What to do? Setting perfect, center stone is terrible

[vladib2b]

If you want the ring at the lowest price, this sounds like the right place ! The only worry might be that they send nothing at all ... which, is OK too, as long as you have a way to dispute the transaction.

Why I give up: the way you have chosen a complex design at an impossible price, does not leave options - it was meant that way. Then, the straight & narrow does not exacty offer the world on a platter ...

Please don't give up. I never even mentioned what my budget was. My ceiling is $7.5 at the high end, but I'd rather it be no more than about $6,200. $4.5k is even better!

 

[soxfan]

Several of you have asked about my budget. My original (and preferred) budget was about $4500-5000. But I could go as high as $7.5k out the door if I must...

My gf is very picky. So what i'll likely do is take the Fay Cullen pics to the best jeweler in town and have him manufacture it. Then I'll buy the biggest rock I can within my budget and have him center it.

Horrible Idea. Trust me, I've been to the best jeweler in town and my rings never looked like the picture. Not even CLOSE. Save yourself time, money, and more importantly save your girl heartbreak.

Now that you have given your budget, the experts here will find you a stone and a setting in your budget that you will never be able to get locally.

 

[vladib2b]

And this is why the power of PS to protect consumers is mighty. @MollyMalone provided the technical details for exactly the response I was writing. No way. No how.

The setting looks the "same" because they stole the photos from FayCullen. They are not the same, they are exact.

I actually did that reverse image search and found many stolen photos...including from a PS member post ...
https://ashtontaylordiamonds.com/pr...ne-diamond-engagement-ring-vs2-f-14k-platinum
FROM: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/james-meyer-bezel-reset-has-arrived.97999/

https://ashtontaylordiamonds.com/products/edwardian-ii
FROM: http://www.durhamrose.com/vintage-antique-engagement-ring-and-jewellery-styles-series/

https://ashtontaylordiamonds.com/products/2-59-ct-solitaire-platinum-engagement-ring
FROM: http://www.jewelryon5th.com/_p/prd4/4195866141/product/eng389 {I would assume all the rings on the mirror are from this site, the photography is too distinct, it also looks a lot like @Wink }

https://ashtontaylordiamonds.com/products/1-65-ct-cushion-halo-genuine-diamond-engagment-ring
This ring was posted on another Wedding Advice site (I recall the nails)

https://ashtontaylordiamonds.com/products/1-53-ct-edwardian-style-platinum-engagement-ring
FROM. At least 4 sellers on Ebay are using these same photos.

Mighty good detective work! Many thanks!!!

 

[soxfan]

Please don't give up. I never even mentioned what my budget was. My ceiling is $7.5 at the high end, but I'd rather it be no more than about $6,200. $4.5k is even better!

No one here will give up on you. Trust me.

 

[vladib2b]

Horrible Idea. Trust me, I've been to the best jeweler in town and my rings never looked like the picture. Not even CLOSE. Save yourself time, money, and more importantly save your girl heartbreak.

Now that you have given your budget, the experts here will find you a stone and a setting in your budget that you will never be able to get locally.

What you say is possible, but this guy I'd work with has an impeccable reputation (5 stars Yelp with hundreds of reviews: https://www.yelp.com/biz/david-levi-and-sons-jewelers-and-jewelry-buyers-san-diego-7) and he has CAD software, and would show me the clay model and computer image first.

 

[rockysalamander]

Several of you have asked about my budget. My original (and preferred) budget was about $4500-5000. But I could go as high as $7.5k out the door if I must...

My gf is very picky. So what i'll likely do is take the Fay Cullen pics to the best jeweler in town and have him manufacture it. Then I'll buy the biggest rock I can within my budget and have him center it.

Can I suggest that you contact Erika at LoveAffairDiamonds, CVB Inspired Design, and David Klass to get quotes? That setting is highly intricate and not really something that just anyone can make...they...and other PS vendors have demonstrated an ability to execute that kind of design.

http://www.cvbinspireddesign.com/
http://www.loveaffairdiamonds.com/
David Klass - 213-489-4569 (best to call)

You can't make an informed decision until you have a few quotes.

 

[rockysalamander]

For your planning/budget purposes, I assumed the setting would cost up to $2500. That will leave you with $3700 for a diamond.

These are both really clean, good performance and in budget.
.73 H VS2, $3080, 5.8 mm. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-h-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3187081
.72 I VS2, $2750, 5.79 mm. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2536084

To get up to a .9 carat, you will need to raise the diamond budget to $4800.
.92 I VS2, 6.19 mm. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-i-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-2869896 {best I can find right now, but I don't love it}

The setting she likes is very vintage inspired. Are you sure she wants a modern cut diamond to go in it? That setting screams for an old cut diamond and the 0.86 below gives you a bigger spread than the modern cuts above.
.86 I VS1, $3050. http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/86ct-oe-cut-diamond-gia-i-vs1 {5.94-6.10 mm}
.83 I VS2, $2895 {5.71 mm}, http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/83ct-oecut-diamond-gia-i-vs2

 

[valeria101]

Please don't give up. ...
$7.5 K - at the high end, but I'd rather it be no more than about $6,200. $4.5k is even better!

I am still too poor to compromise on such things. E.g. nobody scrapps VC or AOP hand forged settings, while CAD produce is, relatively, a compromise. I know these things will stand to comparison literally anywhere in the world - at the highest end: you could get bigger stuff or more intricate, but not better, all things being equal. This, means something - to me, OK ...

 

[vladib2b]

No one here will give up on you. Trust me.

Why wouldn't they give up?

 

[vladib2b]

Thanks for all of your help with your responses. This is a great forum and even greater community.

I found the same setting from another vendor, Ashton Taylor on Etsy: https://ashtontaylordiamonds.com/collections/antique

Too good to be true, I thought—I mean, look at the prices! So I wrote them the following. Check out their responses, too.

Me:

Hi, I love your Edwardian pieces, but I just have a couple of questions:

1. The prices of the center stones seem too good to be true, even for diamonds that are not GIA graded. Are they enhanced?

2. You sell many different Edwardian rings of this sort that have different setting sizes for the center stone, and yet, in the pictures you post, they all look the same. If one ring accommodates a 1.5 stone, and another a 2.0 stone, wouldn't the pictures look at least a little bit different? It seems to me that the 2.0 setting would make the setting looks a bit wider...

3. Do you sell the setting alone without the center stone? If so, for how much?

Their responses:
Hello!

To answer you're questions:

1. To start, we don't mark up the industry standard which is 300%. What we specialize in is recreating high end rings in the $15g-30g range for customers with budgets of 3g to $7g. We use only eye clean, sparkly, 100% Natural earth mined diamonds and Genuine Solid Gold or Platinum. No part of any ring is Lab or man made whatsoever. Each ring come with an appraisal from a certified Gemologist .

We purchase our rough stones from Africa and have them cut & processed in India then shipped direct to us.

2. Yes some of the pictures are very similar or the same for a couple of the rings. More like sample photos.

If you'd like to see an exact photo or video of a ring, I can send it to you directly. Just let me know. We are working on getting pictures updated all the time.

3. Yes we do sell settings by themselves. We also sell loose diamonds.

This setting by itself: Platinum $1200

I hope that answered your questions/concerns! Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.

What do you think?

 

[vladib2b]

So just for fun, I contacted Ashton Taylor again. I asked for photos and even a video of their setting for the 1.55 center stone one. Take a look at the pictures and video. Does that center stone look like a 1.55 carat rock to you? Laughable!

 

[arkieb1]

No that centre is probably larger than 1.55 carats at a guess, a couple of the rings on there namely one Singlestone ring is a photo ripped off from a member on here, so what else do you want us to say? Do you actually want to hand your money over to a scam artist and never see it again?

You have a couple of good options if that is the one and only ring she likes order that setting and let us find you a decent OEC (Old European cut to go into it) or get David Klass to make a better made copy of it, again with a decent centre stone set into it.

 

[vladib2b]

No that centre is probably larger than 1.55 carats at a guess, a couple of the rings on there namely one Singlestone ring is a photo ripped off from a member on here, so what else do you want us to say? Do you actually want to hand your money over to a scam artist and never see it again?

You have a couple of good options if that is the one and only ring she likes order that setting and let us find you a decent OEC (Old European cut to go into it) or get David Klass to make a better made copy of it, again with a decent centre stone set into it.

I said I wanted a pic for them just for fun...I just can't believe how forward they are in their lies. It's sad.

I will contact David Klass and see what quote he gives me.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

FYI- Ashton Taylor sells enhanced diamonds. From their site "Because the other labs grade more generously, they will be different. Nothing wrong with buying an EGL or GIE or IGL stone, as long as you understand this and pay accordingly. You should always pay less for a diamond graded by a lab other than GIA. These are all 100% Natural enhanced Genuine Earth Mined diamonds. You can inquire at your local jewelry store as to what grading standard they use so you can accurately compare them should you want an independent evaluation."

 

[WinkHPD]

As a jeweler I have to say I am VERY impressed with the time and effort that many of our regular posters have taken to aid and protect our OP. It is SO refreshing to see!

Vladib2b, I wish you great success in your quest.

Wink

 

[Karl_K]

Why wouldn't they give up?

Because that is the way we roll around here.
Believe me we have all been there.

To those that keep the PS tradition alive and well, I salute you!

 

[vladib2b]

As a jeweler I have to say I am VERY impressed with the time and effort that many of our regular posters have taken to aid and protect our OP. It is SO refreshing to see!

Vladib2b, I wish you great success in your quest.

Wink

Not to mention kindness. I didn't get the sense of snootiness overall.

 

[msop04]

I second having David Klass make the setting for you! He is excellent and VERY reasonably priced.

 

[vladib2b]

OP here. So my local jeweler (highly reputed, see Yelp ratings in an earlier post) said he could put together the setting for about $1.5k. That then leaves me with the center stone. I don't think my girlfriend cares too much about sparkle compared to how she feels about the size of the rock. An earlier kind contributor recommended this site for decently priced diamonds. What do you think? Would this be a good fit for me? http://www.ebay.com/itm/VG-CUT-2-28...L-LOOSE-BIG-/401382586096?hash=item5d744436f0

Yes, I know it's not GIA. But just because something is EGL doesn't necessarily mean it's not a good diamond.

Yes, I know that it's a K color. The seller says it looks more like a J. Could be. I've seen J's face up and I've always thought they looked fine and my untrained eye couldn't tell the difference.

Yes, I know it's IA clarity. But the seller claims the inclusions are well dispersed.

They have a return policy...Given that my gf cares more about size than sparkle, maybe this would work?

What if it IS eye clean and looks more like a J. Maybe so?

 

[soxfan]

OP here. So my local jeweler (highly reputed, see Yelp ratings in an earlier post) said he could put together the setting for about $1.5k. That then leaves me with the center stone. I don't think my girlfriend cares too much about sparkle compared to how she feels about the size of the rock. An earlier kind contributor recommended this site for cheap diamonds. What do you think? Would this be a good fit for me? http://www.ebay.com/itm/VG-CUT-2-28...L-LOOSE-BIG-/401382586096?hash=item5d744436f0

Yes, I know it's not GIA. But just because something is EGL doesn't necessarily mean it's not a good diamond.

Yes, I know that it's a K color. The seller says it looks more like a J. Could be. I've seen J's face up and I've always thought they looked fine and my untrained eye couldn't tell the difference.

Yes, I know it's IA clarity. But the seller claims the inclusions are well dispersed.

They have a return policy...Given that my gf cares more about size than sparkle, maybe this would work?

What if it IS eye clean and looks more like a J. Maybe so?

That diamond is terrible.

 

[Niel]

I know the profile is more basic than her inspiration but do you think she would enjoy this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/232442639886

 

[Niel]

I don't know if you had showedher this and she didn't like it, but it's got a pave shank, detailed dianond basket, and 1 CT stone
https://www.newyorkestatejewelry.co...Engagement-Ring/Engagement-Rings/29059/3/item

 

[ringo865]

No. Have you looked at any of the options these people have searched out for you? Your GF wants a sparkly stone. She may also want a big stone. She does not want a hunk of frozen spit. (Sorry).

Your original post was for THIS setting with a GIA fair .95 stone for like $4K. This 2.28 EGL VG I1 for $5.5K for the STONE ONLY?! No. Take two grades down in color AND clarity, and probably also in cut.

NO. Egad man!

If you don't want to look at the stones all these PSers have suggested, at least Call David klass, Erica at love affair diamonds, or grace at jewels by grace. Or ID Jewelry. ANY of them could make THAT setting and source you an amazing drool-worthy stone that is "big" and "sparkly".

Calling them is free. You don't have to go with them. Get options, quotes, tell them you are from pricescope.

Come back and post the options they give you if you want more input. She wants sparkly. Trust me.

 

[rockysalamander]

That diamond is in no way, shape or form eye clean. The seller is good, the diamond looks diseased.

This is way better (actually not bad). I ignored all the ideal numbers and just used my eyes to find something that would be pretty and clean enough for her.
#1. 7.12 mm. EG. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...k-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3170031

Not as good on clarity, but still passable performance. Not nearly as clean, but inclusions are not as dominant as the Ebay one. 1.51 K SI2 GIA 7.34 mm.
#2 https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...k-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3312109

In your constraints, I would select #1, but if size is your priority #2 may work for you. Put this on hold if you want it, 24 hour hold.

If size is your major driver and with your budget limitations, I think you should look Forever 1 Moissanite (sorry, I said the M word, hands over eyes PS members). We cannot discuss this on this forum, but I put a link below to get your started. Lips sealed on this topic now.

https://www.moissaniteco.com/art-deco-style-forever-one-engagement-ring-p-24903.html

 

[rockysalamander]

I don't know if you had showedher this and she didn't like it, but it's got a pave shank, detailed dianond basket, and 1 CT stone
https://www.newyorkestatejewelry.co...Engagement-Ring/Engagement-Rings/29059/3/item

Great setting find @Niel .

OP if you like the either of the JA stone, this setting won't fit them. But, maybe the same seller has more options.

 

[MollyMalone]

Has she seen-tried on this style of ring? I realize it's different than the Fay Cullen reproduction you posted, but the millegrain (the eensy "beading") on this true antique ring, which is in excellent condition, is exquisite & this style gives nice finger coverage and is comfortable to wear:

The center stone is not GIA-graded, but Romanov Russia (in Chicago) is very reputable & they don't seem to overstate their color-clarity descriptions.
http://romanovrussia.com/antique/antique-edwardian-era-old-european-diamond-engagement-ring/

Another example:
https://erstwhilejewelry.com/collec...oducts/edwardian-vintage-engagement-ring-2623

True bombe style:

https://www.langantiques.com/vintage-engagement-rings/edwardian-diamond-engagement-ring-2.html

 

[arkieb1]

If you just want a big bang for you buck diamond contact IDJ jewellery and tell them Pricescope members sent you, and you want a white facing eyeclean diamond or only with inclusions you can hide under a prong, that has plenty of fire and sparkle with a decent spread. They have found some really wonderful stones for people on budgets in the past.

https://idjewelry.com/

They will do better than the ebay stone which will be smucky to look at. Diamonds are funny like that, it doesn't matter how big or small they are if they are heavily included and badly cut they tend to look dead and like s@#* on the hand. She might want something big but if it's medium sized to big and it's sparkly then you will be miles in front of big and blaaah to look at...

 

[farrahlyn]

ringo said it best.

She does not want a hunk of frozen spit.

No woman would prefer to have a 2ct chickenpox looking, dull stone that doesn't sparkle, over a 1ct stone that sparkles and is beautifully eye clean. NO ONE! Ugh, that 2.28 stone is just awful. But that seller.... he/she is good, they are selling the hell out of that stone!

OP, You went from looking at a .9ct stone to an over 2ct stone. thats a huge jump and quite frankly, if you're just a regular ol Joe, she's not going to EXPECT a 2ct stone! You're trying to get a massive deal with a limited budget. that's just not how it works with diamonds. WORK with your budget, find a stone that makes the most of your budget without sacrificing sparkle. That's what you want a diamond to do. And keep your expectations real when considering your budget. A .75-1ct stone is a nice sized stone!!

This is way better (actually not bad). I ignored all the ideal numbers and just used my eyes to find something that would be pretty and clean enough for her.
#1. 7.12 mm. EG. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...k-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3170031

i like this one that rocky posted! Gets you over 1ct, looks eye clean and is just a nice compromise. arkieb1's suggestion of IDJewelry is really great too.

If you really want to give her that 2ct stone one day, go with a vendor with a great upgrade policy so that at your 5yr/10yr/15yr/20yr mark, you have the option of upgrading.

 

[vladib2b]

ringo said it best.


No woman would prefer to have a 2ct chickenpox looking, dull stone that doesn't sparkle, over a 1ct stone that sparkles and is beautifully eye clean. NO ONE! Ugh, that 2.28 stone is just awful. But that seller.... he/she is good, they are selling the hell out of that stone!

OP, You went from looking at a .9ct stone to an over 2ct stone. thats a huge jump and quite frankly, if you're just a regular ol Joe, she's not going to EXPECT a 2ct stone! You're trying to get a massive deal with a limited budget. that's just not how it works with diamonds. WORK with your budget, find a stone that makes the most of your budget without sacrificing sparkle. That's what you want a diamond to do. And keep your expectations real when considering your budget. A .75-1ct stone is a nice sized stone!!



i like this one that rocky posted! Gets you over 1ct, looks eye clean and is just a nice compromise. arkieb1's suggestion of IDJewelry is really great too.

If you really want to give her that 2ct stone one day, go with a vendor with a great upgrade policy so that at your 5yr/10yr/15yr/20yr mark, you have the option of upgrading.

That ring that Rocky posted...I like it the size, indeed a great compromise...face up and mounted, how yellow would it look? I mean, I wouldn't expect to be ice white, but I've seen some K's next to G's and couldn't see the difference....

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...k-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3170031

 

[rockysalamander]

That ring that Rocky posted...I like it the size, indeed a great compromise...face up and mounted, how yellow would it look? I mean, I wouldn't expect to be ice white, but I've seen some K's next to G's and couldn't see the difference....

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...k-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3170031

Yes. It will have color that is very visible from the side and it will not look bright white. But, you asked for big and this diamond is the best compromise I can find that will still have reasonable performance and clarity. Set it with white prongs and she will have a reasonable stone as large as you can afford. I have far more tolerance for color than bad clarity.

H below = 6.24 mm
I color=6.52 mm (4'oclock one small blemish, but should be much of an issue at VS2)
K above=7.12 mm

H Color
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...h-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2876562

I Color
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3336709


K vs. H on size 6 finger