The conundrum of a modest earner.

[sy2pie]

I'm still quite fond of this in white gold. It's the same as my original post but it's cheaper and apparently better build quality than brilliantearth.com. I wish it had more photos however. I'm probably going to put a diamond in it.

No less than 0.60ct. Is there a minimum clarity rating or colour I should be aiming for with diamonds?

http://www.maevona.com/ring-detail.html?rid=1389

 

[Sabrina31]

I'm sorry, I dont know much at all about diamonds, they aren't my jam. I would suggest posting on rocky talking, and following up with a picture when you get the completed ring!

 

[Snowdrop13]

What about something like this from a mainstream vendor?

https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...-gold-twisted-vine-engagement-ring-item-53307

It might be easier to buy the stone and setting from the same place, if you are going down the diamond route, that is!

 

[ringo865]

Don't forget that you want to measure a ring that she wears on the finger you intend her to wear this ring you're planning (left ring finger?).

 

[Sabrina31]

Snowdrop thats a lovely setting, good find!

 

[jewelsforalltosee]

Yes, cut is most important. A .60ct diamond with an excellent cut, SI1 clarity, maybe K color (or better). I agree with @Snowdrop13 that getting the setting and diamond from the same place would be much easier. Jamesallen.com is reputable and has a large selection, and you can view the actual diamond online. I still think you should consider a blue sapphire, you could get a bigger stone for the money

I'm still quite fond of this in white gold. It's the same as my original post but it's cheaper and apparently better build quality than brilliantearth.com. I wish it had more photos however. I'm probably going to put a diamond in it.

No less than 0.60ct. Is there a minimum clarity rating or colour I should be aiming for with diamonds?

http://www.maevona.com/ring-detail.html?rid=1389

 

[jewelsforalltosee]

@sy2pie
0.98ct sapphire https://www.jamesallen.com/gemstones/blue-sapphire/0.98-carat-round-sku-21210
0.70ct diamond https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...k-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3581209

Both about the same cost. There are lots of choices in that size range!

 

[SimoneDi]

OP I will just say that you don’t have to have a .6ct diamond for setting purposes. Settings can be customised. Also, Maevona has retailers in the UK, I am not sure where exactly you are located but there is a retailer in London.

However, I do agree that getting the diamond and the setting from the same place is an easier and more stress free alternative.

 

[SecondRing]

Hey, I'm not sure if anyone here has worked with this vendor at all, but they do a bunch of green sapphire rings with vine settings (though the examples here all look to be halos)




https://www.etsy.com/listing/234913815/order-your-green-sapphire-vine?ref=related-5

 

[SecondRing]

Hey, I'm not sure if anyone here has worked with this vendor at all, but they do a bunch of green sapphire rings with vine settings (though the examples here all look to be halos)




https://www.etsy.com/listing/234913815/order-your-green-sapphire-vine?ref=related-5

I'm thinking that you're looking for more of an emerald color than in the images pictured.

 

[qubitasaurus]

I know this might be a bit unpopular -- but if you are vacillating between sapphires, diamonds and emeralds and thinking about investing 1.5 months worth of salary into the purchase, then can you try to talk quietly to her about her preferences? There wont be as much surprise in the proposal, but the sentiment will be there, and the ring will be something you did together.

There are no conventions and norms -- you don't need to spend a certain percentage of your income, it doesn't have to last forever (although you should be aware of Kenny's comments on the setting, and that emeralds may wear over time and be ready for that eventuality), it doesn't need to be a natural stone or a synthetic one (as long as it is reasonable value for money). It just needs to make you both happy.

One more thing -- Tucson is about to start, some of the vendors you are considering here (like Yvonne) can shop for you. But this requires you to know what you want and to have a good understanding of how returns would be handled if you didn't like it (as the vendor will probe for very specific details about the stone, and they each only take a certain amount into inventory at the end of the show to sell over the next year. So for them they need to be relatively sure about the transaction).

 

[sy2pie]

I really cannot see how this is any different from the brilliantearth.com ring mount for £1000! I love ebay!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18k-White...120629?hash=item4412ad41f5:g:YgUAAOSwZVlXtGn6

 

[Sabrina31]

That one doesnt have diamonds. Which is totally ok, but thats the difference.

 

[SimoneDi]

Also it comes from a seller with less than 30 reviews. I would strongly suggest getting a setting from a reputable vendor hat can actually last a lifetime. Many of the settings sold on eBay are flimsy and easily breakable/bendable, you have to take wear into the consideration unless this is a ring that your SO will wear only once in a while.

 

[partgypsy]

Is there a way to probe to ask your girlfriend, if you had to choose, prefer a diamond, sapphire or emerald, but that the diamond would be smaller than the gemstones? I just want you to get something she will love. I think your initial setting and the maevona setting are pretty, but I am also not a fan because of the stones set with only 2 prongs. It's worth getting a setting well made to the extent she won't lose the accent diamonds. This is again my own opinion, but if you are getting a sapphire ring, I would get either a blue or pink sapphire. If you have to get green, get an emerald or tsavorite. From my own experience the green sapphires are tricky to get right, they don't look at all like emeralds, and you don't want to have to be sending stones back and forth. Sapphires do blue so much better than green.

 

[SimoneDi]

@sy2pie I have been thinking more about your e-ring quest. BN operates in the UK and their prices include VAT. How about any of the below settings? Perhaps BN can customise the setting slightly to include emerald accents, I think that would be lovely when paired with a diamond center if that is what you want.

Here is one that I really like and it is somewhat similar to the ones you lean towards: https://www.bluenile.com/uk/build-y...old_56800?elem=img&track=product&vtype=sample

Maybe instead of the sapphires they can place emeralds: https://www.bluenile.com/uk/build-y...14k_64731?elem=img&track=product&vtype=sample

https://www.bluenile.com/uk/build-y...ing_58699?elem=img&track=product&vtype=sample

Not a vine twist, another twist setting:
https://www.bluenile.com/uk/build-y...old_58700?elem=img&track=product&vtype=sample

Here are some nice diamonds within budget:
https://www.bluenile.com/uk/build-y...AMONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=newTab
https://www.bluenile.com/uk/build-y...AMONDS&track=viewDiamondDetails&action=newTab

 

[MJ_Mac]

I don't know anything about the London Victorian Ring Co (located in London - Hatton Garden), but they appear to have have some pretty and fairly delicate designs. They have one ring I am totally in love with and thought about ordering for myself (I'm in Canada). Their reviews seem to be good from what I have seen. The advantage is that VAT is included and if there are any future problems with the ring you don't have to send it to another country for repairs.

https://www.london-victorian-ring.com/edwardian-engagement-rings
https://www.london-victorian-ring.com/engraved-emerald-engagement-ring-3789empl (example of ring with emerald centre stone)
https://www.london-victorian-ring.com/art-nouveau-tulip-flower-ring-3777dbrpl (my personal favourite)

If you choose a ring with a diamond centre stone you can always get her a wedding band or eternity ring with emeralds. That would give you the green you both desire and smaller emeralds are less likely to get damaged and if so, cheaper to replace.

 

[LJsapphire]

@SimoneDi I don't know if it's just me but all of those links just go to the home page of BN. (although I typed in the number and it gave me the vintage pavé leaf diamond ring). I just tried copying the link I got - but that also takes me to the homepage when I try from the forum.

 

[SimoneDi]

@SimoneDi I don't know if it's just me but all of those links just go to the home page of BN. (although I typed in the number and it gave me the vintage pavé leaf diamond ring). I just tried copying the link I got - but that also takes me to the homepage when I try from the forum.

Right click and then open in a new tab. It’s the BN site unfortunately..

 

[partgypsy]

Right click and then open in a new tab. It’s the BN site unfortunately..

I can't make it work either. I have this problem before on the Blue Nile website. What I suggest is also putting the name of the setting in your post, so the op can look that way as well.

 

[LJsapphire]

Right click and then open in a new tab. It’s the BN site unfortunately..

Odd, that is what I'm doing. I'm using Chrome.

 

[SimoneDi]

Hm weird, I don’t have that problem on my iphone and I just tried with IE, I am able to open them
Just tried on chrome - also works. What if you copy-paste the entire link? Anything?

 

[partgypsy]

Copy- paste doesn't work either, at least for me.

 

[LJsapphire]

I'm sure I tried that last time, but it just worked for me this time.

 

[MJ_Mac]

I really like the Blue Nile Petite Twist. The curves mimic a leafy vine.

On my iPad I have to hold down the link until it asks if I want to open in another tab. With Chrome I have to either hit shift and enter which will open it immediately in a new tab or right click which asks if I want to open a new tab. The shift enter is quicker, especially if opening many links.

 

[SimoneDi]

Copy- paste doesn't work either, at least for me.

Sorry ladies, here are the stock numbers in the same order as before on BN UK website:

Settings:
56800
64731
58699
58700

Diamonds:
LD09889128
LD09889129

Hope you can see them now!

 

[jewelsforalltosee]

@SimoneDi thanks, now I can see them I really like the petite milgrain setting.

 

[Sabrina31]

Simone D that petite vintage leaf setting is SO PRETTY.
OP thats 56800

 

[LJsapphire]

They're all pretty, I like the vintage leaf one and the marquise diamond and sapphire one.

 

[SimoneDi]

@Sabrina31 @jewelsforalltosee @Poodles4me @LJsapphire2304 I am glad that you all like some of the options! I like all settings for different reasons and I wonder if our OP will like any of them. I would much prefer the BN setting quality over anything on eBay (and I have bought plenty from eBay).