful. My next steps are to get a bit more personally acquainted with the size and color range I''m looking for and then I will patiently start looking for the perfect stone once I''ve narrowed it down a bit more. :)
 
I notice when doing a search on pricescope, when clicking through to white flash it lists ''pricescope price'' and ''pricescope wire price''.

How do you get these discounts on their site? Do you just need a pricescope login or something?
 
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