Low profile shared prong half circle -Is Tiffany the answer?

[fayewolf]

Prior to PS which is really only a week ago, before I read and soaked in all these info, no doubt I would've just gone the Tiffany route and call it a day. However, after reading about these fabulous online vendors, I am really trying to see if I can find a ring that is equally as beautiful without their insane markup. For the half circle, seriously, it's markup is beyond sanity can comprehend.

I'm looking for something that will complement my small ering (0.9 carat), without overwhelming it, but hopefully can also be worn alone.
I want a low profile ring, with massive amount of sparkle and comfortable to wear.

After research here, seems like the answer is either Tiffany or Memorie. I haven't seen memorie, since the dealer around me doesn't carry it. He can order it, but i don't want to go that route yet. As for Tiffany, no doubt, it has my favorite favorite look, delicate, comfortable, beautiful. You don't know how many times I've try that baby.

I also checked out Cartier, they use 4 prong setting, creating this gap between diamonds and they only make full circle, so out of the question.

I also emailed BGD and ask them for advise, they have a half circle open basket style 7 stone ring thats super pretty but because I want smaller stone (.03) and my insane ring size of 3 3/4, it's custom order and no return.

I guess i can order the .06 and size 4 to see if I even like the ring, but ordering and returning diamond ring is not cheap either i suppose.

Any other options before I go back to Tiffany?

Note that while i'm not going broke to buy from Tiffany, it's just the HUGE price difference that makes me think twice-

Tiffany-
0.27 ctw $3600
0.5 ctw $4800

BGD:
0.35 ctw $1860

Local jewlery store:
.5 ctw $1500 (great reputation on yelp, but i have no idea about them)

Is Tiffany the way to go?

 

[ame]

Re: Low profile shared prong half circle -Is Tiffany the ans

If you like the look of the Tiffany, and you know for sure it's returnable if it won't work after they make it to your size, that honestly is where I would go. You didn't really seem to like how "bulky" the prongwork was on the Brian Gavin version, and it's non-returnable which is something that makes me uneasy. ID Jewelry might be worth a look, though I don't know how you'll like their setting, but they've made a lot of bands recently that have been well liked. But they can do a really low set option also. Just make sure it's returnable. I also liked Facets but I don't know if your size will fall under custom or not, though I am going to assume so.

Kwiat makes a really nice band too but they don't make a half eternity option.

 

[fayewolf]

Re: Low profile shared prong half circle -Is Tiffany the ans

Hey ame!!

I am not sure if they will let me return after resizing,but size 4 is not too bad, I can purchase, try it and if I really like it, I can then bring back to resize.
I can't say that I hate the bulkiness of BGD, I didn't notice until you pointed it out,,, and I would be a tad uncomfortable to order without seeing it....

 

[webdiva]

Re: Low profile shared prong half circle -Is Tiffany the ans

Hey ame!!

I am not sure if they will let me return after resizing,but size 4 is not too bad, I can purchase, try it and if I really like it, I can then bring back to resize.
I can't say that I hate the bulkiness of BGD, I didn't notice until you pointed it out,,, and I would be a tad uncomfortable to order without seeing it....

Can BGD send you a size 4 sample to see if you like it? Or any smaller size sample?

 

[Kim N]

Re: Low profile shared prong half circle -Is Tiffany the ans

Pearlman's carries Memoire and has competitive prices, and they might be able to send you a sample to see if you like it. I own one of the Memoire full eternities (1ctw), and I love it. The low setting and prong work are beautiful.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Low profile shared prong half circle -Is Tiffany the ans

I love the Tiffany rings the most because I love how they are made and they are set so low, but I will tell you that those rings are pretty accessible in used/excellent condition. With a ring size of 3 3/4, I would size to a 4 regardless and put in sizing beads if the extra quarter of a size bothers you. Over time, you may need that extra quarter size and you can just have the sizing beads removed. That's better than sizing a ring up and down. I have seen size 4's on ebay, and there is another vendor who often has them who you can contact to see if he has any not on his site since there are only a few items actually pictured on his site:

http://jewelryandthecity.ecrater.com/

I also have a Memoire ring that is very well made and has diamonds as nice as the Tiffany (although I chose the upgraded diamond option), but I really love the Tiffany basket settings more.

 

[GirlyGirl]

Re: Low profile shared prong half circle -Is Tiffany the ans

Hey ame!!

I am not sure if they will let me return after resizing,but size 4 is not too bad, I can purchase, try it and if I really like it, I can then bring back to resize.
I can't say that I hate the bulkiness of BGD, I didn't notice until you pointed it out,,, and I would be a tad uncomfortable to order without seeing it....

Tiffany told me that they do not resize. All rings come in half sizes. For quarter sizes, sizing beads are used.

Tiffany seems to cost 4x as much as everywhere else. As others suggested, buying in the secondary market is an excellent idea.

 

[ame]

Re: Low profile shared prong half circle -Is Tiffany the ans

Hey ame!!

I am not sure if they will let me return after resizing,but size 4 is not too bad, I can purchase, try it and if I really like it, I can then bring back to resize.
I can't say that I hate the bulkiness of BGD, I didn't notice until you pointed it out,,, and I would be a tad uncomfortable to order without seeing it....

True, you didn't seem to have any issue til I mentioned it. But I did want to make sure you were aware bec there is a difference in the settings. And in photos it was noticeable, you might not even see it in person.

If you can have a size 4 sent to you in a memoire from Pearlmans, get a size 4 from Tiffany and a size 4 from Brian Gavin I would do that. It would be worth seeing in person before you make a final decision on any of the rings. You may even find that you don't care for any of them when you try them on with your set. Obviously, pricewise you can get a much better price elsewhere, but as DS mentioned, you can get a Tiffany secondhand for significantly less. I also agree that it might be worth just getting sizing beads for now and seeing how you do in time wearing the ring, whichever you go with. Oakgem is another one that often has Tiffany secondhand.

Hey ame!!

I am not sure if they will let me return after resizing,but size 4 is not too bad, I can purchase, try it and if I really like it, I can then bring back to resize.
I can't say that I hate the bulkiness of BGD, I didn't notice until you pointed it out,,, and I would be a tad uncomfortable to order without seeing it....

Tiffany told me that they do not resize. All rings come in half sizes. For quarter sizes, sizing beads are used.

Tiffany seems to cost 4x as much as everywhere else. As others suggested, buying in the secondary market is an excellent idea.

In my instance, I was given the option of getting an 1/8 size and this was confirmed by the salespeople, managers, stores in four different cities and by the repairs department, and I personally brought up sizing beads as an option, never them. I left it as it came.

 

[fayewolf]

Re: Low profile shared prong half circle -Is Tiffany the ans

Thank you everyone!!
I'm going to check out the local jewelry store to see if they have the memorie in stock to try.
I stopped by Tiffany today, and I think I'm swooned. Their 7 stone .56 ctw open basket was mesmerizing. I've tried a gazillion rings in the past weeks, from local jewelry store to hearts on fire, to Cartier and Tiffany, none took my breath away like Tiffany.

Here is a photo when I put the smaller one on too and larger one on bottom .27 vs .56

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/fayewolf/9e11b8b1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/fayewolf/e160a434.jpg

 

[ame]

Re: Low profile shared prong half circle -Is Tiffany the ans

Thank you everyone!!
I'm going to check out the local jewelry store to see if they have the memorie in stock to try.
I stopped by Tiffany today, and I think I'm swooned. Their 7 stone .56 ctw open basket was mesmerizing. I've tried a gazillion rings in the past weeks, from local jewelry store to hearts on fire, to Cartier and Tiffany, none took my breath away like Tiffany.

Here is a photo when I put the smaller one on too and larger one on bottom .27 vs .56

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/fayewolf/9e11b8b1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/fayewolf/e160a434.jpg

Pretty amazing. I like the smaller one with your solitaire, personally. I have the 2mm channel now, and it took me awhile to come around to that but the ability to sit there with a loupe and the microscope and then leave with it without waiting for it to be made was worth the cost. Which actually was not much more than I'd paid for other rings, and in at least one case, less.

 

[fayewolf]

Re: Low profile shared prong half circle -Is Tiffany the ans

If you like the look of the Tiffany, and you know for sure it's returnable if it won't work after they make it to your size, that honestly is where I would go. You didn't really seem to like how "bulky" the prongwork was on the Brian Gavin version, and it's non-returnable which is something that makes me uneasy. ID Jewelry might be worth a look, though I don't know how you'll like their setting, but they've made a lot of bands recently that have been well liked. But they can do a really low set option also. Just make sure it's returnable. I also liked Facets but I don't know if your size will fall under custom or not, though I am going to assume so.

Kwiat makes a really nice band too but they don't make a half eternity option.

Not trying to beat the dead horse, but my eyes aren't trained...
I borrowed brobar and someone else pic and posted here side by side, while the BDG is gorgeous, you can see the band s not rounded and smooth like the Tiffany's, or is my eyes playing tricks??
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/fayewolf/6e72da66.jpg

 

[ame]

Re: Low profile shared prong half circle -Is Tiffany the ans

If you like the look of the Tiffany, and you know for sure it's returnable if it won't work after they make it to your size, that honestly is where I would go. You didn't really seem to like how "bulky" the prongwork was on the Brian Gavin version, and it's non-returnable which is something that makes me uneasy. ID Jewelry might be worth a look, though I don't know how you'll like their setting, but they've made a lot of bands recently that have been well liked. But they can do a really low set option also. Just make sure it's returnable. I also liked Facets but I don't know if your size will fall under custom or not, though I am going to assume so.

Kwiat makes a really nice band too but they don't make a half eternity option.

Not trying to beat the dead horse, but my eyes aren't trained...
I borrowed brobar and someone else pic and posted here side by side, while the BDG is gorgeous, you can see the band s not rounded and smooth like the Tiffany's, or is my eyes playing tricks??
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/fayewolf/6e72da66.jpg

Do you mean the shank is not as rounded on the sides or that the stones are set "straighter" across on the BGD compared to the Tiffany?

It sounds like you really prefer the Tiffany ring, and if you do, get that one. If you can find a preowned of the same one in your size (or size 4--resizing a larger one will lose the roundness of the whole ring as the stones are set on a curve based on the ring size), get that. But it sounds to me like you're really in love with the Tiffany one, and if that's where your heart is and you can afford it, just get that one. Wear it for a while and see how it goes, then you can decide if it's worth resizing at all, or just having beads put in.

 

[fayewolf]

Re: Low profile shared prong half circle -Is Tiffany the ans

Yep, you rad my mind!! I tried on many and this one really made a difference. I'm very happy with it, it's a bit larger than I originally wanted, but I don't think I will be satisfy getting the small one.

 

[fayewolf]

Re: Low profile shared prong half circle -Is Tiffany the ans

Tried the memorie today, its pretty but I wasnt thrilled. Just not for me, and I don't like the metal side ( vs Tiffany's open basket".. If there is a way for me to get my hands on the bdg without risk that would be great, but looks like it ain't gonna happen.