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Stressing hard thanks to overexposure...help!

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jcl49er

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 28, 2007
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Brand new here but I''ve read a lot of helpful stuff already. However, I am having a big problem that seems to get worse every day as I continue to bombard myself with so many options (so many out there!). I''ll try to keep this as brief as possible:

I plan on proposing in the next couple months so obviously, I''ve been looking for a ring. Initially, I thought I''d figure out what she wants completely on my own, only knowing that she favors a princess or semi-square cut in a WG setting. I had planned on maybe doing a channel set so that despite my limited budget, I could still end up with as close to 1.00TCW as possible, including the side stones. So I began looking online (WhiteFlash, BlueNile, GoodOldGold, UnionDiamond and Mondera) for .60-.75 TW princess cut diamonds, E-G, VS1-SI2. This was of course before I educated myself on table %/height, depth %, girdle, etc. So once I learned all about that stuff, I realized that many of the stones I had found weren''t all that great beyond color and clarity. So that in itself opened up a can of worms b/c I had to start paying more attention to details.

Well, then my girlfriend and I were talking about her sister''s recent proposal and the ring she got. That lead into a brief hint from her that her "dream ring" was the Tiffany Lucida. She obviously isn''t expecting that from me but that let me know that she probably preferred something simple (just a solitaire with no side stones) and a trellis setting resembling the Tiffany band. After that, I realized that I would have to now include Radiants, Regents, X-Factor, Asscher, etc. since they were all similar to the Tiffany Lucida style. So, now instead of just narrowing my search down to Princess cut, I have all of these others to consider though I think for my budget, I may have to stick with Princess or find a bargain on a nice Radiant, but I really do like the X-Factor at WhiteFlash (just don''t know much about them).

Now I''m at the point where I am completely overloaded with info and options. And it''s driving me nuts because what I thought was going to be a simple search has now turned into major drama. I spend a ton of time online just looking at countless stones and settings only to further confuse myself. The more I look, the more miserable it gets.

Maybe some of you can help me out. Here''s what I know and what I''ve found so far:

Local store: Princess, .69, G, SI2 (eye clean). Beautiful stone and super sparkly but it wasn''t certified. They told me that they could send it off for that for $125. The price was $1750. That would come with a complimentary white gold trellis setting (nothing fancy).

WhiteFlash: X-Factor, .635, H, VS1

ACA Princess, .62, F, VS2

Mondera: Princess, .73, G, SI2

Princess, .71, F, SI2

BlueNile: Princess, .68, G, SI1

There are others but these were some I have been really looking at. My budget for entire ring is $2000. I''d like to put most of that into the center stone but I want a WG Trellis that is somewhat wide (approx. 3mm or more). The cheapest Trellis setting I could find is $249 at UnionDiamond. BlueNile''s is $990!!! The closer I can get to a .75 center stone, the better but I don''t want to sacrifice quality.

I deeply apologize for the incredibly long post. But I wanted to provide as much info as possible so I could hopefully get some help. One other question I had is: Can someone tell me about the X-Factor cuts? When checking specs, would the preferred table/depth percentages of princess cut stones apply to X-Factor? I just don''t know what to look for with the X-Factor beyond carat, clarity and color.

Thanks so much and I''m open to other suggestion. Such a stressful experience!!

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X Factor would be my choice of those listed. What setting would you put it in?
 
I''m not sure what setting. The only thing I know she prefers is a white gold solitaire 4-prong Trellis setting, with wide band. But I''m having trouble finding them that aren''t either through the roof expensive or aren''t available at all on sites where I find stones I like.

Oh, I stumbled across this stone as well. I can''t figure out why it''s so cheap because the specs seem pretty nice. What am I missing here? Could this be a good steal compared to the other stones I linked above??

Princess, .65,F, SI1

One other thing...I''ve noticed on the forum here mentions of Pricescope discounts at WF and possibly James Allen. Is this just something you have to mention if you call? And what can I realistically expect as a discount? That could possibly allow me to alter my searches for something slightly better.
 
There is a small discount anywhere from 2% to 5% (depending on the vendor) if you mention Pricescope (over the phone or email) and pay via bank transfer.
 
I think an X-Factor would be a great choice. Fortunately, you can review the sarin, IS image and asset images up front with those to show you how well they are cut. WF would be a great vendor to go with. Their customer service is top notch and their upgrade policy is wonderful, too!
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Can anyone tell me the preferred specs for the X-Factor? I''m new to all of this but I have a cheat sheet for princess that shows me the best range to stay in for depth %, table %, girdle, crown height, etc. But I wasn''t sure if those same numbers would apply to X-Factor. I really like the X-Factor though and my girlfriend is the type who would love something non-traditional like that.

I just can''t find a 4-prong Trellis setting on the WhiteFlash site that isn''t super expensive. Just a shame that I can find that setting for $390 at Knox Jewelers, $249 at Uniondiamond and free at a local store here in Charlotte but at Whiteflash, it''s listed for $825-$925 online. Just seems so high for a white gold solitaire setting and ruins my stone budget.
 
The X-factor is a Whiteflash branded cut which is cut to very tight specifications for light return. You can't go wrong with any of them (see the Idealscope red and white picture). I would not worry about choosing a badly cut X-factor because there are NONE!

As for the setting, you can purchase it elsewhere (Knox or anyone else) and have either WF, Knox or whoever set it for you.
 
Date: 6/28/2007 1:06:15 PM
Author: jcl49er
Can anyone tell me the preferred specs for the X-Factor? I''m new to all of this but I have a cheat sheet for princess that shows me the best range to stay in for depth %, table %, girdle, crown height, etc. But I wasn''t sure if those same numbers would apply to X-Factor. I really like the X-Factor though and my girlfriend is the type who would love something non-traditional like that.

I just can''t find a 4-prong Trellis setting on the WhiteFlash site that isn''t super expensive. Just a shame that I can find that setting for $390 at Knox Jewelers, $249 at Uniondiamond and free at a local store here in Charlotte but at Whiteflash, it''s listed for $825-$925 online. Just seems so high for a white gold solitaire setting and ruins my stone budget.
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You can always buy the setting from another vendor and have it sent to WF. I believe you will have to pay a setting fee of $70 which is still less expensive than $825-925. This seems obvious but def make sure that the setting you buy will fit whatever diamond you end up choosing.
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Totally wasn''t aware that I could just purchase the setting elsewhere and have it sent to WhiteFlash. Even if there''s a charge for that, it helps me out a ton with my budget.

How is this best coordinated? Do I contact WhiteFlash first and let them know the stone I want and then tell them where the setting is? Could they pretty much work it out from that point?

I wish there were more X-Factors in my budget to choose from because they''re so pretty. The .635 for $1475 is the only one before a pretty big price jump. Knowing I can probably get the setting elsewhere, it allows me to spend a little more on the stone but not as much as the next one up (.71 for $1985). For those here who have experience with WhiteFlash, is what I see online pretty much what I can expect them to have? I was just curious if maybe they had other stones there that weren''t online that may fall within my budget if I gave them a phone call.

Thanks again for all of the help thus far. Quite the learning experience.
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First, you''ll buy the stone from WF.
Then, you give the dimensions of the stone to the setting vendor so that he can get the right sized setting. Tell the setting vendor to send it to WF
WF will inspect the setting to make sure it is up to their standards, then will set it.

It doesn''t hurt to ask WF if they have other X-factors in their inventory. Sometime newly cut stones are a little slow in getting updated onto their web page.
 
I also ask them what the most reasonably priced setting they would have for an X factor would be. Maybe they can suggest one you haven''t noticed. Wouldn''t a setting for an X factor from someone else be hard to find?
 
Can some of you give me your opinions on how unorthadox it would be to pair a square cut (princess, X-Factor, Radiant, etc). center stone with a round cut channel setting? I know my girlfriend definitely wants a square or semi-square cut center stone. But I found a setting I really, really like that is a 18KWG, .30TW, G, VS 8-round diamond channel. I just fear that pairing a princess with that could look silly or just too odd.

What are your thoughts and is this at all common? I would imagine pairing a round center with princess sides is more common but that''s not an option for me. Would her girlfriends think I''m an idiot with no design taste or would it look good? Thanks.
 
Can you show us a pic of the channel set setting?
 
just be aware that not everyone likes channel set stones (me included 90% of the time) and your girlfriend could be one of those people! but yes please post pics!
 
Okay, here''s the channel set I found that I thought about pairing with a .50-.70 princess cut.

Channel Set

Now, as I may have mentioned in a previous post, my girlfriend had emailed me a picture of her "dream ring." Of course, nothing that she would expect from me but it was the Tiffany Lucida solitaire princess. Before she sent it, she asked me if I wanted to see her dream ring. I jokingly said "oh boy, I can only imagine!" And her reply was "You underestimate my simplicity sometimes." So, maybe you ladies will know if even though it was her "dream ring" if she was implying that she wanted a simple solitaire set princess cut.

Honestly, the channel is my idea. I''m having a bit of an inferiority complex because of my budget so I figured that if I got her a channel set, that it would be a way for me to increase the total carat weight since I can''t really afford a nice .75+ center stone. Silly I know but that''s just me wanting the very best for her.
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Maybe I''ll just go with the $249 trellis solitaire that I saw on another site and put the rest of my budget into the nicest center stone I can find at WhiteFlash. I''m sure she''d love it. And I suppose that when our anniversary rolls around, I could always get her a nice channel set band to give her a little more sparkle.
 
Quick ''bump'' so you can see the channel set I was eyeballing to possibly pair with a princess/radiant or X-factor.
 
Date: 6/28/2007 7:31:12 PM
Author: jcl49er
Maybe I''ll just go with the $249 trellis solitaire that I saw on another site and put the rest of my budget into the nicest center stone I can find at WhiteFlash. I''m sure she''d love it. And I suppose that when our anniversary rolls around, I could always get her a nice channel set band to give her a little more sparkle.
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That''s what I would recommend. After all, she hinted at a plain setting and you can''t go wrong with it. Nobody except your GF knows how much or little she likes channel set bands so why risk it? Get the best, sparkliest and biggest diamond within your budget with the trellis solitaire setting. It''s a great idea to have a setting upgrade for your anniversary. Also, hopefully you''ll know for sure what her dream setting is by then.
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Are you certain the trellis setting will accommodate a X factor from WF? I''d still ask WF what the most affordable setting they have for a X Factor would be.
 
I completely agree with Chrono. Put every penny into the best stone you can afford. Settings, accents bands and the wedding band will elevate the overall look, and the WOW factor will come from a beeeeooouuutiful centre stone.

You can''t go wrong with this plan, IMO.

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Well, I think I have narrowed it down to 4 stones. Perhaps those of you who understand how to read the Idealscope, Sarin, Aset, etc. can take a look and tell me which one is going to be the best "bang for my buck." Obviously, the first two are well beneath my budget of $2000. The second two would put me a tad over my budget with a setting. However, I''m okay with that IF you can definitely convince me that the specs are worth the cost difference. I''d rather come out cheaper but I do not mind spending more if it''s justified. I would greatly appreciate it if some of you could analyze these when you have a few moments and hopefully I can make a decision.

First up, is my girlfriend''s dream ring so you can get an idea of what I''m trying to get a "poor man''s" version of: Tiffany Lucida on Trellis

Option 1:
.635, H, VS1 X-Factor Mounted in:

This Setting (Classic Trellis) or in This Setting (Cathedral)

Option 2:
.65, F, SI1, Princess (Note: Not an in-house stone but I have the GIA Dossier) in either a simple solitaire setting or this simple solitaire setting or possibly pair it with this setting (round channel)

Option 3:
.715, H, SI1, X-Factor paired with one of the same solitaire settings from Option 1.

Option 4:
.73, G, SI2 Princess paired with one of the two settings from Option 1.

Thanks so much for all the great help I''ve received. I''d LOOOOOOVE to make a decision today so I can have a stress-free weekend.
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Cinnamon... I haven''t spoken with WF yet in regards to what settings would accomodate the X-Factor. I think the ones I linked are suited for cut cornered stones so I would imagine they would work but I will definitely be phoning WF to confirm or get their opinions if I opt for an X-Factor.
 
i''d go for option 1. the x-factor in the trellis setting is going to be spot on for a replica of her dream ring, so that''s a no brainer.
option 1 in the trellis is my vote.
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My vote would definately be for the x-factor in the trellis setting. Hands down. X-factors are going to be so much more gorgeous than many of the princess cuts and that trellis setting is beautiful and so much closer to the lucida she likes than any of the others. I''m not a fan of the channel set setting at all....I do not think it would compliment the stone well at all and it''s just nothing like the lucida she has said is her dream ring.
 
I''m new here and overwhelmed as well... but my vote is for the X Factor in the Classic Trellis. Your GF said she liked the wide trellis band, so I would go with that. I am learning about all this like you are, but I have heard nothing but good things about the X Factor... princess cuts seem to be very popular right now, so the X Factor may help hers stand out a little more (and when she sees it, it will be her turn to be overwhelmed
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Cinnamon, I saw that particular setting but it really kills my budget with it being $695. I can get virtually the same setting at Mondera for $325 or go with the Trellis (more in line with what she wants) for $249 at UnionDiamond.

I have no purchasing experience with WF but what I''ve realized is that they offer great deals on stones but the settings are pretty limited and pricey. I would love nothing more than to buy both the stone/setting at the same vendor but I can''t justify dropping around $900 for WF''s solitaire Trellis when I can get virtually the same thing for $249 somewhere else. Frustrates me because if I''m only looking for a white gold solitaire setting, I just don''t feel it''s worth it to spend 40% of my total budget on it.
 
One other small thing... I''ll admit that I''m a wee bit unsure about the "H" color on that X-Factor. I don''t know enough about cuts/specs to know how much, if any, tint there will be. I''ve seen "H" princess cuts in stores before that looked almost as white as E-F. And I''ve seen some H''s that looked more like I-J. I definitely don''t want it to be the latter.
 
Date: 6/29/2007 1:11:01 PM
Author: jcl49er
One other small thing... I''ll admit that I''m a wee bit unsure about the ''H'' color on that X-Factor. I don''t know enough about cuts/specs to know how much, if any, tint there will be. I''ve seen ''H'' princess cuts in stores before that looked almost as white as E-F. And I''ve seen some H''s that looked more like I-J. I definitely don''t want it to be the latter.
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A well cut stone and one that is correctly graded from a reputable lab such as GIA and AGS as H will not not look yellow or tinted, especially when viewed from the top.
 
Date: 6/29/2007 1:06:03 PM
Author: jcl49er
Cinnamon, I saw that particular setting but it really kills my budget with it being $695. I can get virtually the same setting at Mondera for $325 or go with the Trellis (more in line with what she wants) for $249 at UnionDiamond.

I have no purchasing experience with WF but what I''ve realized is that they offer great deals on stones but the settings are pretty limited and pricey. I would love nothing more than to buy both the stone/setting at the same vendor but I can''t justify dropping around $900 for WF''s solitaire Trellis when I can get virtually the same thing for $249 somewhere else. Frustrates me because if I''m only looking for a white gold solitaire setting, I just don''t feel it''s worth it to spend 40% of my total budget on it.
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I do understand! It was important to me to stay on my predetermined budget is well, so I respect that totally!

This one is only $450 in WG, and it states it accommodates any type of stone.
http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/-Sleek-Lines--Solitaire_688.htm

This one $495
http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/Heavy--Tiffany--Style_715.htm#

A few tips/questions to ask:
You will likely have to ship and insure the setting bought elsewhere.
Does the other company charge tax? WF doesn''t unless you live in TX.
Does WF charge a setting fee for a putting a diamond in a setting bought elsewhere?
Also - please mention to WF that you learned about them on PS. They will give you a discount on the stone and any setting you buy from them.
 
I like both of those but I was really hoping to have it set in a Trellis so that it''s as close to her "dream ring" as possible. My girlfriend isn''t a big jewelry person. She wears a simple sterling silver band and a pair of princess cut studs I bought her for Christmas. She just doesn''t really know too much about diamonds so when she sent me that link, I got the impression that the setting is a big part of why she liked it. Because of that, I''m hoping to get the Trellis.

I actually just spoke to someone at WF and they were VERY helpful. They told me they would have no problem using a setting from another location but that in their experience with this, they have received poorly crafted settings occasionally. He said if that were the case, they would call me to warn against it but otherwise, would set it and overnight it to me.

Can someone tell me why exactly a WG solitaire Trellis would be $249 at UnionDiamond, $390 at Knox Jewelers and $825 at WhiteFlash? They look to be the same but I just can''t figure out the enormous price jump at WF. What would make it so much more expensive and would you feel good about buying the $249/$349 one, assuming it was compatible with the X-Prong?
 
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