GemView
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2005
- Messages
- 242
Hello!
It's been quite some time since my previous post on PriceScope, but now I'm here in search of some friendly advice on upgrading my original e-ring setting. I have a specific ring in mind, but first some relevant background info.
At the time my original wedding set was purchased we put a lot of effort into selecting an ideal 1.04CT colorless diamond, whereas we chose the setting somewhat impulsively for its style only to realize over the past year or so that I could not overcome the fact that the diamonds are not a good color match for the center stone. We've opted to begin shopping for a new setting since the cost and labor involved with upgrading the setting diamonds would equal or exceed the original price of the setting. Last time I didn't spend enough time analyzing the setting, and this time I'm trying to be cautious, and as a result I would really appreciate your thoughts/opinions.
My original setting had a tiffany style head. It snags EVERYTHING. The prongs are somewhat rough/sharp and inevitably, despite daily cleaning, filled with lint. The other thing I did not consider the first time around — and now have the opportunity to correct — is the color. We put everything toward the diamond and so I originally opted for yellow gold e-ring setting for fear that I might develop a skin reaction to white gold with daily wear (that and we could not spring for a platinum setting after putting the bulk of the budget toward a bigger/better diamond, thanks to all the education we received reading PS
.
In my current setting the tiffany style head is white gold, but the rest is yellow gold. The white gold head reflects the yellow, so the predominant look is yellow gold. Meanwhile, the jewelry collection I have built up over the years is roughly 1/3 silver, 1/3 white gold, 1/3 yellow gold (with the rest being "other"). So there are two considerations that I have, one being a more comfortable and less snag-prone replacement setting (possibly a bezel setting), and, preferably, a two-tone setting so that my set will better mix and match with my existing jewelry collection.
What I have found in my replacement setting search so far is that trying to find a basic bezel setting isn't terribly hard. Trying to find two-tone setting, though, is another thing entirely. And trying to find something with vintage detailing coupled with a modern bezel setting is even more difficult yet. I've been browsing the Web for weeks, and I've come up mostly empty handed. As a result, I decided to visit a local B&M.
At the B&M I found what the owner described as a Tiffany-inspired design. It happens to be done in two-tone 18K gold, while the center stone is bezel set in white gold. Better yet, it features milgrain detailing which I also like because I am also a fan of the vintage look.
In looking at the photos I took at the store — which in my opinion don't do the design much justice — I have a handful of specific questions/concerns:
• What is your opinion of the design/look? I realize it is not a traditional look for an engagement ring, but what I'm questioning is whether or not it has a designer flare, or merely a fashion look? Also, the stones are vastly improved in color compared to the side stones in my original e-ring setting, but in looking under a loupe I noticed that the pave stones are not all that great of a cut. Is it normal that the pave stones aren't cut quite as well simply because they are so small? Taking the setting outdoors, I also noted that while most of the pave stones sparkle, about four of them look a bit dull (although none are terribly cloudy/included). Should I be concerned — or would you?
• My understanding is that many rings, particularly designer settings, show just as much attention to detail finishing off the inside/back of the shank as there is on the outside. BUT… is it fairly common for the design to actually make it difficult to get a cleaning brush to the back of the center diamond? The reason I ask this is that in looking at the second image that shows how the back of the ring is finished off, it would appear that it would be tricky if not impractical to clean the back of the stone with a conventional jewelry cleaning brush (that or the brush will fray within a matter of days). And since it is bezel and not prong set, I won't have side or top access, either. Is this normal with many bezel-type settings or does it strike you as evidence of a design mistake? Given that I clean my ring every day, should I be concerned?
• For those of you with pave e-rings, would you do it all over again? I ask because I realize the pave diamond prongs are incredibly small and hard to see — so potentially more likely to lose stones?
So now you have it… Thanks for bearing with me through this lengthy post! I very much appreciate your feedback.
It's been quite some time since my previous post on PriceScope, but now I'm here in search of some friendly advice on upgrading my original e-ring setting. I have a specific ring in mind, but first some relevant background info.
At the time my original wedding set was purchased we put a lot of effort into selecting an ideal 1.04CT colorless diamond, whereas we chose the setting somewhat impulsively for its style only to realize over the past year or so that I could not overcome the fact that the diamonds are not a good color match for the center stone. We've opted to begin shopping for a new setting since the cost and labor involved with upgrading the setting diamonds would equal or exceed the original price of the setting. Last time I didn't spend enough time analyzing the setting, and this time I'm trying to be cautious, and as a result I would really appreciate your thoughts/opinions.
My original setting had a tiffany style head. It snags EVERYTHING. The prongs are somewhat rough/sharp and inevitably, despite daily cleaning, filled with lint. The other thing I did not consider the first time around — and now have the opportunity to correct — is the color. We put everything toward the diamond and so I originally opted for yellow gold e-ring setting for fear that I might develop a skin reaction to white gold with daily wear (that and we could not spring for a platinum setting after putting the bulk of the budget toward a bigger/better diamond, thanks to all the education we received reading PS
. In my current setting the tiffany style head is white gold, but the rest is yellow gold. The white gold head reflects the yellow, so the predominant look is yellow gold. Meanwhile, the jewelry collection I have built up over the years is roughly 1/3 silver, 1/3 white gold, 1/3 yellow gold (with the rest being "other"). So there are two considerations that I have, one being a more comfortable and less snag-prone replacement setting (possibly a bezel setting), and, preferably, a two-tone setting so that my set will better mix and match with my existing jewelry collection.
What I have found in my replacement setting search so far is that trying to find a basic bezel setting isn't terribly hard. Trying to find two-tone setting, though, is another thing entirely. And trying to find something with vintage detailing coupled with a modern bezel setting is even more difficult yet. I've been browsing the Web for weeks, and I've come up mostly empty handed. As a result, I decided to visit a local B&M.
At the B&M I found what the owner described as a Tiffany-inspired design. It happens to be done in two-tone 18K gold, while the center stone is bezel set in white gold. Better yet, it features milgrain detailing which I also like because I am also a fan of the vintage look.
In looking at the photos I took at the store — which in my opinion don't do the design much justice — I have a handful of specific questions/concerns:
• What is your opinion of the design/look? I realize it is not a traditional look for an engagement ring, but what I'm questioning is whether or not it has a designer flare, or merely a fashion look? Also, the stones are vastly improved in color compared to the side stones in my original e-ring setting, but in looking under a loupe I noticed that the pave stones are not all that great of a cut. Is it normal that the pave stones aren't cut quite as well simply because they are so small? Taking the setting outdoors, I also noted that while most of the pave stones sparkle, about four of them look a bit dull (although none are terribly cloudy/included). Should I be concerned — or would you?
• My understanding is that many rings, particularly designer settings, show just as much attention to detail finishing off the inside/back of the shank as there is on the outside. BUT… is it fairly common for the design to actually make it difficult to get a cleaning brush to the back of the center diamond? The reason I ask this is that in looking at the second image that shows how the back of the ring is finished off, it would appear that it would be tricky if not impractical to clean the back of the stone with a conventional jewelry cleaning brush (that or the brush will fray within a matter of days). And since it is bezel and not prong set, I won't have side or top access, either. Is this normal with many bezel-type settings or does it strike you as evidence of a design mistake? Given that I clean my ring every day, should I be concerned?
• For those of you with pave e-rings, would you do it all over again? I ask because I realize the pave diamond prongs are incredibly small and hard to see — so potentially more likely to lose stones?
So now you have it… Thanks for bearing with me through this lengthy post! I very much appreciate your feedback.
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