Hello all,
Sorry this is a long post, but I have been lurking on PS for some time now, and I figure it’s time to ask the questions that need to be asked. It’s time to propose to my girlfriend, and I want to make sure I get the right ring for the job. Lucky for me she hasn’t been shy in telling me just what type of jewelry she likes, haha. While she does enjoy diamonds (what girl doesn’t), what she really likes are Pink Sapphires, Emeralds, and Tanzanites. And of course to show me the style she likes she shows me those stones in the Tiffany Legacy Collection setting. But, my GF also knows that those rings are just too expensive. Thanks to PS I’ve gotten some good information on how to get a Legacy-esque ring, without having to break the bank. But before buying anything I need to talk to someone for advice. So, that brings me to the forums.
Of the three gems, I really like Pink Sapphires for an E-Ring. I’ve never been a fan of green anything and feel Tanzanites are nice but too dark for an E-Ring. I’m looking for a clean stone, around 2.5 carats in size, with a good cut. We both like the square type of cut, so most of my search has been for a cushion cut stone, but a princess cut would work too. The three stones linked below are what I am looking at. I really like the shape and color of the NSC stone, but it’s the most expensive of the three by quite a bit, and I just don’t know if it’s worth the added cost. And they just recently raised the price on it. But the other 2 are much darker, and both are heat treated. Is the NSC stone worth the extra expense, or are one of the other two a better value? I’m still looking around at stones, so if anyone has a different vendor in mind, feel free to let me know. I just haven’t been able to find that big of a stone with too many vendors.
http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/Sapphires/Pink/P2107/Cushion/stoneid=P2107
http://www.africagems.com/114987.html
http://www.simplysapphires.com/html/imagespink2006/padc261-sm.html
As far as a setting goes, I have seen a lot of different settings that look like a Legacy ring (I believe it’s called a halo setting, right? I learned that here), so I have some options there. I might go with cheaper setting for the time being, and if she doesn''t like it we can always trade up later. The stone matters more to me. Personally, I prefer the prong style versus the more flush style (see examples below, from LOGR). I think the prong style makes the stone look a little bigger and shows it off more than it would if the stone were flush with the halo. Do the two different styles affect the color and look of the stone? I read here that the stones look darker once they are in a setting compared to when they are loose, and I’m just trying to get the most out of it.
Flush Style
Prong Style
So, with all that in mind, please give me any and all advice you can. Finding what I think she likes was easy. Getting these details figured out has been hard. Thank goodness I found PS. And thanks for the help!
P.S. I hope the links work!
Sorry this is a long post, but I have been lurking on PS for some time now, and I figure it’s time to ask the questions that need to be asked. It’s time to propose to my girlfriend, and I want to make sure I get the right ring for the job. Lucky for me she hasn’t been shy in telling me just what type of jewelry she likes, haha. While she does enjoy diamonds (what girl doesn’t), what she really likes are Pink Sapphires, Emeralds, and Tanzanites. And of course to show me the style she likes she shows me those stones in the Tiffany Legacy Collection setting. But, my GF also knows that those rings are just too expensive. Thanks to PS I’ve gotten some good information on how to get a Legacy-esque ring, without having to break the bank. But before buying anything I need to talk to someone for advice. So, that brings me to the forums.
Of the three gems, I really like Pink Sapphires for an E-Ring. I’ve never been a fan of green anything and feel Tanzanites are nice but too dark for an E-Ring. I’m looking for a clean stone, around 2.5 carats in size, with a good cut. We both like the square type of cut, so most of my search has been for a cushion cut stone, but a princess cut would work too. The three stones linked below are what I am looking at. I really like the shape and color of the NSC stone, but it’s the most expensive of the three by quite a bit, and I just don’t know if it’s worth the added cost. And they just recently raised the price on it. But the other 2 are much darker, and both are heat treated. Is the NSC stone worth the extra expense, or are one of the other two a better value? I’m still looking around at stones, so if anyone has a different vendor in mind, feel free to let me know. I just haven’t been able to find that big of a stone with too many vendors.
http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/Sapphires/Pink/P2107/Cushion/stoneid=P2107
http://www.africagems.com/114987.html
http://www.simplysapphires.com/html/imagespink2006/padc261-sm.html
As far as a setting goes, I have seen a lot of different settings that look like a Legacy ring (I believe it’s called a halo setting, right? I learned that here), so I have some options there. I might go with cheaper setting for the time being, and if she doesn''t like it we can always trade up later. The stone matters more to me. Personally, I prefer the prong style versus the more flush style (see examples below, from LOGR). I think the prong style makes the stone look a little bigger and shows it off more than it would if the stone were flush with the halo. Do the two different styles affect the color and look of the stone? I read here that the stones look darker once they are in a setting compared to when they are loose, and I’m just trying to get the most out of it.
Flush Style
Prong Style
So, with all that in mind, please give me any and all advice you can. Finding what I think she likes was easy. Getting these details figured out has been hard. Thank goodness I found PS. And thanks for the help!
P.S. I hope the links work!