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Looking for some help designing an ER!

pghdomer

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 28, 2015
Messages
4
Hi All,

So have finally decided it's time to start looking for an appropriate ER for the long-time girlfriend. Jewelry shopping has always intimidated me as I felt there was a real imbalance of information (i.e. the jewelers knew everything and I knew nothing!). So I started doing my "homework." Read a few books on selecting engagement rings, diamonds, etc. Perused the message boards here and all of the resources. Have visited some jewelers in person - from the "big box" national chains to a few local establishments and got my hands on some diamonds to compare. Most of the local jewlers I have been to don't stock a whole lot of what I was looking for, so I decided to look more online. Whiteflash and James Allen have been great, but there's just SO much to choose from .... wanted to get some input from the collective PS mind!

I have a few things in mind, am open to suggestions on the rest!

-Looking for a princess cut, would consider cushion cut as well.
-Something in the 1.7+ ct range, maybe up to 2 ct. I"d like it to look nice, but not overwhelming. She's a very down-to-earth and not particularly flashy girl, but I'd like her to have something very nice.
-From my research, seems like Cut is most important. Would emphasize this and compromise a bit on color/inclusions as long as it remains "eye clean" (and yes I realize this is subjective).
-Would obviously like something with a nice amount of brilliance/radiance (should be helped by a good cut, yes?)
-Girlfriend is a veterinarian and works with horses. You can imagine where the hands are many times. She has brought up before that she wants a "low profile" ring that does not sit up too high on her finger - obviously I worry about the risk of the stone becoming loose or damaged, etc. I have seen a few settings that I do like (pictures attached). I guess the other option would be a channel set, but I am a bit worried that this will decrease the light getting into the ring and perhaps make it less brilliant? Open to ideas here ....
-Not a huge fan of the halo, but willing to consider it in a situation where it doesn't detract too much from the main stone.
-I'd like to be in the 15k range max. Coming in slightly lower is OK as well.
-GF is not aware of the impending purchase, have gathered some intel via friends and my sister who did some recon, but I want to do this as a surprise and not have her involved in the decision at this point.

So with that in mind, I'm an open canvas here! My plan was to select the diamond first, then select the setting.

I've found a few diamonds on WF that I liked. Two examples:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-3397081.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-3435434.htm

Open to any thoughts, ideas, suggestions.

Appreciate any help!

-Ryan

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Congratulations!

I'm a veterinarian as well, and I know all too well how easy it is to scratch the patients, so I'd say from a practicality standpoint to get a very low set option. And maybe even that won't be low enough at certain times - she may end up with it on a necklace while at work or may even opt to wear just a low profile wedding band. And pointy princesses just don't seem like a good idea unless it is very well enclosed.

I think a halo with lots of pave is not practical - she is working with her hands, and pave will often fall out, even when the setting is babied. I'd hate for her to lose a stone in a glove! So a simple but elegant low set solitaire may be your best bet, maybe even a bezel set to avoid prongs altogether.

Here are a few setting options from WF - it says they can be set with rounds, but if you go custom you can have it made for whatever shape you choose.
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen...dless-love-solitaire-engagement-ring-2059.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/cameron-solitaire-engagement-ring-585.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagemen...-solitaire-engagement-ring-by-vatche-1759.htm
 
There are square and square-ish hearts & arrows diamonds that would give the cushion type shape but would probably face up nicely for carat size. Cushion tends to be deep = smaller face-up size for the wt compared to rounds, plus there is no cookbook formula for buying one. Cushions need ASET image and also someone took at them to screen them, then you might also need a video or to go see the stones to compare side by side, or even purchase 2 or more and have them shipped to you.

Brian Gavin diamonds has a square H&A. Good Old Gold carries one, as well. Hearts on Fire has the "Dream" diamond that may be onem but I can't recall and don't want to go look. There's a thread on here about the dimensions of them and how they are reported on the grading report. One measurement is side to side, and the other is a diagonal, or something like that. It's in a thread discussing Brian Gavin's stone.

Princess, I would rule out because of the tendency for the corners to chip. There might be some cut-corner princess diamonds out there, but they'd be rare. Only AGS has a system to grade princess' light performance. There are different ways to cut a princess, some are deep and some shallower, and the number of chevrons varies. Princess is a make usually chosen by young women. Cushion is more en vogue. If she really likes princess, then that's the one to buy. But I'd be certain that she really likes those first. The H&A cushions might have better staying power, imo.

Gloves on/off loosens prongs on rings. I think a low mounting and a bezel would stand up to gloves well.

Order the ring in her exact size. I work with my hands a lot and lift and lug heavy objects and equipment. I have destroyed almost every ring I own that was cut at the bottom of the shank and resized. That solder joint yields, the ring bends and warps, and then I've ended up with a misshapen and even cracked ring that will have to be reshanked or scrapped.
 
Hi pghdomer,
I have a few comments. Things for you to think about...
Out of the 2 princess cuts you posted I like the "J" colored stone better but worry about the lower color. If you think she is good/ok
with a lower colored princess then not a problem. (I dont really care for the cut on the "I" stone.)

Something else to consider...if I were you I would consider a cushion cut because the corners on a princess may poke animals.
(I should say, I dont really think she should wear her E-ring while doing her vet work considering where her hands may go). Also,
when she puts gloves on I think the corners of a princess could cause problems. A stone like a cushion with more rounded corners
won't poke. I believe there are some halos for princess cuts that sort of round off the corners. The type of prongs used may also
help to soften the corners on a princess.

Just wanted to point out that that middle picture is a round brilliant in a cushion shaped halo.

So...some suggestions according to what I have posted above
Here is a split shank smooth corner halo for a princess (couldnt find one at WF)
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/14k-split-shank-princess-shape-diamond-halo-engagement-ring-item-49477
no halo princess settings
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-cross-over-trellis-pave-diamond-split-shank-engagement-ring-item-50126

Nice JA princess cuts - would need to request aset images on them to check on light return (you only get 3 asets so get other opinions
if before requesting any)
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/2.02-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-658535
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.81-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-457343
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.80-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-sku-379240
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.88-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-sku-493612

Here is a cushion for example
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/2.02-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-659700 look at size not carat weight

Also, some radiants have faceting patterns like princess cuts but with corners cut off like emerald cuts...so that might be an option
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.84-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-sku-486132 ignore the inclusions, just look at the faceting pattern and shape of the stone
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.92-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-368821 a little expensive and cut like a round brilliant

Ok, thats it for me. Just a few things to consider.

tyty333
 
If she's going to be wearing her ring during work, I'm not sure about pave because it will collect dirt (and germs!) so easily and get damaged more easily as well.

My veterinarian has a Sholdt semi-bezel - http://sholdtdesign.com/sholdt-ring/r379-1/ They come in other shapes too. Very secure, attractive, really showcases the diamond, and easy to clean.
 
I agree that a bezel is probably the most practical given her job and that the ring needs to be durable. There are many lovely bezel settings out there. They can be simple or more elaborate. and I agree with the others that I would stay away from a Princess cut with it's pointy corners. I think a Cushion or a even squarish Emerald Cut would be great.
 
All,

This is awesome. I can't say thanks enough that that many of you took the time to read things much less the time to look up some options and post them for me.

With the day job it's gonna take me a little time to get through all of this. I promise I will be back (with more questions, no doubt!) but I wanted to say thanks for all the help and ideas so far.

FWIW, I'm not "married" (no pun intended) to the princess cut. I think some good points raised about it - I think she like the squarish shape so a cushion cut was also on my radar as an option. They seemed harder to find (at least locally).

Let me look through these options and I'll come back with some more thoughts and questions.

-pghdomer
 
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