Replicating rings for a proposal on a buget!

[smab]

Hello!

I have spent last couple hours browsing though the forums and I have to say I am impressed with how helpful everyone is! I was hoping to piggy back and receive some help of my own. I am going to be proposing to my girlfriend towards end of this month, she has a very picky taste in jewlery as she used to work at a store for years making my job difficult. However, I have taught myself and with her help and I have a pretty good grasp on what I am looking for. Now, we have decided on a $2300 MAX budget for the moment because we will be buying a house in coming months and we are putting all our money towards that and the future wedding. Our plan is to upgrade the ring 5 years down the road. With that said I was hoping to get help with the following:

I'd like to find a 1CT T.W. ring, here are my two current options:

This ring is the one she absolutely loves! Its a Royal Asscher and as such out of budget, but I was curious if this could be replicated somewhere at a decent price. (Shes very big on pink)



This next one is another one I know she loves, and the one that I have been working towards. Unfortunately the price on it was recently raised by about 400$ putting it out of budget. I am going to try and haggle but I doubt kay will be able to offer me the piece under $2300. This is my personal choice as I feel it captures her "princess-like" way of being.

1CT T.W.
1/2 CT Center Round Stone
Color: HI
Clarity: I1-I2



Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers,

 

[slg47]

what about a pink colored stone for the first ring?

 

[smab]

Yes! If I find a way to replicate the first it would be with a pink stone definetly. I wan't to keep them as pictured

 

[tyty333]

Here is a setting like the second one you posted. Unfortunately its still $1800. I would call ID Jewerly on Monday and
see what they can put together for you in your budget. They do nice work at resonable prices.

http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=95_100&products_id=9462

Edit - if you look on id jewelry under the Gaberial settings you will see more settings that *may* work that arent
as expensive.

http://idjewelryonline.com/gabriel.php

A .5 stone in a lower color/clarity will probaly run about $1000. Here is a nice AGS0 stone for $1200 that looks like it has
a prongable inclusion.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1433018.asp

this is about $1000...you would have to find out if its eye-clean to your standards
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1424656.asp

another...
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1445217.asp

 

[greta2603]

This one is very close to the second one you posted and it would leave you enough for a center stone:

http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=95_100&products_id=14225

 

[tyty333]

This one is very close to the second one you posted and it would leave you enough for a center stone:

http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=95_100&products_id=14225

I was going to post that one too! This would give you enough money left to get a half carat center stone.

edit
...you could do something like this to hold a pink square stone
http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=95_100&products_id=14916

or this (its like the round setting)
http://idjewelryonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=95_100&products_id=9463

I think after you do a little research you need to get her to decide whether she really wants a pink stone
or a diamond. Thats really going to affect the price of the setting (or vice versa).

Does it have to be an asscher cut? There is a pink squarish spinel on this page for $395.
http://www.gemfix.com/spinel.html

This page has a pink sapphire for $720
http://www.gemfix.com/sapphire_pink.html

The folks in the colored stone forum can help you if you decide you would like a pink stone.

 

[Gypsy]

http://www.beverleyk.com/semi-mounts/8wr1197-a-6-5rd-d-d-m.html Is beautiful. In 14k white gold you can call Pearlmans Jewelers and see what the quote they give you is.

I also adore this one: http://www.beverleyk.com/semi-mounts/8wrtj021-d-d-m.html


And ask Pearlmans to give you a quote on a pink sapphire for the center stone. Ask for Julian and he'll take care of you.

 

[distracts]

If I were you, I would absolutely try to go with the first ring, with a pink sapphire or spinel as the center stone (preferably a sapphire, IMO). You could probably commission an asscher-cut one from one of the gem cutters recommended in the colored stones forum area - you could see what you could get for $1000, say (or whatever is left over once you pick out the setting, minus about $300 for unexpected costs). If you are okay with a heated stone, you could probably get something fairly substantial size-wise and spend even less than that, which would leave more money for the setting. If its unheated, I think you could probably get almost 1 ct - it'll be smaller than a similar weight in diamond because sapphire is denser but probably bigger than a .5 diamond in that shape.

The other reason I think you should go with a pink sapphire is that you know you'll be upgrading in several years. Your first engagement ring will be very sentimental to both of you and you probably won't want to sell it, and if it's different than just a plain diamond ring, it makes sense to keep it so that she could wear her original sapphire ring or her new diamond ring, or move we original over to her right hand or something. However, if you were planning on selling the original ring before upgrading, I would get it from somewhere with a good upgrade or buy-back policy so that you don't have to deal with the secondary market (and get a diamond - idk anyone who buys back color stones).

Okay also I am biased toward a color stone ring because I have one. Full disclosure.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I think the first option is safer especially if you plan to upgrade. You can get a nicer setting and replace out the center stone with a diamond down the road. You can get an awesome asscher cut from precision cutters like Barry, Gene, Gary etc.

I wouldn't go with Kay's at all.

On the other hand, are you willing to go second hand?

 

[distracts]

Oh, and I forgot to add - also, if she likes the first one more, try to replicate that. She's the one who'll be wearing it every day. However, if you buy from any of the online vendors recommended, it will probably take more than until the end of the month. That's a downside. The upside is that you'll get a higher quality ring at a better price. The rings at stores like Kays and other jewelers that you can find in the mall are often overpriced for what they are, and if you are trying to save money, I think you could definitely get more bang for your buck at the places recommended upthread. And in my experience, it will be VERY hard to find a decent sapphire at a mall store.

If you would like to contact a gem cutter to see if they have rough that would be suitable for a pink sapphire asscher, here is who I personally would start with:

Jeff White http://www.whitesgems.com/ (has a minimum limit of $500)
Dana http://www.mastercutgems.com/ (doesn't have many pinks in stock, but I just bought a heated sapphire from him and he's amazingly nice)
Gene http://www.precisiongem.com/
Andrew http://www.gemfix.com/ (has the most pinks in stock currently so might be your best bet)
Simply Sapphires http://www.simplysapphires.com/index.html (highly recommended, ignore that the website looks like it's from the 1990s - Here is a ring you might want to show your gf, as it's in your price range)

The others CharmyPoo mentioned:
Barry http://www.acstones.com/
Gary http://www.finewatergems.com/

Here is a list of more:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/can-we-start-a-new-thread-with-respected-cs-vendors.169561/page-2']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/can-we-start-a-new-thread-with-respected-cs-vendors.169561/page-2[/URL]

I'd just send than an email or use the contact form saying you're looking for a pink sapphire, asscher-cut, for an engagement ring, would be interested in either natural or basic heat treated (no BE treatment), are flexible on carat size but hope for a measurement of at least 6 mm, include or link to a picture of the Royal Asscher ring, and give them your approximate budget, then see who thinks they'll be able to do it.

If she's not set on an asscher, you could show her the ones at Gemfix and see if any of them call out to her.

 

[motownmama]

You say the pink one she "absolutely loves." I would definitely post the picture on the colored stone forum and let all those knowledgeable folks chime in and you could replicate it for your budget.