small stone, plat setting on a budget

[Atenay]

I have a very limited budget, around $2500, but my girlfriend is set on a platinum setting, she DOES NOT want white gold. She loves the tiffany classic solitaire setting and I do too. I am not opposed to getting a replica, if it is a good one, but the best replicas in platinum are around $1200 dollars (I like the superbcert) which leaves me $1200-$1300 left for the diamond. We know we are going to end up with a small stone, especially because we want it to be good quality, G or H color, SI1 or better clarity, excellent cut. I called tiffany''s, and they said I can get a ring with a diamond between .25 and .32 carats with this budget. My question is, am I really going to be able to get a much better/bigger diamond if I set it in the superbcert replica or is there a good, less expensive one out there? My impression is that the tiffany''s markup is less with a lower budget and that way I end up with the exact setting I want. Any advice would be great, thanks.

 

[iheartscience]

I would just get her a Tiffany style setting, and not a Tiffany replica, since your budget is so limited. Whiteflash.com has a platinum 6 prong Tiffany style for $495. Here is the web address: http://whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/6-Prong-tiffany-style_993.htm

That way you''ll have WAY more money for the diamond. Remember-you can always change the setting later. (You can change the diamond easily, too, if you go with one of the vendors like Whiteflash with a great upgrade policy!) So, assuming you go for that setting, you''ll have $2000ish left over, so here are some diamond options for you.

JamesAllen.com seems to have a LOT of H&A diamonds in your price range. Here is one H/SI2 that''s a steal, if it''s eyeclean, at $2240: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-936509.asp And make sure you ask about the Pricescope discount if you use any PS vendor!

Also, if you use the Pricescope search engine and search for AGS0 stones, lots of good options come up in the .7ish carat range in your price range. Here''s a .72 I/VS1 for $2064 (with PS/wire discount). http://www.whiteflash.com/round/Round-cut-diamond-362157.htm

I think you can really knock your girlfriend''s socks off if you go this route, especially if she''s thinking she can only get around a .25 from Tiffany!

 

[monarch64]

I second everything Thing2of2 says!

Also, have you considered going a tad lower in color, such as I-J, for your diamond? I''d go lower in color to stay within your cut, clarity, and carat weight parameters in a heartbeat.

 

[gailrmv]

Don't forget to check signedpieces.com, as they often have tiffany rings, authentic, pre-owned, but without as hefty of a price tag!

And if they don't have what you want, Personally I'd get the cheaper 4 prong basic solitaire setting with as big of a diamond as you can, from WF or another vendor w/ upgrade policy, in the H-I-J range and SI1 or SI2 clarity! Ideal cut of course!

 

[cinnamon013]

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-395229.htm# BEAUTY
0.544 ct G VS1 A Cut Above H&A
$2,155.00 Item Available - Ready to ship



Item Code: AGS-8833302
. Report: AGS
. Shape: A Cut Above H&A
. Carat: 0.544
. Depth %: 61.9
. Table %: 56.8
. Crown Angle: 34.8
. Crown %: 15.1
. Star : 54
. Pavilion Angle: 40.9
. Pavilion %: 43.1
. Lower Girdle %: 75
. Girdle: Thin to Medium Faceted
. Measurements: 5.21-5.24X3.23
. Light Performance: 0
. Polish: Ideal
. Symmetry: Ideal
. Culet: Pointed
. Fluorescence: Negligible

http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/4-Prong-tiffany-style_994.htm $495 platinum

With the PS discount and wire discount, you''ll come in under your budget. YUMMY.

 

[swom324]

For comparison, the genuine Tiffany had a pricetag DOUBLE that of my Superbcert replica, and the Tiffany diamond was 0.1 smaller and not as well cut. We ordered my ring, then I later tried on the Tiffany and saw the price. What a great feeling!

 

[E B]

PS member Kit has a replica Tiffany setting from Union Diamond that's really nice. It isn't an EXACT replica, but it's pretty close and only $400 in platinum:

Union Diamond 6-Prong Tiffany

The link to Kit's ring:

Kit's WF/Union Diamond ring

I don't believe Union sells their settings separately, so you'd have to get a diamond through them. They carry AGS Ideal, though, and here's one in your budget:

.56ct F, VS1 AGS ID/ID $2076 wire price

HTH! Good luck finding the perfect ring.

 

[Atenay]

thanks for all your help. i''ve looked at the whiteflash setting and I don''t feel like it has that same tiffany look that my girlfriend is set on. the union diamonds one looks good, but I know very little about Union diamonds and I would much rather buy from a vendor like WF that everyone seems to rave about. i think i like their selection better as well. is there any way they would be able to modify their setting to make the prongs a bit more delicate and "cup-like"? another option i was considering is the stuller solstice- does anyone know the price or whether this setting would be able to be slightly modified?

 

[Independent Gal]

Signed Pieces has a few REAL Tiffany rings in your price range and size parameters. So, why not get her the real thing? They sell estate pieces, polished and buffed to look 100% new. Indistinguishable from new. I''ve bought several pieces from them (Tiffany, Bulgari) and the service is excellent.

Seriously, buy her a real Tiffany ring. Blow her mind! AND stay within your budget.

My FI bought my e-ring there too.

 

[Atenay]

I am having a hard time thinking about buying used because I know someone else bought that ring for their girlfriend the way that I want to buy a special ring for mine. Also, you don''t have an opportunity to upgrade, which is something we might consider doing in the future. And I am concerned that you end up having to buy what is there instead of picking a really great diamond. I know people are always saying tiffany diamonds underperform compared to their GoG or WF rings. That is part of the reason I don''t want to go tiffany''s in the first place.

 

[iheartscience]

If you''re thinking about upgrading, keep in mind that you may not be able to keep the same setting. So it really doesn''t make sense to spend $1200 on a setting that you may not be able to use again.

 

[Quash]

I feel as if we''ve just been on the exact same ring journey.

I would recommend to proceed with caution. Does your girlfriend like the Tiffany *style* classic setting or the Tiffany *brand*. This is an emotional question that even she may have trouble answering. If you find an identical replica, will she always look down and know it''s not a Tiffany *brand* even though she couldn''t tell the difference between the rings and even if the replica is actually better in quality? Kind of similar to discussions on this board about diamonds being "eye clean" vs. "mind clean," meaning even if some people can''t see the inclusions, knowing they are there still impacts their feelings about the diamond. Or, people who couldn''t handle looking down at a .97 carat diamond and would prefer to know it''s that magic 1 carat. These are important emotional considerations in a very emotional purchase.

As well, if it''s a replica, will she care when people say, "Is that a Tiffany?" and she has to respond? This will happen.

My partner loves the Tiffany classic setting. I couldn''t afford the size/type of diamond I wanted at Tiffany''s (I, too, ended narrowing down to a SI1 G ideal cut - AGS000) and was turned off by their ridiculous markup, which eventually led me to GOG for my diamond and to Mark Morrell''s Flame setting, which has similar elements to the Tiffany classic setting (platinum knife edge six-prong). Fortunately, my partner also loves designs by independent designers so I''m confident she''ll prefer it. Plus, I had her glance at it, saying it wasn''t a possibility but just wanted to show her. She noted it was more finely crafted than the Tiffany setting and she preferred it, as I do (by a long shot). So, that led me to my decision.

When I was considering replicas, I ended up at the Supercert/Excel site and was close to purchasing a replica from Barry, who I had an excellent experience with, until I figured out I personally felt uncomfortable with a replica. She would have been perfectly happy with a well made replica and liked what she saw when I showed her the pics and videos of Supercert''s replicas.

I also went to Signed Pieces to look at their used Tiffany classic settings. I would have been very happy to grab a piece of "estate jewelry" but my girlfriend thought wearing someone else''s engagement ring was bad luck. Again, another emotional response which you can''t discount. So, I moved on.

As an aside, I''m not sure if Tiffany diamonds are of lower or higher quality, nor am I sure anyone else can really say that. Ask for the certificates for the diamonds and run the numbers yourself on HCA and Dave Atlas'' diy cut grading to rule possibilities out (not in). Tiffany pegs that classic setting at about $1140USD even though they don''t sell it separately, so this may help you as you compare the diamonds they are recommending by running searches on Pricescope for similar diamonds.

Also, well-made six prong settings are often customized to the exact stone and the diamonds sit lower than off the shelf ones, like at Bluenile (check out Bluenile''s to see how high that diamond sits and compare it to Excel''s and Tiffany''s). I''m told six prongs are trickier than four-prongs for this reason. Ask Tiffany and Excel if you can upgrade the diamond later using the same setting. They may say you''d need a new ring, too, as they may shorten the prongs and adjust the basket for the diamond you get. Also, I''m pretty sure Tiffany uses different size settings (width) depending on the diamond size.

If your girlfriend is fine with a replica, why don''t you talk with Barry at Excel, give him your budget and see what he can come up with. Or, look at diamonds from vendors here, which you could then send to Barry to set in his Tiffany replica, if you can find a diamond size and quality that makes you happy within your budget.

One last thing: given the size of diamond you are considering, have you looked at one in the store that size with the setting to see how the setting and diamond balance each other out? Might be worth doing.

Let us know how it turns out.

Quash

 

[Atenay]

quash, your decision making process does sound a lot like mine. i am more than willing to look at other settings, i don''t really have a problem with a replica, but I think she would. she does like other settings, for instance mark morell''s petite sunburst setting which she loves, but it''s just as much out of my price range as tiffany''s is. plus, i get the impression he doesn''t work with really small stones. it is hard to find a setting that stands on its own merits for under $1000 dollars and I don''t have a lot of flexibility on the budget- I''m a student and not working full time. I think she would rather have a tiny diamond in a tiffany setting than a larger one in the WF one, for example, but not because of the name only because she really likes the tiffany setting more. she also loves some niwaka settings, like the sky sonata design, which are made for smaller diamonds but still really expensive and i don''t know if the sky sonata is my favorite. would it be better to go with the niwaka if i am going to go with a "brand name" because those settings are made to look good with smaller diamonds? i don''t know if this is worth mentioning, but my girlfriend has a size 7 finger, not really tiny, and I don''t know if that would make a small stone look even smaller

 

[iheartscience]

If you think she''d rather have a .25 carat Tiffany ring because of the setting, then I think that''s definitely what you should get her. I personally do enjoy the Tiffany solitaire, but in smaller sized diamonds I don''t think the setting does much for the diamond. Just my opinion, though.

Most girls I know, not just the ones on Pricescope, would much rather have a .7 carat diamond in a simple 4 or 6 prong setting than a .25 carat Tiffany ring. If you are 100% positive she''d rather have the .25 over the .7, then you should do it. If you''re not positive, I think you should go with the bigger diamond for sure. A size 7 finger isn''t huge, but it definitely isn''t going to make a .25 diamond look any bigger than it really is.

 

[Quash]

Do you *think* she'd have a problem with a replica, or do you *know* she would? If you can discuss this with her and even show her the Supercert or other more affordable replicas, that might help give you some direction.

If yes to replica:
Nice Ice has a replica, too, by the way (http://niceice.com/jewelry/knife_edge_solitaires.htm). I can't provide a comparative analysis between the Supercert, Nice Ice and WF one but you could email all three and ask them and outline what you're trying to achieve. That seems to be the only way to bump up the size of the diamond and stick with that style of setting. If you don't have an issue with a replica and you *know* she does, I guess that probably rules that option out. But, if she doesn't care, then maybe a good replica and a larger diamond from one of those vendors might be the ticket.

I wasn't suggesting you spring for a Morrell setting, by the way, knowing your budget. aside: I love his Sunburst and Petite Sunburst, too. He does lovely work, although I have no idea how much the petite costs or if he can adjust for smaller diamonds (he probably can). Can't hurt to email with your total budget and just ask, although it's likely a long shot.

If no to replica:
The good thing in this process is that you know that your gf is okay with a small diamond, so if you end up going the Tiffany brand route with a small stone, you know she'll be happy, but remember to check the ability to upgrade the diamond and keep the same setting down the road, if that's something that's important to you.

Wow, I had never seen those Niwaka settings at niwaka.com!!! They look lovely!!! Thanks for bringing them to my attention!!! Anyone know how much these setting typically cost? I can't really tell you whether it's better to go with the Tiffany or the Niwaka, though. No idea; these are also very personal choices, which is why, you'll notice, I'm not trying to steer you in a particular direction. But, if you're not a fan of the Sky Sonata, don't forget - you have to look at the setting, too, for many years, so try to make the both of you happy with your choice. They have many other lovely settings. Lovely, unique work.

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

I didn't see it listed here, but I am guessing you saw the actual WF replica?
(though If I had ever seen that union tif rep I probably would have asked htem if they can do it with four prong and if so I would have gotten that one for my fiance, it looks good enough to me)

http://whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/Classic-tiffany-style-Knife-Edge_1137.htm

Now, you could aim for around 40 points with higher color/clarity, keeping them on the lower end and hitting the .50mark or veering outside of ACA, but I would suggest first considering upping your budget about 200 bucks (and maybe speaking with WF about getting a LITTLE bit more discount to make it easier on you) as that opens up a few real nice options. I would personally be most interested in this one:


.543

or if you want a slightly lower color, which might be a great idea with these budget constraints:

.58


Another option , and one of my favorites so far would be to pick up this .437 for 800 bucks:

HERE

which would leave you with 1700 dollars which would open up the opportunity to seek out a 3 ring, or you might be able to find a number of BRILLIANT settings very similar to Tiffany's, WF has a large selection, some of them say .50 cts but that .43 MIGHT fit, and some of them don't have any restirctions listed. For examples:

\

http://whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/Pave-Knife-Edge-by-WF_961.htm#

well, anyway, you can hunt down others yourself, but there is a pretty big selection of brilliant settings--some reminiscent of tiffany--for about 1700 in platinum. Not many women I know would be angry about something like that

There are alot of other diamond options of course, which I am sure you are capable of sorting through, but those ideas above would be the first things I personally would check out and consider. I really like the .437 and brilliant setting idea myself, that is a real good price on that diamond. Though ultimately it would come down to knowing exactly what it is that your fiance wants. if she would like something like the eternity type rings or not, or one larger one in a simple solitaire, anyway, good luck!

 

[Quash]

yes, that''s the WF Tiffany setting I also saw. I think it looks great but I didn''t pursue it as it is 95% platinum with 5% iridium, which creates a Vickers hardness of only 80 (easier to scratch, a bit softer, etc). Don''t know what the Nice Ice alloy mix is. The real Tiffany setting and the Supercert replica are 95% Plat and 5% Ruthenium (standard for higher quality platinum rings, I''m told), which have a Vickers hardness of 135. I assume most of us consumers (myself included) probably couldn''t tell the difference side by side. I''m surprised the WF setting is 5% Iridium, though, given its price. By the way, most bench jeweler''s use a mix of 90% platinum and 10% iridium, which creates a Vickers hardness of 110. It seems to be the preference of many platinumsmiths who make handmade products.

I''m sure the platinum experts will jump in and set me straight if I''m missing anything. I''m sure this will not impact your purchasing decisions, but just some helpful info to know, especially if you end up trying to get as close a replica as possible.

 

[Atenay]

all of you have given me a lot to think about! that is the thing about pricescope, you post on here trying to figure out how to make the most of your budget and end up letting yourself be convinced to spend more than you were planning in the first place. I talked with my girlfriend who said a definite no to a replica. so now my question, (especially to quash, who has worked with Mark Morrell) is... if I really want to pick my own diamond (WorkingHard, you showed me what I can get for my money, I''m thinking hard about WF now), which lets out Tiffany''s, and the Mark Morrell setting my girlfriend loves is going to end up being around $1650, how much will I need to spend to get a diamond of about .75- 1 carats that I can set in that setting? Could I do it for between $1500 and $2000? I do not know if I will be able to expand my budget this much, but I would like to have a best case scenario and maybe if I save and wait a little longer I will end up being happier with the ring I finally choose. Or should I just buy the best diamond I can now in the cheapest setting and reset it in the sunburst when we get a little more money saved up? I thought about it today and came to the realization that I don''t want to settle when it comes to this ring, I want to get her exactly what she wants AND exactly what I want, which means probably the sunburst or something along those lines. The cheaper settings I''ve looked at are okay, but none of them really impress me. And the problem is if I am going with the mark Morrell I want a diamond I can be proud of as well. Probably no matter your budget you always wonder what you could get for another 1-2K...

 

[kellyfish]

Have you talked budget and cost with your soon-to-be? I remember when I was much younger and about to become engaged I asked for platinum, but had NO IDEA how much more expensive it was. In my case, my poor dh wanted so badly to get me what I wanted that he spend over 1/2 of his limited budget on the setting. I just did not have any idea of the cost of such things. Well, I guess he wanted to be romantic and had a lot of pride, but if he just would have shared with me how hard of a time he was having with his budget I would have gladly changed parameters.

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

well, the next step, I believe, is going to be going out and getting some face time with some diamonds. Also, forget about dreams for a 1ct. If something shows up fantastic, but lets not go from .43 to 1ct, thats a huge difference

you need to figure out exactly where your limits are in regards to color in particular. Clarity can be simple but it can also be tricky...

with color, it can also be quite tricky because your eyes are not her eyes--but they are the ones you have. Do you recall her suggesting that she wants a particularly high color? If not you need to find some local stores with AGS or GIA (or Cartier, Tiff olther big brands).

There are some key elements to remember.

1) Ideal cuts will display color differently than lesser cuts, so assuming you are going to be an essentially ideal cut then only look at AGS0 or GIA EXEXEX (and bring along some notepads perhaps to keep up with info, and do check the angles on the GIA cert diamonds to make sure they are up to AGS0 parameters.)

2) different lighting will cause the colors to look differently. When I went to Tiffany's last time I could not tell a difference in the store with the D next to the H. But bring them into some different lighting and the color change is quite noticable.

some lighting environments to insist on:

natural lighting

diffused fluo lighting (as this is a very common lighting environment and shows off the color fairly well)

lab grading lighting if they have it available


3) don't worry about holding it upside down on a white sheet of paper or any of that mess. The two views that are going to be important to you are

a) the top. This is obviously by far the most important. Its best to do some side by side comparisons, and then to do some where you look at one, put it away, and look at the other. The difference between color grades might be apparant side by side--and that is good to know--but it may not be very noticable when just looking at it by itself--that is also good to know.

b) the side. This is more important to some than others, you will have to determine that yourself and take that as a secondary consideration when evaluating color.


Clarity--you won't really need to evaluate this in the store to be honest, as it will be a purely stone by stone basis once you start calling some in or picking individual ones, but some things to consider:

1) Again, take it out of the primary store display lights when considering, those lights will mask inclusions as well.

2) It is pretty simple here for the most part--if you can not see it you can not see it. So that has the potential to make things easy.

3) the next thing is to make sure that it isn't hindering performance, major clouds can be a problem for sure, and according to gary VS2 and lower diamonds where the only inclusion is a cloud need to be considered carefully and need to be evaluated thouroughly--use more caution as you get lower in clarity, but obviously there are some that will work just fine and some that won't in each of those clarity grades.

4) figure out if you think she is going to be upset by knowing her diamond has inclusions. You may not be able to see it, but some people get really upset about their diamonds being included--especially when they see all the little red marks on their report. If that is the case you may have tomake our primary sacrifices in color, even though clarity is a great place to get it done.

5) Again, the side view is something to consider. Sometimes inclusions can reflect and be very apparant from the side, sometimes they are only visible when held up against certain color backgrounds, and sometimes there are no inclusions visible at all from any angle. This can hold true, I know for a fact, anywhere from VS2-I3, so use caution and consider your position in that regard before making a purchase.


Once you have set your color and clarity minimums the hunt becomes very easy, bassically jsut searching for your biggest ideal performing diamond in your budet. but then things get tricky as you establish the ct size you can get based on your parameter and what settings are available for your price and seeing if you need to adjust our budget more or less towards the setting while holding a diamond or two you are particularly interested in, it gets really fun for a while there

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

oh and just out of curiosity I ran a quick search on the cheapest Ideal cut .75ct diamond on PS. All colors and clarities, came up with this bad boy for 2100

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-895822.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

maybe you should call MIke and see if he can accomodate ideal cut .60-.74 or any range of those in the setting you are intersted in? Maybe ask him a minimum mm measurement and you might be able to match it with a shallow 65pointer or something?

EDIT:

oh and I wanted to agree with the posts below by Ebree. If you are going to spent 1700 on your setting it better have a bunch of diamonds in it, and you should talk to the jeweler about if it is possibe to change out the head if you upgrade down the road and keep the same shank? Just way too large a % of our budget for a plain ring. Also, palladium is a solid alternative, depending on why she wants platinum, but since she requested platinum I say get it for her despite the alternative--just not 1700 on a plain band when you can get alot more bling and overall beauty for your buck in platinum with other options, or at least cheaper options.

 

[E B]

To be honest, I wouldn't go the route of a designer setting that's over half your budget if you're planning to upgrade someday. There are plenty of platinum settings that are beautifully made and might please your girlfriend for less than $1700. But to spend all of that on a setting for a diamond that you'll upgrade in the future?

Also, have you asked your girlfriend why she insists on platinum? If it's because she doesn't want the 'whiteness' to fade to gold (which is one of the reasons why I wanted platinum), you should look into palladium. It's, from what I understand, comparable in price to white gold but doesn't lose it's whiteness.

I'd recommend going the route of an ideal cut, larger stone and a beautiful palladium (if you type it into PS, you'll learn a ton about it) setting that'll please your girlfriend for the meantime. And when budget allows, splurge on that Mark Morrell setting or a bigger diamond. But I really, really wouldn't recommend spending over half your budget on just a plain platinum setting, no matter how beautiful the craftsmanship.

 

[E B]

I don't know if you've seen this setting yet, but it's a beautiful choice (and $650 less in platinum than the Mark Morrell). If WF will make it in palladium, you could save even more.

WF Legato Sleek Line

WF has an almost .60ct H&A diamond you could put in it, in platinum, and still be in budget:

.58ct I, VS1 Ideal H&A

Just some suggestions from someone who was once recently shopping for a ring with HER 'once boyfriend' (now husband).

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 10/14/2007 11:09:48 PM
Author: EBree
To be honest, I wouldn''t go the route of a designer setting that''s over half your budget if you''re planning to upgrade someday. There are plenty of platinum settings that are beautifully made and might please your girlfriend for less than $1700. But to spend all of that on a setting for a diamond that you''ll upgrade in the future?

Also, have you asked your girlfriend why she insists on platinum? If it''s because she doesn''t want the ''whiteness'' to fade to gold (which is one of the reasons why I wanted platinum), you should look into palladium. It''s, from what I understand, comparable in price to white gold but doesn''t lose it''s whiteness.

I''d recommend going the route of an ideal cut, larger stone and a beautiful palladium (if you type it into PS, you''ll learn a ton about it) setting that''ll please your girlfriend for the meantime. And when budget allows, splurge on that Mark Morrell setting or a bigger diamond. But I really, really wouldn''t recommend spending over half your budget on just a plain platinum setting, no matter how beautiful the craftsmanship.

Ditto to everything EBree said! I know I''ve said it already, but I also think you definitely shouldn''t spend half your budget on a setting you''ll have to get rid of when you upgrade. I get that you want to get her what she wants, but she probably just does not realize how much money a plain platinum setting is. And I appreciate that you want a really great setting, but again, if you plan to upgrade, the simplest (and least expensive!) setting is really the way to go. I promise you that if you get a great diamond, no one will notice the simple setting at all-they''ll be too busy looking at the firecracker the setting is holding! And then when you''re not a student, you can upgrade the setting and/or the diamond to the dream setting and/or diamond!

P.S. If you''re willing to go for a J, James Allen has a .81 J/SI2 for $2080 with the PS discount! http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1105612.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

They also have a .82 H/SI2 for $2580 with PS discount. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1107207.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

Date: 10/14/2007 11:30:33 PM
Author: thing2of2

Date: 10/14/2007 11:09:48 PM
Author: EBree
To be honest, I wouldn''t go the route of a designer setting that''s over half your budget if you''re planning to upgrade someday. There are plenty of platinum settings that are beautifully made and might please your girlfriend for less than $1700. But to spend all of that on a setting for a diamond that you''ll upgrade in the future?

Also, have you asked your girlfriend why she insists on platinum? If it''s because she doesn''t want the ''whiteness'' to fade to gold (which is one of the reasons why I wanted platinum), you should look into palladium. It''s, from what I understand, comparable in price to white gold but doesn''t lose it''s whiteness.

I''d recommend going the route of an ideal cut, larger stone and a beautiful palladium (if you type it into PS, you''ll learn a ton about it) setting that''ll please your girlfriend for the meantime. And when budget allows, splurge on that Mark Morrell setting or a bigger diamond. But I really, really wouldn''t recommend spending over half your budget on just a plain platinum setting, no matter how beautiful the craftsmanship.

Ditto to everything EBree said! I know I''ve said it already, but I also think you definitely shouldn''t spend half your budget on a setting you''ll have to get rid of when you upgrade. I get that you want to get her what she wants, but she probably just does not realize how much money a plain platinum setting is. And I appreciate that you want a really great setting, but again, if you plan to upgrade, the simplest (and least expensive!) setting is really the way to go. I promise you that if you get a great diamond, no one will notice the simple setting at all-they''ll be too busy looking at the firecracker the setting is holding! And then when you''re not a student, you can upgrade the setting and/or the diamond to the dream setting and/or diamond!

P.S. If you''re willing to go for a J, James Allen has a .81 J/SI2 for $2080 with the PS discount! http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1105612.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

They also have a .82 H/SI2 for $2580 with PS discount. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1107207.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

hum, that they do. If you open up the search from D-Z IF-I3 .75-1ct Ideal cuts they do not show up.

 

[Atenay]

what you guys are saying makes sense- i guess I am just frustrated that I am not able to get my girlfriend the ring that she, or I, would consider ideal. I think I might decide to go for the cheapest temporary setting and spend my budget on the best diamond I can... while maybe trying to raise the budget about 1K. This way, when we upgrade, we may be able to just put that same stone into the mark morrell setting. It may be awhile before the wedding, so its possible we can have MM make her the setting and the wedding ring to match. I know at least I am going to be a little sentimental about the diamond I use to propose to her with and not totally happy about the idea of just trading it in. The reason we originally wanted to upgrade was that we were planning on a tiffany ring with only a .25 carat diamond and in that case I completely understood her desire to upgrade in the future. I think planning to re-set the stone makes more sense. Thoughts?

 

[surfgirl]

If you can get a real Tiffany ring at Signed Pieces, I''d go for that. The name seems important to you and why not? It''s not like it''s got bad mojo or anything. It''s just a ring. An inanimate object. If they have what you want go for it! I have an antique ring and there was a time when I thought I wouldn''t want antique wedding rings because I didn''t know if they came from a good marriage or whatever. Believe me, I got over that quick! I think she''d be tickled pink to get a real Tiffany and you could probably go into a Tiffany''s store and get a new box, get them to wrap it up for you and viola! There you go!

 

[Quash]

This seems to be where you''re at, if I read your posts closely:
-no used ring
-no replica
-$2500. If you can''t go over that, don''t worry about it. She''s marrying you, not the ring. Don''t feel bad about not being able to spend more.

-you will be naturally steered towards higher cuts on this forum and it''s my preference, but it also costs you a premium. I think you said an SI1, G was your window so maybe considering a very good cut from a reputable vendor here to help the budget?

I agree with Kelly that you need to talk with your gf. She may not understand that platinum will eat up half your budget. Palladium is a great option. But, this is also an emotional purchase. That''s okay but it means she''ll get a small diamond and she''s okay with that.

A Mark Morrell Petite Sunburst probably won''t be able to handle a larger diamond when you upgrade, as the basket is customized to the stone. And, at $1650, it would leave you room for a $900 stone. So, now you''re spending more on the setting and will get an even smaller stone. Or, you increase your budget. you don''t want to do either, so listen to yourself on this.

Have you priced those Nawaka rings? They clearly are designed for smaller diamonds and are in platinum and they have tonnes of settings, plus you know your gf already loves one of them. Maybe that''s the ticket, with "anniversary rings" in future years, rather than upgrading settings or diamonds. I may be off here, as I don''t know how much they cost at all - just that they have small diamonds. But, worth a call and let us know.

Finally, there''s one thing that you still know. That you can afford a .30ish diamond in a genuine Tiffany setting and you know that it would make your girlfriend very happy. Have you actually tried on any with her in that size so you can both see them live and get a sense of the proportions? She may have already made your decision for you and this process you''re going through is just designed to lead you back to that place after having considered all other options. If that happens, that''s okay.

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 10/14/2007 11:55:23 PM
Author: Atenay
what you guys are saying makes sense- i guess I am just frustrated that I am not able to get my girlfriend the ring that she, or I, would consider ideal. I think I might decide to go for the cheapest temporary setting and spend my budget on the best diamond I can... while maybe trying to raise the budget about 1K. This way, when we upgrade, we may be able to just put that same stone into the mark morrell setting. It may be awhile before the wedding, so its possible we can have MM make her the setting and the wedding ring to match. I know at least I am going to be a little sentimental about the diamond I use to propose to her with and not totally happy about the idea of just trading it in. The reason we originally wanted to upgrade was that we were planning on a tiffany ring with only a .25 carat diamond and in that case I completely understood her desire to upgrade in the future. I think planning to re-set the stone makes more sense. Thoughts?

Atenay, I really believe this is the best solution.

It really is the best use of the $$. It lets you get the stone you'll stay with (so it preserves the sentimentality of keeping an original element of the ring you propose with).

It gives you more time to save $$, which helps you stay within your budget now.

It makes better use of that money when you do spend it because she'll be involved in choosing the setting, and as you said, you can have the e-ring and w-ring made together.

This really is a solid plan....and it's the one we went with, too. Hubby and I wanted to stay within budget, so we chose a temporary (disposable?) setting for about $150 and put the rest of the money into the stone. It let me wear the ring for 6 months while we saved and gave me time to figure out what I *really* wanted for my rings.

We had a custom setting made and chose the w-ring to go with it. I felt much better spending on the custom setting knowing that I wasn't going to change the diamond.

We've never once regretted this path, and I'm thrilled that I still have the diamond he proposed to me with.

 

[princessleia]

Date: 10/13/2007 11:24:01 PM
Author: TanDogMom
Don''t forget to check signedpieces.com, as they often have tiffany rings, authentic, pre-owned, but without as hefty of a price tag!


And if they don''t have what you want, Personally I''d get the cheaper 4 prong basic solitaire setting with as big of a diamond as you can, from WF or another vendor w/ upgrade policy, in the H-I-J range and SI1 or SI2 clarity! Ideal cut of course!

Not to get off on a different topic, but TanDogMom- where on the signed pieces website can I find pre-owned jewelry? I''m missing it apparently