Legato replica?

[MANTI5]

Does anyone make a replica of the Legato sleek line setting? I really like this setting but because I will be working with a very small($1000 or so)budget the real deal is a bit out of the question.
If not does anyone have a few suggestions for nice solitaire settings, in white gold, that will look good with a princess cut?

 

[milton333]

If $1,000 is your total budget, maybe you should focus on maximizing the stone and let her know you can upgrade to a different setting in the future? I think anything beyond a pretty basic solitaire setting is going to eat up too much of your budget. As a woman, I'd rather have a larger stone in a bit of a "temporary" setting, rather than an elaborate setting for a tiny, ho-hum stone.

You could get this.553 I VS2 x-factor (basically, a cut-corner princess) for $989 ($969.22 with wire transfer discount, though wire transfer will probably cost you $25 at your bank). There's 10% off settings in December at WF, so you could get this basic 4-prong setting that will work with an x-factor, for $175.50 in white gold, for a total of $1164.50 if you skip the wire transfer. The x-factor will face up with a slightly larger mm spread than princesses in the same carat weight (so it looks bigger) - 4.7 mm vs. maybe 4.2-.3 in a princess.

You could also get a .501 J SI1 princess for $705. Keep in mind that you will see the body color more with a princess cut, but with your budget, this might be a compromise. A setting that will work with a princess is this, $237.50 with the December discount. Total of $942.50. Using this same setting (for princesses), there are a couple of options that would put you a hair above your budget, a .536 I VS2 princess for $910, and a .643 J VS2 for $918.

The above are all Expert Selections, so you can be assured that the cut quality is very good. I found nothing within your budget at Good Old Gold, another vendor I like. You can also cast your net and look for other options in your price point, but I like to have the information provided by WF. I found no settings at Blue Nile, for example, under $300, and even with their promotional 10% off settings, that's still a great big chunk of your budget.

Maybe one of the above helps? I definitely think you should focus on the stone, not the setting at this point. I'd say look for a vintage or previously-owned piece, but I'm not sure there's much out there with princess cuts.

 

[milton333]

By example, this ShaneCo WG setting is $205, but once you factor in the cost someone would charge to set your stone into a setting purchased separately from your diamond vendor (up to $50), it probably makes more sense to get the best diamond you can put into whatever that vendor's most basic setting is, for now.

 

[Ellen]

Mantis, has your lady specifically expressed that she wants a Princess cut? The reason I ask is, they appear smaller than a round of the same ct. weight. A round would get you a bit more bang for your buck.

 

[MANTI5]

Thank you for the suggestions. I was already pretty resolved to getting a basic solitaire, and honestly that''s what she''s expecting anyway, it''s just that if that particular setting could be had for much less it''s the one I liked the most.

Ellen: Yes, she wants a Princess.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I would also agree with going with the best stone you can afford and only put the $175 into the setting. At least if you go with someone like WF, you do have the option later of trading in the stone if you wished. And then you could get the Legato setting at that time.