New to PS -- Michael B ??s

[divakat]

Hi PSers!
I''ve been lurking on and off for a few months now, and it''s time to go public!
It''s funny, I''ve been ooh-ing and aah-ing over the Vera Wang and Michael B. micropave settings like albicocca and others have pictured, and I''ve been doing a bit of looking on the internet.
E-ring newbie that I am, though, I didn''t realize that I live DOWN THE STREET from Matthew''s and Michael B.
A client of mine recommended stopping by Matthew''s when I told her that engagement was imminent -- my boyfriend has asked me what ring size I am, what designers I like, etc., etc.
Up till now I didn''t have a clear answer...
then I went to Matthew''s this afternoon (Studio City, CA) and checked out all the styles in person!
Sooooo beautiful.
BF and I are going tomorrow to look together.
So, my questions...
somehow, I have a feeling about cushion cuts...
or round? or radiant?
I have short, kinda stubby fingers.
Then, solitaire/pave or w/halo...
So difficult...

Will post pics -- trying to figure out how...
TIA
divakat

 

[divakat]

OK -- to halo or not to halo...that is the question.
Also, PSers, I''d love to hear your thoughts on radiant vs. cushion vs. round...
Here are some pics...

 

[divakat]

Here''s the 3 sided...

 

[divakat]

Here are some more pics...

 

[divakat]

and some more...with halos...but I''d like a cushion or radiant w/ a halo, not an emerald...

 

[divakat]

Princess...this one is beautiful!
Round or cushion?
Or radiant?

I am overwhelmed by the selection...I guess I just have to trust my instincts...

I''d love any feedback!

Thanks,
divakat

 

[Lynn B]

Gorgeous rings, simply beautiful. I adore the styles, too.

You are lucky to live where you live and can see those rings in person... lots of PSers only get to see those styles on their computer monitor!

Plan a day to spend at Matthews. Get lots of rest the night before, pack a lunch,

and plan to stay a while.

I *bet* once you try on all the different styles, your preference will become very clear. Have fun and keep us posted!

 

[mrssalvo]

oh you lucky ducky. I would love see all those gorgeous rings in one place

. I agree with Lynn, once you get there and try things on, I think it will become clear which style you prefer and what looks best on you. have fun

 

[diamondseeker2006]

That would be a really fun shopping trip! Get some good ideas and then come back here!

You should take a look at Lynn B's rings and Mara's. I want you to see how beautiful custom rings are. I imagine they had them made for half the price of those designer brands, and the quality probably meets or exceeds them. The diamonds for sure probably exceed them, and there is no point in overpaying for a diamond. Others have had gorgeous custom halos made, too.

The thing is, you can get a much bigger and better center diamond if you have the rings custom made by someone like WhiteFlash or Quest. Somewhere around here are threads with WF or Quest custom projects.

I hope Mara and Lynn will see this and post photos of their rings. Lynn just had hers redone and they are just gorgeous! I know there are others as well and maybe someone will direct you to other pictures.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/finally-gorgeous-new-fishtail-pave-set-from-wf.46129/

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 6/24/2006 8:58:11 AM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I imagine they had them made for half the price of those designer brands, and the quality probably meets or exceeds them. The diamonds for sure probably exceed them, and there is no point in overpaying for a diamond. Others have had gorgeous custom halos made, too.

I have custom rings from both Wf and Quest and can say in my opinion, the quality and craftmenship is different when compared to many of the high end designers out there. Most designer rings are handmade by highly skilled craftman who make the rings day in and day out and it's the tiny details, i.e even prongs etc., that make the difference worth the price for me. It's up to each individual to decide what's important for them though. Some people would not even notice a difference. I do agree however that custom can be a good option when you want to *change* elements to a ring. But if you love a real deal ring and can afford it, I think you should get it. When it comes to pave I would prefer a handmade ring and it would be worth the price to pay either Leon or a designer for it. You can read the differences between handmade and cast pave rings here.

there was also a great thread recently on "when custom is not perfect." I am one of those picky people when it comes to my e-ring, but not everyone is compulsive like me

. you can read it here

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Mrssalvo, I totally agree with what you are saying, of course! If money is not really an object, then there is no point in worrying with going custom (or if the girl simply prefers a smaller diamond). I just meant that all these designers and other jewelers are using talented benchmen to make the rings, and it is possible to get the same quality without paying for the name if you are careful who you select to do the work. We all know that Leon Mege doesn''t make his rings anymore and most of the big name designers don''t. Maytal, who used to work for Beaudry, I believe, would be an excellent example. You can get excellent hand-made settings from other sources than a designer, particularly if you are wanting a common setting like the ones she was showing. This is very much like the old Tiffany debate..some people do not care about the cost and want the name along with the quality. And that is completely fine. But I''d say that the SuperbCert Tiffany is so close to the real thing, that I''d personally never consider paying for the Tiffany. The more intricate the design, the more difficult it might be to get the same quality. I''d say that would be the case with some of the Daniel K''s we''ve seen recently (and I think that is what you''re wanting, right?). But those bands with pave are so common that it seems a shame to pay for a designer name when we''ve seen beautiful ones made by vendors here.

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 6/24/2006 9:50:51 AM
Author: diamondseeker2006 I just meant that all these designers and other jewelers are using talented benchmen to make the rings, and it is possible to get the same quality without paying for the name if you are careful who you select to do the work. We all know that Leon Mege doesn't make his rings anymore and most of the big name designers don't. Maytal, who used to work for Beaudry, I believe, would be an excellent example. You can get excellent hand-made settings from other sources than a designer, particularly if you are wanting a common setting like the ones she was showing. This is very much like the old Tiffany debate..some people do not care about the cost and want the name along with the quality. And that is completely fine The more intricate the design, the more difficult it might be to get the same quality. I'd say that would be the case with some of the Daniel K's we've seen recently (and I think that is what you're wanting, right?). But those bands with pave are so common that it seems a shame to pay for a designer name when we've seen beautiful ones made by vendors here.

I agree, very good examples

 

[esguy27]

If you like the Vera Wang and Michael B settings, you might want to take a look at Ritani as well.

 

[msdarlinjoy]

Date: 6/24/2006 2:56:25 AM
Author: divakat
and some more...with halos...but I''d like a cushion or radiant w/ a halo, not an emerald...

Hi Divakat ~

Welcome to Pricescope!

I do love the Michael B''s ... so yummy!

Now, if I personally went with a halo, I would either go RB

... or for the unique side of me ... a Radiant

!

Keep us updated and have a great day!

 

[bookworm21]

I like round without the halo for those rings. Just my humble opinion of course....

 

[radiantgirl]

Hi Divakat and welcome to PS! I too love Michael B. designs especially his Princess line. My bf and I picked out the Petite Princess setting with a square radiant cut a few months ago. They completed it already and should be in my bf''s possession in 2 days (Tuesday). I''m not sure how long he will wait to propose, so I will have to wait till then to post the pictures on here.

Have you narrowed it down which style setting you like? I think his Princess and Trois (halo) settings are so beautiful! If I were you, I would try on all the different shapes of diamonds to see what looks best on your hand and what your preference would be.

Keep us posted!

 

[eks6426]

You''re very lucky to be able to go see the Michael B rings. I looked at many of the designer pave rings and the Michael B''s were just in a class al their own. I wound up going with a radiant in my 3 sided Michael B ring because I wanted something different. But it''ll be lovely no matter what you choose. Here''s mine. I also now have the matching wedding band. It''s just pure sparkle.

Going custom might work for you too. My husband didn''t have the patience to do that

 

[MissSL]

Hi Divakat!

I''m a Michael B girl too- I went about three weeks ago and tried a bunch of styles on-I thought I had been in love with the 3 sided princess ring and then I tried on the flat band-WOW.. My 2 row flat band engagement ring with a round brilliant stone is being made right now! I should have it by the end of July. I am going to go with the matching 2 row flat band wedding band.

It was a tough decision but I kept going back to the flat band! I did not personally like the halo style on my hand-I like them in pictures but on me it looked like I had a "pom pom ball" on my figure-if that makes any sense? I felt the flat band or princess was more "timeless" that''s just my opinon!

Congratulations and if you need any help let me know as I have been going through this whole process too-get your boyfriends opinion-mine picked the flat band!

Miss SL

 

[Gypsy]

For diamond shapes... I think you really have to go and see cushions, rounds and radiants in person and side by side. I was all for radiants until I saw a few in person and didn''t care for the look of them... especially next to other cuts. Between rounds and cushions. Well, rounds face up bigger-- much bigger-- for the carat weight so it depends on how you feel about that. Of those three cushions are my favorite-- but they are harder to shop for than rounds and I''ve seen some ugly cushions in BMs... even high end BMs. After you try them on... just listen to yourself. When I went, rounds and radiants didn''t speak to me at all. Princesses were better... and the lucida was best. LOL. Not that I have a lucida (didn''t know about the Jubilee at that time)... but that was the first diamond I tried on that I loved. And it was the octagonal aspect of it that spoke to me. So go, have FUN, and listen carefully to what your heart tells you.