Update on ring (to look or not)

[barbie86]

Hi all, thanks for the advice on my previous post re whether to look at my engagement ring!

Update: it arrived yesterday. Looked at it in the evening and was absolutely thrilled; the centre stone is gorgeous (bought based on photo and video), and looks huge, and the colour (K) is perfect (white in most lights but shows a gorgeous buttery yellow undertone which is exactly what I hoped for). The setting is also amazing: milgrain bezel around the centre stone, then a halo with 26 single pointers diamonds, in platinum, on a YG band. Also fits perfectly. Yay!

You can sense the but right?! Sneaked a peak again today, in daylight. The halo melee are noticeably whiter than the centre stone, which is not the look I wanted; I want the stones to be roughly uniform in colour, and to all look 'buttery' against their platinum setting.

So I now have to call them tomorrow and ask them to change the melee I checked back through email correspondence and had initially said I wanted the melee in J-L colour to match a J-L centre stone, but didn't mention it after that.. kicking myself for not double checking before signing off.

Anyway, it is going to have to be changed, regardless of cost, just so gutted as it is perfect otherwise. But glad I did look! Lol

 

[Gemly]

Good that you looked and that you know what needs to be changed to make it perfect. You mentioned what you wanted, and it’s not exactly that so I would assume they will be very willing to make this adjustment. Congrats on your new ring!!

 

[Big Fat Facets]

aren't you totally glad you looked??!! Im relieved that you looked twice and once in daylight. Had you just look once in the evening you might not have caught the color discrepancy.

Yes, need to contact ring maker to remedy the situation.

wait, so where are the pictures of your ring??? (just kidding)

 

[barbie86]

Good that you looked and that you know what needs to be changed to make it perfect. You mentioned what you wanted, and it’s not exactly that so I would assume they will be very willing to make this adjustment. Congrats on your new ring!!

I hope so, but do think there could be a cost, as there was a LOT of communication after that point and I didn't mention it again (partly because I thought it was fairly standard to match the melee to the centre stone, but, never assume I guess)

aren't you totally glad you looked??!! Im relieved that you looked twice and once in daylight. Had you just look once in the evening you might not have caught the color discrepancy.

Yes, need to contact ring maker to remedy the situation.

wait, so where are the pictures of your ring??? (just kidding)

SO glad I looked, twice! Lol.

Dying to take a pic but I know I will look at it constantly so holding off

 

[PintoBean]

I would take the ring to an independent appraiser to verify what color the melee is and if the ring was made according to the specs. If the melee are indeed not the color range you specified, then you won't be out of pocket and it is the vendor's responsibility to make it right.

 

[barbie86]

I would take the ring to an independent appraiser to verify what color the melee is and if the ring was made according to the specs. If the melee are indeed not the color range you specified, then you won't be out of pocket and it is the vendor's responsibility to make it right.

Thanks for the reply! I think I will call first and ask the question; they've been very good so far. I am 99% certain the melee is around F-G in colour, and the centre stone is K. But I will check first.

 

[Big Fat Facets]

Thanks for the reply! I think I will call first and ask the question; they've been very good so far. I am 99% certain the melee is around F-G in colour, and the centre stone is K. But I will check first.

yes, calling seems like the reasonable and logical next step. why incur the expense of an appraiser if you don't have to. Especially, as you say they've been good to work with. If they give you push back then go to an appraiser.

 

[headlight]

I feel that it should be on the jeweler to ensure that the melee matches and to bring this element to your attention, not the other way around!

 

[nala]

Don’t we all deserve a pic for steering you in the right direction @barbie86

 

[tyty333]

You do know that melee will look whiter than the same color stone in a larger size? The reason is that the melee is so small that you don't
really see the color in them wear as the center stone is large enough to "see" the color in. There is probably something scientific behind that
but I dont remember the details.

 

[Mamajemmy]

You do know that melee will look whiter than the same color stone in a larger size? The reason is that the melee is so small that you don't
really see the color in them wear as the center stone is large enough to "see" the color in. There is probably something scientific behind that
but I dont remember the details.

This is what I was thinking too. My H stone in my ER always looked warmer than my H stones in my band.

 

[scouty]

Whoa soo lucky you decided to look!

 

[yssie]

This is what I was thinking too. My H stone in my ER always looked warmer than my H stones in my band.

Single cuts won't show the extent of "bright white dot" that full-cut melee will.

 

[monipod]

I'm glad you took a peek As others have said, it's quite likely they sourced I/J melee stones for you but they look much whiter than the big centre stone. Hopefully they can correct the look for you

 

[barbie86]

So I am going back and forth on this, argh!

I am loving the warmth of the centre stone, and am thinking this won't show as much if the melee matches? And then there is the difference in different lights; in bright sunlight and artificial light the difference is barely perceptible (in bright sunlight the ring looks much more white, in artificial light it's wonderfully warm; loving how it changes), it's in normal natural light (eg daylight but overcast) that you see the difference. I don't want to go too far the other way and then have the melee look yellow indoors...

Also it is the most beautiful ring I have seen, it is just so so stunning. So I have this huge fear of messing with it and messing it up in some way which is completely irrational, I know. Gah! Will post a couple pics for thoughts

 

[monipod]

Please do post pics! One pointers will be hard to get down to a colour that will match your centre stone in every single lighting condition I feel, and being in platinum it'll lean towards white and bright, not buttery. Maybe give it a few days of wear and see how you feel

 

[Big Fat Facets]

@barbie86

generally, speaking diamonds appear differently in different lighting situations and environments.

my understanding is that we likely will not love every look of our diamond in every lighting situation and environment.

then there is how a (single cut or full cut) melee diamond surround looks and performs differently than a larger center stone does in the same light environment

now factor in the color designation of the melee and that of the center stone
what im trying to convey is that there are many many many variables to best capture a "look" you love most of the time.

I think images in different lighting situations will greatly help you. And it will greatly helps us provide opinions.

in the mean while, i feel it will serve you to wear your ring for a day or two...get acquainted with it. you will better identify what you love about it and what you don't.

I hope im making sense...

 

[barbie86]

 

[Big Fat Facets]

your ring looks SENSATIONAL!! It's a spectacular shape on your hand. very lengthening and pleasing to look at, really!! It's well sized and not cutting off your circulation. It has nice expanse and reach. I will say that i LOVE the contrast between the melee and center. and your ring looks fabulous on your skintone.

will you walk us through what YOU see, what you like, what you dislike, that sort of thing...????

 

[barbie86]

your ring looks SENSATIONAL!! It's a spectacular shape on your hand. very lengthening and pleasing to look at, really!! It's well sized and not cutting off your circulation. It has nice expanse and reach. I will say that i LOVE the contrast between the melee and center. and your ring looks fabulous on your skintone.

will you walk us through what YOU see, what you like, what you dislike, that sort of thing...????

Aww thanks!

Ok, what I like:
Centre stone: I love everything about it. The colour, the cut, the size, the sparkle. It is exactly what I hoped for

Proportions: I like the amount of coverage, and the fact that the halo is delicate and allows the centre stone to take centre stage

Setting: again, exactly what I wanted. Vintage kind of look, and so pleased I went with mixed metals. I also like how the centre stone kind of 'pops' due to the contrast. The more I look the more cool I think it is

What I'm not sure about:
The contrast! However I am analysing my feelings here and I think my concern is more that other people won't think it's a diamond/will think it is too yellow. Which is ridiculous I know but just being honest.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Personally I like the contrast between the center stone and melee but I am biased. It really is a gorgeous ring.

 

[barbie86]

Also, must say I am so happy I went with marquise. Took a major gamble as hadn't seen one IRL and wow, I love it! Love the way it sparkles and how you get different types of sparkle at different angles and parts of the stone. Cannot stop staring at it

 

[MamaBear]

I love the contrast of the melee against the center stone. It looks intentional and really makes it pop!!

 

[Big Fat Facets]

@barbie86

at the end of the day you have to trust your gut and go with what you love, what pleases you and your eyes. it is you after all that will be wearing it and looking at it.

now i will offer my opinion, one of many opinions you will receive...

I ADORE the contrast. I wouldn't want the melee to match more closely to the center. Its far more unique as it is. I will also tell you that i LOVE that it is 2 tone metal.

I think you've got a great sense of style. you selected a very beautiful marquise which is an atypical and highly unique choice. i don't see any hint of a bowtie either. So you did very well for yourself.

try not to over analyze and stress about what other people "might think"... we live our lives for us and not others. if it truly bothers YOU then contact the ring maker.

 

[dmack]

OMG, THAT is the ring??? It. Is. Spectacular. I love everything about it, including the contrast. I enjoy how my eye sees the slight warmth of the center stone, then the brighter halo stones, and then the warmth of the yellow gold band. In the last picture, it looks almost fancy light yellow. I also think the whiter melee emphasizes the milgrain around the main stone. The current design fully embraces the warm main stone color and I worry that higher color melee will not give you that same intentional effect (ironic that the contrast was NOT intentional to begin with!). Sadly, few people think about jewelry the way PSers do, so yeah, some people won't have a clue that diamonds come in different shades. Most will see the ring as a whole, as a style, and IMO that style is super cool and special.

But if it will drive you crazy, that's important and real. If you're going to wake up in the middle of the night and wonder if you should have changed it, that's not good. That said, it does take a minute for our brains and our eyes to get used to such a big and meaningful piece of jewelry and familiarity might soften some of the anxiety you're feeling. As someone who revised her set, I will say that I paid attention to every little gut feeling, good and bad, in the year that I wore the original rings. I noted what it was that caught my eye and gave me warm and fuzzy love feelings, and when something else caught my eye that made me feel "eh". It's something only the wearer can determine.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

I will say that the contrast is noticeable, but I actually really like it that way! I think your ring is beautiful! If I had to make a change I’d err more towards changing the melee to even icier/whiter colours so that the centre pops even more (playing up the contrast) - or just leave it the way it is, if you’re happy with it of course

 

[barbie86]

Personally I like the contrast between the center stone and melee but I am biased. It really is a gorgeous ring.

Thank you

 

[Gemly]

I wouldn’t change a thing. I love the contrast and I also think it compliments the two tone look. It accentuates it. Beautiful ring!!!

 

[marymm]

OP, you found the contrast to be an issue immediately upon opening, and again later when you examined it in certain lighting ... there is a definite color difference and it is visible and noticeable in most of your photos ...

I think your ring is lovely, but from your posts it is clear that the visible contrast does bother you.

There really is no easy fix: going to a warmer melee in platinum may also present a contrast issue ... if you wanted to re-do the entire ring you might consider going all yellow gold and ensuring the diamond melee is warmer ... or if you want the platinum metal around the center stone maybe go with platinum beading in place of diamond melee?

 

[PintoBean]

How about a different color halo? Like pink diamonds or yellow diamonds?