love succulents
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 31
Hi everyone! Posting this in case it is helpful for other folks, as I have learned a lot on these forums and have enjoyed seeing everyone's bling.
FI and I have been ring hunting, and we zeroed in on Vrai because of their carbon neutral MMDs and their recycled metals. Summary of my journey (and pics below):
1. I read up on consumers' misgivings about Vrai (mostly that some of their settings were possibly too dainty and that their stones had brown or pink tint). In the end, their company missive, the potential of a one-stop shop, and the attractive pricing reeled me in.
2. Their customer service is quite good and friendly. I had asked to see extra videos, which they said they could not accommodate, but they are able to get additional descriptions and qualitative assessments from their gemologists. Since I was on the hunt for ovals, it was useful for me to get a more detailed description of tint, bowtie, and eye-clean inclusions. This was especially helpful when I was asking to compare multiple stones. The gemologist in those instances was able to tell me, for example, which had the strongest tint (and whether it was more brown or pink) and which had the least amount of bowtie.
3. I saw a lot of I and J in stock and was miffed as to why there were no stones of better color grades. Turns out that inventory is refreshed regularly (I was told once a week), and it was my experience (in obsessively refreshing the inventory daily lol) that the H+ stones just get snatched up much more quickly.
4. Despite #3 above, I realized from this board and just looking at these stones in general, that the brown and pink tints were actually pretty cool and I seriously considered getting a pink-hued stone (especially since the price on them is pretty stellar).
5. In the end, once I saw a good H+ stone of the right size, I pulled the trigger. I ordered a 2.52, H, VS2, 3X set in their Classic setting (4 curved prongs) since I like clean styles. The shank is 1.7 mm, with a depth of 1.8 mm.
6. I received that ring and really quite liked it! The setting actually felt pretty substantial and the stone was beautiful. But then, I started thinking if I might prefer their lower-set setting (Signature). And then I saw that a 2.71, G, S1, 3X came into inventory at a good price...
7. So I ordered the 2.71 stone in their signature setting to compare (and to see if I could notice the size difference). Their return policy is such that once you return one ring to them, the others are final sale -- which I was comfortable with since I already was ready to keep the Classic ring. (And you can also pay a fee to reset a particular stone if you bought it in a setting you want to swap out.)
8. That second ring came today!
I think both stones are beautiful. Both the color and size differences are pretty negligible in person IMO. Although I was initially drawn to the clean style of the Classic setting, I actually quite enjoy the floating gallery and the signature "sling" from the Signature setting (it's fun to see the diamond "floating"). Plus, I do slightly prefer the lower height of the setting on the Signature. However, the Signature while having the same shank width, only has a depth of 1.6mm -- and it is enough that I feel less weight from the setting. So I'll be playing around with both for a little bit to see which grows on me more. In the meantime, thought I'd give you guys some real world pics in case it helps other folks in the future.
Excuse the poor focus on some of these -- I will say that the stones are much whiter, clearer and sparklier IRL. Pics are on right hand since the rings are a little loose on my left hand.
2.52, H, VS2 in Classic (in indirect bright-ish daylight indoors, and then in more shaded area at my desk)
2.71, G, S1 in Signature (in indirect bright-ish daylight indoors, and then in more shaded area at my desk)
Comparison profile and video (G stone on top)
FI and I have been ring hunting, and we zeroed in on Vrai because of their carbon neutral MMDs and their recycled metals. Summary of my journey (and pics below):
1. I read up on consumers' misgivings about Vrai (mostly that some of their settings were possibly too dainty and that their stones had brown or pink tint). In the end, their company missive, the potential of a one-stop shop, and the attractive pricing reeled me in.
2. Their customer service is quite good and friendly. I had asked to see extra videos, which they said they could not accommodate, but they are able to get additional descriptions and qualitative assessments from their gemologists. Since I was on the hunt for ovals, it was useful for me to get a more detailed description of tint, bowtie, and eye-clean inclusions. This was especially helpful when I was asking to compare multiple stones. The gemologist in those instances was able to tell me, for example, which had the strongest tint (and whether it was more brown or pink) and which had the least amount of bowtie.
3. I saw a lot of I and J in stock and was miffed as to why there were no stones of better color grades. Turns out that inventory is refreshed regularly (I was told once a week), and it was my experience (in obsessively refreshing the inventory daily lol) that the H+ stones just get snatched up much more quickly.
4. Despite #3 above, I realized from this board and just looking at these stones in general, that the brown and pink tints were actually pretty cool and I seriously considered getting a pink-hued stone (especially since the price on them is pretty stellar).
5. In the end, once I saw a good H+ stone of the right size, I pulled the trigger. I ordered a 2.52, H, VS2, 3X set in their Classic setting (4 curved prongs) since I like clean styles. The shank is 1.7 mm, with a depth of 1.8 mm.
6. I received that ring and really quite liked it! The setting actually felt pretty substantial and the stone was beautiful. But then, I started thinking if I might prefer their lower-set setting (Signature). And then I saw that a 2.71, G, S1, 3X came into inventory at a good price...
7. So I ordered the 2.71 stone in their signature setting to compare (and to see if I could notice the size difference). Their return policy is such that once you return one ring to them, the others are final sale -- which I was comfortable with since I already was ready to keep the Classic ring. (And you can also pay a fee to reset a particular stone if you bought it in a setting you want to swap out.)
8. That second ring came today!
I think both stones are beautiful. Both the color and size differences are pretty negligible in person IMO. Although I was initially drawn to the clean style of the Classic setting, I actually quite enjoy the floating gallery and the signature "sling" from the Signature setting (it's fun to see the diamond "floating"). Plus, I do slightly prefer the lower height of the setting on the Signature. However, the Signature while having the same shank width, only has a depth of 1.6mm -- and it is enough that I feel less weight from the setting. So I'll be playing around with both for a little bit to see which grows on me more. In the meantime, thought I'd give you guys some real world pics in case it helps other folks in the future.
Excuse the poor focus on some of these -- I will say that the stones are much whiter, clearer and sparklier IRL. Pics are on right hand since the rings are a little loose on my left hand.
2.52, H, VS2 in Classic (in indirect bright-ish daylight indoors, and then in more shaded area at my desk)
2.71, G, S1 in Signature (in indirect bright-ish daylight indoors, and then in more shaded area at my desk)
Comparison profile and video (G stone on top)
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