Opinions needed on a Garland Band Project

[lizzyann]

Hello PSers! I currently have a three stone RHR in platinum. Center stone is .5 carat, sides each .25 carat totaling 1 carat. I have always loved the Garland style bands offered by Blue Nile and the custom one that Gypsy made and that Dreamer now owns. Here is a link to the BN one http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-eternity-ring-platinum_7823 And a link to Dreamer's thread on hers https://www.pricescope.com/forum/show-me-the-ring/dreamer-s-new-to-me-aurora-band-t166650-90.html

What I am debating on doing is taking the .25's out of my RHR and using them as two of the larger stones in the garland ring. I would still most likely have to buy three more .25's. The smaller stones would most likely be around 8 pointers. I would love to do full eternity but I don't think that will be in the budget. I'm thinking of quoting though BGD since Gypsy had commissioned them to do hers so they will certainly be very familiar with the style. I'm hoping Gypsy and Dreamer see this and weigh in as well. My question to you all is if I go this route, do you think I will end up with more or less of a hand presence with the garland 1/2 eternity with smaller stones versus my current three stone ring with a larger center stone? FYI... ring size is 5 1/4.

Oh and btw, this will be a push present for our baby that is due end of July! It has been a very long, hard road TTC and I really want something special to remind me of my blessing.

Here are a couple of pics of my current three stone to give you an idea of how much finger presence I currently have. Thoughts and comments much appreciated. Trying to sort though all of my ideas.

 

[lizzyann]

Oh and I also wanted to add that I found this on ID jewelry's website. Not exactly the same, but I thought I might contact them too to see if they have access to any stock settings that might be similar. I could probably save a couple bucks if so.

http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=53_127&products_id=10806

 

[Gypsy]

The hand presence will be HUGE!!! I think you will see a lot more bling on the hand than you do now. I'm so excited for you with this project!

Congratulations on the baby honey. And best wishes.

 

[armywife13]

Personally, I feel that it would give more presence. You will have diamonds all the way across the top of your finger. I recall Dreamer saying that she felt it gave more presence as well, but I am sure she will weigh in and answer herself.

My situation is slightly different, but I think it relates to your question of presence. My engagement ring was damaged and I can no longer wear it, it was a 1/2 ct princess cut haloed with pave on the band. Now I wear an eternity band with 20 point diamonds and I definitely feel like it has a much larger presence.

Congrats on your pregnancy and baby!

 

[lizzyann]

Gypsy, thank you so much! Your Aurora is such a beautiful band! I was perusing BGD's diamond offering in the .25 carat range. Do they not sell .25's as signature stones only Select? I'm just trying to give myself a somewhat ball park on price. Given I already have two .25's G-SI1 that should work, I'm thinking the bulk of the cost is going to be in the setting itself. I definitely want platinum. I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and just email Lesley. I'm kind of afraid that the cost is going to be higher than I think. Do you think it would be worth it to quote though WF too? I just feel BGD is going to know exactly what I'm looking for and then we can just tweak it a bit you know?

Armywife, thank you! We are very excited for baby #2! I remember you saying that your new eternity band gives a bigger presence than your original e-ring. It looks great on you! Did you end up sizing up just in case? I wish I could afford to do the Garland full eternity! That would be sweet! I actually debated on just pulling my .25's and doing a full eternity versus the garland but I have been eyeing the garland for awhile so I'm heading that way.

.

 

[armywife13]

Lizzyann, I actually didn't size up like most people do. I am in the process of losing weight, pregnancy weight to be exact, so my ring size has been going down. If only my other sizes would Doing an eternity is also a good option.....but the garland is sooooo yummy! If I would have seen that style ring before I got my eternity, I would have done that instead!

 

[Gypsy]

Hi Honey, I think they only send 30 pointers and above to AGS, and all Signature line stones have AGS reports. You can go with uncertified stones from them at 25 points to save money... or talk to them about Select Line stones.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

When I got my bezel leverback earrings (F-G SI1) from WF a few years ago, they told me that that was the largest melee size, (.25ct each (.5 ctw). They are WF ACA "melee" and are GORGEOUS! I would have no concerns whatsoever about getting those stones for a ring, plus it is a little more affordable.

My guess would be that BGD has a similar policy and their melee is similarly gorgeous!!!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Lizzy! Congrats, I have been bad and have not popped in to wish you well but I did follow the end of your journey and was jumping for joy at your news!

Ok, first NO QUESTION you will get more hand presence with the Aurora. You have to get it, it is the most amazing ring ever. You know I have owned a few diamonds in my day , and I am not kidding when I say this band out blings all of them, including my 1.7ct solitaire. It is the most amazing ring. I wear mine every day paired with my thin knife edge band. I get compliments on it every time I wear it. Honestly, get it.

I think for a RHR using .25cts for the keystones and 6-7 pointers for the smaller stones would be divine. You would not get AGS stones, you could use .25ct melee in the F-G VS quality and it would save a little money. The ring would still be pretty crazy blingy in those protortions. In the proportions I have, the ring is *very* prominent and eye catching.

You do not need full eternity. In fact, I would not recommend it, it wouldn't be comfortable and half eternity is so practical and comfortable with kids.

Go with BGD they know what they are doing, I don't see why to go anywhere else unless you just straight out order the Blue Nile one. My only suggestion if you go through BGD is to tweak the gallery -- I would lower the stones personally, as low as possible, or talk about other ways of setting the stones to make the gallery a little less "prongy". This is simple for BGD to do, they CAD everything from scratch anyways.

Woo hoo! I hoe you get it! Let me know if you have any other questions!

 

[lizzyann]

Armywife, congrats on losing weight! You'll be at your target before you know it!

Gypsy, ok great to know. Now it makes sense why I didn't see any certed .25's. I think I would be happy using their non certed signature melee in that size range. Is there anything that you would have changed with the styling of the ring now that you have owned it and had a chance to examine it? Let me know your thoughts. I don't know if I should contact BGD now or wait a little. I most likely wouldn't be purchasing it till the summer after baby is born and I get a chance to see how my finger size recovers. What do you think? Get the ball rolling or wait a bit? Also, the full eternity garland ring that cakegirl has, those larger stones used seem smaller to me than yours. Any idea on what the size the larger stone is in that ring? Even though I don't like the prong placement on the Tiff Aria, I might try to go get down there to try one on to see it. I think those stones are much smaller though.

Bella, thanks for commenting on the stone size. I would also feel completely comfortable going with their signature melee from either WF or BGD. I own BGD's bangle with their sig stones and it is sparkly as heck! ANd hey, if it will save me a couple bucks then that works for me!



Dreamer, hope you and your family are doing well! We are more than ecstatic that we finally have a baby on the way. It certainly was worth the wait! Thank you for commenting on the hand presence. I just didn't want to get it and then miss that presence of the .5 carat stone. I want blingy! I definitely will be happy using BGD's signature melee for both the large and the smaller stones. I love the quality of the stones in my bangle so I think that would work out and save me a couple of bucks. I also think I will go with platinum as white gold tends to get yellow pretty quick on me. Regarding the gallery, I already knew that I want them all to be the same height. I don't want the center stones up higher. I'm wondering if the gallery of the BN one might be better and address that bracey look you are talking about. Here is the link to the non eternity BN one so you can see the gallery. http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-wedding-ring-platinum_7822 SHould I stick with the basket setting like yours or go with this lower one like BN? I kind of like both for different reasons. I like a basket so maybe they could just make all the diamonds flush, keep the setting like yours, but just lower the stones. I definitely like the miligrain touch as well and the half bezel used where it transitions into the shank of the ring. I think eventually I may want to stack a narrow diamond band with it, so I do want to keep the height on the lower side. One last thing is that I don't think I will be purchasing till this summer after baby is born and my finger size has recovered. Do you think I should contact BGD for a quote now or wait a bit? Also do you recommend getting this sized to a perfect fit, a little on the snug side, or a little looser. Right now, my RHR is a 5 BIG. So I am debating on bringing it up to a 5 1/4 for a little more space.

 

[lizzyann]

Hmmm...now I'm wondering if it would be possible to use my .5carat stone and buy two more .5carats. But then the ends of the band would have the two smaller stones versus a larger one. Not sure if that would work. Gypsy, I think you explored a similar option didn't you?