Should I halo my 3.02ct F VS2 RB?

[Phoenix]

Sorry if this is deja-vu for some of you. I posted this thread a few years ago and most of you voted no.

I am still pondering if I should have it halo'ed by Victor C, in an Emilya a la Frankie. Now that you have seen my bling wardrobe and how I like my pieces, do those of you that voted no before still think that I should leave it as a solitaire? For the new comers, pls vote away!

If it helps, I don't wear this stone anymore since it looks rather small to me - I know I know (pls don't stone me - pardon the pun! ) I can't help but feel that this stone, as it is currently set, is just not *me* (and it doesn't help that it's currently set sky-high, so I def have to have it reset anyway). What's more, whilst I didn't like the 3-stone 5.444ctw ring initially (I thought it was too much), now I feel it's *just* right. And I wear the halo'ed LM 3.50ct pear practically everyday - I LURVE it!

I was wondering for the longest time if I should sell this stone and upgrade it for a larger one. Now that a 5ct is out of my reach (and am not sure that I even want a 5ct RB, though if one landed on my lap I certainly wouldn't say no ), I could only look at a 4ct and I'd be happy with F-G, VS2. But the highest offer I've had for this 3ct thus far is about $25k less than what similar stones are listed for, even online. If I could sell it for a better price and upgrade to a 4ct F-G VS2, I'd for sure wear it as a solitaire (I *miss* this look sooooo much, esp after having seen Bliss' recent reset!). If someone has an idea on how I could achieve a better price selling the 3ct, I'm all ears!

Am attaching some photos of the ring as is to give you an idea.

 

[Gypsy]

I think it's a waste of money to upgrade your setting when we all know you are eventually gonna upgrade that.

 

[Phoenix]

Ooops, the last few photos are too similar!

Here are some more. The first two are shots of the ring next to my 2.3ct BGD stud.

 

[Phoenix]

One more, a comparison of mine (the one at the bottom) with a 5ct RB and a 5.5ct asscher.

 

[yssie]

Sell it to GOG and put the proceeds toward your 5ct Octavia. But you didn't list that as an option

If you are wearing and loving your halo'd pear every day and wearing and loving your threestone when would you wear a halo'd round? The round will still look smaller than the pear, so unless you particularly want to be wearing a *round* the pear is far more likely to satisfy the Honker itch...


ETA: Actually, if you want to keep the round I say go in a totally different direction. I truly don't think a generic halo - no matter how well-made - is going to satisfy you, so I'd suggest considering putting it in a setting that noone else in the world will have - something exotic by MC2, custom made for your stone. It won't be the biggest diamond on the block but the piece will certainly be the most unique - frankly far, far more awe-inspiring than that 5ct in your pic...

Thing is, when you have a setting that everyone else has - you can compare, and you can find something about yours that falls short. In this case diamond size. An MC2 would surpass anything anyone around you could dream of in terms of design and quality of make so there's just no more basis for comparison...

 

[Phoenix]

Sell it to GOG and put the proceeds toward your 5ct Octavia. But you didn't list that as an option

If you are wearing and loving your halo'd pear every day and wearing and loving your threestone when would you wear a halo'd round? The round will still look smaller than the pear, so unless you particularly want to be wearing a *round* the pear is far more likely to satisfy the Honker itch...

Hmmm...I did try asking Jon for a 3ct Octavia (with the eventual goal of a 5ct Octavia via various upgrades), but he couldn't come up with it. I guess maybe non-availability of rough (?).

I do love alternating my bling, depending on my mood and what I'm wearing and whom I'm meeting. Whilst I often wear my pear and occasionally the 3-stone ring, I do miss having a single round!

How much would consignment fees be d'ya think, not just at GOG but also other places? I keep seeing and hearing 20%, that'd be a HUGE chunk off the sales proceeds! And how much do you think is a fair price to ask for?

 

[Phoenix]

ETA: Actually, if you want to keep the round I say go in a totally different direction. I truly don't think a generic halo - no matter how well-made - is going to satisfy you, so I'd suggest considering putting it in a setting that noone else in the world will have - something exotic by MC2, custom made for your stone. It won't be the biggest diamond on the block but the piece will certainly be the most unique - frankly far, far more awe-inspiring than that 5ct in your pic...

Thing is, when you have a setting that everyone else has - you can compare, and you can find something about yours that falls short. In this case diamond size. An MC2 would surpass anything anyone around you could dream of in terms of design and quality of make so there's just no more basis for comparison...

An MC2 setting? I don't believe I've seen any. Do you have some pics handy you could post for me? Thank you, Yssie.

 

[yssie]

Nope - I haven't seen any in-person (or on PS) and I doubt I ever will! I think Harriet was going to have something made once upon a time... I was ogling their website earlier so I have them on the brain but you get the general point re. exotic jeweller. They're so far out of my league they're nothing but wistful daydreams

http://mc2jewels.com/jewels/rings.html


ETA: sorry, I've never sold or consigned anything so I have absolutely no idea!

 

[Phoenix]

Nope - I haven't seen any in-person (or on PS) and I doubt I ever will! I think Harriet was going to have something made once upon a time... I was ogling their website earlier so I have them on the brain but you get the general point re. exotic jeweller. They're so far out of my league they're nothing but wistful daydreams

http://mc2jewels.com/jewels/rings.html


ETA: sorry, I've never sold or consigned anything so I have absolutely no idea!

They are certainly very beautiful and unique, but do you think that their style is *me* - from what you've seen of my other pieces? I am not saying they're not, I just need to look at them some more and contemplate whether something like their pieces are in line with my other pieces, iykwim? I do really love your 5-stone ring and your new OEC earrings. I think they're much more in line with my taste too (actually your taste is more refined that mine, I'd say ). But at the same time, there's no rule that says all the pieces must be similar-looking, right?

No worries about consignment. Thx though.

 

[Phoenix]

I think it's a waste of money to upgrade your setting when we all know you are eventually gonna upgrade that.

Do you really think this is the way I'm heading? I wish I could find someone to buy my 3ct at a more favourable price!

 

[yssie]

Nope - I haven't seen any in-person (or on PS) and I doubt I ever will! I think Harriet was going to have something made once upon a time... I was ogling their website earlier so I have them on the brain but you get the general point re. exotic jeweller. They're so far out of my league they're nothing but wistful daydreams

http://mc2jewels.com/jewels/rings.html


ETA: sorry, I've never sold or consigned anything so I have absolutely no idea!

They are certainly very beautiful and unique, but do you think that their style is *me* - from what you've seen of my other pieces? I am not saying they're not, I just need to look at them some more and contemplate whether something like their pieces are in line with my other pieces, iykwim? I do really love your 5-stone ring and your new OEC earrings. I think they're much more in line with my taste too (actually your taste is more refined that mine, I'd say ). But at the same time, there's no rule that says all the pieces must be similar-looking, right?

No worries about consignment. Thx though.

Nope. I think their style is definitely a departure from your norm, from what you've showed us!
Which is why I thought you should consider it... not exactly that (like I said I have them on the brain right now so that's the first thing that came out ) but something exotic by someone exotic.
I think that if you're feeling 3ct RBs are too small on size4 fingers then perhaps your style - modern-esque, clean lines of pave - is beginning to bore you!


PS - Thank you That's a compliment of high order, coming from someone with your jewellery box

 

[Gypsy]

I think it's a waste of money to upgrade your setting when we all know you are eventually gonna upgrade that.

Do you really think this is the way I'm heading? I wish I could find someone to buy my 3ct at a more favourable price!

Yes, I really do.

 

[Laila619]

Hi, Phoenix. I don't think larger stones look that good in halos. The proportions are off somehow. So I would leave it alone, or upgrade the stone!

 

[SomethingSinful]

I think it's a waste of money to upgrade your setting when we all know you are eventually gonna upgrade that.

Do you really think this is the way I'm heading? I wish I could find someone to buy my 3ct at a more favourable price!

I agree with Gypsy

 

[TristanC]

Umm, you had me at hello? (i.e. the size has already went past the point where other people wonder if the stone is big enough - so from here on out, it is ALL personal preference)

It IS way big. Especially here in Singapore. I check out rings at Cold Storage from time to time when someone's mega blingy rock dazzles me in case it is yours.

So far I haven't bumped into you yet.

I wouldn't spend the money to halo it when you already said it is too small. Just hang on to it till you upgrade.

 

[lknvrb4]

Hi, Phoenix. I don't think larger stones look that good in halos. The proportions are off somehow. So I would leave it alone, or upgrade the stone!

I agree, I tend to think they look like miniature flying saucers that landed on the hand. Just saying.....

 

[chel180]

If you're not happy with it then you are never going to be happy with it. It sounds like you want a larger RB and a solitaire setting so I'd say go after that.

 

[m-2-b]

If you want to consign, how about sending it to GOG and getting Frankiextah (she was looking for a 3 ct upgrade that was around 60K) to buy it from you since she could trade in her diamond also? You could eventually get that Octavia you're looking for!

Personally, I love my 3 ct in a 3 stone which gives it a lot of bling factor! And I don't see any problems w/ VC creating a masterpiece for you if you decided upon the Emilya. He is resetting my 1.91 for me. Or, how about a double halo if you really want to go over the top!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think consignment is less than 20% at GOG. I really didn't see that much difference in the picture between your 3 ct. and the 5 ct. to be honest, so I am wondering if spending many thousands to upgrade to 4 cts. would be worth it?? I understand mental satisfaction, and you have to decide if it is worth it to you (I pay for VS on all my stones even though no one can see it, so I am fine with decisions like that). But to the average observer like us, we probably would not notice the change from 3 to 4 cts.

And another "to be honest" statement, your pear is lovely with a halo as a right hand ring, sort of like a dinner ring. But a halo on a 3 ct. round stone says to me that the ring wants to be something that it is not...larger. I think it would look bad to wear a halo rb on one hand and a halo pear on the other. (I wouldn't be so honest if I didn't like you so much, Phoenix..hope you know that!)

 

[mrssalvo]

Phoenix, Check with Jon on what he consignment fee is. I thought the higher value the item the lower % they may take. Just email him and get the exact % straight from him so you have real numbers to work with instead of hypotheticals. Then you will have better info to make your decision. It sounds like you are wanting a huge solitaire so I don't think you should reset the stone into a halo at this point. Just pursue the consignment options and go from there. I'd also check with Wink, James Allen and Pearlmans b/c all of them take trades/do consignment I believe so you might as well shop around which vendor might be the best to sell it too.

 

[MissGotRocks]

I think consignment is less than 20% at GOG. I really didn't see that much difference in the picture between your 3 ct. and the 5 ct. to be honest, so I am wondering if spending many thousands to upgrade to 4 cts. would be worth it?? I understand mental satisfaction, and you have to decide if it is worth it to you (I pay for VS on all my stones even though no one can see it, so I am fine with decisions like that). But to the average observer like us, we probably would not notice the change from 3 to 4 cts.

And another "to be honest" statement, your pear is lovely with a halo as a right hand ring, sort of like a dinner ring. But a halo on a 3 ct. round stone says to me that the ring wants to be something that it is not...larger. I think it would look bad to wear a halo rb on one hand and a halo pear on the other. (I wouldn't be so honest if I didn't like you so much, Phoenix..hope you know that!)

I must admit that was my first thought too although there has to be a visual difference between a 3 and 5 carat stone. Your diamond aspirations go well beyond what many of us would consider doable so it's sort of hard to understand and comment. However, in answer to your original question, there is no way that I would halo a three carat stone. You're not happy with the size of the stone and if the opportunity to sell or trade it comes along, I'm sure you would do it and would be left with an expensive mounting. I would not go to the trouble or expense of having a mounting made for a stone that I knew I wasn't completely happy with. You've other lovely alternatives to this ring so wearing them and being happy with them until you can do something suitable with this stone shouldn't be too hard! Who knows what the diamond market will look like in three years? or five years? It could be such that upgrading this stone to a larger size won't seem as formidable as it is today.

 

[Phoenix]

Umm, you had me at hello? (i.e. the size has already went past the point where other people wonder if the stone is big enough - so from here on out, it is ALL personal preference)

It IS way big. Especially here in Singapore. I check out rings at Cold Storage from time to time when someone's mega blingy rock dazzles me in case it is yours.

So far I haven't bumped into you yet.

I wouldn't spend the money to halo it when you already said it is too small. Just hang on to it till you upgrade.

Ha ha, you don't need to see if you can bump into me in CS. Why not meet us sometime at a PS GTG? I had a couple of GTG's recently with some SG PS'ers. Maybe next time lah? I'm sure I'm not the only one who's dying to ogle your FCD's. Besides, I'm hardly ever at CS. I *hate* grocery shopping; DH is the one that does it!

I see big bling here *all.the.time*. Check out the ladies at the Paragon, Ion, The American Club etc. My local jeweller, Canary Diamond, is another place to go to to ogle big massive bling, of very high specs (they don't sell anything below F and VS2). Mine is nothing compared to theirs. It's because we've been living in SG that I've caught this bling "disease", that and the influence of PS!

Ok, so another vote for no halo. Hang on hang on, Phoenix. ...

Thx, Tristan.

 

[Phoenix]

I think consignment is less than 20% at GOG. I really didn't see that much difference in the picture between your 3 ct. and the 5 ct. to be honest, so I am wondering if spending many thousands to upgrade to 4 cts. would be worth it?? I understand mental satisfaction, and you have to decide if it is worth it to you (I pay for VS on all my stones even though no one can see it, so I am fine with decisions like that). But to the average observer like us, we probably would not notice the change from 3 to 4 cts.

And another "to be honest" statement, your pear is lovely with a halo as a right hand ring, sort of like a dinner ring. But a halo on a 3 ct. round stone says to me that the ring wants to be something that it is not...larger. I think it would look bad to wear a halo rb on one hand and a halo pear on the other. (I wouldn't be so honest if I didn't like you so much, Phoenix..hope you know that!)

I appreciate your honest opinions, DS. You know I lovya!

I never wear all my LHR's at the same time, even if the pear ring also fits on my RH. In my opinion and it's purely my own personal preference, I think it'd be a "faux-pas" to have 2 larger pieces of bling on the hands at the same time. I usually only wear one ring, my LHR (usually without any of my eternity bands). Even wt the 5-stone ring, if I wear that in addition to my LHR, I may not wear my bracelet and/ or my pendant. There's such a thing as "too much", so I absolutely agree with you.

If I ever got a larger RB, I'd only wear that on my LH and nothing on the other hand, except for maybe a smaller eternity occasionally.

I *do* absolutely see the difference between the 5ct and my 3ct - a HUGE difference (it's hard to see it in pics - better IRL imo). I can even see a difference btw a 3ct and say a 3.5ct. And there's also the "mind-thing" too, you're right about that. It's been over 4.5 years since I got the 3ct and am still thinking of upgrading!

Hmmm..I wonder how low I can get the vendors to go to RE the commission? Even a 10% commission fee is still thousands of dollars!

 

[Phoenix]

If you want to consign, how about sending it to GOG and getting Frankiextah (she was looking for a 3 ct upgrade that was around 60K) to buy it from you since she could trade in her diamond also? You could eventually get that Octavia you're looking for!

Personally, I love my 3 ct in a 3 stone which gives it a lot of bling factor! And I don't see any problems w/ VC creating a masterpiece for you if you decided upon the Emilya. He is resetting my 1.91 for me. Or, how about a double halo if you really want to go over the top!

To be absolutely honest, I'm hoping Frankie sees this thread.

Octavia is no longer on the table, I'm afraid (as much I'd KILL for one)! I asked Jon to look out for some larger Octavias for me and so far nothing at all!

I DO LOVE yr 3-stone ring. It's fantastically GORGEOUS!! If I didn't already have a 3-stone ring, that's what I'd do with my 3ct.

I can't wait to see your new 1.91ct VC ring. Is it going to be an Emilya too?

A double halo on a 3ct would be rather OTT for a piece of real life bling, though the idea is rather delish, he he...

 

[Phoenix]

Hi, Phoenix. I don't think larger stones look that good in halos. The proportions are off somehow. So I would leave it alone, or upgrade the stone!

I agree, I tend to think they look like miniature flying saucers that landed on the hand. Just saying.....

Ha ha, that's too funny! I have this mental image now, thanks to you!

 

[Missy]

I would wait and upgrade the RB. A solitaire is very different from a halo and I think you are longing for the bling factor from a huge solitaire rather than a halo. 2 very different (though both beautiful in their own way) appearances. I see you with a larger RB solitaire rather than a large halo. Good luck with your decision Phoenix!

 

[m-2-b]

I'm getting a slight tweaked version of the Emilya for my 1.91ct RB.

Here's another thought--redo your 3 stone w/ the 3 ct in the middle and halo your BGD blue 2.3ct instead!

 

[Phoenix]

I'm getting a slight tweaked version of the Emilya for my 1.91ct RB.

Here's another thought--redo your 3 stone w/ the 3 ct in the middle and halo your BGD blue 2.3ct instead!

Ha ha, you really *are* devilish!!

I actually have grown to love my 3-stone ring, believe it or not. I did explore several options, including selling my sidestones, upgrade the centre "blue" etc, and every option came back with me losing lots of $$$. So as soon as I realised that, I started liking it. But I have now learned to say "never say NEVER", he he!!

Hmmm.... a slight tweaked version?!! Care to share more? Whatever it is, I'm sure it's going to be breathtakingly gorgeous , knowing you and yr taste and knowing Victor and his incredible craftsmanship!

 

[Christina...]

When I noticed the pic of your three ring comparison, it reminded of other pics we have all seen on PS of ladies in the jewelry store trying to decide on which of the three she should choose. The fact that you already own these three similar set beauties, leads me to think that perhaps its time to think a bit outside your comfort style and try something new. Perhaps an antique setting or like Yssie suggested, a gorgeous McTeigue!

I know that you prefer a solitaire, but I have a feeling that if you continue to set them that way, that one by one your going to grow disappointed and bored with each one. Honestly, I think that from across the room or maybe even from across the table I would have a hard time knowing which of the three you were wearing. However if it was set in a gorgeous sturdy yellow or rose gold setting, it would become much more of a standout, and like yssie said, it would leave you with nothing to compare it with, and would become more of a conversation piece.

That said, your jewelry box is crazy beautiful, and I'll email you my address so you can ship them to me as you become weary of them.

 

[Skippy123]

No, leave it alone; did you see Bliss's haloed ring and then the unhalo? I love your ring as it; it is gorgeous