Poll: Which pendant to go for?

[mayerling]

Hi everyone,

I know I should be posting this in CS but I thought I might get more responses this way. I'm finally ready to buy and would like some opinions on which pendant to go for.

Option number 1 is a sapphire and diamond halo pendant from Brian Gavin: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5661
The sapphire is dark blue with intense colour, and no visible inclusions.

Option number 2 is a sapphire and micropave diamond pendant from Blue Nile: http://www.bluenile.com/sapphire-diamond-pendant_8150
The sapphire is between 0.46 and 0.50 carat, and "shows even colour at a medium dark blue" (according to BN customer service).

Both look lovely to me, so I'm finding it hard to decide for myself. Please help!

 

[MissGotRocks]

Based on looks alone I prefer the BN pendant!

 

[yennyfire]

I agree with MGR....

 

[Tanzigrrl]

I prefer the bail on the BN pendant so I voted for that one. Either would be lovely

 

[AmeliaG]

Me too. BN

 

[princesss]

I prefer the bail on the BN pendant so I voted for that one. Either would be lovely

Ditto.

 

[junebug17]

I went with BGD - more diamond weight (.35 opposed to .10) and the quality of the diamonds seems better. Both are really pretty!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I also like the BN one b/c of the bale. I don't like the BGDs one.

Just a bit of thought though...I've ordered pendants from BN and one thing I don't like is they do not provide side shots of their pendants so the side view is a bit of a surprise when you get it (it took ordering three seperate times before I found an amethyst pendant I liked). They are very fast shippers and have a great return policy, so I'd say order and hope that you like the side as much as the front!

Good luck.

 

[mayerling]

I also like the BN one b/c of the bale. I don't like the BGDs one.

Just a bit of thought though...I've ordered pendants from BN and one thing I don't like is they do not provide side shots of their pendants so the side view is a bit of a surprise when you get it (it took ordering three seperate times before I found an amethyst pendant I liked). They are very fast shippers and have a great return policy, so I'd say order and hope that you like the side as much as the front!

Good luck.

I actually thought of that myself, MC, but unfortunately I don't think I can do that. If I go with BN I'll be ordering from their US store (if I order from the UK store I'll have to pay VAT which comes up to 20% making the pendant about £120 more expensive), and having it shipped to relatives in the US who will then bring it to Europe for me when they come over for my wedding. So I can't really return it; if they take it back with them I won't be able to receive the new one until the next time I'm in the US - and there are no plans for that any time soon.
Do you think I might be able to ask for a photo of the side view of the pendant?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I also like the BN one b/c of the bale. I don't like the BGDs one.

Just a bit of thought though...I've ordered pendants from BN and one thing I don't like is they do not provide side shots of their pendants so the side view is a bit of a surprise when you get it (it took ordering three seperate times before I found an amethyst pendant I liked). They are very fast shippers and have a great return policy, so I'd say order and hope that you like the side as much as the front!

Good luck.

I actually thought of that myself, MC, but unfortunately I don't think I can do that. If I go with BN I'll be ordering from their US store (if I order from the UK store I'll have to pay VAT which comes up to 20% making the pendant about £120 more expensive), and having it shipped to relatives in the US who will then bring it to Europe for me when they come over for my wedding. So I can't really return it; if they take it back with them I won't be able to receive the new one until the next time I'm in the US - and there are no plans for that any time soon.
Do you think I might be able to ask for a photo of the side view of the pendant?

For sure call and find out if they can provide a side view. They do have great customer service, I'm just not sure as to how far that extends (since they also don't provide all info about diamonds, etc.) .

That sucks that you can't order and return so easily. I live less than 30 miles from them so when I order something, the FED EX box arrives the next day. lol

Anyway, if you can't get a photo of the BN, possibly look around a bit more b/c the BN bale is so much more impressive than the BGD one...maybe you can find a similar one to the BN from another vendor.

 

[mayerling]

There's this one as well:

http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/Sapphires/Sapphire-Jewelry/Sapphire-Pendants/Jewelry=J2670

But it's not as nice-looking as BN, plus it's so much more expensive than both BN and BGD.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I voted for the BN one. But if I were making one that was not custom, I'd choose a round sapphire and have it set in a Beverley K setting. That would be my choice over either of these.

 

[mayerling]

I voted for the BN one. But if I were making one that was not custom, I'd choose a round sapphire and have it set in a Beverley K setting. That would be my choice over either of these.

Excuse my ignorance, but what's a Beverley K setting?

 

[VRBeauty]

Pearlman's carries BeverlyK settings.

 

[slg47]

Beverley K
http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/beverley-k-jewelry/necklaces/

I think those would be over budget though. I like the BGD one or you could go the custom route? I'm sure the CSers could help out

 

[mayerling]

Yeah, Beverly K is way over budget. I want to keep the whole thing below £650.

 

[karpouzi]

I would choose an eBay stone and setting and have them shipped to you, then send to a local jeweler to have set. Something like:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-15ct-Fine-Round-Portuguese-6mm-Natural-Blue-Sapphire-/250593231033?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item3a588540b9

+

http://cgi.ebay.com/ROUND-SOLID-14K-W-G-DIAMOND-SETTING-SEMI-PENDANT-MOUNT-/400224771432?pt=US_Fine_Necklaces_Pendants&hash=item5d2f415d68

(This is after a 2-minute search, just an example!)

 

[tyty333]

Daniel M makes a lovely setting also...you could get the CS folks to help you find a stone and then have daniel m set/mount
it for you.

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/48667076

 

[soocool]

I love the BN pendant hands down!

 

[mayerling]

Daniel M makes a lovely setting also...you could get the CS folks to help you find a stone and then have daniel m set/mount
it for you.

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/48667076

I'm a bit reluctant to go the custom route because, like I said, the pendant has to reach my relatives in less than two months so they can get it to me; otherwise it'll be too late. Doesn't custom work take longer?

 

[mayerling]

I would choose an eBay stone and setting and have them shipped to you, then send to a local jeweler to have set. Something like:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-15ct-Fine-Round-Portuguese-6mm-Natural-Blue-Sapphire-/250593231033?pt=Loose_Gemstones_1&hash=item3a588540b9

+

http://cgi.ebay.com/ROUND-SOLID-14K-W-G-DIAMOND-SETTING-SEMI-PENDANT-MOUNT-/400224771432?pt=US_Fine_Necklaces_Pendants&hash=item5d2f415d68

(This is after a 2-minute search, just an example!)

This does seem like a very good deal, but how would it work for me? Would the sapphire be sent to me and then I'd have to send it to be set? Because that would defeat the purpose of trying to avoid paying import duty? Or would the sapphire seller ship to the setting seller?

Does anybody know how this might work?

 

[marcy]

Both are pretty but I like BN better.

 

[mayerling]

For those who prefer the BN design, do you think that design should take precedence over quality? I'm saying this because the diamonds in the BG are of better quality...

This is basically what's bothering me. I love the BN look, but I know the BG will sparkle more.

 

[mayerling]

What about this one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18K1-30CT-WHITE-GOLD-HALO-SAPPHIRE-DIAMOND-PENDANT-/230627024909?pt=US_Fine_Necklaces_Pendants&hash=item35b271200d#ht_1387wt_1141

I like the design more than the BG, though less than BN, and the diamonds are of better quality.

 

[AmeliaG]

For those who prefer the BN design, do you think that design should take precedence over quality? I'm saying this because the diamonds in the BG are of better quality...

This is basically what's bothering me. I love the BN look, but I know the BG will sparkle more.

I wouldn't get the best diamond quality unless I could also get the best sapphire quality and honestly I don't know how the quality of the sapphires of either choice stacks up.

 

[tyty333]

For those who prefer the BN design, do you think that design should take precedence over quality? I'm saying this because the diamonds in the BG are of better quality...

This is basically what's bothering me. I love the BN look, but I know the BG will sparkle more.

I wouldn't get the best diamond quality unless I could also get the best sapphire quality and honestly I don't know how the quality of the sapphires of either choice stacks up.

Thats why custom would be the way I would go (you can pick what sapphire you want) but I understand you are under a time line.

I also think the Blue Nile is prettier.

 

[karpouzi]

This does seem like a very good deal, but how would it work for me? Would the sapphire be sent to me and then I'd have to send it to be set? Because that would defeat the purpose of trying to avoid paying import duty? Or would the sapphire seller ship to the setting seller?

Does anybody know how this might work?

If you could get the stone and setting for 20% less than the premade pendants you're looking at, then maybe it would be worth paying the import duty? And then you would avoid the stress of having it shipped to your relatives and not seeing it until the last minute. (I was thinking you would have both the stone and setting sent to you, then have a local jeweler set the stone, but I'm betting Tan would ship the stone to the setting seller as well.)

The thing about the BN/BGD pendants is that you aren't seeing the actual photo of the stone/piece. That would bother me on a $1000 purchase.

 

[swingirl]

I went with BGD - more diamond weight (.35 opposed to .10) and the quality of the diamonds seems better. Both are really pretty!

Yep, more carat weight and since the bale is plain all the diamond weight is in the halo. Even though the bale looks pretty in the photo I wonder how much sparkle you'll see off it. I'd also check the sapphire size of both pendants.

 

[Indylady]

Daniel M makes a lovely setting also...you could get the CS folks to help you find a stone and then have daniel m set/mount
it for you.

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/48667076

I'm a bit reluctant to go the custom route because, like I said, the pendant has to reach my relatives in less than two months so they can get it to me; otherwise it'll be too late. Doesn't custom work take longer?

Yes, it does take longer. I'd definitely ask both BN and BGD if their stones are heat only or if they've been BE difused. BE diffused stones are very inexpensive, and I wouldn't pay the pricetag of either of those vendors if their stones are BE diffused. Here is a really stunning sapphire for a very reasonable price http://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=8779 that will definitely have quick shipping--for the BGD melee, what I'd do is ask BGD what the cost of just the mount would be and ask if they can set or stone, or I'd go with Daniel M who is also very reliable.

 

[mayerling]

Daniel M makes a lovely setting also...you could get the CS folks to help you find a stone and then have daniel m set/mount
it for you.

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/48667076

I'm a bit reluctant to go the custom route because, like I said, the pendant has to reach my relatives in less than two months so they can get it to me; otherwise it'll be too late. Doesn't custom work take longer?

Yes, it does take longer. I'd definitely ask both BN and BGD if their stones are heat only or if they've been BE difused. BE diffused stones are very inexpensive, and I wouldn't pay the pricetag of either of those vendors if their stones are BE diffused. Here is a really stunning sapphire for a very reasonable price http://www.litnon.com/index.php?page=viewgem&id=8779 that will definitely have quick shipping--for the BGD melee, what I'd do is ask BGD what the cost of just the mount would be and ask if they can set or stone, or I'd go with Daniel M who is also very reliable.

I've asked BG about treatments on the stone and I'm still waiting to hear back. I think the stone comes from a third party vendor and they need to check with them.

I've also made an enquiry with Daniel M and I'm waiting to get some more details from them before I can decide whether going the custom way is doable.