newbie needs advice on setting for princess cut

[Mr.MojoRisin]

I''ve done enough research to know that my girlfriend wants a princess cut, on a platinum setting...ring size 5 (she''s a small girl, thin fingers..) I don''t have a lot of time to go to various jewelry stores to check out the different settings, so I''m looking to you all for advice…Now my lack of experience will shine brightly: If I went with a setting with sidestones, is there a "rule of thumb" about the cut of the sidestones? For example, is it weird to have round cut sidestones with a princess cut diamond? Do sidestones take away from the beauty of the diamond? I want to get her something simple, classy, not too flashy and not too wide. Any insight, suggestions or warnings would be very much appreciated... Time is not on my side. Thanks in advance!!

-Mojo

 

[belle]

hello there mr. mojorisin! ...just a risin risin

okay, after trying to clear that song from my head

i am wondering.....how much time do you have exactly? hours...days...weeks? how much time is on your side?

 

[Mr.MojoRisin]

hello belle, to be quite honest...I was hoping to propose on Easter! I''ve had my mind made up for some time...last night I realized how foolish and lazy I''ve been and I need to commit now. Thanks for your interest and I look forward to your reply!!

 

[Kaleigh]

Oh my goodness, that is pushing it, Easter is this Sunday!! What have you seen, what is your budget??

 

[Mr.MojoRisin]

Yes, I''m the "all in or nothing" kind of guy that works best under pressure! haha

Budget is 9k...Stone will be min 6k...

 

[belle]

uh...next easter....right!?
alrighty then! well, i shall try to answer a few questions (quickly) for you...
as far as sidestones, you more than likely won''t see any princess centers flanked by rounds (yes, that would probably take away from the beauty!) you will find, on the whole, princess with matching sides, or similar square stones like baguettes (can''t go wrong there!). there will be many to choose from but, don''t worry, you will find something that "fits" her. if you''re not sure, you can always go with a temp. solitaire setting and let her choose the permenant mount. best of luck to you! let us know what you decide!
......risin risin....

 

[blueroses]

WOW, are you cutting it close. I''d actually recommend proposing with a "placeholder" fakey cz and then picking out her dream princess together...

BUT....if you are dead set on proposing with THE ring, here''s a very simple setting w/ baguettes from Whiteflash which is under 2k,

http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/Tiffany-Style-Solitaire-with-Baguettes_619.htm
which would leave you almost 7k for the stone....if you do a quick PS search above, you''ll see that you can do a lot with your budget.

What you can do with such a tight TIME budget, however, is for other PSers to advise....I''m sure that a lot of the vendors out there (Whiteflash, Niceice, goodoldgold, dirtcheapdiamonds) would be able to do something VERY FAST, and I''d really recommend that route over a B&M store.

 

[blueroses]

Or here's a plat. setting with pave instead of baguettes:

http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Platinum-Pave-Ring_672.htm

which is also under 2k



or the tried and true X-prong for princess in platinum, which is under 1300

http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Platinum-X-Prong-for-Princess_766.htm

 

[Mr.MojoRisin]

I definitely think she would like the baguettes...I''m glad you made that comment! Any suggestions on the 4 prong vs 6 prong (forgive my inexperience) or anything else I should consider when choosing a platinum setting? Belle, some useless information: Mr. Mojo Risin is Jim Morrison from the doors scrambled...ps, love your singing!

Woman don''t be shy...tell me what you like in a setting!
...and men, I''m interested to know what your better half wanted in a setting!

 

[blueroses]

Ok, I''m going overboard here (projecting a bit, I think, b/c my bf is also a procrastinator)

But you could get a VERY simple platinum solitaire setting like this:

http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Platinum-Sleek-Lines-Solitaire_688.htm

for $475 and then have 8500 for the stone.

 

[belle]

a lil bit of engraving and some trilliants are nice

hahaha.....decisions!

 

[blueroses]

Ok, I''m REALLY going overboard here, but here''s just an example of a couple of stones in your budget:

http://www.niceice.com/certcopies/gia13372589/index.htm

http://www.niceice.com/certcopies/gia13372589/index.htm

http://www.niceice.com/certcopies/gia13372590/index.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-777585.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/princess/Princess-cut-diamond-1211474.htm



....now, I know basically nothing about the specs which make a princess good or bad, I just wanted to show you that there are some serious options out there. I''d suggest getting on the phone right away and seeing what you can make happen in just over 72 hours!!

 

[blueroses]

Belle, those are YUMMY!!!!

Mr. Mojo, there are some great options out there. I think simple baguettes would really suit the princess, but I also like some of the more deco-y, pave stuff out there..... Tell us just a wee bit about her style--is she girly? classic? streamlined? Does she have to work a lot with her hands? Princesses have fragile corners and I know there are some tulip-style settings that might be more protective (or a bezel, for that matter!!)

You wouldn''t usually see a 6 prong with a square shape, normally 4.

Off to look for more possibilities for you!

 

[Mr.MojoRisin]

You guys rock! Thank-you so much, I truly appreciate it. Blueroses, to answer your question - She''s not really girly...she''s classic...simple but beatiful...she''s an environmentalist that does use her hands a lot testing groundwater and things like that. I''m nervous about how thin her fingers are. Something too big sort of looks funny on her hand.

Belle, that ring is gorgeous!! I''ve decided to send her pictures of different examples that you have given me, so I will let you know what sparks an interest! (the art of surprise will come when she see''s how quickly I got my act together on Sunday...)

This website is sooooooo helpful!!

 

[blueroses]

Mojo, I''m glad we can help a bit! Use the search function above as well to find other settings, vendors, stone info, etc.....you might do a search for last minute or something to see others'' experiences?

My suggestion would be to make a phone call asap tonight and see what you can get done. I''ve heard great things about Denise/Lesley/Brian at Whiteflash, Robin/Todd at Niceice, and Jonathan at GoodOldGold (aka Rhino on PS)....there are lots of good ones, but those are the names that spring to mind for me. I''d recommend finding out the feasibility of such a short-order thing and then proceed from there in terms of settings, etc.....with such a great budget and a fi2b with little fingers, you will probably be able to get a very high quality stone. Since she doesn''t want anything huge, remember that CUT is the most important of the 4cs!!

Good luck--we want the full report!

 

[Fiancee to be]

Mojo, if you''re still checking this thread I thought I might add something. My girlfriend also prefers the simple but elegant style of jewelry. If hasn''t told you that she wants sidestones you might want to check out a solitaire setting in white gold or platinum. Doing this will free up a lot more money for the center stone, which you can easily use to push up the size.

 

[Mr.MojoRisin]

**UPDATE**

My girlfriend looked at Belle''s suggested setting and looked at Blue Roses link to the Platinum X-Prong for Princess. The pave didn''t seem to excite her too much, so I''ve been able to narrow my search. This is what she wrote (door #2 = Belle''s and door #4 = X Prong):

"I liked door #2 and #4. I thought #4 was simple, yet original looking, and I was surprised that I liked #2 because I had told you that I didn''t think I''d like extra stuff on the side."

Where can I find Belle''s choice? This is exciting!! Now on to the stone...

 

[belle]

'belle's choice' ......sounds like an oscar winner!

the ring is a tacori so any jeweler could get it for you, but for the sake of simplicity, here is where i found it:

billbarnes.com
best of luck to you!!!

keep us posted!