Lurker turned member seeks ADVICE!!

[mom 2-3]

I love, love, love this site! Everyone is so helpful and creative when helping one another.

I have been searching the forums for a couple of weeks to try & "fix my ring, but I have no clue what to do. I need the help of a few diamond gurus (this is where you guys come in

)!

My wedding set is small (really small), I am ready for a more substantial look. My fingers are smallish 4 1/2 or so.
My center diamond is .33. I am open to most styles, I just want what will make my dimaond look best.

I have found the ring I want to upgrade to on this site -- A Jaffe bezel with pave on the bottom and two pave bands. It is delightful and also 1 carrot. Maybe by the end of next year we can do that (not A Jaffe b/c of $$$).

I tried to attach, but I can''t resize (I am tech challanged

).

Thanks so much in advance.

Angie

 

[emeraldlover1]

I''m confused. What exactly do you want help with?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/16/2009 9:20:43 AM
Author:mom 2-3
I love, love, love this site! Everyone is so helpful and creative when helping one another.

I have been searching the forums for a couple of weeks to try & ''fix my ring, but I have no clue what to do. I need the help of a few diamond gurus (this is where you guys come in

)!

My wedding set is small (really small), I am ready for a more substantial look. My fingers are smallish 4 1/2 or so.
My center diamond is .33. I am open to most styles, I just want what will make my dimaond look best.

I have found the ring I want to upgrade to on this site -- A Jaffe bezel with pave on the bottom and two pave bands. It is delightful and also 1 carrot. Maybe by the end of next year we can do that (not A Jaffe b/c of $$$).

I tried to attach, but I can''t resize (I am tech challanged

).

Thanks so much in advance.

Angie

Hi Angie and welcome!

Are you just wanting to upgrade the setting and keep your existing centre diamond?

 

[tyty333]

What do you need advice on? Sounds like your mind might be made up

! Seriously, can you provide a link to the
A. Jaffe setting? We can give you more feedback on whether your stone might look good in that or not. You said
its a bezel. Have you thought about halo? Its very popular and will make your stone/ring look a lot more substantial.
Search on "halo" and you will find lots of pictures. Also, there is a thread on how much a halo increases the size of
your ring. I will try to find that post for you. I found it really informative.

Now get us a link or some pictures so we can give you more feedback/ideas (there are lots of people/experts with
great ideas on this site - you''ve come to the right place

!).

 

[mom 2-3]

Sorry you all, my mind is kind of scattered & filled with ideas!


I DO want to get a larger stone, but can''t afford it right now. When I do I pretty much know the set I want.

But, in the mean time, I would like to find a setting to accomodate a .33 that is substantial and not overpowering to such a small stone.

Most settings seem to be made for .50 (at the smallest). So I can''t get a good mental picture.

I thought that someone may have seen this size diamond in a really nice setting.

TIA,

Angie

 

[mom 2-3]

tyty333


I do like the halo style -- I am just worried (as I have read here) that it may just look like a cluster with my .33 ?!?

So I keep searching...

 

[tyty333]

Here is a link to someone else with a .3 stone that wanted to do an upgrade. Lots of suggestions in this thread.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/setting-help-for-a-3-round-please.60288/

 

[emeraldlover1]

Welcome! Honestly, I''d save the money for a larger stone and new setting rather than get another setting in the mean time. It seems like a waste if you are going to try and upgrade this soon. Other than that I''m not that much help but I have to believe that there are settings made for a stone of any size. What is the mm measurement of your current stone?

 

[mom 2-3]

Thanks for the link tyty!

EML, I do not have the specs right now -- I am not sure about mm.

I have thought about waiting, but my set really needs to be redone b/c the gold has worn so thin on the bottom.

I figured I could find a setting that would work as a right hand ring in the future.

I am certain there is a setting out there -- I just want something perfect for such a small stone.

 

[mom 2-3]

sorry that should have been EM1, not EML

I''ll blame my sleep deprived brain

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 1/16/2009 9:57:45 AM
Author: emeraldlover1
Welcome! Honestly, I''d save the money for a larger stone and new setting rather than get another setting in the mean time. It seems like a waste if you are going to try and upgrade this soon. Other than that I''m not that much help but I have to believe that there are settings made for a stone of any size. What is the mm measurement of your current stone?

Ditto - I would have your current ring re-shanked, and put the money towards the kitti for the upgrade.
From the sounds of it, you like pave, maybe elaborate styles - this will cost a decent sum, even for a smaller centre stone.

Of course, this is just my opinion, and its worth what you paid for it!

 

[lyra]

It sounds like you are going to be putting a lot of money into a somewhat temporary setting. With some settings, you won''t be able to switch the diamond out for a larger diamond later--the setting might have to be remade. Are you sure you wouldn''t rather opt for a slightly larger diamond now (.75ct say) in a simpler setting? You could try go with a vendor that will give you a decent upgrade policy so you wouldn''t lose out if you decided to go bigger in the future. Just my opinion. BTW, my original diamond was only .26 ct, and I just upgraded last year for my 25th anniversary.

 

[karee888]

[Sorry for the threadjack]

EmeraldLover, every time I see your ring, I smile and drool a little - it is SO gorgeous! If I ever got an EC, I would get one like yours. You made such a beautiful choice!!

 

[emeraldlover1]

Date: 1/16/2009 11:03:20 AM
Author: arjunajane

Date: 1/16/2009 9:57:45 AM
Author: emeraldlover1
Welcome! Honestly, I''d save the money for a larger stone and new setting rather than get another setting in the mean time. It seems like a waste if you are going to try and upgrade this soon. Other than that I''m not that much help but I have to believe that there are settings made for a stone of any size. What is the mm measurement of your current stone?

Ditto - I would have your current ring re-shanked, and put the money towards the kitti for the upgrade.
From the sounds of it, you like pave, maybe elaborate styles - this will cost a decent sum, even for a smaller centre stone.

Of course, this is just my opinion, and its worth what you paid for it!

Totally agree. The other thing you could do is get a simple platinum band right now since platinum has gone down in price. I plain plat. wedding band just cost me $250.

 

[emeraldlover1]

Date: 1/16/2009 11:07:19 AM
Author: karee888
[Sorry for the threadjack]

EmeraldLover, every time I see your ring, I smile and drool a little - it is SO gorgeous! If I ever got an EC, I would get one like yours. You made such a beautiful choice!!

Aww...thanks. I love it too. However, I was with Harriet and CDNinNY last weekend that their Leon''s are TDF. My stone is awesome but my setting doesn''t hold a candle to theirs. Don''t get me wrong, I love my Tacori, but the workmanship on Leon''s in person compared to my Tacori, so different.

 

[mom 2-3]

Thanks so much for all of the responses and suggestions.

I really like the Knox bezel setting with halo, as well as the Tiffany style bezel.

I want something more sparkly and just bigger. My set is so dainty, I wish I could post pix for you to see.

I am wondering if I put to sparkly bands with the Knox set if that would be enough to hold of on buying a larger stone for than a few years. Maybe I could even wait 15 more years til our 25th anniversary and mayeh by then with 3 kids almost grown I can get a whopper of a ring

We really wouldn''t be able to buy a full carrot (even a year from now). I would probably have to go with .75 or even less depending on setting price

!

I think I need to stop looking at everyone''s rings -- they are all so wonderfully pretty, my rings are feeling even more inadequit(sp) than I first thought

Again thanks everyone.

 

[emeraldlover1]

Its hard when you see others rings, I agree. I think a couple of bands and an update to your current ring might solve your problem. Or...if it is going to be a few years before an upgrade then consider upgrading your setting.

 

[mom 2-3]

I think you''re right EM1.

But, while we are speaking of upgrades, wouldn''t I be able to get, say a .75 stone, with more visible flaws b/c it will be set in a bezel less expensive than one I would one that I would want to set in prongs?

If any of that makes sense!!

I may be totally off base, this is all new to me

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 1/16/2009 1:44:09 PM
Author: mom 2-3
I think you''re right EM1.


But, while we are speaking of upgrades, wouldn''t I be able to get, say a .75 stone, with more visible flaws b/c it will be set in a bezel less expensive than one I would one that I would want to set in prongs?


If any of that makes sense!!


I may be totally off base, this is all new to me

Huh? Not sure what you mean but a bezel won''t really hide much. That being said for the price of a few bands and a new setting you could easily afford a .75 carat stone. They aren''t that expensive, it''s the move up to 1 carat that adds a lot of money.

 

[swingirl]

What are you hoping to spend on a new setting?

 

[mom 2-3]

I think that''s where the rub is. I am so indecisive

At first I only considered 1 carrot, but I am now realizing .75 to 1.0 is a huge price jump.

I am now wondering how much I would have to add to my budget of $1500 or so to get a nice bezel setting with a .75 diamond.
I don''t have to have a perfect diamond, but I do want sparkle.

Depending on how much I would have to add, it may be worthy to just wait all together and upgrade to a larger stone.

Everyone is so helpful.
THANKS

 

[lyra]

I don''t think you would have to add much to get a bezel setting for a .75 ct diamond. You *can* get a nice diamond for the money you are willing to spend right now. Plus, in a couple of years, you could easily add less expensive diamond stacking bands for more sparkle. A solitaire setting (even bezel mounted, or half bezel) lends itself to being very versatile and will go with all sorts of bands IMO. Also, you definitely will notice the size difference going from .33 to .75! I would look into a vendor that allows upgrades, in case you want to go above .75 sometime in the future. You don''t have to sacrifice quality to get that .75ct. You will go for an excellent cut above all else, and then go down in colour and clarity to whatever your limits are. With the best cut stone, it will perform like crazy, and will look better than you are expecting I think.

 

[mom 2-3]

lyra,

Talk about tunnel vision! I never really even thought about not getting the two diamond bands right now!!!!

That makes perfect sense -- but the stone and bezel setting w/ a plain band -- then upgrade ro diamond bands in the future.
I guess I really didn''t think I could get a nice "larger" (for me anyway) diamond for around my budget.

Now I just have to search for the .75

All of the wonderful suggestions and thoughtful input is the reason I joined this forum.