Quest U-prong vs. X-prong?

[february2003bride]

I went to Quest today and thought I would get the x-prong/trellis/Lucida but ended up picking out a U-prong solitare! I wish I had a picture and may call Quest tomorrow to see if they had one since my DH doesn''t sound confident that it''ll look nice. But basically it''s like the Lucida but, instead of an X-prong is a U-prong and there is no bar on the sides. The sides are open totally so you see the entire diamond. It''s in there securely but it''s very cool how you see the entire diamond on the open sides.

But I''m having second thoughts as to whether it''s the one or not. It''s like a Lucida but with a twist. It fit perfectly with my wedding and anniversary bands so that wasn''t a concern. Quest is also making it a bit thinner. The one I tried on was 3.25 mm wide and I''m having mine made closer to 3mm.

I have until next week to make any changes and I can''t go back anytime soon to try them on again. I also tried a Cartier repo that was gorgeous. Quest had a 3 stone x-prong but I couldn''t get a good idea of whether I loved it or not. I''m definitely havign second thoughts, especially after the face DH made when I described it, lol.

Ack, help!

 

[gailrmv]

Hi Carrie,
I feel like I have seen pics of a U prong - maybe on Whiteflash''s site? And I thought it was really nice! The picture I saw had a surprise diamond on the side and I really like that detail. If you had a good gut feeling about it, that counts for a lot, because I know you have been thinking about this a long time.

By the way, does your insurance give you credit for your old setting breaking? Just wondering - I''ve been trying to figure out some things about insurance lately. If it does not, have you thought about using the platinum from that setting to make a new setting? Might save some $$ with the price of plat being so high.

It would be great if you could get some pics to show your husband. sometimes my husband has trouble visualizing something and then I show him a pic and he''s like OH.

If you still have second thoughts, there''s no harm in going with the x prong, b/c you have been thinking about that one a long time and you know you like it! The only concern that I would have is whether it is wider than you want.

hope this helps! can''t wait to see the new setting!

 

[gailrmv]

Hi Carrie, Just checking in to see what''s going on with your reset?! Any more thoughts about it over the weekend? Can''t wait to see pics!

 

[divergrrl]

FebBride: I was looking for this topic from you, because I am just atwitter with anticipation....LOL.

The U prong sounds wonderful. I think the absence of the bar would be a good thing, allowing more diamond to be seen. And if it fits with your wedding bands, well that in itself is a battle won! Woo hoo for you!

Find a pic and post if you can, and don''t say yes to a wax until you''ve had it on your finger, with your bands. I made a few changes to my wax before I approved it and I''m glad I didn''t move too fast.

Good luck & happy resetting!!

Jeannine

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I am not a fan of the X-prong but I LOVE the U-prongs. I think it is a personal decision.

 

[february2003bride]

Thanks Gail, Jeannine and Tacori!

I thought about it over the weekend and while the U-prong had that WOW factor, long term (since I won''t be upgrading or changing my setting again, that I know of) I decided against it. The U-prong was a very modern setting and stunning but I felt like the wow factor would wear off over time and I''d be stuck with a more contemporary setting than I really wanted.

I also did not go with the x-prong/trellis ring.

What I ended up choosing is a cross between the Lucida and the Cartier 1895 solitare. It''ll have the shank of the Lucida, where the cathedral arms go slightly wider toward the diamond (whereas the Cartier tapers) and the prongs will be the Cartier 1895 basket style and it''ll be made in platinum.

My only concern is it fitting with my anniversary band, height-wise. I actually don''t care about them sitting flush but I do want them to mesh well. When the ring is about 70% done, I''ll go visit Quest and we''ll put the e-ring on with my bands and see how they fit. If my anniversary band is too tall, Quest can shave a bit off so it fits a little better.

I''d love to get a princess channel eternity band but I think DH will bust if I mention another jewelry project

Baby steps, lol.

Huan Tain at Quest has been awesome to work with and totally "got" what I wanted! I''m a bit nervous about what the final result will be and that the ring will make my diamond look smaller. But Huan asked me to trust him that he would make sure that didn''t happen.

Anyway, I''ll definitely post pictures when I get the ring! They are so busy (and I was their 4th pricescope customer that DAY!) that it''ll be 3-4 weeks before I get the ring

Thanks again for everyone''s help!!

Carrie

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Oh, I can''t wait to see it. I LOVE my princess e-band. I just love the look of stone next to stone next to stone (vs. prongs, bead set) You might be able to get one made cheaper than expected. If you aren''t as picky as me there are many ready made ones.

 

[divergrrl]

MUST.....SEE.....PICTURES......


can you have Quest email wax shots? This really is torture, I think about your ring everytime I log on. I need a diversion girl.....c''mon now!

Jeannine

 

[february2003bride]

Tacori- I''m thinking of asking Quest if they can make me one but using the princess stones from my current anniversary band so it shouldn''t cost too much. When I go in next, I need to ask. I love most eternity bands but the princess channels are my fav!

Jeannine- Actually, the ring has changed again and it''s all Pete''s fault! Just kidding

I was worrying a bit that the shank might be too wide and overwhelm my little 1.06 princess but I didn''t want to call Quest and bug them and possibly add confusion to the project. But last week before I went in, I had e-mailed Timmy (at his request) pictures of rings I was considering. Timmy forwarded my e-mail a few days later to Pete, not knowing that I had already been in in the next day and met with Huan.

So Pete called me on Thursday to discuss the ring and I took that opportunity to discuss with him my worries. He agreed that if I wanted to showcase the center stone, to go thinner not wider, would be best. The downside? I don''t care for tapered settings at all. And to add to the confusion (which I was trying to avoid) over the phone, Pete and I were talking about two totally different rings that were in the showcase! So I went in that afternoon and Pete gave me the Cartier copy which was way too thin. I found the ring that *I* was talking about and it was perfect! The cathedral shank is 2.5mm but looks a bit thinner. And they are going to use the Cartier-copy basket. It fits perfectly with my 2mm Facets band! I don''t remember if it was a perfect fit or pretty darn close with my anniversary band but I''m actually not worried about it.

I''m also having Quest make a very simple white gold setting for a marquis citrine that my mother gave me 10 years ago. It''s my daughter''s birthstone and now one of my son''s (both November babies

) but the setting was verrrry dated. I know nothing about the citrine other than the shape but it has tons of sentimental value! But sometime next year I want Quest to make a micropave halo ring for it. I can''t do it right now but I wanted to citrine out of the dated setting and into a simple fresher one so I could atleast wear it as a rhr! Of course now I need something sapphire since Dillon''s birthday is in September! Right?!?

Seriously, they are so nice at Quest! While we talked on Thursday, they cleaned my hubby''s ring for free! My completion date is November 13

So far away!

I am a bit nervous about how the engagement ring will turn out but on the other hand, I have no doubt Quest will make it beautiful.

I hope you are doing better! That''s so sweet of you to think about my ring, lol. It''s just a plain ol'' solitare! No pave, no diamonds, no claw prongs, no halos. I promise to post 5 pages of pictures when I get it though!! And Quest said no wax pictures for me! I didn''t ask why but I do know they are swamped! They''ll call me when it''s 70% done to approve everything and then I guess I get it a few days later?

How is your ring holding up? Are the pave diamonds doing ok??

And Tacori- have you gotten your wedding pictures back yet??

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 10/21/2006 2:15:32 PM
Author: february2003bride
And Tacori- have you gotten your wedding pictures back yet??

Waaa....no!

it's been 11 weeks! Maybe I should contact them again

 

[gailrmv]

Carrie, can''t wait to see it! It sounds wonderful!

Sorry for the thread jack, but had to vent - just noticed that my diamond is loose!!! I had my ring sized down about a week ago and I''m sure it has something to do with it. It has never been loose before. I just hope that it didn''t affect the integrity of the head. Probably not. It''s just an inconvenience, because the soonest they are open again is Tuesday and I''ll have to be very creative with my schedule to get there before next weekend. Makes me mad b/c I want to wear my ring every single day!!! Minor in the scheme of things (even in the jewelry scheme of things), but I am bummed.

 

[lisaC]

Hopefully you''ll be able to wear the citrine set in white gold without your finger getting irritated- I remember you had a problem with your pendant...
And thank goodness platinum is not bothering you anymore. Can''t wait to see the finished rings.

 

[february2003bride]

Gail-

When I''ve had my re-ring sided, I know the jeweler always tightens the prongs. A friend had to resize her ring just 1/4 size and both her center stone and her sidestones were loose! Can you wait while they tighten the prongs?

 

[february2003bride]

Lisa-

You know what? I totally forgot that my whitegold pendant had irritated my skin. I wonder if it was the fact that it was 14K wg? I need to ask Quest but I think they are doing 18K wg which I *know* I can wear.

Anyway, after all that I went though it ended up being a food additive allergy and not a metal one!

I mean, it''s a good thing but still, I almost totally reset *everything* in yellow gold out of frustration, lol.

 

[swingirl]

What is Quests website. I can''t seem to find them.

 

[ljmorgan]

http://www.questjewelers.com