Looking for opinions on this Danhov halo...

[Dreamer_D]

I personally could not spend that much on a setting Because I would worry I would not like it long term, which I know will be the case because I like change. I would want to keep the price under $2500, which would mean choosing a stock setting and perhaps comprimising a little on the details I liked. It would just give me peace of mind. Then, if I wanted to change, I would just set it back into my original setting and put a colored stone in the halo. That is what I am doing with the three stone. In my fantasy, I would custom design a super-fancy three stone. But without trying it on, and knoing 100% I like it, I don't want to spend the money. So I am going with a stock setting I really like a lot knowing that I can return it if I am not satisfied, and I did not break the band. In the end, I know any three-stone will look awesome, so I am not sweating the small stuff (e.g., I would prefer three prongs on the sides stones but cannot find a setting like that which I like in all other ways, and so I am going with 4 prongs to get other things I really like -- a cool basket, nice rounded shank that matches me wb, etc.). I am not saying what *you* should do, but just what I would do, which is look for a nice halo stock piece under $2500 that I like almost everything about, and then trust that I would get over the really small details that are not perfect.

 

[slg47]

and I would probably do the opposite, I would want the perfect forever setting!

 

[dreamingoftacori]

I think if you absolutely love this design, a lot of the other options may disappoint you if it isn't the same or close enough to what you want. I'm not familiar with Danhov but would they be able to make it in white gold? And maybe help you bring it closer to budget for you? That's of course if you don't mind white gold.

 

[lizzyann]

SLG and Dreamer, I am on the fence...I like the idea of getting exactly what I want. But at the same time, I don't like that I cannot try on or return a custom piece. And when you are paying top dollar for a custom piece (which is well deserved), I don't like feeling like I am "stuck" with it if I don't love it. I need to start looking for some stock pieces to try on that are similar to what I am looking for. That one from Victor Canera that I posted is pretty, but that is a finished ring so I am not sure if that setting would be custom or not. I will ask. Ladies, what other "stock" kinda vendors would you recommend? Honestly, I don't really want to go over $3000. The Vatche Grace is too cushiony shaped for me. I wonder if I contacted WF about the oval they just posted and see if they could work off of that one and consider it semi-custom? I know a recent PSer mentioned that they did something semi-custom and they were able to return it if they did not like it. Any suggestions for me on vendors who make nice quality stock settings? I am going to browse Pearlman's when I get a chance. James Allen? BK might be a possibility, but usually pricey..... Thanks so much for your thoughts.

dreaming of tacori, thanks for your thoughts. All valid points. My issue with this Danhov one like you said is price, but I'm not sure if one of my budging points is in the metal. I have owned some white gold rings before and I tend to yellow them quickly and I hate having to redip so often. I think I would be willing to budge on the profile though. It doesn't have to be exact legacy-esque. I'd like to keep the reset down in price because I have a feeling I am going to want a new band too down the road to match!!!!

 

[lizzyann]

What are everyone's opinions of Excel? They do a tiffany replica legacy. I could see what modifications they do. Also, who is the vendor that ships you samples to try on? I can't remember their name?

 

[vintagelover229]

Excel has an excellent reputation on here.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/2-thumbs-up-for-excel-diamonds.150996/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/2-thumbs-up-for-excel-diamonds.150996/[/URL]

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/excel-diamonds-excel-lent.150834/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/excel-diamonds-excel-lent.150834/[/URL]

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-great-experience-with-excel-diamonds.151802/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-great-experience-with-excel-diamonds.151802/[/URL]

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/excel-diamonds-excellent-experience-cant-say-enough.151247/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/excel-diamonds-excellent-experience-cant-say-enough.151247/[/URL]


Some of the poster may have other threads with photos. If you click on their username it brings up an option to see post/topics by that user name if you want to see if they posted the finished products at all.

Good luck!

 

[slg47]

What are everyone's opinions of Excel? They do a tiffany replica legacy. I could see what modifications they do. Also, who is the vendor that ships you samples to try on? I can't remember their name?

Eternity diamonds can ship samples to try on.

 

[D&T]

I'm going to probably be the only one to say this as it is probably not a popular decision, but I"m going to give you my experience. I have had more than probably 7 or 8 resets done, many many resets done online and custom done (this is just for my e-ring). I have only had one done in person, and that was just a stock setting. Anyhoot, I really feel that if you are going to spend this kind of money, and you want it to be perfect to try and enlist a local jeweler (or at least exhaust all options to do it locally) or make it mandatory that you see a wax model to fit your hand. I really feel that after going through so many custom settings online and it not being exactly what I had in mind, or the comfort was not there I decided to find someone local. I'm glad I did, and thing is my custom setting almost cost the same as my "temp"setting

I liked many of my pieces that I have bought, but truly there was something that just irked me for one reason or another.

Definitely try and find a jeweler that has this designer piece or like it. For other projects that is not as "important" to me as that of my e-ring, I'm perfectly fine going online and doing a completely custom piece.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Can you find a local retailer who carries Ritani and vatche? Then you can try them on.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I meant to say that Pearlman's will send you samples to try if they have the ring in house! That is a good option, they carry ritani and a few others. BK is not expensive by the way, it is a low cost setting for what it is.

 

[lizzyann]

VIntagelover, thanks for the links. I sent Excel a note to see if they have ever done their legacy replica with a princess stone.

SLG, thank you! Eternity Diamonds! I couldn't remember their name!

D & T, so true that it is hard going with online vendors for custom. i know that they do quality work, but for someone like me who has had her setting on her hand for going on 10 years, it is a hard adjustment just thinking of making a change, never mind trying to build something. I am going to keep searching for stock settings and try to find some more to try on other than tiffany's. Thanks so much for your imput. Your new reset came out great by the way!

Dreamer, I think there is a store that carries ritani in CT so I will try to get there at some point for sure. I will look into Vatche as well. You are so right about beverly k. For some reason I thought they were more pricey than they were. I found the one below that is pretty. I will send Pearlman's a note with what I am looking for and see what they come up with. Bev K tends to be more ornate kinda like Tacori which isn't really my style but the one I linked below is a little less ornate.

Let me know what you guys think of the ones below!!!

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/beverley-k-jewelry/rings/98PP1/42/

Only for the halo portion:
http://www.victorcanera.com/bezel-set-princess-cut-and-shield-cut-side-stone-ring.html

I don't think the cushiony halo is for me, but I did see this one and it is very pretty and I like the profile (cheap too!)...
http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/eng...Frame-and-Band-by-Eternity-(.43-ctw.)-154.htm

 

[Dreamer_D]

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/beverley-k-jewelry/rings/98PP1/42/

I really like this one! Everything I have read about BK here on PS suggests that it is a really good brand and well made. They also do semi-custom. For example, on the one above if they did it without the engraving it would look much more modern. For the price, for me, it would also mean if I ended up wanting to put a colored stone in it I would not feel like a heel. Pearlman's also offers very good discounts for PSers, but you have to call and talk to them personally to get the price

I like this one too, without the stones on the side of the basket. Again, leave off the engraving and it becomes more modern: http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/beverley-k-jewelry/rings/117PP1/42/

And here is a thread I compiled a while back of all the PS BK rings: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-beverly-k.134604/?hilit=beverly K

I think the eternity rings are too inexpensive to be such good quality. We have not had enough feedback here on PS for me to go with them. And the Vanera will be $$ since it is hand made.

Hmmmm... everytime I look at halos I want one

 

[lizzyann]

So I have heard back from Excel and they said that they have done their legacy esque setting with a princess cut stone and could easily do the clipped corners that I am looking for. I have asked them to send me pics if they have them and quote me. Here is the link to their legacy esque. http://www.exceldiamonds.com/-Engag...-Ring-Replica-With-Mill-Grain-Edge--1544.html Dreamer, what are your thoughts on Excel?

I have also heard back from Victor Canera, who did a quick cad and was really helpful. I have requested a quote and sent him the pic of the Danhov and the Ashley Simpson ring.

I have also sent a note to Pearlman's and attached the link to the BK that I posted and sent my pics to let them know what I am looking for. I think a jeweler near me carries BK so I may pop in to check out the quality in person.

Oh and here is a pic of my current set for what it's worth...I have also wavered on keeping my current e-ring setting because it is so classic and instead buying a shared prong wedding band from ID, maybe with 10-15 pointers. Kinda like the below pic that is shown with an emerald cut with the tapered baguette setting. Sorry I went off topic there!!! ha ha!!!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Excel has a great reputation in general. I have not heard all that much about their settings or pave quality on PS though. That might make me apprehensive, not having a lot of consumer feedback.

I really like you e-ring Lizzy and I wonder if a new band might change how you feel about it? In terms of proportions, I think your current wb is a little wide and it does draw the eye away from the solitaire a little. A thinner band would change how the whole set look a lot. But to keep the proportions, I would not go super blingy like you describe. But will it give you enough feeling of "different" to satisfy your desire for something new?

 

[lizzyann]

Excel has a great reputation in general. I have not heard all that much about their settings or pave quality on PS though. That might make me apprehensive, not having a lot of consumer feedback.

I really like you e-ring Lizzy and I wonder if a new band might change how you feel about it? In terms of proportions, I think your current wb is a little wide and it does draw the eye away from the solitaire a little. A thinner band would change how the whole set look a lot. But to keep the proportions, I would not go super blingy like you describe. But will it give you enough feeling of "different" to satisfy your desire for something new?

Oh Dreamer...see how I waiver!!! I absolutely am attracted to halo's and I think that I have found what I am looking for but then at the same time I get this feeling of "I do like my e-ring, it is classic and it is very attractive to my eye" However, I then get a little DSS and want the halo to give it a little oomph. I also think that I could always change it back down the road if I decide to go back, but then why bother changing it at all!!! ay ay ay!!!! I think I've had this conversation with you before on changing up my wedding band. My plan is actually to get a shared prong band like the one I posted above for a baby present for baby #2 (but that is a whole other thread!!). So I may wait and see how I feel about my e-ring with that new band. I actually think the more narrow band will make my stone appear larger. I really love the proportion of the last pic I posted with the emerald cut. How big do you think those stones are? And what were you thinking would be a good sized stone for an eternity band for me? I like wearing my wedding band alone on occasion so that is why I gravitated towards the larger stone size in the eternity band. But I could always wear my current band as a standalone ring on the occasion that I do not want to wear my e-ring with the eternity band. I was leaning towards IDJ because they have had some nice eternity bands at reasonable prices on here recently.

I played around and took my BGD bangle with 6.5 pointers and put it up to my ring. I really like it. But I think I could push it to 10 pointers! Thoughts? I may need to go to Tiff's to try some on!!!

 

[lizzyann]

The more I keep looking at it...this sized shared prong actually looks really nice with my e-ring. And I could go with the dream full eternity and get BGD diamonds to match my bangle! I looked it up and my bangle has 6.25pointers. The dream full eternity has 6 pointers but that shouldn't be too much of a difference. http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5406 Now my wheels are turning!!!! What does everyone think? Halo or just a new band?

 

[mrssalvo]

I think a shared prong band is one of the most classic and time tested jewelry pieces around. I think it would look lovely with your e-ring as well as a great size to wear solo!

 

[Dreamer_D]

I do really like the look! I would go a little smaller, like 5 pointers, which is what I have, because it will really make your solitaire pop. But 6 pointers is not so much bigger either!