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My BFF is getting engaged! Can we help him find a ring?

pearaffair

pearaffair

Ideal_Rock
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Joined
Jun 15, 2015
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I am SO excited! One of my very best buds is going to propose to the most amazing gal ever! And he has asked for my (our!) help!

I'll add to this thread after work, but I wanted to get the ball rolling as I am just over the moon with excitement for them :love:

This is her pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/serenity89/vena-amoris/
If people have trouble viewing it, I'll upload screenshots later.

Budget is $1200-1600 USD total. Vintage/pre-owned is A-ok.

I'm seeing a lot of halos, vintage, and emphasis on ovals. Slight preference for silver metals. Woohoo! Let the treasure hunt begin!
 
LOL "note to all men" aka, her BF. I'll take a look and give this a bump!

edit - does he want a diamond? A ton of her pictures actually have morganite (http://www.gemstone.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=131:sapphire&catid=1:gem-by-gem&Itemid=14) which is popular for the pink colour.

edit 2 - this girl is confusing! She has an obsession with halo rings, but then says the BE jolie is her favourite. Is the top or bottom more recent? Because the top features more solitaires, the bottom more halos. Whichever one is more recent I think we should be leaning toward.
 
On pinterest the top are the most recently.
 
Thanks Rhea, I'm not a pinner (?) so wasn't quite sure. Well, her most recent pins seem to have moved away from the halo. More vintagey, pave/sidestones. She has the brilliantly engaged jolie pinned at least 4 times, and a blue nile one pinned a few times as well.
 
Great ideas so far! I love you guys!

Maybe I'll present 3-5 styles to my friend, and then have him narrow down HIS preferences, considering that his gf does have a bit of a variety going on?

For example, I'd like to show him a halo vs no halo, so he can tell me if he wants the ring to look big or delicate or what. I have also asked him for ring size. Updates ASAP!

If anyone has suggestions for how to guide him in his preferences and narrowing down things, please - I'm all ears! :appl:
 
Okay, for new oval ring options, this JA combo is over budget but maybe worth considering?

I searched through JA's ovals and this 0.54ct D-VS2 oval to me is the largest and nicest while still being under $1500 - http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.54-carat-d-color-vs2-clarity-sku-692369 - and I think JA still offers the preferred/advantage discount of 1-3% less on applicable diamonds (you'd have to check with JA to see if the discount applies to this specific diamond).

For the setting, if sticking with JA, I'd go with this delicate solitaire in 14kt rose gold - http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-rose-gold-1.5mm-comfort-fit-engagement-ring-item-50380


But, as another option, there's these two Stuller settings, identical except one has milgrain and the other doesn't, which remind me of several rings on BFF's Pinterest board...

http://www.stuller.com/products/build/122395/11067522/?groupId=121588#/metal-quality
http://www.stuller.com/products/build/71701/11084742/?groupId=121603#/metal-quality

Maybe have ID Jewelry quote you on one of those settings, and see if they could find some nice oval diamonds as well.
 
My 2 cents...this setting is has very antique-y feel and is quite lovely. Do it in rose gold and it will be beautiful. My jeweler
quoted $300 on the round one.
http://www.stuller.com/products/build/122004/3637932/?groupId=113775#/center-stone

Either of these ovals...or the pretty one marymm posted above.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.52-carat-g-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-719984
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.51-carat-d-color-si1-clarity-sku-542769

pre-loved...here are just a few...
This ring has a lot of presence for the cost...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/0-60-ct-14k-White-Gold-Antique-Old-European-Cut-Diamond-Halo-Engagement-Ring-/262116832212?hash=item3d076173d4:g:pr0AAOSwl9BWMSyj

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vintage-Edwardian-or-Art-Deco-Old-European-Diamond-Cluster-Dome-Ring-/262122491253?hash=item3d07b7cd75:g:CA0AAOSw4HVWCXKb

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Art-Deco-1920s-18k-Gold-DIAMOND-Engagement-Wedding-Anniversary-RING-50/171920628310?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D34225%26meid%3De188855d0eb54e11ae34467655ba354d%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D262122491253

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-0-70ct-OLD-TRANSITIONAL-CUT-DIAMOND-VS1-ENGAGEMENT-COCKTAIL-RING-RETRO-/171993120994?hash=item280b96c0e2:g:CpcAAOSwT5tWNqqI
 
i dont think she needs halos, from her most recent posts, she likes ovals (but will accept rounds), she likes side stones, shes ok with rise gold, and she likes vintage
 
Ok. Here's what I'm thinking so far:

- strong preference for ovals (and do these show their weight nicely? Will they look bigger per carat?)
- lots of halos, but not a MUST-have
- definitely need some tiny sidestones
- round diamonds ok

I'm thinking that morganite, while lovely, is not as durable. I'm also thinking that she has more white gold than rose gold posted... so maybe a two-tone, or an all white gold is the way to go.

Concerns: I know it's hard to get a gorgeous oval. Is this too ambitious for this kind of budget?
Halos are great for finger coverage... but they add to the setting price substantially. Which way to go?

Other than JewelsbyGrace, does anyone know of a great spot for rings less than $1600?
 
pearaffair|1447290267|3948504 said:
Ok. Here's what I'm thinking so far:

- strong preference for ovals (and do these show their weight nicely? Will they look bigger per carat?)
- lots of halos, but not a MUST-have
- definitely need some tiny sidestones
- round diamonds ok

I'm thinking that morganite, while lovely, is not as durable. I'm also thinking that she has more white gold than rose gold posted... so maybe a two-tone, or an all white gold is the way to go.

Concerns: I know it's hard to get a gorgeous oval. Is this too ambitious for this kind of budget?
Halos are great for finger coverage... but they add to the setting price substantially. Which way to go?

Other than JewelsbyGrace, does anyone know of a great spot for rings less than $1600?
Click to expand...


Her more recent pins really don't have a while lot of halos, so if you can avoid one to save money, that's what I'd do
 
Short list to show my buddy (so far):

http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-ring/petite-milgrain-diamond-engagement-ring-14k-white-gold_42042?elem=img&track=product



http://www.bluenile.com/ca/build-your-own-ring/petite-diamond-engagement-ring-14k-white-gold_42029?elem=img&track=product



http://www.brilliantearth.com/Jolie-Diamond-Ring-White-Gold-BE1M9906-1153244/



Each of these could be made with a round or an oval. But given that her pinterest board is called, "Sparkle Oval Things", I think she has a strong preference for ovals!!

What do we think of having an E/W set oval??

_35256.jpg

bn_one.jpg

bn_milgrain.jpg
 
Niel said:
pearaffair|1447290267|3948504 said:
Her more recent pins really don't have a while lot of halos, so if you can avoid one to save money, that's what I'd do
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Yeah, good call. I think that makes sense.
 
I was going to suggest that first blue Nile pave, you'll have to put a round in ther because you can't pick an oval blind. But my friend got that setting with 1700 budget with about a 5mm stone. It was stunning, and her finger size was 7.5
 
Niel|1447292100|3948527 said:
I was going to suggest that first blue Nile pave, you'll have to put a round in ther because you can't pick an oval blind. But my friend got that setting with 1700 budget with about a 5mm stone. It was stunning, and her finger size was 7.5
Click to expand...

Great tip, Niel! I'm partial to that setting myself. I think it has antique feel without looking dated, and is just gorgeous. Compliments a lot of my bf's gf's desires. What if it was a round with a N/E setting? Think that would look good, or be too much of a mish-mash between modern and antique?

Can Blue Niel settings be purchased without the stone?
 
pearaffair|1447292502|3948528 said:
Niel|1447292100|3948527 said:
I was going to suggest that first blue Nile pave, you'll have to put a round in ther because you can't pick an oval blind. But my friend got that setting with 1700 budget with about a 5mm stone. It was stunning, and her finger size was 7.5
Click to expand...

Great tip, Niel! I'm partial to that setting myself. I think it has antique feel without looking dated, and is just gorgeous. Compliments a lot of my bf's gf's desires. What if it was a round with a N/E setting? Think that would look good, or be too much of a mish-mash between modern and antique?

Can Blue Niel settings be purchased without the stone?
Click to expand...

The reason I love that setting for a budget is that it has the perfect proportions for a half ct stone. It's not , in my opinion, made for a larger stone. The proportions get out of whack once it gets too large. In that way it's like many antique rings where- sure they are small diamonds, but the whole ring is a subtle size and it doesn't actually look small.

You can but a BN setting without the diamond, yes

I'm sorry, I'm not sure what you mean a round with an n/e setting?
 
For what it is worth (and at the risk of too many cooks in the kitchen :think: ), a few things I noticed:

Her last pin was a halo oval (latest pin shows up in upper left corner & was pinned 9 days ago).

Also, she has said that this particular oval halo is her #1 pick:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/181199584982106524/

And, this same ring is pictured as the main folder picture (typically also indicating a preference):

https://www.pinterest.com/serenity89/

That said, it is a bit harder to find a nice oval.

Best wishes on your hunt! I imagine she will be honored by all the extra effort to get the perfect ring for her!
 
Celebrating25|1447293184|3948536 said:
For what it is worth (and at the risk of too many cooks in the kitchen :think: ), a few things I noticed:

Her last pin was a halo oval (latest pin shows up in upper left corner & was pinned 9 days ago).

Also, she has said that this particular oval halo is her #1 pick:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/181199584982106524/

And, this same ring is pictured as the main folder picture (typically also indicating a preference):

https://www.pinterest.com/serenity89/

That said, it is a bit harder to find a nice oval.

Best wishes on your hunt! I imagine she will be honored by all the extra effort to get the perfect ring for her!
Click to expand...

Yep... I couldn't agree more! Oval halo seems to be closest to her heart. But with my pal's budget, I'm not sure we could do it justice.

Maybe with a morganite centre stone, but their being a softer stone doesn't impress me. Peachy sapphire? That has potential!
 
Potentials?

imageuploadedbytapatalk1447295101.jpg

imageuploadedbytapatalk1447295121.jpg

imageuploadedbytapatalk1447295142.jpg

imageuploadedbytapatalk1447295159.jpg
 


imageuploadedbytapatalk1447295198.jpg
 
pearaffair|1447295170|3948548 said:
Potentials?
Click to expand...
None of these seem well made enough to be an engagement ring
 
Niel said:
pearaffair|1447295170|3948548 said:
Potentials?
Click to expand...
None of these seem well made enough to be an engagement ring
Click to expand...

I was kind of worried about that. I've heard horror stories of etsy rings. Not saying they're all bad.

Ok, what about a well made halo setting with a peach pink sapphire? Think that could be done in budget?

PS these are her hands! Could a peach centre stone work with her skin tone?

imageuploadedbytapatalk1447295581.jpg

imageuploadedbytapatalk1447295608.jpg
 
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