Need help finding a similar setting.

[mpos]

My budget is quite low at $5-6k. Initially I had planned to get .75ct center with a halo setting to give more finger coverage. It's a cheap way to make the ring look bigger. As such it's quite popular and so I'm kinda leaning away from it. I want something more unique and I've been considering some antique cut rounds as we like the broader color flashes.


After looking at thousands of settings I found a head design that I like but I don't know what they call this design. The prongs form a basket around the stone and have a petal shape. Additionally the prongs flare out and create a bezel liek effect around the girdle of the diamond. Here's some examples of what I'm talking about.

Dahlia solitaire setting:
Here's how it flares around the diamond:


And a side view of the basket/prong design.


What I do not like about the above ring is the milgrain and I'd have thee entire ring made of platinum.


David Klass designs:


Not sure if I like the diamonds from the top down view. Seems to make it too thick so I'd want smaller melees or just to remove them.
Diamonds on the outside of the prongs might also need to go to keep they thickness of the prongs down. I like the Pave band though and how it blends into the basket.



The question is what percentage of one's budget should the setting be? In either design it will be over 50% if not bordering near 80%. I could increase my budget to $8k but it still seems ridiculous to spend $3.5-5k for the setting and $3-4 for the stone.

 

[mpos]

Continuance of post #1.

Here's another Klass design.



Simpler design like the first. The band or shank doesn't flow as smoothly into the basket though IMO. I would be content with this design in all platinum though and with pave band.


So does this head/basket design have a name?


I found a similar design that is within budget but 18k.
https://eshop.gabrielny.com/product/ER7940W83JJ/amavida



I don't care for the milgrain and would prefer no melees on the outside of the basket. Not a fan of the pave knife shank but could live with it. I do like the melees from the top down view though.


So, is there a similar design that would meet my specs or be somewhat close without costing $3k or more? Anyone who could design a ring around $2-2.5k?

 

[solgen]

I wouldn't recommend melees in the basket as it will make it too thick especially with a .75 center. If it were 1.5-2ct then I'd go for it.

As for what % of budget the setting should be that is a personal matter. From the perspective of return on investment it should likely be as minimal as possible. Should you resell it, it would take the biggest hit in depreciation. Spending the most on the diamond makes the most sense from this standpoint. However it's also important to get the ring you/your fiance wants. 40-50% would be max IMO.

I don't know what that prong or basket design is called but have heard it referred to as flower or lotus.

 

[Niel]

She can make you that setting in platinum sans millgraining. Expect it to cost between 1-2k in plat I'd expect, based on other settings on her site

 

[UrsTx]

I'm also a fan of Caysie's Dahlia setting. Caysie's etsy page is CVB Inspired designs and her settings are also sold on the Love Affair Diaminds site. I believe she offers "no millgraine" upon request. She'll give you a quote if you email her.

I've seen it recommended on a prior PS posting that a good ratio for spending is 80/20 for diamond/setting because a diamond can always be reset or upgraded/reset in the future, but it's not a firm rule.

 

[Niel]

I'm also a fan of Caysie's Dahlia setting. Caysie's etsy page is CVB Inspired designs and her settings are also sold on the Love Affair Diaminds site. I believe she offers "no millgraine" upon request. She'll give you a quote if you email her.

I've seen it recommended on a prior PS posting that a good ratio for spending is 80/20 for diamond/setting because a diamond can always be reset or upgraded/reset in the future, but it's not a firm rule.

I never like saying how much a person should spend on asetting vs a stone. I'm sure this is what you were getting at too,but I just think it's presumptuous to assume everyone wants as big a diamond as possible and is happy to sacrifice on a setting to get that. For example, I myself maybe spent 60% ish on my center stone and the rest was spent on the setting and side stones because I wanted to have the ring I wanted, and I didn't want to compromise on the entire look just to get a bigger diamond.

If you, op, care about getting an entire look and being done, then spend what you need to on the setting

 

[PintoBean]

Here is a similar stuller head
http://www.stuller.com/products/28997/?groupId=125434