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Tiny budget..Help!

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allycat0303

allycat0303

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Nov 19, 2004
Messages
3,450
Hey everyone,

Alright I need help. So although my family pitched in to help buy a diamond necklace for my parents anniversary, I find out today that my mom has always dreamt of a small right handed 3 stone ring (to represent her children). WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO KNOW BEFORE HAND!!!

So basically we were at costco and she sees a 3 stone (1.12 tcw) ring. It''s 3 princess stones, (slightly larger center one) for $2300 CAD. Now my mom wanted to buy it
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but of course I stopped her because a) The only info on the stones is I VS2 b) And she honestly prefers rounds, but she figured that she could never justify spending more on a ring
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. I say " crazy person" when you have that much money, you buy what you want, when you want, but she never would spend on something so extravagant.

Ok my sister, brother, and I have mulled it over, and broken our piggy banks (we''re all students) and have come up with approximately $3000 CAD, or $2700 USD.

Now I''ve found 3 stones from WF...

center 0.55 G SI
two side stone 0.31F. S1
So total is $2430

Now there''s another center stone for that is an I color, and would make the total $2165 but I''m a little concerned about the F and I together.

So my questions:

a) Can I and F color go together?
b) This is the setting we want in 18K or 14 K yellow gold.....would it be lala land to allocate $270 for it? Problem is that WF doesn''t have a stock 3 stone yellow gold setting so I''m at loss. Of course if we buy the I center stone, we can allocate $535 for it.
c) Is 0.55 and 0.31 as side stones a bad proportion? I thought 0.25 would look better, but WF doesn''t sell any.
d) Right now, I''m at the is this even feasable stage so I don''t want to annoy WF for nothing.
e) Or should we just give in and buy the costco ring?

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate it. I''ve been online for about 2 hours, trying to figure out what is feasable.
 
Oops, sorry the setting we like

gi_WFR-3WRd-18kPl_m.jpg
 
if the 3stone is to represent the 3 children, would she want the diamonds to be all of the same size?
 
something like this one

psphotopic_5.jpg
 
or if you wanted to stay with the larger center there is this one that is available in yellow gold as well

psphotopic_6.jpg
 
a stuller 14k 3 stone setting will fit the budget and look good.
its in your budget and WF can get it no problem.
 
Belle: Ok, that looks perfect. But where did you find it??? I searched all of WF site and I didn''t see it??

Stmdr: Stueller? Is that on their designer or is it special order?

Thanks you guys rock...She wants the middle stone to be larger. Don''t know why, but I can oblige!
 
I just looked. You rule (although I''m a little concerned that they don''t display the price)

So any comment on 0.5 with 0.3 stone? Or should we really be going with a 0.7 center stone, for there to be a noticeable difference?
 
Tough call on the Fs with an I. I could easily see a big diff between my D and an H. I think I''d try to stick with the G if you can.
 
I would not go with an F center stone, especially since you are on a budget. I''d go with a G or H center and the same or one grade lower on the sides.

On another thought, can''t the kids give her the necklace and let your dad give her the ring, or ask him to pitch in? I really think that is a huge amount for students to be paying.
 
don''t be concerned about the lack of price on stuller. only trade members can get pricing. even with a jeweler mark-up, they are extremely reasonable.

here is a rough idea of what the 3 sizes look like together...

.7 .3 .5

ally3stones.JPG
 
Firegoddess: Ok, so I''ve got it down to center stone G, sidestone F, other sidestone G.
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I know you''re a stickler for color. Just waiting for some advice on if 0.5 and 0.3 is going to be noticeable difference. Thanks for the opinon. Hugs!

Diamondseeker: I would buy I color S1 perferably, but WF''s expert selection only has these ones available. Oh...and the necklace cost more then the ring will. And we''ve been spoiled rotten our whole lives, so we figured their anniversary deserves something special.
 
Belle!!! You''re amazing. Where on earth did you get that pic??? I''m floored. Thanks!
 
That pic belle made is awesome. The 0.5 totally looks like it can hold its own with the 0.3 sides.
 
Date: 5/27/2006 8:03:12 PM
Author: allycat0303
Belle!!! You''re amazing. Where on earth did you get that pic??? I''m floored. Thanks!
Click to expand...
i made it myself!
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you should see what i can do with a sewing machine!
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you might also consider some ''smaller'' (just under .30 uncerted) melee for the sides. you can get the same size and save money.
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belle is amazing isn''t she?? Ally this is the nicest gift ever. I''d call Lesley at WF on Tuesday and give her the heads up on what you are thinking about and let her help you from there. Good luck!!!
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Lisa
 
I swear this is a wealth of information....Ok, Belle last question, so these uncerted stones...do I just call up whiteflash and ask for them? Are they going to be as beautiful as ES/ACA? I''m thinking maybe if we save enough we can do a 0.70 with 0.25 sides. However, I have to say on that pic you made, the 0.55 and 0.7 look pretty comparable in size.

Firegoddess: Yes, I can of agree, that the 0.5 can hold it''s own agains the 0.3. Looks a lot like the stuller picture actually, just a slight difference. I''m SO EXCITED!!! I feel like this is all doable.
 
Don''t forget about the PS discount too....
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Oh Ally this is so exciting!! Your mom will be beyond thrilled! I've been wondering about you.....how are things with your boyfriend?

Belle, you are silver!
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Nice pics!
 
ally,
wf has aca melee. they are f/g vs quality. i too think the .50 would be fine with the .30 sides. of course, the .70 would be great too!
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it may just depend on what the stuller setting will hold carat wise.
 
Date: 5/27/2006 8:19:22 PM
Author: hlmr
Oh Ally this is so exciting!! Your mom will be beyond thrilled! I''ve been wondering about you.....how are things with your boyfriend?

Belle, you are silver!
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3.gif
Nice pics!
Click to expand...
hehehehe....
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brownie is just the cutest!
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Date: 5/27/2006 8:26:16 PM
Author: belle

Date: 5/27/2006 8:19:22 PM
Author: hlmr
Oh Ally this is so exciting!! Your mom will be beyond thrilled! I''ve been wondering about you.....how are things with your boyfriend?

Belle, you are silver!
2.gif
3.gif
Nice pics!
Click to expand...
hehehehe....
9.gif


brownie is just the cutest!
36.gif
Click to expand...
He is.....but don''t you think his "brother" is kinda cute too?
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I think the .7 with the .3 sides or if you go with a .5 center you can go down to .25 sides. I would call because they may not have all their smaller stones listed on the website. Like someone said, call and tell them what you are wanting. Some of the vendors have ready-made rings like this. Have you checked around?
 
Hlmr: Hmmm...what boyfriend??? If I''m home on a saturday night oogling diamonds it''s probably not the best sign
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I''m kidding of course. I have yet to tackle that problem.

Kaliegh: I''m terribly excited, just debating if this is all going to fall into place.

Belle: thanks for the info.

So I found this picture (It''s StixforLegs....I hope she doesn''t mind that I reposted it..
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) It''s a 0.7 with 0.3 sides. And I have to say, it looks excellent, but I think out of our budget.

I''m also concerned because the costco one had princess cut diamonds and it looked HUGE! I don''t know if Princess cuts are the largest looking or whatever, but should I be going with princess instead. I''m off to search for princesses now. Thanks for all the help!

ex0303.jpg
 
Date: 5/27/2006 8:41:59 PM
Author: allycat0303
Hlmr: Hmmm...what boyfriend??? If I''m home on a saturday night oogling diamonds it''s probably not the best sign
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I''m kidding of course. I have yet to tackle that problem.
Click to expand...
Don''t tackle that until you are good and ready! Stay strong and focused.
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oh and ally did you check with WF on what they have in the small .20's? anything under .30c is technically melee i believe and so they may have some that are not graded with certs etc. when i was shopping for my sister's .15c Lesley told me they get melee in all sizes now.

i'd also put the .55 with .20's or so as well. it will make the center pop a little more. though i think that .31's would be fine too but it's a little more of a 3 stone 'uniform' look where the stones all look closer in size.

what a great idea! oh also that first setting you liked (the great 3 stone from WF that we tried on) i think is like $1200 in white gold or something...it's pricey. i think a stuller 3 stone standard (cheaper) and have WF modify the prongs and head to be more small like they did on my stuller head for my ring. with a little modification, standard settings can look much more unique and delicate and are very budget friendly!!
 
Date: 5/27/2006 7:41:35 PM
Author: allycat0303
I just looked. You rule (although I''m a little concerned that they don''t display the price)


So any comment on 0.5 with 0.3 stone? Or should we really be going with a 0.7 center stone, for there to be a noticeable difference?
Click to expand...

Stuller does not display the price because they only sell to jewelers and they allow the jewelers to each set their own selling price.

You will see some difference between the 0.5 stones and the 0.3 stones, although you would see more between a 0.25 and a 0.5. If you go to a 0.7 you will be over budget most likely.

As for seeing the difference, many people go with three of the same size, so it is not critical that the three be largely different. A small taper or a no taper will look just as beautiful as a steeper taper.

Wink
 
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