Ritani EL Halo vs Whiteflash Custom with some modification

[uwphysmed]

Well the time has finally arrived! My GF is in love with halo-style engagement rings and had her heart set on the tiffany rb with bead set halo, until sticker shock (18k) sent me to pricescope looking for a better ring for less $$$. I've now got it narrowed down to 2 settings, but am torn as to what to choose, so hopefully you guys can chime in with some opinions. Center stone in either case will be a 1.3ct rb (~7mm diameter) which is still being sourced from a PS vendor.

The setting she loves:
Tiffany round brilliant with bead set border

The tiffany setting (above) looks quite delicate in real life, which is precisely what she wants: A skinny (2mm) band and a thin halo which makes the center stone look nice and big, with the diamond set with a bezel and not prongs so that the girdle is flush with the halo. Too bad the tiffany name costs an extra 10k which my student budget doesn't have.

OPTION #1: Ritani EL Halo
(Seen below is a replica made by WF, but you get the idea)

This ring is a production piece, but I gather we may be able to get a few modifications we'd want done by Ritani. Namely, only having the ring diamonds go 1/2way down the finger and adding millgrain finish to the halo ring metal.

OPTION #2: Whiteflash Custom combining Tiffany + Ritani
(Imagine the Ritani, but with something like this under the halo instead of it being plain)

My dilemma: The cost for the Ritani and WF pieces is about the same (we know our local Ritani dealer well). I prefer the idea of having something surrounding the pavillion of the diamond a bit, so it doesn't look so empty and (in my opinion) strange, more like what's shown in Option #2. BUT my GF is very leery of custom made pieces as we've both seen some that look good from 1' away but up close have airlines, out-of-round halos, etc. So my questions:

* My B&M Ritani dealer cautioned me away from a custom as he said there's no way a place like WF could ever guarantee the halo being perfectly round to the same extent Ritani's production stamping could. Any truth to this? A similar point was made with regards to the Ritani piece losing small stones far less than any custom would.

* WF is not local to me (not even in the same country). I know they're pros and lots of people have been very happy with their work, but returning it will not be easy if there's anything wrong. Since what I'm considering is pretty close to the Ritani, should I just suck it up and go with the name brand so there's no surprises?

* Any input on other designer settings which look similar which I may have missed?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 10/18/2009 9:47:45 AM
Author:uwphysmed

Well the time has finally arrived! My GF is in love with halo-style engagement rings and had her heart set on the tiffany rb with bead set halo, until sticker shock (18k) sent me to pricescope looking for a better ring for less $$$. I've now got it narrowed down to 2 settings, but am torn as to what to choose, so hopefully you guys can chime in with some opinions. Center stone in either case will be a 1.3ct rb (~7mm diameter) which is still being sourced from a PS vendor.

The setting she loves:
Tiffany round brilliant with bead set border

The tiffany setting (above) looks quite delicate in real life, which is precisely what she wants: A skinny (2mm) band and a thin halo which makes the center stone look nice and big, with the diamond set with a bezel and not prongs so that the girdle is flush with the halo. Too bad the tiffany name costs an extra 10k which my student budget doesn't have.

OPTION #1: Ritani EL Halo
(Seen below is a replica made by WF, but you get the idea)

This ring is a production piece, but I gather we may be able to get a few modifications we'd want done by Ritani. Namely, only having the ring diamonds go 1/2way down the finger and adding millgrain finish to the halo ring metal.

OPTION #2: Whiteflash Custom combining Tiffany + Ritani
(Imagine the Ritani, but with something like this under the halo instead of it being plain)

My dilemma: The cost for the Ritani and WF pieces is about the same (we know our local Ritani dealer well). I prefer the idea of having something surrounding the pavillion of the diamond a bit, so it doesn't look so empty and (in my opinion) strange, more like what's shown in Option #2. BUT my GF is very leery of custom made pieces as we've both seen some that look good from 1' away but up close have airlines, out-of-round halos, etc. So my questions:

* My B&M Ritani dealer cautioned me away from a custom as he said there's no way a place like WF could ever guarantee the halo being perfectly round to the same extent Ritani's production stamping could. Any truth to this? A similar point was made with regards to the Ritani piece losing small stones far less than any custom would.

* WF is not local to me (not even in the same country). I know they're pros and lots of people have been very happy with their work, but returning it will not be easy if there's anything wrong. Since what I'm considering is pretty close to the Ritani, should I just suck it up and go with the name brand so there's no surprises?

* Any input on other designer settings which look similar which I may have missed?

Thanks in advance!

1) Choice #2 You posted a picture of the tiffany legacy if that is what you want with a few modifications than that is easily done with high quality custom service. If you are specific enough and clear in the details WF or Mark at ERD should definitely be able to copy this for you or make an inspired piece. You must be very careful in the details down to the width of the band and size of diamonds you want but an uneven halo or lack of symmetry is not something you would need to worry about. The CAD and WAX process with a good designer can take exact ratios from photographs and is very precise. The Cad images beforehand should give you a good idea of what the ring will look like even before they begin. I have seen this ring copied at several high end local jewelers in Montreal (not even as good as Mark at ERD who did our ring) and any comments about it being too difficult and possibly an uneven halo are nonsense.

2) I wouldn't be talking to a Ritani dealer about any piece unless you want an actual Ritani. In that case I wouldn't go anywhere but directly to a Ritani dealer. Ritani is great if you want the Ritani setting as is, I wouldn't try to copy a Ritani piece anywherelse. I can't comment on modifications of Ritani rings but if the price is similar to custom at WF and is basically adding a few diamonds to an existing Ritani piece than that seems like an easy choice.

3) The tiffany legacy is a Cushion Cut Diamond not a round. If you want that setting in a round it will look different.

4) You may also like the Tacori 2620 here is a video with a GOG antique cushion . This setting will work well with a round diamond as well http://www.vimeo.com/6401615.

5) If you are going custom and you have provided the pictures clearly of the Ritani ring and example of the modifications you want done than make sure if they don't meet your expectations they are required to fix it. I don't know how the Ritani custom design process works.

I know Mark at ERD and WF will fix or redo rings if it is not to the customer's satisfaction, they send pictures before shipping the ring so thats not an issue either. But all these problems should be worked out at the CAD and Wax stage not after the piece is finished.

If you want the Ritani the best way is to find pictures of exactly what you want, use the model number of the Ritani to find them on the internet search and then photoshop or draw on top as you have done. It is not good enough to show a picture of the Tiffany Legacy if most of the design is Ritani.

Good-Luck,

CCL

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Ritani endless love is this what you want?

 

[Upgradable]

Here''s a picture of the Whiteflash Halo Bezel. I''m sure they could add milgraining easily! And it is constructed so that a wedding band will sit flush. I love this setting!!

 

[D&T]

how bout this Durnell? thas the three bezel surprise melee that you wanted?


ETA: nevermind, I just noticed that you wanted them all separated per your instructions..

 

[Upgradable]

This mounting is from Adimor. They''re listed on the Diamond Vendor page. My daughter has is set with a sapphire and it is a very pretty ring! It looks like it meets your girlfriends wishes!

 

[uwphysmed]

Date: 10/18/2009 1:06:47 PM
Author: ChunkyCushionLover
Ritani endless love is this what you want?

Yes! This is precisely the kind of thing I''m looking for, but I don''t see this on the Ritani website: is this photoshopped, or am I missing something?