Setting and Stone help needed - Long

[havabeer]

Hi Guys,

Some quick information.
Budget: $4500 could go up to 5 but I have to import to Australia so +15% duty is applicable bumping $4.5k over already.
Square shapes: Princess, Asscher, Emerald, Cushion (chunky).
Prongs: V shape for princess, smallest and least intrusive for others.
White Gold or ?Palladium?
Ring Size: 7 she has long fingers.

So recently I have been discussing rings and rocks with my GF a bit. I've showed her a bunch of settings

This is basically a knock off of a Verragio I showed her and she approved of, this is slightly different with the pattern on the edge of the side diamonds. She doesn't like rounds so the main stone would have to be mostly likely a cushion, or an asscher/squarish emerald. I think a cushion would look fine but I wonder if 3 very different types of cut if I went asscher/emerald would look weird. Princess even possible?
http://www.mdcdiamonds.com/engagementdetails.cfm?Stock=ES619&Country=US#

One of my concerns with a bridge setting is it appearing too wide.

This one gives away with the rounds for a cleaner more modern look. Significantly cheaper which means more room to spend on the rock but then size limitations might come into play with this one anyway. I think and Asscher would do well in this too.
http://www.mdcdiamonds.com/engagementdetails.cfm?Stock=ES324PRVWG&Country=US

Just a couple of PS links that I've likes and found interesting.
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/quest-custom-asscher-setting-hand-pics.90570/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/quest-custom-asscher-setting-hand-pics.90570/[/URL]
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-bridge-e-ring-wedding-band-take-2-ignore-previous-thread.105349/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-bridge-e-ring-wedding-band-take-2-ignore-previous-thread.105349/[/URL]

and just a couple more she liked.
http://www.polisheddiamonds.com.au/diamond-rings/solitaire-diamond-rings/18kt-white-gold-rings/round-cut-diamond-rings/diamond-ring-swr72-604.html but with a square cut. Estimate $1500 for setting with channel set princesses added.
http://www.polisheddiamonds.com.au/diamond-rings/multi-diamond-ring-mw60-137.html inc rocks, on budget. She picked this one herself.

Now onto rocks...

Just a couple from MDC that sound good.
http://www.mdcdiamonds.com/diamondDetails.cfm?Stock=2331297&Country=US
http://www.mdcdiamonds.com/diamondDetails.cfm?Stock=2393607&Country=US

a couple of cushions
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1487474.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1448021.asp NOA I had 3 looked at recently this was the one highly recommended.

Princesses. Smallest to Largest.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VVS2-Very%20Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1475170.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1491659.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Very%20Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1423253.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-IF-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1491388.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS1-Very%20Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1442854.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VVS2-Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1491369.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1490123.asp

As you can see I need help, should I just eliminate the I/J's? The more expensive ones would mean going with the 2nd setting or a different one. Of course my other option is to just purchase the rock online and have it set here. With polisheddiamonds links if you take look at their loose diamond prices shows although their setting prices are reasonable, loose diamonds are simply no where near what I can get online from the states.

I would love to hear your thoughts and advice.

 

[Dougsgirl]

Wow... you've got a lot going on here!

I am new to PS and am certainly no expert... but I was confused and overwhelmed reading your post.
Maybe it would be helpful if you would choose either a stone shape or a setting type and then go from there. But you have such a variety of stones and settings, that it's hard to know where to begin.

And just my personal opinion... but I just bought a J stone and I LOVE it! So unless you are REALLY color sensitive, don't eliminate the I/J's. You can likely get a bigger stone in that color grade.

Again... I'm new here... so maybe one of the PS "experts" will chime in with something different. But it seems to me that you might get more help if you narrow your search down a little bit.

And I also just bought my diamond online, (from GOG in the states) which was a great experience. I wouldn't shy away from buying your diamond from a reputable source online if it saves you money.

Sorry to not be much help! It seems like you have a fairly good idea of the direction you want to go.
Good luck!!

 

[justginger]

I skipped your entire post, after reading one point that I wanted to respond regarding (so I'll get back to the rest in a minute). You should NOT have to pay 15% when purchasing a stone from the States. Thanks to AUSFTA (search for it on here, a few other wonderful Aussie girls posted in depth about it, including arjunajane), you will be exempt from the 5% import tax. You will only be responsible for the 10% GST. So that should be an extra 5% of the budget you have to spend on bling.

Back to the rest of the post now.

 

[justginger]

First, you need to find a focus. Find either a setting style you definitely want (because the ones you posted were significantly different from one another), or a stone shape. These are truly two different quests: stone and setting.

I find it very interesting that, for the most part, your GF's choices (the second two settings linked) are very different than the first two you posted (your choices?). I think she is trying to tell you that she likes simple, classic settings. The first two you seem drawn to are very, very busy. I think you should shy away from them and look for cleaner styles, like the second two. They are less likely to go out of fashion (so to speak) and/or be damaged/have issues with melee. Is she active or does she work with her hands a lot?

As for stone shape.

You have princesses and cushions in one category.

Asschers and emeralds in a different category.

They perform completely differently. Does your GF prefer big flashes of light coming from a stone, or does she want the brilliant sparkle, lots of little flashes? You could sort of find a middle ground in a chunky cushion, of course. That's what I have in my engagement ring, and the most recent stone I purchased, so it is what I favor. Have you looked at antique cushions (Jewels by Erica Grace or Old World Diamonds), or even the newly cut, but antique-styled August Vintage Cushions at Good Old Gold?

 

[havabeer]

Thanks for the tip on GST only, does it apply to set stones as well or just loose ones?

On the settings the only one I didn't choose was the last one with emerald cuts. I thought it odd when she picked that one out because she had said she didn't like 3 stone rings. She had said she wanted something unique, I guess she see's that in the emeralds. But she also approved of the bridge and tension setting as being unique. We really haven't seen anything but solitaires and 3 stones around here so I guess it might not take much to pass as unique.

I'll try narrow down the setting with her. That is my main concern, I think she is more picky about that than the stone. I am trying to keep it as much as a surprise as possible. She isn't active in any way that would need to be considered for a ring, her work is mostly in an office and exercise is Zumba.

 

[justginger]

I know that the 10% GST applies to completed rings, not sure about loose stones. The point re: loose stones is somewhat moot though - being in Oz myself, I know that both the cost and workmanship of American jewellery is much, much better. I would never consider buying a loose center stone and then having it set here. The closest I would (happily) consider is getting a stone sent to Mike Robinson in NZ. I've not seen better examples of workmanship in the southern hemisphere than what is coming off his bench. You could always fly over to pick up a completed ring from him and have a nice holiday at the same time!

The 3 stone emerald cut ring your GF picked out is my personal favorite from your choices. It is classic, but will still be unique in most social groups down here. There is a definite trend with engagement rings in Oz right now - and a 3 stone emerald cut is definitely not it!

You should have a look at the settings from the recommended PS vendors and see if anything strikes her. Brian Gavin Diamonds, Whiteflash, Good Old Gold. They are more likely to be stocking the diamonds you are considering, so finding the right setting with the same vendor makes things easier. If you'd like to tweak an existing design, or combine elements from 2 different rings, Brian Gavin is perhaps the best choice. His custom work is gorgeous.

Let us know what settings you like and we'll let you know what we think.

 

[swingirl]

Hi Guys,

Some quick information.
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I would love to hear your thoughts and advice.

Your post is too long and complicated. Lots of views, not many comments. Can you narrow it down?

 

[havabeer]

What I've seen down here is pretty lame, although I've only really looked at the chains, where most things are multiple diamonds trying to look like a single one. A local jeweller who has won quite a few awards but to me the symmetry and polish of the work just looks stone age. Worse, I'm in Tasmania so my options locally are even more limited.
So thanks justginger I will check out the PS vendors and investigate this emerald setting some more.

 

[justginger]

Tassie? I can only imagine what jewellers are like there - Perth is bad enough!

Do let us know what catches your eye on the PS vendors' websites.

 

[Christina...]

I skipped over your thread some too, but I wanted to mention that the settings that you're considering are quite expensive for your budget and won't leave much room for the diamond. IMO, I would purchase the best quality and largest diamond I could for my budget and set it in a solitaire setting and then down the road (a special anniversary maybe) have the diamond reset into a setting you choose together. I think that some of the settings you've selected will gobble up your center stone choices, a solitaire will make the diamond the star of the show. But that's just my opinion and I won't be wearing this ring!

 

[havabeer]

Thats not a bad suggestion, I might put it to her but solitaires haven't been in the equation at all. Even with what the setting eats up, by buying both from the states and importing it will put whatever ends up on her finger far and beyond anything 90% of other women in this country will be wearing in this country.

 

[distracts]

I really think you ought to clarify your gf's preferences. As others have pointed out, what you like and what she like seem to be different, but at the end of the day, she's the one wearing the ring for the rest of her life and looking at it all the time. Once you figure out what she likes, it will be easier to proceed.

And as for your first two setting options - I'm concerned about what they would look like with a wedding band. They might just be too much.

 

[mandasand]

I think you should get her one that she likes. You mentioned she likes a 3-stone and to make it unique, pick an emerald or princess cut?

http://www.polisheddiamonds.com.au/diamond-rings/multi-diamond-ring-mw60-137.html

So, if you want a 3-stone, perhaps try Brian Gavin. I think he's well-known for his 3-stone engagement ring settings. Here are some stunners:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/emerald-and-baguette-18k-white-gold-5449w18
$1695 for the setting, which leaves you approx. $2500 for the stone (if you factor in the 15%). I did a quick search at their diamond inventory and there are plenty of emeralds in the .75 to 1 ct range that are $3000 and below.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/princess-dinah-3-stone-petite-18k-white-gold-5691w18
Given the budget, you'll have to find something under a carat for a princess, but, again, there were several to choose from at BGD.

 

[havabeer]

I understand the frustration some of you must feel when you see a post like this. Trust me I'm frustrated too.

I'm really considering pulling the trigger on this stone.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-IF-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1491388.asp
Normally I wouldn't bother with paying for IF but in this case XXX/IF I'm happy with the size and the price, it's hard to ignore. I'll need to request some more info. That would be the stone narrowed down, which makes half the problem go away.

 

[mandasand]

What setting are you thinking about getting?

 

[havabeer]

For those interested, a little progress.

I've eliminated the tension setting. Got a definite yes to both of the bridge settings. We are going to take a look at some loose diamonds in person hopefully this weekend so she can decide on a shape she prefers. I'll make the final call on the setting after that. Obviously she knows I want to ask her but the when, how and the rock/setting I want to be as much as a surprise as possible while making sure I don't get her something she is going to hate.