shape
carat
color
clarity

Seeking help in purchasing a trellis solitaire

aqbailey

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 11, 2013
Messages
6
Hi all, I'm hoping to get some help in acquiring a trellis solitaire. My fiance suggested that I should pick out my own engagement ring, because he had no idea what to get. I didn't have any idea either, but after weeks of lurking on this forum, looking at rings online, falling in love with many diamond shapes and settings, and finally trying on some rings, I think I have found the one.

I'm interested in getting a Gabriel and Co. trellis solitaire: http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER6600PTJJJ, or whichever one in this series (ER6559PTJJJ-ER6603PTJJJ) is the correct size for the diamond. I would like it set with a MRB. My fiance's budget is $4500. While I wish I could save some $ with a white gold setting, I am allergic to nickel, so platinum it is. GOG and IDJ both sell Gabriel and Co., but from the posts on this board, I have the impression that IDJ might be a better choice for my fiance's budget. I'm hoping that the vendor's price for the setting will be lower than the one listed on the Gabriel and Co. website ($1415-$2165 for this series). As a point of comparison, the setting seems similar to the Vatche X-Prong, which WF has listed for $1295 in platinum. I haven't gone for the X-prong because I want my e-ring to sit flush with a straight wedding band, and I think the slightly narrower Gabriel and Co. setting would work better on my short fingers. If I were to find a second-hand X-prong at a great price, I might consider it.

So after that long exposition, my first questions are: which vendor? And, is there anything else I should consider with respect to the setting (e.g., could I get a similar setting in a non-nickel white gold alloy for a lower price)?

Next questions concern the diamond and what specs I should provide to the vendor. GIA-certified. Cut is king, of course, and eye clean would be fine. For color, is H-J a good range for maximizing the budget/size? At this point I'm planning on getting a plain platinum wedding band, but I haven't completely ruled out an eternity band as either a wedding band or as an addition down the line. From my initial searches, it seems like we could get something around 0.70 ct in our budget. Any other advice regarding diamond specs?

Thanks in advance for any help!
 
As for the best way to stretch your budget. Go low in clarity while still staying eye clean (si1 if you can)
And see what color tolerance you have. I bought a. 84ct K recently for about 2k. I love the color. Others wouldn't. See how comfortable you are with color and go as low as you are comfortable with. Especially if you could go a rose or yellow gold, you can get away with a bit more color too. Either way you go though. Go to a store and see gia headed stones at like , j-k range. See of you like how they look or not.

If not, you know you'll have to stay at a higher color.
 
brian gavin also has some nice trellis setitngs.
 
Niel|1367255652|3436710 said:
Here's one I love!
http://www.ritani.com/engagement-rings/solitaire-solid-band-engagement-ring-in-platinum/6322

Would you consider yellow gold? I, and many people here love it. May not be your cup of tea. But an option if you don't want to pay plat prices. Or even yummy rose gold

I know Whiteflash sells ritani I wonder if they would have that?


Otherwise have you checked JA I feel like they have a similar, but its a bit wider.

Hm, the JA 3.3 mm cross prong http://www.jamesallen.com/?q=trelli...oss-prong-solitaire-engagement-ring-item-2356 is intriguing. Not sure how I feel about the flat band, and it wouldn't sit flush with a straight wedding band, but the price is good. They seem to have a great return policy, so I could test it out and see how the flat band and the gap work for me. Thanks!

I like yellow and rose gold, but I guess I'm attached to the idea of a white metal for my wedding set. The price difference, however, is discouraging.
 
As far as a deal you might get a better one from buying the whole ring (setting + diamond) at the same place. This will save you money in shipping etc from store to store. I really think IDJ is the most budget friendly so I would email them and see what you can do for $4500. I would even drop down to SI2 as long as it was eye clean.

It never hurts to get quotes so shop around and see what you can find.
 
diamondloveaffair|1367256979|3436729 said:
brian gavin also has some nice trellis setitngs.

The BGD X-prong is lovely, but it may be too pricey for me. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
Interesting- one of the "related topics" for my post is a pre-loved WF trellis setting at a competitive price. Do you think that sizing up from a 4.75 to 5.75 would be problematic? The setting held a 0.80/6 mm stone. I would have $3700-3900 for a diamond. Would that head be around the right size or too big? If I were to buy it, I would most likely send it to WF, buy the diamond through them, and have them size and set it.
 
I'd think with a plain shank like that it would be no problem to go up one size, but you can always call WF (since they made it), explain your situation and plan, and go from there. Once they have the setting in hand they can even tell you exactly what size stone will fit in it and then be able to help you find a diamond within your budget. If you really want this type of setting, I'd go for it!
 
aqbailey|1367262773|3436821 said:
Interesting- one of the "related topics" for my post is a pre-loved WF trellis setting at a competitive price. Do you think that sizing up from a 4.75 to 5.75 would be problematic? The setting held a 0.80/6 mm stone. I would have $3700-3900 for a diamond. Would that head be around the right size or too big? If I were to buy it, I would most likely send it to WF, buy the diamond through them, and have them size and set it.

I think it's close. You could probably find a .75 diamond in your price range - maybe even at Whiteflash, which would save you a whole lot of trouble. Remember that you'll need to budget a bit for sizing and probably for setting the stone, but... I think this might work! If I were you I'd ask the seller if they'd be willing to hold that setting for you, then poke around Whiteflash's inventory and/or give them a call. You could end up with precisely the ring you want at a very good price!
 
Niel|1367374611|3437900 said:
I wonder if this stone would fit that setting! Or, if maybe o e of the other trellis settings we found might fit your budget. Keep in mind you can probably sell that setting too

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/818-h-si1-eye-clean-a-cut-above-rb-in-legato-sleek-line-wg-t188695.html']https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/818-h-si1-eye-clean-a-cut-above-rb-in-legato-sleek-line-wg-t188695.html[/URL]

Niel - you read my mind!

AQ - if you're still around - get that pre-loved setting, this pre-loved diamond, and ship them both off to Whiteflash! Beautiful ring, just what you wanted, at a terrific price! (Maybe they'll even credit the gold value of the Legato setting agains the resetting and sizing costs. You might get more selling the setting yourself, but this would be far less hassle....)
 
Nice find! I'll run it by the fiancé and see if I can convince him. Thanks!
 
aqbailey|1367379867|3437970 said:
Nice find! I'll run it by the fiancé and see if I can convince him. Thanks!

If it helps looks like that seller has been around PS for quite a while. I would feel comfortable buying from them
 
[I really like the pre loved option as well but if it doesn't work out for you, have you considered palladium or palladium white gold instead of platinum to keep setting costs down?
 
Christina...|1367413090|3438126 said:
[I really like the pre loved option as well but if it doesn't work out for you, have you considered palladium or palladium white gold instead of platinum to keep setting costs down?

The alternative metals are a good suggestion. I've been a bit concerned about finding a local jeweler who could fix any problems that might arise with a palladium setting. I live in an area with lots of jewelry stores, so it shouldn't be a problem, I'm just a bit of a worrier. I've thought about palladium white gold as well, it just seems a bit difficult to find, or at least vendors don't seem to advertise that they offer it. I should probably just be more proactive and ask.
 
That is a good alternative! I would totally explore this preloved combo though. Seems really perfect.
 
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Top