WasatchWarrior|1478218225|4093457 said:Awesome info on the OECs. I had no idea but now that I look closer at your avatar I TOTALLY see what you're saying. I think that is gorgeous and something that I would consider. My concern is that I don't think my dollar will go as far on that and might be able to get the same type of return policy if I purchased an OEC.
I think I haven't done a good job of explaining myself, sorry for that. She doesn't wear a lot of jewelry and I don't see her as the type of person that will be so specific in what she wants that she will want to pick out her own ring. In knowing her and her personality I truly think she will love the fact that I put so much work into getting something special and surprising her. I could be wrong but I have the peace of mind of the return policy. Here is what I know, from things she has said she wants a white metal in an engagement ring and she doesn't want a simple solitaire. Those are the only specific things she has said about engagement rings and she said them in casual conversation during the time we have been together. Next I have her Pinterest account. She pins a million things but it's all food related and only a handful of pins had anything to do with fashion and only a fraction of those were jewlery with the rest being clothing. 2 years ago I gave her a a pearl bracelet for xmas and she LOVED it and to this day says her favorite part is that the clasp on the bracelet is decorative and not plain but rather pretty and unique. This tells me she is going to want a unique and pretty setting. I think vintage STYLE but maybe I'm wrong.
Sorry for the long post, but what I am trying to figure out if everyone just thinks the setting I've chosen is not very attractive and if that is totally the case then I will gladly switch to another setting but if it's just about letting her pick and not the setting I've chosen then that doesn't help my situation. Lady- I really liked the 1st setting you posted, like I said earlier I almost chose that over the one I posted above. Are there other settings that you think might work for what I've described? And is it safe to assume that you find the one you posted to be more attractive just overall? If so why?
JLW05|1478231154|4093539 said:I haven't been very thorough about reading through this thread but if you are thinking about buying from JA, there was recently a 25% off sale. Loose diamonds were not included but settings and wedding bands were. At the time-just last week- I spoke to a JA sales rep and she said that there was a good chance this sale would be repeated Thanksgiving Weekend. For you, the money saved on the setting could go toward an upgrade on the diamond.
JLW05|1478231154|4093539 said:I haven't been very thorough about reading through this thread but if you are thinking about buying from JA, there was recently a 25% off sale. Loose diamonds were not included but settings and wedding bands were. At the time-just last week- I spoke to a JA sales rep and she said that there was a good chance this sale would be repeated Thanksgiving Weekend. For you, the money saved on the setting could go toward an upgrade on the diamond.
LadyMCh said:Hmm... just got home from a hockey game and scoped out the James Allen site. IDK if this one is out of budget, but it has a couple lovely vintage touches and a halo. Thought it was at least worth a look. https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...liant-diamond-halo-engagement-ring-item-53062
The filigree one just doesn't do it for me because it is, IMHO, too modern looking. There's no milgrain or discernible pattern to what they're calling filigree (like floral, leaf, scrollwork, geometric, etc.). It looks maybe wavy or swirly? And the semi-halo head is square-ish, but turned at a 90 degree angle, and set with only stones at N, S, E, & W. But again, that's just my opinion, and I'm just some random stranger on the internet! Lol. Anywho, a practical consideration would be if she's going to have a wedding band? The shape of the setting you picked would not allow for a flush-fit band, unless you have a band custom made. If it is worn with a straight band, there will be a gap. I have a ring and plain, straight band that I will post a pic of so you can see what I'm talking about. My gap is small and doesn't bother me, but some people don't like having a ring gap.
farrahlyn|1478275973|4093679 said:A few things. to be honest, your budget is really a 14k gold budget if you want to maximize the size of your stone. Do a little searching on the forum, there are some posts about the pros and cons of 14k gold vs platinum. You should be ok with 14k, lots of ladies on here that have it and no problem with their setting. My first setting was 14k and i wore it for 15years with no issues and my current ring (1yo) is micropave 14k and no problems.
So, with your purchase, you could be a bit sneaky. JA will most likely be having a T-day sale, they usually do on holidays and last year was 25% iirc. a few days before, come on here and get some opinions on diamonds. Factor in the discount you'd get on the setting and pick a few stones accordingly (maybe a few different sizes since you really don't know for sure what the discount will be) and put them on hold. i believe you can do this with 3, max but i'm not entirely sure how long they will hold them. i'm sure someone else will be able to tell you. If they don't have a sale, you can go ahead with a purchase on a smaller stone after t-giving with some help from the experts here, nothing lost.
ETA: My vote is for the halo with marquise/round stones in the band. I think its beautiful! Also, even though you guys are active, she may not want to wear her e-ring while hiking, etc. I don't wear my ring to do housework, workout or run around outside with the kids. hiking or indoor rockclimbing, etc i'll wear just my wedding band or nothing at all. My fingers tend to swell up when i get hot and i prefer nothing a lot of the time when i'm being active. Just a thought to consider.
whitewave|1478278400|4093697 said:I personally can't stand a cathedral setting-- don't know why-- just hate them.
I do like the second one ac117 posted.
But I like the original most of all...
WasatchWarrior said:Okay so I am probably being too stubborn when it comes to insisting on platinum. One thing though that played a role in wanting platinum is that I was was told it normally doubles the setting cost and on the setting I originally posted it was only $300 more or <30% so that seemed like too good of a deal not to spring for the platinum.
Also her friend got back to me and she was indeed referring to the halo marquise when she said she didn't think it was a good choice and looked too princess-ish. I completely disagree with the princess comment but I also respect her opinion on what my intended would like. What was interesting though in talking to her was that we both agreed that our favorite part of that setting was the floral style basket and her friend said that since you can only see that from the side then it isn't worth chosing that setting over the filigree type one. That seems like a really good point to me so considering all of that I think I now back to leaning towards my original setting choice. Gosh this is hard lol, regardless I am going to need to sleep on it for a few days before I buy.
In regards to the sale...I'm assuming it is only 25% off of the setting, not the stone, but you said 25% off of iirc and I don't know what "iirc" stands for...can you clarify? Not sure if you saw my other post but I looked on JA and it doesn't seem like 25% off of my setting price would be enough to get me to a .8 or close to .9 stone given the apparent jump in prices from a percentage standpoint when you go above .75 carat. Am I correct?
ac117|1478278613|4093698 said:whitewave|1478278400|4093697 said:I personally can't stand a cathedral setting-- don't know why-- just hate them.
I do like the second one ac117 posted.
But I like the original most of all...
Whitewave, I know you have the best intentions, but this ring isn't for you. If the OP states he doesn't like cathedral settings, then I would understand your comment. But right now, it's counterproductive. Same with the comments re: fluorescence. Let's stay focused on helping the OP.
ac117|1478278140|4093693 said:Did you see this option I posted for you - you could afford platinum? You could ask them to add milgrain (I think they do that for free) for a bit of vintage flare. See recent purchases below the setting and there are a couple of examples with milgrain and two with .70ct stones
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/platinum-inspired-diamond-engagement-ring-item-41126
ETA: Kb1gra has the setting above with a .8 stone and it's lovely...picture shared on this thread: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/james-allen-setting-options-would-like-some-input.211078/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/james-allen-setting-options-would-like-some-input.211078/[/URL]
I also like this option posted: https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/jeff-cooper/14k-white-gold-lola-engagement-ring-item-54229
WasatchWarrior|1478283756|4093738 said:ac117|1478278140|4093693 said:Did you see this option I posted for you - you could afford platinum? You could ask them to add milgrain (I think they do that for free) for a bit of vintage flare. See recent purchases below the setting and there are a couple of examples with milgrain and two with .70ct stones
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/platinum-inspired-diamond-engagement-ring-item-41126
ETA: Kb1gra has the setting above with a .8 stone and it's lovely...picture shared on this thread: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/james-allen-setting-options-would-like-some-input.211078/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/james-allen-setting-options-would-like-some-input.211078/[/URL]
I also like this option posted: https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/jeff-cooper/14k-white-gold-lola-engagement-ring-item-54229
The first setting is very pretty. Set with a .8 and it is very stunning. You're right about the milgrain! Adds a subtle bit of vintage flare! Sorry for not responding to it before, I did see it when you first posted it and that along with the 2nd setting you said you liked were ones I ran by her friend along with the setting Lady suggested and neither were ones she thought my girlfriend would prefer. As for cathedral settings I think they are super nice and wouldn't have an issue going that route.
Farrahlyn: Those are super nice real life photos of what the settings actually look like in person! I texted both to her friend so we will see what she says. Appreciate the input. I think it is cool that each of those has >.3 caret weight so if I get a .7 stone then the total ring is >1.0 in diamonds! Maybe that is a silly thing to like, but for a laymen such as myself I find it pretty appealing lol. I get what people are saying with the 14k...you either get more for your money or you just get a much cheaper setting without sacrificing how pretty it looks. One concern with both of those pictures though....the center stones look awfully big, that makes me worry that a stone like .6 or .7 might not look as nice as what is in the photos...any idea how big those rocks are?
Whitewave: you have been very kind and very helpful. I appreciate your input and kind words. I'm leaning towards the mountain but I will post pictures when it is all said and done. I think everyone has been super helpful and doing their best to try and help me and I can't thank everyone enough for how generous they have been with their time in order to help me.
Regardless of what her friend says about the two settings Farrahlyn posted I think I need to sleep on it. Also part of me is considering going to the intended's mother and getting her opinion. On the one hand I think that would be a pretty good way to get the exact setting that my girlfriend will love but on the other hand I don't know if the intended would like that I did that. Not that they don't have a great relationship or anything, she just might not like the idea that her mom picked out the setting, not that she would be the one picking out the setting, rather guiding me, or helping choose from a short list. But I do worry if that is kind of like cheating, if that makes sense.