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Ring Upgrade Project: NewYork Jewellers or Harry Winston

tulleskirt

tulleskirt

Rough_Rock
Premium
Joined
Mar 10, 2018
Messages
14
Hi everyone, I'm new here and please pardon me for knowing very little!

I love diamond, and value engagement ring a lot. When my husband proposed, he gave me a 1ct vs2 E engagement ring, which he had bought long time ago before he knew me. It was poorly set, since he got it from one of the wholesellers. I happily said yes, and we decided to make it a project when we are more established, to upgrade my ring to a bigger (secretly hoping to get a 2 ct), top quality diamond.

Now, I'm working with a 50k budget. I love Harry Winston but with my budget, I think I can get something around 1.3 ct? (I haven't been to the boutique, I'm from Toronto). I'm also considering buying from a Jeweller, so far, I have heard here on the forum: Leon Mege, Victor Canera, Steven Kirsch, and David Klass.

I like simple styles.but I am huge on the quality of the work, I'm bothered a lot if the prongs are not symetrical, if one tip is slightly higher than the rest, etc. I've been to a lot of local jewelers, the work is just not quite there, especially I think the more simple the style is, the harder to make the craftmanship perfect. So if I were to buy from a Jeweller, I really hope to get impactable setting.

So I really need help here: Should I got to the big brand boutiques? or Jewellers, and if you could recommend me a good New York based Jeweller?

Also, for my old 1 ct, I'm hoping to have it reset too, do those jewllers only set their own diamond/if you buy a stone from them?

for styles, I used to like a solitary six prong, now I start to like something like this:

http://www.harrywinston.com/en/clas...-engagement-ring-pear-shaped-side-stones.html

http://www.harrywinston.com/en/clas...-engagement-ring-tapered-baguette-side-stones

http://www.harrywinston.com/en/brilliant-love-diamond-engagement-ring
 
Have you looked at Tiffany? I love their classic 6-prong setting. The diamond shines, each prong is perfect, and the knife edge band is so simple and elegant. For $50k, you could get a nice diamond solitaire and your ring would be all about the beautiful diamond, no extra side stones to take away from the beauty of the diamond. You can bling out on your right hand but your engagement ring will be all about the diamond.

That’s just my two cents.
Good luck.
 
Miki Moto said:
Have you looked at Tiffany? I love their classic 6-prong setting. The diamond shines, each prong is perfect, and the knife edge band is so simple and elegant. For $50k, you could get a nice diamond solitaire and your ring would be all about the beautiful diamond, no extra side stones to take away from the beauty of the diamond. You can bling out on your right hand but your engagement ring will be all about the diamond.

That’s just my two cents.
Good luck.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I forgot to mention, we went to Tiffany but husband is not fond of how they grade their own diamond. Prefer a GIA diamond.

So far we’ve checked Tiffany, Cartier, VCA, don’t like anything in particular, and the price is really high, I can only get around 1.5 ct wth my budget, but the design was not appealing to me enough for me to sacrifice the size..
 
tulleskirt said:
Thanks! I forgot to mention, we went to Tiffany but husband is not fond of how they grade their own diamond. Prefer a GIA diamond.

So far we’ve checked Tiffany, Cartier, VCA, don’t like anything in particular, and the price is really high, I can only get around 1.5 ct wth my budget, but the design was not appealing to me enough for me to sacrifice the size..
Click to expand...

I know you said you don’t like Tiffany but you get both a GIA certificate and also a Tiffany certificate which of course matches GIA. I just wanted you to know Tiffany diamonds are GIA so I am not sure who told your husband they are not. My ring came with both.
 
Took a quick look at Whiteflash and looks like you could get a 2+ ACA E-F, VS1-SI1 for $40k or under leaving you plenty of money for a setting. I am not a round brilliant expert but some of the prosumers will give you excellent suggestions on stones and settings. You will definitely get more for your money if you don’t go for branded.
As for resetting your stone, some jewelers will do it, some won’t. They may make you insure it on your own. Any idea what you wanted to do with the original stone?
 
High performance diamonds who sell Crafted by infinity diamonds
 
Harry Winston sells only D - F color and FL thru VS2 clarity (eye clean).

Here is a HPD CBI superideal cut diamond 2.13 ct F-VS1 that meets that criteria (and you get your 2ct)

https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD9795

In addition, if you do a custom design, HPD uses the same casting house that Harry Winston uses. The resulting rings have superior polish (much better than my previous Vatche ring) in all areas, even under prongs. You would work with them to produce the CAD design exactly as you like it. They have made three rings for me and are currently making a fourth .
 
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+1 for a CBI stone through HPD - you are paying for a LOT of 'label' in 'brand name' jewellery from Cartier, HW, Tiffany, etc., so although one does pay a premium for the additional time spent cutting CBI stones, *you* get to see the benefits every day, rather than shareholders or company management benefitting from vast profit margins!
 
Miki Moto said:
I know you said you don’t like Tiffany but you get both a GIA certificate and also a Tiffany certificate which of course matches GIA. I just wanted you to know Tiffany diamonds are GIA so I am not sure who told your husband they are not. My ring came with both.
Click to expand...
Oh I didn't know that! I always thought and was told Tiffany only use their own grade system. Thanks for letting me know!
 
absolutme77 said:
Took a quick look at Whiteflash and looks like you could get a 2+ ACA E-F, VS1-SI1 for $40k or under leaving you plenty of money for a setting. I am not a round brilliant expert but some of the prosumers will give you excellent suggestions on stones and settings. You will definitely get more for your money if you don’t go for branded.
As for resetting your stone, some jewelers will do it, some won’t. They may make you insure it on your own. Any idea what you wanted to do with the original stone?
Click to expand...

yes. after reading on pricescope the whole night, I decided to not go branded. For my original stone, I want to sell it to the jeweller if they take it. If no luck, I want to get it reset too. I called Leon Mege, he doesn't set the stone unless I'm buying a diamond from him :( ...
 
whitewave said:
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/

I'd suggest looking into getting a diamond cut to order since you have a nice budget

Here is one to look at. You can contact them for a video: https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD7954
Click to expand...


Thank you! Actually the "cut to order" term is new to me. Does it mean I'm buying a diamond that has never gone on the market? Leon Mege told me he will price match any GIA diamond on the market. So a "cut to order" means they are specially cut for me from scratch? and will be certified when it was "born"? sorry if my questions sound silly.. lol
 
Well if you think Tiffany's is expensive, and it is, Harry Winston is in the stratosphere!
You have a good budget, and they say the HW stones are beautiful.
If you are looking in that market, have you looked at Graff? I know they have a large store on the east side of Manhattan, and they have diamonds in the window the size of your eyeballs and supposed to be excellent quality.
However there are PS vendors who can find you excellent stones. You might want to get in touch with Whiteflash and Brian Gavin Diamonds (ask for Lesley).
Good luck.
 
whitewave said:
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/

I'd suggest looking into getting a diamond cut to order since you have a nice budget

Here is one to look at. You can contact them for a video: https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD7954
Click to expand...

Hi I researched HPD it says
"
Crafted by Infinity hand-selects the finest crystals and fine-tunes each one to the supreme pinnacle of high performance. Their limited production of breathtaking diamonds is only is only available through an elite private network of fine jewelers and online here at High Performance Diamonds. Nowhere else.

"

the elite private network must be Harry Winston and other big brand jewellers.
 
tulleskirt said:
Thank you! Actually the "cut to order" term is new to me. Does it mean I'm buying a diamond that has never gone on the market? Leon Mege told me he will price match any GIA diamond on the market. So a "cut to order" means they are specially cut for me from scratch? and will be certified when it was "born"? sorry if my questions sound silly.. lol
Click to expand...

@tulleskirt

Yes, it means exactly that. I had a diamond Cut to Order in 2014 that is now in a 3-stone ring. CBI is currently crafting a 3+ D-IF for a fellow PSer that will be incredible.

Read about the process here:
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonds/diamonds-crafted-order
 
tulleskirt said:
Thank you! Actually the "cut to order" term is new to me. Does it mean I'm buying a diamond that has never gone on the market? Leon Mege told me he will price match any GIA diamond on the market. So a "cut to order" means they are specially cut for me from scratch? and will be certified when it was "born"? sorry if my questions sound silly.. lol
the elite private network must be Harry Winston and other big brand jewellers.
Click to expand...

No, Leon cannot access CBI, And no, the diamonds are available from High Performance Diamonds online, and a few high end independent jewelers in the US, not HW. The stones are graded by AGS which does cut grading more strictly than GIA.

I wouldn't do cut to order when CBI already has the perfect stone for you. I would use High Performance Diamonds as @cflutist has.
 
tulleskirt said:
Hi I researched HPD it says
"
Crafted by Infinity hand-selects the finest crystals and fine-tunes each one to the supreme pinnacle of high performance. Their limited production of breathtaking diamonds is only is only available through an elite private network of fine jewelers and online here at High Performance Diamonds. Nowhere else.

"

the elite private network must be Harry Winston and other big brand jewellers.
Click to expand...

CBI diamonds can be purchased online through High Performance Diamonds, or in showrooms around the world.

http://www.craftedbyinfinity.com/index.php?page=locations

I bought all 5 of my CBI diamonds (8.38 cts) from @Wink at HPD
 
cflutist said:
Harry Winston sells only D - F color and FL thru VS2 clarity (eye clean).

Here is a HPD CBI superideal cut diamond 2.13 ct F-VS1 that meets that criteria (and you get your 2ct)

https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD9795

In addition, if you do a custom design, HPD uses the same casting house that Harry Winston uses. The resulting rings have superior polish (much better than my previous Vatche ring) in all areas, even under prongs. You would work with them to produce the CAD design exactly as you like it. They have made three rings for me and are currently making a fourth .
Click to expand...

oh mine, that's AMAZING! I'm so glad I came here... so that means I can first buy this diamond on HPD, and then have them set for me? by the same "casting house" with Harry Winston, that means their work quality is at par?
 
diamondseeker2006 said:
No, Leon cannot access CBI, And no, the diamonds are available from High Performance Diamonds online, and a few high end independent jewelers in the US, not HW. The stones are graded by AGS which does cut grading more strictly than GIA.

I wouldn't do cut to order when CBI already has the perfect stone for you. I would use High Performance Diamonds as @cflutist has.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I think I'm coming to that conclusion too... I'm so excited, before, I thought I can't have both, now I think I can have both a excellent stone and great craftmanship.

The range I can get from HPD by CBI are like the following right? I think anything higher than VS1 is good enough for me...
  • A color and clarity combination between D-J and VS1-SI1
 
tulleskirt said:
Thank you. I think I'm coming to that conclusion too... I'm so excited, before, I thought I can't have both, now I think I can have both a excellent stone and great craftmanship.

The range I can get from HPD by CBI are like the following right? I think anything higher than VS1 is good enough for me...
  • A color and clarity combination between D-J and VS1-SI1
Click to expand...

I am sure they don't purposely buy a lot of VVS and IF rough due to most people desiring VS-SI. However, I personally love VS1 because it is totally clean and it is very hard to see any inclusions with a 10x loupe! So it's as clean as I would desire, yet I am not overpaying for VVS+. You can go to G color and get a larger stone. Those are quite white in superior cut stones like CBI. But if you want colorless, the F VS1 stone posted for you above is perfect!
 
@tulleskirt - I couldn’t find their “portfolio” of custom rings on the HPD website, so I did as @cflutist has suggested in other threads and I checked out the HPD Facebook group. In there, you can click on Photos—and WOW—you can see how many different styles they’ve done for customers in the past. Have fun in your search!
 
KristinTech said:
@tulleskirt - I couldn’t find their “portfolio” of custom rings on the HPD website, so I did as @cflutist has suggested in other threads and I checked out the HPD Facebook group. In there, you can click on Photos—and WOW—you can see how many different styles they’ve done for customers in the past. Have fun in your search!
Click to expand...


thank you!!
 
diamondseeker2006 said:
I am sure they don't purposely buy a lot of VVS and IF rough due to most people desiring VS-SI. However, I personally love VS1 because it is totally clean and it is very hard to see any inclusions with a 10x loupe! So it's as clean as I would desire, yet I am not overpaying for VVS+. You can go to G color and get a larger stone. Those are quite white in superior cut stones like CBI. But if you want colorless, the F VS1 stone posted for you above is perfect!
Click to expand...
cflutist said:
Yes, here are two threads for two of my rings

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...-2-793-f-vs1-cbi-diamond.234765/#post-4228600

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...e-with-3-f-color-cbi-diamonds-3-27ctw.237956/

I went through 3 CADs for each of them to get them exactly as I wanted them.
Click to expand...


@cflutist
Your rings are perfection! I’m so happy I came here otherwise I would never find something this good,

Your design process was interesting! I don’t know any of the terms and numbers, but I think they will help me? I really like your 2.7 ct stone settings, the height is excellent. I think that classic 6 prong design really flatters the diamond.
 
tulleskirt said:
@cflutist
Your rings are perfection! I’m so happy I came here otherwise I would never find something this good,

Your design process was interesting! I don’t know any of the terms and numbers, but I think they will help me? I really like your 2.7 ct stone settings, the height is excellent. I think that classic 6 prong design really flatters the diamond.
Click to expand...
Glad you like them. The first step is to contact HPD and get the diamond(s) that you are interested in put on hold. Then you can arrange to see them at a dealer near you, in your home, or via video. After you have selected a diamond you work with Melissa to design a ring to your liking made for the specific diamond you have chosen.
 
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