Ring is ready! Only problem? I'm not crazy about it.

[cookies]

Getting a bigger stone now means losing $$$ on the setting AND having to fork out more money (again) for a suitable setting.

It's a lose-lose situation. I f'd up, made an uninformed decision, and now I have to pay thousands to correct it. I was hoping for a solution from GOG but there doesn't seem to be a viable one that's not going to cost a ton of money.

I'm not made of money here, so basically, any option is a bad one.

Sorry that you are stuck in this seemingly bad situation. I want to say that, some people are really good at visualizing a setting based on a couple pictures, but many people are not. Some of the latter may get better over time through experience, e.g. after doing several custom projects, but I don't think it's unusual for them to screw up the first time, because they may not know at all what to avoid, what to watch out for, etc. That being said, I do understand when the result is not as expected, it hurts a lot, both emotionally and financially.

I have only one suggestion for you -- if you do decide to get a new setting, make sure you either see the setting in real life before buying, or try very hard to visualize it in your head, and don't rush to buy until you are very sure you like every aspect of the setting.

 

[yssie]

If you see it and wind up not liking it (and again, I think there is a very real chance that the photos are in fact not entirely representative of how it looks IRL) --

Do you think she'd like a coloured stone in the original setting as a right hand ring? If you think so, it could be a wedding gift, or you could hold onto it for a couple of years and tell the tale then, and pick out something for it together (I promise, once you're past all of this it'll be a lot easier to laugh )

Here's another option: have the stone unset. Propose with the stone set in a very cheap temporary solitaire. THEN show her the setting you've got now, and find out what she thinks. This solves three problems:
- You propose with something you like
- She has something to actually wear and show off
- You talk about the current setting and make a decision together - it might turn out that she thinks it's perfect, more perfect than any other setting, and I sort-of suspect that if she *loves* it then you'll dislike it rather less, just because she's so happy with it And if not you don't need to come to us for ideas, you can go straight to the authority!

 

[yopeyone]

Alright everyone - thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to stop posting here until I see it tomorrow.

 

[GregS]

I like the ring. I've seen people proud of a lot worse on here.

 

[Rhea]

I do hope that you report back, I'm interested to know what you think once you've seen it in real life. And I hope that it was a big worry and stress over nothing. Finger crossed for you.

 

[NonieMarie]

I think everyone has been very patient with you. Yssie had a great idea. If when you receive the ring, you still are unhappy, set the diamond in a plain solitaire. The stone is perfect and unique. I believe you said your GF is not a flashy person so going to a larger size makes no sense. The larger stone may be bigger but it is not as special as the one you have. Show her the setting and if she does not like it, list it on the bistro or ebay. I bet David Klass could make you the setting that you want for a lot less then $4k.
There are a lot more important things to be stressed about. Just wait until you have children; they won't be as perfect as you want them to be no matter how much you obsess!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Looking at the photo of the two stones you are considering, that larger stone is NOT anywhere near as nicely cut as the AVC, I don't think you should have been happy with that choice either.

Second, your ring does look like a $12k ring That is how much really big, well cut diamonds cost. The settling is only a small part of the package. I think you are working yourself into a tizzy because you made a huge purchase and that's scary.

My concrete suggestions:

1) See it first, consider proposing with it AS IS because I am sure it will be much lovelier than you think from photos, and the rose gold is unique and the diamond well cut.

2) If you are not happy then resell the mount and propose with a simple solitaire.

3) return the diamond, resell the mount, start over and consider it a pricey lesson.

 

[Dreamer_D]

If you see it and wind up not liking it (and again, I think there is a very real chance that the photos are in fact not entirely representative of how it looks IRL) --

Do you think she'd like a coloured stone in the original setting as a right hand ring? If you think so, it could be a wedding gift, or you could hold onto it for a couple of years and tell the tale then, and pick out something for it together (I promise, once you're past all of this it'll be a lot easier to laugh )

Here's another option: have the stone unset. Propose with the stone set in a very cheap temporary solitaire. THEN show her the setting you've got now, and find out what she thinks. This solves three problems:
- You propose with something you like
- She has something to actually wear and show off
- You talk about the current setting and make a decision together - it might turn out that she thinks it's perfect, more perfect than any other setting, and I sort-of suspect that if she *loves* it then you'll dislike it rather less, just because she's so happy with it And if not you don't need to come to us for ideas, you can go straight to the authority!

I also very much like both of these ideas if you see the setting and are not happy.

 

[webdiva]

It's good that you've stopped posting and are waiting for the ring. I still think you should just give it to her.

However, if both of you don't like it...you need to understand WHY the ring you chose is different than the inspiration picture. If you don't, you'll just repeat your mistakes.

Look at the picture of the ring Gypsy posted and the one you saw in GOG. It is NOT the same ring. The ring Gypsy suggested looks like your inspiration ring. Smaller melee all around the head of the halo - it's encrusted in pave. Not the same ring. I repeat, the one you had in your hand was NOT the one Gypsy recommended to get the more delicate look.


Inspiration ring:


Had you gotten this ring, it would have looked more like the inspiration ring. HOWEVER, that said, it would still have been smaller than the inspiration picture because the diameter of the diamond is smaller. To make the melee proportional to the size of your stone, the entire ring needs to get scaled down and it sounds like your disappointed by how much smaller the entire ring is based on your post of the picture with your stone on the pinky finger.

Watch this video with the perfect halo with a .99 stone. I think you'd be disappointed by how small it looks in relation to your inspiration pictures:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NY2Iq56oAY

 

[orbaya]

I think the ring in question here is now on GOG's Facebook page. They have several photos of it and it is gorgeous!!

 

[Mayk]

WAIT!!!! Is that your ring on GOG's Facebook page...???? OMG it's beautiful!!!!! If it's not.. sorry for the interruption!!!

 

[VanillaBean]

I just looked, WOW! Seriously, the ring is gorgeous!

 

[packrat]

I need to just say this again - this setting, and the Bev K was the closest in SHAPE to the inspiration one that I can find. I saw the Bev K in person and didn't like it. I had to take a gamble on the Gabriel as it's all myself and GOG could come up with (other than a $4,000 custom) which is a lot of money for something made out of $200 worth of gold.

You do realize you're talking to folks in a JEWELRY FORUM. Try telling the CAR FORUM folks that their Rolls Royces & Lamborgini's are made from the same 2K of materials your Honda Civic is.

Also, jamming a 2 ct rock into that setting won't work and/or improve the aesthetics AT ALL.

I understand that, and I knew that going into it. Where my judgement failed me is when I tried to envision the stone I chose on the halo I chose. I was debating between a regular cushion over 1.7 cts and this (much) smaller AVC (as AVC's carry quite a premium). They were around the same price.

Just spoke to them again:

1) They don't recommend rhodium plating the top of the halo [so this is out]
2) A larger diamond will not fit the halo [so this is out]

They did generously offer to buy back the Gabriel setting for $500 - significantly lower price than I paid - but something they didn't have to do. I really appreciate this offer, but the setting I'd end up getting instead would set me back over 3k, bringing my total cost for this ring up to $15,000. Possibly the highest price ever paid for ring with a diamond of that size & specs. I wouldn't be able to stomach being the worst shopper in world history; knowing I overpaid due to a stupid mistake.

So my options are either see it in person and hope I fall in love with it or 2) pay a lot of money to make it right -whether this means consigning & starting over or something else.

Haven't finished the rest of the thread yet but just wanted to say..dude if I added up all my screw ups to get my forever-dream ring, I would probably vomit. I doubled my budget, and if I could go back and retrieve the screw up-money, I'd have been able to get bigger diamonds or a matching diamond band out of the deal. Instead, it's a minor irritation now that I have my kickassiest rings evah. It's an embarrassment for sure, and while I'm sure he wasn't happy about the extra money, the husband just cares that I'm happy now..and probably figures I'll shut the hell up about jewelry for a while. I hemmed and hawed and bit my nails and pulled my hair and made myself literally sick over it--and STILL managed to mess it up the first time around. Let her be the judge of the ring, she's the one that gets to wear it. Let her know if there's anything about it she may want to change to just say the word-but don't tell her YOU think there's things that need to be changed. Your idea of chunky may be completely different than hers.

 

[Enerchi]

WAIT!!!! Is that your ring on GOG's Facebook page...???? OMG it's beautiful!!!!! If it's not.. sorry for the interruption!!!

I think it is! It's incredible!!! WOW - love all those shots - IMO, if that was my e-ring - I'd be TOTALLY in love with that!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yes, I saw it on GOG FB, too! It is beautiful and I would have an attack at the thought of you taking that stone OUT of the setting to propose! Every guy that chooses a setting on his own needs to propose with the ring and make clear that if she doesn't like the setting, she is free to change it. Period. The ring is going to be tiiiiny compared to these pictures and the halo is NOT too big. I really think you are off track here. AVC's are some of the most beautiful diamonds in the world.

 

[yopeyone]

Damn!!!!! Well if they sent me these pictures to begin with!

Those pictures on FB must be it. I changed my mind 100%. Seeing it tomorrow.

 

[Enerchi]

hey!! that's the open attitude you need to view it under, yopeyone!! Sounds much more positive - it is a stunning ring and very unique in the RG. I hope you love it as much as so many of us do. Looking forward to your honest opinion once you view it IRL

 

[susimoo]

Damn!!!!! Well if they sent me these pictures to begin with!

Those pictures on FB must be it. I changed my mind 100%. Seeing it tomorrow.

Yopeyone, It is stunning and so different to anything most people will ever have seen. I am sure that you will love it and your future DF, will
AD RE it!! I think you did a great job as did the outstanding team at GOG. Those pictures are just, WOW!

I am excited to hear your thoughts tomorrow when you have it. Fingers crossed for you!!

 

[Laila619]

Yes, it's totally gorgeous!

 

[mandasand]

Haha...I just saw it too on GOG's Facebook page too! So pretty!

 

[DonnaH]

It is incredible, stunning and drool-worthy! She will adore it...propose tomorrow

 

[lin_ny]

The video tells a much better story. For what it's worth, I think it's totally beautiful. No fear!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzTDhFHg49E&list=UUEV7slr-i-VduBBnfv9MxhA&index=5&feature=plcp

 

[Dee*Jay]

Wow--it looks a million times better in the video than in the pics!!! I can't wait to hear what you think when you see it in person!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I was just checking to see if anyone posted the video. I hate to say we told ya so....

 

[Spesh2011]

I've been following the thread and thought that the actual ring looked a lot like the original inspiration ring. So pretty! I did agree that the close up shot did make the rose gold on the halo stand out, but it was still pretty to me.

Then I saw the FB pics and video. She is going to literally fall over when she see's this beauty.

Do you really have to wait 2 months for a proposal? I want to see hand shots!

 

[VRBeauty]

The video tells a much better story. For what it's worth, I think it's totally beautiful. No fear!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzTDhFHg49E&list=UUEV7slr-i-VduBBnfv9MxhA&index=5&feature=plcp

 

[MsP]

The video tells a much better story. For what it's worth, I think it's totally beautiful. No fear!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzTDhFHg49E&list=UUEV7slr-i-VduBBnfv9MxhA&index=5&feature=plcp

the profile shot in the video is totally stunning!!

I love it. I'm sure your SO will too!

 

[wsblue430]

Thats one gorgeous ring! WOW! Pure perfection!

 

[distracts]

Yopeyone, It is stunning and so different to anything most people will ever have seen. I am sure that you will love it and your future DF, will AD RE it!!

lol, I read this as "your future DancingFire will adore it" and was like, "wait, he's marrying DancingFire? I'm so confused!" before I realized that DancingFire was not what you were abbreviating.

 

[Dougsgirl]

GAH!!!!! LOVE THIS RING!!!!!
I can't wait till you see it tomorrow!!!