Solasfera in a De Beers Setting? (Or other luxury brand)

[endlessfin1te]

My lady and I are thoroughly impressed by the Solasferas, but her family values and culture really drives her to brand names such as De Beers, Harry Winston, and Tiffany. To us, the snobbiness of the brand names is just important as the brillance. The brand settings also do look a bit classier. I personally love the two-toned pink and platinum band on the de beers promise, and the suspended look on HW Attraction (looks like the entire diamond is floating).

We are set on a round solasfera 1.25 ct F/VS2 - it's the settings and brand/no brand decision that troubles me.

I had a crazy idea - can I buy a cheap diamond from DB around the same weight (something like a K/I2), and have a jeweler swap out the diamond? I will then use the cheap DB diamond for a necklace down the road.

I would think the only thing that would need to change are the prong...but I've also never heard anyone doing this before. Am I missing something?

Thanks everyone for your inputs!

Sam

 

[tuckie]

Hi Sam,
I'm no expert here but you might want to consider two things:
1. Many "prestige" brands simply don't carry stones in lower colors or clairities
2. If you were to buy a completed ring and want to swap the stone, this is not a straightforward practice. At the least, you'd need to make sure that the dimensions (rather than carat weight) of the two stones were similar enough such that the stone would fit in the setting.

I trust that the PS regulars will chime in on both the feasibility of this plan and their opinions on doing so more generally, but I wanted to add these two points in case you weren't already aware.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I know Tiffany doesn't carry below I SI1 (the last I checked), so it is unlikely you could do this without spending a lot of money. If the brand is that important to you, it makes MUCH more sense to go to one of those stores to buy the whole ring. Once you change out a stone in a branded setting, it is no longer authentic. I do not advise doing that.

Incidentally, you certainly can get custom settings just as nice as those brands and nicer in some cases, and in fact, we know you can get better diamonds. But if telling others the brand is important, then by all means go with the name brand of your preference.

 

[kay1]

debeers will sell you down to SI1 and K no problem. I was quite shocked at the level of diamond they were willing to sell me and even more so at the price they wanted.

It's one thing on very high colour and clarity diamonds because the markup melts into the high base diamond cost (well a bit more), but the SI1/K they quoted me was a joke.

To some degree I went through what you went through and here's some random thoughts:

- Debeers etc have their diamonds laser etched, the serial number and the diamond size etc in their database. If you take it in to get it cleaned they may wonder what's going on and refuse service.

- There are stories of pave and things falling out of setting, whether they are debeers or not it happens. They may decide they don't want to fix your modified ring.

- Designer settings like those are nice for a few reasons. 1) design, a bit like a gucci top is nicer than a normal cheap top - you can get this easily elsewhere too. 2) The setting is made for the diamond so the prongs etc are only as large as they need to be - you can get this elsewhere, 3) you know it's a brand name so it 'feels' better - that's a mental thing you may or may not get elsewhere.

If you take the attitude you have towards the diamond - you choose the best, you can do the same with the settings. BEST doesn't mean dabeers etc, it means hand forged by a great designer etc.

If you buy a 'dabeers' you don't need to explain to people it's a top, expensive brand. If you get a VC, SK, LM etc etc you can tell people it's a custom one off piece and not mass produced.

For me the issue wasn't about the brand name actually, it was that those rings always looked so much better. Only when i discovered hand forged did i realise there was an alternative.

 

[ecf8503]

What kind of setting are you considering? Pave?

If I were you I would call Victor Canera / Steven Kirsch / Leon Mege and have one of them custom make a top quality, unique setting that will highlight the stone you have chosen together, and that has elements of the inspiration ring(s) with your own unique personalities infused.

I'm not a big believer in Brand Names being "better" - just overpriced. And I feel for you that you are feeling pressured by other people that you need to live up to some standard they have set for you. JMHO.

 

[MissGotRocks]

If you want a certain brand name ring just to be able to say it is, then I would advise you to buy the whole package from them. You will certainly overpay for the privilege of having one of their rings but if that is your main criteria, go for it. They do have some beautiful pieces and while you can buy a stone and have a gorgeous custom ring made, doesn't sound like it will fit the bill for you and your lady.

 

[arkieb1]

I have a few rings made by Victor Canera and the quality of the workmanship visibly exceeds Tiffany. I have shown the rings to high end jewellers and they all oooooh and aaaaah about how well made they are. He is a really lovely guy to deal with as well, and I am sure he could create something MUCH better than a De Beers setting for you;

http://www.victorcanera.com/

 

[endlessfin1te]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I agree the easiest way is to just buy directly from the brand store, but experience PS and diamonds is like good sushi - once you learn the difference, you will never allow yourself to settle for less. Custom-made is of course one of my options too, I'd appreciate jeweler suggestions on the west coast (I'm from LA).

Decisions decisions...

 

[endlessfin1te]

arkieb1 - Thanks! Didn't notice Canera is in LA haha.

 

[msop04]

debeers will sell you down to SI1 and K no problem. I was quite shocked at the level of diamond they were willing to sell me and even more so at the price they wanted.

It's one thing on very high colour and clarity diamonds because the markup melts into the high base diamond cost (well a bit more), but the SI1/K they quoted me was a joke.

To some degree I went through what you went through and here's some random thoughts:

- Debeers etc have their diamonds laser etched, the serial number and the diamond size etc in their database. If you take it in to get it cleaned they may wonder what's going on and refuse service.

- There are stories of pave and things falling out of setting, whether they are debeers or not it happens. They may decide they don't want to fix your modified ring.

- Designer settings like those are nice for a few reasons. 1) design, a bit like a gucci top is nicer than a normal cheap top - you can get this easily elsewhere too. 2) The setting is made for the diamond so the prongs etc are only as large as they need to be - you can get this elsewhere, 3) you know it's a brand name so it 'feels' better - that's a mental thing you may or may not get elsewhere.

If you take the attitude you have towards the diamond - you choose the best, you can do the same with the settings. BEST doesn't mean dabeers etc, it means hand forged by a great designer etc.

If you buy a 'dabeers' you don't need to explain to people it's a top, expensive brand. If you get a VC, SK, LM etc etc you can tell people it's a custom one off piece and not mass produced.

For me the issue wasn't about the brand name actually, it was that those rings always looked so much better. Only when i discovered hand forged did i realise there was an alternative.

Great testimonial, kay1!