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STILL searching for 5-stone (help wanted again)

katiedid

Ideal_Rock
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Joined
Apr 9, 2007
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Hi all, I'm still in the market for a 5-stone ring to wear as a standalone wedding band (no ering). I almost ordered it a few months back but financial obligations got in the way...

I'm still debating between a couple of styles - u-prong and open gallery. BGD has both - and I'm wondering which sits lower on the finger?

The BGD open gallery reminds me of the Tiffany style: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/wedding-and-anniversary-bands/eternity-bands/open-gallery-5-stone-platinum-5388p

And the u-prong is beautiful as well, but it seems to sit up a little higher?? http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/wedding-and-anniversary-bands/eternity-bands/classic-5-stone-u-prong-platinum-5446p

WF has similar versions. I don't like the closed gallery style so that's not an option. I also don't think I want a trellis style. And no side stones.

So the WF ring in serious contention is the Skye: http://www.whiteflash.com/right-hand-rings/skye-five-stone-u-prong-diamond-right-hand-ring-572.htm (and WF has a sale going on right now which is also a plus)

Comments are wanted and much appreciated (again...)!
thanks
 
I think a lot would depend on the size stones you are considering. The U prong ring will of course set up higher and with larger stones not sure it would be comfortable for a ring to wear every day.
 
thanks - I meant to add the stone size before submitting the question! It will be around 1.5 ctw, so stones around 30 pts each.
 
IMO, I'd go for the BGD U prong. To my eye, it seems more fluid and graceful vs the basket and prongs of the open gallery design. I prefer to view more diamond and less metal on my settings, so I tend to avoid basket settings in general... but that's just me!

Do you have a favourite? One that you lean to over the other?
 
My favorite is the one mom2boys has made by Victor Canera. Of BG's settings, I like the Nightingale and Sally.
 
I was in a similar situation....wanting a five stone band and not sure what to choose.

I spent months on Pricescope looking at five stone wedding bands and contacted PS vendors.I loved the BG trellis, U prong, Nightingale and Sally. The WF Skye seemed too bulky and wide to me. I was just about ready to order the BG trellis when I stopped at a local jewelry store to try on five stone bands.

Guess what ? I didn't like the high set U prong or trellis designs. They're lovely to look at on other people's fingers, but I didn't like the height.

I went with a five stone band, G, VS stones in a low setting that looks very much like Memoire. Never in a million years would I have thought I'd like this look, but I love it. I was very surprised at my choice.

Maybe you've done this already and know what you like, but for sure, try on several styles before ordering online. I'm glad I did.
Good luck in your search !
 
Thanks so much for the input everyone!

Enerchi - I have been leaning toward the u-prong - either the WF skye or the BGD version. But I thought the open gallery basket that BGD has might sit lower on the finger.

Packrat - Leon's is gorgeous!

Diamondseeker - I like those BGD styles too but they both have the side diamonds right?

Onthinice, your post makes me think! There is no local store that carries the u-prong. I did try on the basket style and it was pretty. I'm afraid if I order the u-prong it might sit too high. I should ask Lesley which sits lower. And by how much. We're talking a small amount so it really shouldn't make that much difference. I've seen photos of the u-prong (side profile) and they don't seem to sit too high. But in real life, who knows? I had a u-prong eternity band and loved it but the stones were much smaller.

The memoire type has the closed basket style - kinda looks scalloped from the side right?
 
Yes, the Sally and Nightingale have tiny diamonds on the side, but I suppose they could make the rings without them if you didn't like them. I think those are two of the better u-prong settings because the diamonds are set lower. A Memoire style probably sits lowest.
 
Maybe its me... but I think the Sally and the Nightingale have stones set higher than the U prong. And you are *sure* you don't like the trellis??

I love the soft swoops and dips of a trellis setting, so I'm a little bit biased!!! BGD made my 3 stone and its a trellis, so... I confess I'm a bit partial to that design! ;))
 
Diamondseeker, you're probably right that they could make those without the side stones.

Enerchi, the more I look, the more undecided I am! I thought I'd eliminated the trellis, but I really haven't. And BGD apparently has 2 versions, although the descriptions don't really say what the differences are.
 
thanks Kasey!

I have definitely warmed up to the idea of the trellis setting after looking through TONS of photos. I can't really see the difference between trellis 1 and 2, but have read people's comments and will ask Lesley or someone at BGD to explain in more detail. It looks like the trellis may sit a little lower than the u-prong style.

I am still enjoying the feedback everyone is providing me, so if you've been in the market for a 5-stone or bought one in the last couple of years and want to share your experience, please do!
 
I have a five stone Memoire band with .40 carat each stones. I loved the workmanship of Memoire but more importantly, the comfort. I do think there are prettier versions of a five stone but comfort was a big factor for me as I wanted to wear this ring every day. I did not want those last two stones poking my fingers or sticking up in such a way to catch on things. I also did not want to have to be concerned with a high setting that could get damaged with normal daily activities.

A five stone is different from a solitaire or a three stone ring in that the stones pretty much span the entire width of your finger. I had a 1.5 version of the Memoire first and then upgraded to the 2.0 version but it was pretty much the same with both rings. The stones sit low, curve around gracefully, and have no sharp edges or prongs to poke or pinch. I wear this ring every day on my right hand and love the comfort of it. The beauty is really in the top down version of these stones for me. A beautiful profile is an added bonus but by and large I see the ring from the top side down rather than from the side. I've never regretted this choice and I wish you all the best in choosing your favorite style. I agree with others that it would be a real bonus if you were able to try on a few different styles to see which work best for you.
 
I like the trellis settings from BGD the best, I love the fluid, swoopy lines and it looks like they sit quite low. So that would be my vote (although I'm not sure of the difference between version 1 and 2 either).
 
Thanks MGR and stargurl!

I collected a bunch of photos from the 5-stone thread and put them all together and sent them to hubby for his opinion (I did not tell him any of my preferences). By the time I'd gathered all the photos and put them together for him, I had decided I liked the trellis from WF the best. He likes that one best too! So I feel good about that decision. I think it will sit lower than the u-prong and hug around the finger a little more, and it will still give me full view of the bottoms of the stones. Now I need to find that ring on the WF site. I don't see the 5-stone trellis listed there... ??
 
Maybe it was custom. But all you have to do is send them a picture of the one you like and they can do it!
 
diamondseeker, it must have been - I sent them email so hopefully i'll hear back soon!
 
My 5 stone ring was from BGD. It sat very low to the finger. It was 1ctw so a bit smaller than you are considering. Here are some photos :))

5stone1maisie.jpg

_1560.jpg
 
That is lovely low setting, Maisie. It must be comfortable to wear.
 
Maisie - that is soooo pretty!
 
Yes, I LOVE Maisie's setting because it reminds me a lot of the Tiffany one. If I had one made it would either be that design or the one Victor Canera made mom2boys.
 
SO EXCITED! I ended up going with Whiteflash - with their 5-stone trellis, which is custom because they haven't yet been able to have it added as a stock item. The stones are all F, VS2 Expert Selection stones, and total carat weight will be 1.534 (ring size is 5 so I didn't want to go any larger). I'm having it made in platinum (90 plat/10 iridium mix) and have asked that the stones be set low and the prongs be made as delicate as possible.

In weighing all the variables (staying within a given budget), I opted to go with higher color grade and clarity instead of ACAs, since I've had an ES stone before and it was amazing. Those stones miss the ACA labeling by such small margins, I think you get such a good bargain on them by not paying for the ACA designation. Sheerah was incredibly helpful.

I'll post tons of photos when I get it!! Thanks to all of you for your advice and input.
 
katiedid|1351735203|3296592 said:
SO EXCITED! I ended up going with Whiteflash - with their 5-stone trellis, which is custom because they haven't yet been able to have it added as a stock item. The stones are all F, VS2 Expert Selection stones, and total carat weight will be 1.534 (ring size is 5 so I didn't want to go any larger). I'm having it made in platinum (90 plat/10 iridium mix) and have asked that the stones be set low and the prongs be made as delicate as possible.

In weighing all the variables (staying within a given budget), I opted to go with higher color grade and clarity instead of ACAs, since I've had an ES stone before and it was amazing. Those stones miss the ACA labeling by such small margins, I think you get such a good bargain on them by not paying for the ACA designation. Sheerah was incredibly helpful.

I'll post tons of photos when I get it!! Thanks to all of you for your advice and input.

Woo hoo! I can't wait to see the finished ring! :appl: I would love to own a 5-stone one day and have small fingers like you (my right hand is a little smaller than a 4.5) and the trellis settings are my favorite for 5-stone rings. So I'm definitely interested to see how yours turns out!
 
Great choice, its exactly what I would have chosen too!
 
thanks stargurl and dreamer! I can't wait!! Gonna be a long few weeks...
 
Congrats on your decision katie!! That would've been my choice of setting too :love:
 
thanks yssie! It was a tough decision - I liked different settings for different reasons so it was all about weighing the options. But having dealt with Whiteflash so many times and knowing I would be well taken care of, no matter what I chose, made it less stressful for sure!
 
katiedid|1351810829|3297045 said:
thanks yssie! It was a tough decision - I liked different settings for different reasons so it was all about weighing the options. But having dealt with Whiteflash so many times and knowing I would be well taken care of, no matter what I chose, made it less stressful for sure!


I know exactly what you mean katie! After seeing fancydiamond's comparison thread I was *dead set* on the trellis for my mum's five stone - it's such a classic pretty-without-being-fussy design! And it'll look fantastic with ESs :sun: I wound up going in a different direction with my mum's ring because I was using antiques that needed more "rounding" than the shared prongs offered, and that's obviously not an issue w/ precision-cut modern RBs! I'm really looking forward to seeing it - it's gonna be a long few weeks for you ;( ::)
 
:appl: :appl: :appl: that will be gorgeous!!!
 
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