(New Member) Just got the E-ring for my g/f, need opinions on what to do with it now.

[bbtt123]

Ok so I''m not that dumb (I know some people''s first reaction was "PROPOSE TO HER YOU IDIOT!". I just got it in and am looking at possible settings for it, the stock setting is not what I wanted, but I couldnt pass up the deal I got on the ring (hey I''m poor..I''ll upgrade it for her later). Its 1.05 Ct. Color F Clarity SI2 Oval Cut, Do you think its worth the $680 I got it for? (honest opinions please, really need help)

I was thinking of doing a setting like these:

But I figure I would post here first for maybe more opinions? I really hope I did alright with this purchase, I jumped on it quickly and didnt think too much,I''m in love...havent been thinking straight lately, and now that I have the ring I''m going crazy!

Here''s what I have to start, sorry the photo''s arent the best, I''ll try to snap a few better ones soon.

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The setting with the two Pear''s is what I''m looking into doing after we are married. She already has a 1/3 Ct. Pear solitaire that I got for her 2 years ago on our anniversary, I was thinking about getting another one of similar quality and doing a setting like the above as well as adding here diamond solitaire earrings into the mix and upgrading her earrings for the wedding, right now hers are 1/5th carat, so keep those things in mind, but I do not have to incorporate any of the above into it.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 3/16/2006 6:14:36 PM
Author:bbtt123

...the stock setting is not what I wanted, but I couldn't pass up the deal I got on the ring (hey I'm poor..I'll upgrade it for her later). Its 1.05 Ct. Color F Clarity SI2 Oval Cut, Do you think its worth the $680 I got it for? (honest opinions please, really need help)

The diamond was $680!

I wouldn't bother with that setting with pear sides either.

And the next one looks so darn high and scrawny

Nothing wrong with the poor basket - only it seems to have been meant for a stone half the size and those prongs need to be cut half way down, IMO. That horizontal 'bar' between the prongs is supposed to be closer to the girdle of the diamond than the bottom of he ring. And look where's now...

The last two pictures of solitaires look mainstream proportion-wise and cute (not knowing the profile of the last one..., and hoping it isn't overly high or something.)

It sounds like you have a nice diamond on your hands (F/Si1 sounds great!) and would rather have a nicely done no-nonsense solitaire than a 'bargain' with every bell and whistle attached like toppings stuffed on a burger

My 2c, of course. I am sure many would disagree...

... as with any 'matter of taste' issue.

 

[aphisiglovessae]

I really like the setting with the two pears, because I LOVE sapphires!!! But I would like it better in platinum or white gold.

 

[bbtt123]

What about a setting like this one?

or this one?

I really like the cathedral setting but that ridged contour is really poping out at me, I dont want to go crazy with the setting, simple and nice, but she only likes yellow gold

I am meeting with one of the top jewelry stores in town tomorrow to get ideas rolling, so we may just do completely custom setting.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 3/16/2006 7:07:42 PM
Author: bbtt123


I really like the cathedral setting but that ridged contour is really popping out at me...

Blue Nile doesn''t sell their settings empty anyway... and that is not a typical option anyway. There should be no trouble finding a cathedral setting for an oval.



I don''t want to go crazy with the setting, simple and nice, but she only likes yellow gold

So do I

I would probably keep the prongs in white metal for a colorless diamond, but otherwise...

There are a few ''bread & butter'' cathedral settings on Wink''s page. It may be worth taking a look. Custom work is great.. but it makes no sense to have the wheel reworked all over again.

 

[lizz]

I like the ring as is, actually. What kind of setting does your GF want? I think you got a great deal on the ring.

 

[movie zombie]

Date: 3/16/2006 10:30:28 PM
Author: lizz
I like the ring as is, actually. What kind of setting does your GF want? I think you got a great deal on the ring.

this is very very important: there have been recent threads re women not getting what they want and it isn''t pretty.....

movie zombie

ps i think its fantastic that you''re open to an upgrade later on!

 

[sistagrl2004]

I think the important thing is where in the WORLD did you get a deal like that?

 

[msdarlinjoy]

Nice Oval!

I agree with the others ... I would find out what your lovely lady likes before I would proceed.

I have always thought that it would be fun to have an easter egg hunt and stuff romantic mesg''s in the lil'' plastic eggs, and then find one with a loose diamond with a lil'' messg ... Marry me?

As far as upgrading her diamond earrings ... be sure this is ok with her ... some of us ladies are on the sentimental side, and might not want anyone to touch our lil'' pretties.

Take care,

 

[zhuzhu]

I think he meant $6800, not $680....

 

[portoar]

Honestly, you should look at some of the threads by women who received rings they just did not like from their FIs. It''s really sad. I''m sure you do not want her crying at night because she loves her man but hates her ring. Why not give her the diamond in its current setting and then propose going out to shop for the setting together. It would be fun.

 

[bbtt123]

I think he meant $6800, not $680....

No I did mean $680, as in six hundred, wasnt sure if it was as good of a deal as I thought, I''m thinking different now, it fit right into my budget of spare cash and I figured why not, now I have extra to spend on the setting and other stuff for her now.

I will take better pictures of the setting later today, the setting is kinda "cheap" I guess I would say, the band is a little too thin and the prongs (is that referred to technically as the "head"?) sit a little too low so the diamond is burried and its hard to get a 360 degree view of it. Plus I think I like the 6 prong setting in white gold/platinum better than the 4 prong yellow gold on there now.

I have actually talked with her about settings and such, her favorites were in fact the cathedral and the contoured settings I showed in my second post, I''m probably going to meet with the jeweler today and find out what they think and then get her in there to try on a few things and once she finds a style that she likes, have them set it in that without her knowing.

I have talked with her at great length about what she wants, I encourage her to go try on rings and let me know what she likes and dislikes, as well as our future plans on incorporating her present ring and earrings into her "enhancer" as well as her wedding band, and she likes the idea, plus she gets to upgrade but have the past all right there on the important finger .

Thanks for the imput guys, I''ll hopefully snap a few pics at lunch time when I come home and get them on here,

 

[bbtt123]

Date: 3/16/2006 11:13:57 PM
Author: Mrs Darlin Joy


I have always thought that it would be fun to have an easter egg hunt and stuff romantic mesg''s in the lil'' plastic eggs, and then find one with a loose diamond with a lil'' messg ... Marry me?

Well I''m planning on an easter proposal, and I thought the easter basket idea thru with the plastic eggs and such, or even one HUGE easter egg with progressively smaller ones inside eachother till she gets down to the ring just to be synnical . Still got time, thank the lord for that, I''ll figure something out..

Thank you guys,
James

 

[BrightSpot]

Date: 3/17/2006 5:51:34 AM
Author: bbtt123

Date: 3/16/2006 11:13:57 PM
Author: Mrs Darlin Joy


I have always thought that it would be fun to have an easter egg hunt and stuff romantic mesg''s in the lil'' plastic eggs, and then find one with a loose diamond with a lil'' messg ... Marry me?

Well I''m planning on an easter proposal, and I thought the easter basket idea thru with the plastic eggs and such, or even one HUGE easter egg with progressively smaller ones inside eachother till she gets down to the ring just to be synnical . Still got time, thank the lord for that, I''ll figure something out..

Thank you guys,
James

I love that idea with the easter eggs. So romantic!

I also love the idea of you proposing with the ring in its current setting, then going shopping with your girl for the permanent setting. That seems like the best of both worlds to me. She could wear the ring immediately, and also have the fun of shopping for a setting with you. How in the world did you get the ring for $680!? I need to bring you shopping with me!

 

[dutchgirl]

I, too, am trying to figure out how you got that diamond for $680???

I think all of your choices are really pretty, but I like the third best. Simple and classic. You can''t go wrong with that. Although, I agree with everyone else...get her input first.

That''s funny -- my hubby proposed to me with a treasure hunt (easter egg) proposal...but this was as Disney world and ended with a glass slipper instead of a ring (I wanted to pick out my own e-ring and I hadn''t made up my mind by the time we went on the trip so he had to improvise. HA HA!)

Congratulations, can''t wait to hear how the ring turns out!

 

[bbtt123]

Here are some quick snaps, I dont have my new camera so the photo's are kinda horrid, not to mention the sunlight out right now is not optimal.

Tried to get a bit more sunlight, kinda overexposed, but you get the point

this one shows the setting a bit better, I just think a more traditional solitaire setting would be better and allow the diamond to show better

This one shows how thin the band really is, just seems too skinny, along with the prongs, its just bothersome...lol. Plus I want white gold prongs and 6 point instead of 4.


Please excuse the dirty window sill, we just got this new house and the old owner decided to paint everything white...which I have been chipping off the windows for a while now

I got the ring thru a live auction, was really surprised that I won the item, bid $580 on a whim and once all the "fees" were tallied (buyers premium of 15%), $688 was the total.

 

[togal]

I can''t get past the $680.....where on earth does one find a 1.05 ct., F color diamond for $680? What am I missing here?

 

[valeria101]

Lovely setting

... wouldn''t change a ting. Especially not the four prongs (six prongs on a rectangular diamond? dunno... ). I wouldn''t worry about the width because thin rings seem to be all the rage. And there will be a wedding band next to it too.

Can you let the girl pick the definitive setting? IMO, that would be a great ''gift'' to go with the ring.

 

[lizz]

I agree with Ana completely. The ring looks great as is. If your GF wants to change it, she can do so later.

 

[tomswife2007]

I like the x prong setting (the last one) the best. I have an x prong like setting or a trellis setting as it is also sometimes called depending on who you purchase it from. I think the Easter proposal is very cute and romantic...Good luck!

Date: 3/17/2006 11:33:46 AM
Author: togal
I can''t get past the $680.....where on earth does one find a 1.05 ct., F color diamond for $680? What am I missing here?

I am having a hard time with the price as well. I mean any where you go online or in the stores...there is no such animal as an F SI diamond for $680.00. Not that we are doubting you by any means...but where did you buy it? Did it come with certification of any type?

 

[jaysonsmom]

Date: 3/17/2006 10:15:58 AM
Author: bbtt123
.






This one shows how thin the band really is, just seems too skinny, along with the prongs, its just bothersome...lol. Plus I want white gold prongs and 6 point instead of 4.


Please excuse the dirty window sill, we just got this new house and the old owner decided to paint everything white...which I have been chipping off the windows for a while now

I got the ring thru a live auction, was really surprised that I won the item, bid $580 on a whim and once all the ''fees'' were tallied (buyers premium of 15%), $688 was the total.

For those of you who missed this line under all the pix you were staring at. People here are too quick to cast doubt.

 

[valeria101]

Yay! Yes, I missed that line about the auction! Goooood for you!

Sure know there are not many such happening... but this doesn't mean NONE. Regardless if there is a dead on cert for those grades or not, if this one is a diamond, looks reasonably clean and no obviously tinted - it surely is a deal anyway. Rhe shape looks lovely in the pictures too boot.

....


Thinking of setting again... one ring kept coming back and couldn't remember who'se it is. I still can't remember that, but did remember who made it. Liked it allot... it was for a H&A square diamond and small sapphire side stones (trillions got changed into small rounds eventually). I liked allot the elegant lines and fine finish of this ring and didn't forget it because this is one of the few exceptions of my usually not liking small side stones much.

@ Wink's of course! (LINK) And surely the custom work 'flows' better than the screechy BN concoction

Here's the thing:



Te same shop provided minuscule concave cut ruby sidestones of a Leon Mege ring and other rarities. It looks like the guys have the way smotthened out for fine custom rings with colored (or white?) sidestones. If that idea is still in the running, I'd give them a try.


Btw, tree-stone cushions have a fan club of their own somewhere around here.

 

[Dancing Fire]

$680 for a 1.05ct F SI2

is it a real diamond???

did you get it appraise? sorry, i had to ask that question

 

[bbtt123]

Well, the ring will go to the jeweler''s Monday to have them approve of everything, as well as to bounce around ideas for settings possible in the future. I know one thing is that I want to have the head changed to a platinum 4 prong (yes for the sake of valeria I am staying 4 prong)

One thing I might do before I propose, is have the head moved up a bit and fill in the gap to get the prongs higher off the ring. The biggest issue I have is the fact that the diamond is surrounded by so much gold that you cannot see the full diamond, I know the platinum will help bring it out a bit more, but I''m thinking a slightly higher setting will also help (put a little air under the diamond and let it shine a bit more)

Its funny you guys mention the "is it real" and "is it certified", I will definitely have it re-graded by GIA or AGS, but I noticed something just a few minutes ago when I was going over the paperwork:

The "grading" company is USGL- definitely not known by me, any thoughts?
The card that came with it says different than what I was told, the card says SI3/G color, still not bad I must say, but I guess I was under the wrong impression. It doesnt seem like enough for me to blow up about, not to mention I want to make sure I can still pull this off on Easter, and from the response, the $680 will still be a deal.

Can I trust this "USGL" grading company?
Should I throw a fit or is it my fault for not looking at the card before purchase?

Thanks for everything,

James

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 3/17/2006 11:05:16 PM
Author: Lanman22
Well, the ring will go to the jeweler''s Monday to have them approve of everything, as well as to bounce around ideas for settings possible in the future. I know one thing is that I want to have the head changed to a platinum 4 prong (yes for the sake of valeria I am staying 4 prong)

One thing I might do before I propose, is have the head moved up a bit and fill in the gap to get the prongs higher off the ring. The biggest issue I have is the fact that the diamond is surrounded by so much gold that you cannot see the full diamond, I know the platinum will help bring it out a bit more, but I''m thinking a slightly higher setting will also help (put a little air under the diamond and let it shine a bit more)

Its funny you guys mention the ''is it real'' and ''is it certified'', I will definitely have it re-graded by GIA or AGS, but I noticed something just a few minutes ago when I was going over the paperwork:

The ''grading'' company is USGL- definitely not known by me, any thoughts?
The card that came with it says different than what I was told, the card says SI3/G color, still not bad I must say, but I guess I was under the wrong impression. It doesnt seem like enough for me to blow up about, not to mention I want to make sure I can still pull this off on Easter, and from the response, the $680 will still be a deal.

Can I trust this ''USGL'' grading company?
Should I throw a fit or is it my fault for not looking at the card before purchase?

Thanks for everything,

James

if you send the stone to GIA or ags ,it will not come back SI3 b/c there''s no such a grade as GIA SI3. do you have a sharp picture view from top?

 

[valeria101]

Date: 3/17/2006 11:05:16 PM
Author: Lanman22


The ''grading'' company is USGL- definitely not known by me, any thoughts?

Don''t know that one...



The card that came with it says different than what I was told, the card says SI3/G color, still not bad I must say, but I guess I was under the wrong impression.

IMO, those grades are good for pricing: the end all is... what the diamond look like. Low grades & cute looks? That''s a deal to me.


... and from the response, the $680 will still be a deal.

Well, GIA graded 1 carat cushion J-I1 is still at least 1k more than what you paid. Even if it wasn''t 1 cts but more like 90 pts or so, it would still be way more than what you paid. IMO, the only way this is not a deal is if either.. the diamond is in fact butt ugly (visible inclusion, crooked cut or something) and not desirable for any money at all, or it is not a diamond. Some fancy CZ would sell for a couple hundred!


Can I trust this ''USGL'' grading company?

No idea, but I wouldn''t bother getting a lab report anyway. A reputable appraisal wold be quicker and more comprehensive (also evaluating cut quality and value - neither of which GIA or AGS or EGL lab reports do talk about)



Should I throw a fit or is it my fault for not looking at the card before purchase?

Err.... Don''t like misrepresentation at all. But I''d make sure what is this stone and what it is worth before doing anything of the sort. The seller''s claim doesn''t strike me as substantially more or less reliable than a dodgy lab report.

My 2c


PS. About the SI3 clarity grade: EGL has it, GIA and AGS do not. It is supposed to mean.. well, something between SI2 and I1. To me, that means slightly visible inclusions without magnification, expecting much of the stones face to be free of visible inclusions however (same for a good I1). Does this apply? Just curious...

 

[bbtt123]

Date: 3/18/2006 12:46:31 AM
Author: valeria101


PS. About the SI3 clarity grade: EGL has it, GIA and AGS do not. It is supposed to mean.. well, something between SI2 and I1. To me, that means slightly visible inclusions without magnification, expecting much of the stones face to be free of visible inclusions however (same for a good I1). Does this apply? Just curious...

Well thats what gets me, I have had 10+ people at work see it an everyone says the diamond is clean as can be, I personally can see 1 small spot but even when I point it out to everyone, they call me crazy. I guess the only real way to know is to wait till Monday and get the final approval from the jewelers.

I thought about the "misrepresentation" last night, and I figured out what exactly I heard that led me to believe F/SI2. The SI3 grade they said was really closer to SI2 or "more like a SI2" which they said the same thing about the color (and I believe them, this diamond is beautiful!), which instead of actually paying attention, I looked at the ring and said I had to have it, instead of looking at the grading card as well..oh well, I''m still in love and I''m still happy

I''m off to a bowling tournament for the weekend, take care guys and thanks again.

James

 

[sistagrl2004]

Given the circumstance, I would have it checked out ASAP to ensure it wasn''t clarity enhanced!

 

[bbtt123]

Ok so a quck update:

I did have the ring checked out and it was right in the SI3/G grading, however the cut was a bit off, and under the scope, it wasnt sitting right in the setting. The stone was closer to a SI1 if it wasnt for one big inclusion near the bottom side that wasnt visible right away.

I chose to get a refund and venture out on another path, I''m known to have a short memory span and my mind does wander, so it doesnt surprise me what I''m getting this week instead. I am making a post as soon as I''m done here about what I''m getting as well as asking for help from someone on here, hehe