Unhappy with engagement quality.... Change setting or not???

[Abbys_Mommy]

I have been married for almost three years and my ring has been worked on a lot during that time. The first jeweler is the cause of this. He butchered my ring and then we had to pay someone else to fix the issues. It still isnt perfect and it bothers me. I like my diamond. Its a .60ct. 5.4mm. Very good cut, I color and VS2 clarity. My setting is vintage inspired as well as my band.

In the photos, look at the fine details on my E ring, the milgrain is "smooshed" and if you look at the ring from the top it doesnt even look straight to me. My band has its issues too. Two of the diamonds are smaller than the rest giving the illusion of poor quality stones. I can have those small diamonds replaced no problem and the band will be fine. If I change settings I was planning to still fix my bands diamonds and wear on my right hand.

Im not sure what to do... Should I put my diamond in a totally new design? I was thinking a pave halo with a thin band.... or should I get the same setting thats not butchered? Or, I have my great grandmothers e ring that I was thinking that I would add some small side stones that are flush set into the sides and then add my diamond to it and get a small pave band to go with it.


So Here are my photos, Im not sure if I can label them but if not Ill just say what they are here. The set is my current set, The single e ring is my great grandmothers from Italy from the late 1800's. My ggmothers e ring reminds me of tacori in a way....


OPINIONS would be wonderful! Thanks so much!

 

[Abbys_Mommy]

Re: Unhappy with engagement quality.... Change setting or no

Here is my ggmother e ring....

 

[AprilBaby]

Re: Unhappy with engagement quality.... Change setting or no

I would do the brand new halo and thin band. Your grandmothers setting is gorgeous but I would be afraid to wear it all the time.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Unhappy with engagement quality.... Change setting or no

Okay, first, I really love your e-ring setting but think the w-band is a little large for it. I can't tell from the pics how they are messed up, but I know it would bother me, too. Whether to change styles is up to your preference. If you like something else, go for it! But get the best quality you can or don't do it at all. I think a straight wedding band that is a little thinner would look better with the e-ring next time, though.

Your grandmother's ring is beautiful and I personally would not alter it by adding little diamonds and potentially ruining it. I'd look for an OEC diamond (which wouldn't be too expensive) to put it in to wear on occasion, but I'd want to keep it as an heirloom and not use it for daily wear.

So I'd go for a new setting, and I do agree that a halo would be nice for a stone the size of yours. But only get a nice quality one or you may end up in the same position you are in now.

(haha, I see Aprilbaby was thinking the same as me!)

 

[Abbys_Mommy]

Re: Unhappy with engagement quality.... Change setting or no

Thanks ladies. I appreciate it. I know its hard to tell from the photos where the e ring is messed up. I have just had a lot of time to look at it... lol I justs feel like the craftsmanship is sub-par. It was pretty when I first got it, But the first jeweler like I said really did a number it. He actually cracked part of the bottom milgrain under one of the baguettes because he didn't size it correctly. The whole ring was just smooshy looking. I then took it to a design place and he did what he could with what was left... I refer to my ring as franken-ring because its been in the shop so much with issues and loose baguettes lol. I know what you mean about quality. I only trust my jewelery design guy now. He does awesome custom work. I have my eye on a VS, H pave halo that actually has some of the vintage element to the basket which I like. I have two actually that I was looking at... Maybe you could tell me your opinions on those too. If it matters, I wear a size 6.


** These are stock images from a store.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Unhappy with engagement quality.... Change setting or no

That first halo is quite different and I like the gallery. I think the shank looks a little thin,though. You don't want it to go out of round because of being too thin with holes for the diamonds. I'd probably want a milgrain edge on this if it were for me to protect the little diamonds in the band. But are you wanting antique style or a more modern pave halo?

Look at Gabriel and Co for ideas on antique and modern halo designs. They have a lot of pretty ones at decent prices.

http://www.gabrielny.com/amavida/styles?style=Halo

http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/styles/engaged/1?category=ER&style=Halo

 

[Abbys_Mommy]

Re: Unhappy with engagement quality.... Change setting or no

I am a vintage person. My husband says my features look classy like the gals from the 1950's. I really like the halo, But I dont want to loose the vintage vibe and I feel like even though the band is very thin on that band, I like it because I am a very small person. Im 5'5", 115lbs after having a baby, So I have been feeling like a thinner band will make my diamond pop and wont look so .... i guess wide on my finger. I looked at those sites, they have some really pretty designs, but I didnt see anything quite like the one I have my eye on. I have spoken with the designer of the first halo design and they said they can make me a matching band to go with it since they dont stock one.

I did a lot of research on skinny bands and issues with them bending after you mentioned it and I did find a lot of posts about it, however the majority of the issues were with platinum bending. A lot of gals I read about have really thin bands on their e rings like 1.8mm and they said they havent had any problems with bending. It put me at ease a little, but Im still thinking about it. I just really love the thin diamond band.