My Anniversary Upgrade Stone has Arrived!

[3shebabes]

Thanks so much for the songs of praise, everyone!

Ellen -- thank you so much for the insurance possibility tip! I am calling Jewelers Mutual right now!

 

[October2008bride]

Date: 9/27/2007 12:09:10 PM
Author: 3shebabes
Thanks so much for the songs of praise, everyone!

Ellen -- thank you so much for the insurance possibility tip! I am calling Jewelers Mutual right now!

My FI had the same problem when getting my ring set...he was all nuts about getting it insured, but NO ONE would do it. (We aare in Canada though...no Jewelers Mutual). So basically, he just made it a priority to ensure that wherever the setting came from, it was insured for setting etc. I know some jewelers won''t insure stones they didn''t sell you, but as far as I know many will.

I remember someone talking to Pearlman''s eons ago about a Ritani and their stone, and Bill said he''d insure it through the setting process. I don''t know if this is still accurate though...

And if you want to get it set somewhere else, you can send it via USPS and pay for the insurance on it.

Hope that helps!

 

[Shay37]

Babes, it''s gorgeous. I knew it was going to be a stunner, and it is indeed!

shay

 

[Gypsy]

3she: YOUR DIAMOND IS STUNNING!!!!! Wow!!! Makes me what a big ole round, in addition to my asscher. So lovely. I don''t know what MWM''s pricing would be, but I highly suggest calling him and finding out, or sending an email. As for Memoire here are some links that influenced my preference for them:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/having-trouble-deciding-wf-eternity-facets-or-memoire.69398/

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/memoire-or-signed-pieces.51413/
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/why-memoire.56171/

Date: 9/27/2007 11:20:56 AM
Author: takingtheplung
Gypsy,

Who makes that setting? That might be just what I am looking for. I really like that look.

TTP-- which one? There are three I posted!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 9/27/2007 10:56:01 AM
Author: Lorelei

Yeah baby!!! FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!

I ditto Lorelei and Ellen! Beautiful!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh, your stone is fabulous!!! Wow!!!

Gosh, as for settings, if you want the look of that Mark Morell set, then I''d go with that or the Memoire. All I can tell you is that I talked to him about making a set with 10 pt. diamonds half-way, and the wedding band alone would have been about $3000. Memoire rings will likely run that much as well depending on the size of the stones. With your little fingers, you can definitely use smaller stones and make the rings narrower.

The WF Harmony set is gorgeous if you want the tiny sparkle of the micropave.

I''m just not sure about the quality of Knox. They have some reasonably priced settings, but as they say, you get what you pay for, usually.

 

[3shebabes]

Thanks...AGAIN...for all the input! I may have a lead on insurance thru Jewelers Mutual based on a few phone calls made earlier today. Basically, they''ll inusre a loose stone IF: I choose the setting & send them proof that I have purchased a setting and the stone will soon be set and ONLY IF I commit to one year''s coverage thru them. They can''t offer insurance for just a few weeks until I get it set, etc..

Another possibility is this: A local jeweler here makes their own shared prong bands/ settings which I have tried on and like the look and feel of. The price is okay. Not as expensive as Memoire or that pretty MWM setting, but pricier than the ones I like thru Whiteflash. Anyway, they also told me once my stone is in their hands for setting, it is covered under their insurance anyway so if they do the rings and set it for me, they say I would not need an interim policy. My only gripe about that option is that all of the rings they make feature a very standard tiffany head, which I have had on every ring I have ever owned and I was hoping for something different or more custom looking this time around -- like the Whiteflash legato head, which I really love. I may call over there again tomorrow and ask the jeweler himself if he can create a custom head with a swoopier, more sculpted look. The rings they would make for me would be platinum, shared prong semi-eternity style bands with .09 carat stones. I''m just not suer I want a Tiffany head, so if that is all they can offer, I may have to figure out a way to work long-distance with WF. I am thinking about asking Lesley @ Whiteflash if they can do the Diamonds for an Eternity (3/4) band for me, but with slightly larger stones. Is that possible, do you think? Also, I''d be switching out the standard head for the Legato if I go that route. But what worries me is that I have not tried any WF rings on. I may post a question later asking WF ring owners to tell about the comfort, how happy they''ve been with their rings, etc...

Anyway - this "project" is moving along, I guess!

 

[iheartscience]

Wow, 3she, your diamond is TO DIE FOR! So HUGE and beautiful! Yum. It looks great on your hand, too. I love it!

As far as settings, I LOVE the Legato head from Whiteflash also! My favorite setting with that head is Lynn''s, I think. Yum! If it were me, I would just get the setting from WF if that''s what you want. Why go custom when it probably won''t be exactly right, you know? Plus it sounds like it''s more expensive, too. Also, I''m sure WF can make the size of the diamonds in the band bigger if that''s what you want.

I had WF custom make my e-ring setting and I''ve been extremely happy with it. I get compliments constantly and I think the workmanship is really superb. I love my ring! I''ll probably have them custom make a wedding band, too. They also made me a pair of gorgeous Diamonds By The Yard style bezel set earrings and I''m extremely happy with those as well. Again, the workmanship is really just perfect.

P.S. I would just get the insurance from Jeweler''s Mutual and commit to having it for a year. That way you don''t have to rely on anyone else''s insurance. I wouldn''t want to be in the position of having to fight for $ for a new stone if (God forbid) something did happen while your stone was being set.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 9/27/2007 7:40:07 PM
Author: thing2of2
P.S. I would just get the insurance from Jeweler''s Mutual and commit to having it for a year. That way you don''t have to rely on anyone else''s insurance. I wouldn''t want to be in the position of having to fight for $ for a new stone if (God forbid) something did happen while your stone was being set.

Ditto. That option lets you choose whatever you want....

Unless, the local guy can assure you''ll get what you want, and you''re positive of his work....

 

[diamondseeker2006]

We''ve heard some stories on here of problems with shared prong sets involving diamonds rubbing and chipping, etc. from more than one vendor. I''d stick with Memoire for shared prong or else go with Mark Morrell.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 9/27/2007 7:50:29 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
We've heard some stories on here of problems with shared prong sets involving diamonds rubbing and chipping, etc. from more than one vendor. I'd stick with Memoire for shared prong or else go with Mark Morrell.

Ditto. I trust WF and like their work and quality, and no offense, wouldn't buy their shared prong SET. I would buy one or the other if I was wearing it next to metal (which it might scratch up) or alone. And I would buy WF before buying it from a Non-PS vendor... But the point is, I wouldn't buy it. I'd go with MWM or Memoire, or a different design. I love solitares with shared prong eternity bands, and would buy a shared prong band, in that senario, from WF... and the solitare too, most likely.

I understand being cost conscious but there is a point at which you can shoot yourself in the foot with frugality. You don't want to pay for TWO sets, if your jewelers set rubs, results in diamond and metal damage, and refuses to accept the blame for it (it's happened on here).

 

[3shebabes]

What do ya''ll know about the Facets flush-fit settings? Anyone have any experience with those? I really want the two eternity band look - but don''t like the thought of rubbing issues ya''ll have warned me about! Do the flush-fit Facets settings sit together perfectly?

I did talk to the local jeweler who makes their own semi-eternity band & setting sets and they claim they have a lifetime warranty for wear. They can also "attach" them so there isn''t any rubbing back & forth, but I''m not sure I''d like that option. I guess you couldn''t tell while you wore it, but I like the thought of separate rings better, I think. The sets they make seat up next to each other very well and are very comfy...but that doesn''t mean that they can''t spin and rub, I guess.

I wanna see the Whiteflash rings in person so badly. I had thought there was a chance of that happening as my hubby is heading to TX on business on Monday --and my Mom offered to keep our 3 girls but there is just too much happening schedule-wise for me to pawn my kids (and their activities) off on anyone. Plus, my husband thinks the drive from where he''ll be working to WF in Houston is just too much. I just wanna snap my fingers, be there for a few hours, and snap ''em again to get home so I can make some decisions! I am the WORLD''S WORST when it comes to making decisions and not second-guessing myself.

Anyway--any thoughts on Facets sets?

 

[mrssalvo]

demelza had the facets said and had rubbing issues. I had heard they were working on redesing but haven't heard the final outcome. Plus, the head on the facets is just the plain 4-prong which you said you didn't really want. seriously, you've got such and amazing stone, I'd crunch numbers, sacrifice fastfood, starbucks, bargain with hubby in any way possible to do the Mark Morrell set. that is just the absolute most beautiful shared prong sets IMO, perfect from all angles and in every way. Plus you are talking about an heirloom quality handmade piece vs. a cast piece which i'm a huge fan of if budget will permit.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I agree with MrsS on the heirloom value on the Mark Morrell set. We are trying to convey as nicely as possible that we know that there are problems with these kinds of sets other than with Memoire and Mark Morrell.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 9/28/2007 11:57:48 AM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I agree with MrsS on the heirloom value on the Mark Morrell set. We are trying to convey as nicely as possible that we know that there are problems with these kinds of sets other than with Memoire and Mark Morrell.

Yup. Ditto.

 

[fleur-de-lis]

Date: 9/27/2007 10:25:11 AM
Author: 3shebabes
A shot of the stone on my hand to show you the scale. I wear a size 4 ring on my left-hand ring finger, just to give you perspective. I took this shot in the shade of my yellow,green and pink floral deck umbrella - so the stone looks a bit yellow in that glow, but you can see how the stone will face up on my hand...please pardon my wrinkly,in-need-of lotion paws and nails that are past due for a manicure. UGH! I''m 42, but my hands look 72! I also notice the center of the stone looks too dark in this shot. I think the table facet was reflecting the black camera. I noticed that I had to take all my shots slightly to the side, or that was the result...

3shebabes, I''ve done a bit of hand modeling (and "hand doubling" for TV and movies, lol) in my day, and let me just tell you, when you set your camera to the macro modes etc. required to pick up the detail of a diamond, EVERYONE''S hands look like they''re 30 years older than they really are!

Though people have paid me to pretend that my hands are theirs or used to promote their product, I too have the urge to airbrush my knuckles in each of the P''scope handshot images of my ring before posting ''em!

 

[kcoursolle]

Wowza, beautiful stone!!! I can''t wait to see the finished ring!!!!

 

[3shebabes]

Hey everyone,

I have been thinking about everything ya''ll have told me about eternity sets & rubbing issues, etc. Though I love the MWM set we''ve talked about, I don''t think my husband wants to invest that much in the setting at this point. Maybe I could upgrade to something along those lines in another 5 or 10 years?

I actually failed to tell ya''ll that I went to see a custom jeweler here in my town but I can''t see myself being able to work with him. Just in our initial chat he kept ignoring my descriptions of what I wanted and talking over me and saying things like "You don''t really want that and I''ll tell you why...". I appreciate his knowledge, but most of his arguments against what I wanted (fairly slim eternity-style band & setting) were aesthetic, not structural. He said larger stones on delicate bands look silly. He stacked too plain bands (both large cigar bands) on my finger and told me that was the minimum width I should have with a stone that size. It literally covered my entire first section of my finger -- nothing delicate about it and NONE of the diamond would stick out over the edge of the bands they were so wide. I have smallish hands and I just thought it was way, way too much and not at all what I have in mind. My stone is a nice size (just over 9mm round) and yet on those two chunky bands, it looked way, way smaller than on two narrower bands. Anyway, I think I will write him off. I have a very mild personality and I can see myself getting "bullied" into something I don''t want or even like.

The local jeweler who fabricates his own eternity sets told me that they stand behind their custom pieces 100% and if rubbing occurs or any other problems for that matter, they will fix or replace with something else.They are a high-end local family-owned 80-year-old jewelry business, not a mall chain store or anything of that kind. I can get a platinum set from them for around $4100...and that is with, I believe, 8 10-point diamonds on the setting and 9 on the w-band.It''s a really good bit of sparkle -- but it doesn''t overwhelm my stone I don''t think! My only concern with them is the very common head-style they use. I wanted something more unusual and custom-looking but I am supposed to bring them some pictures to look at next week to see what they suggest. My husband is big on this option as they are local and it would be easier to resolve any issues later, etc. If I could come to terms with that head style OR they can fabricate one with softer lines that I prefer, I would probably choose this option.

Anyway, just talking out loud -- adn rambling on, I know!

 

[mrssalvo]

shebabes, have you looked at Ritani at all. there is a single prong setting that is just gorgeous in person. i though about it a long time for my own upgrade and it has nice sparkle plus a nice sideview and made with a matching band. here''s a pic from pearlmans..

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/ritani-jewelry/rings/14QQ1/24/

 

[Diamond*Dana]

What a gorgeous stone! It will seriously look beautiful however you set it!