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lilmaria

lilmaria

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jan 22, 2006
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213
My bf wants to know which ring I want. He would rather get me a bigger carat in a plain setting, though I am in love with a bluenile setting that I can''t find anywhere else. I too, would like to get a carat, but I think that the setting is just as important as the stone, since it sets it apart from other rings. We''re in the 4500 range which limits us quite a bit. What would you suggest? Should I go for the carat in a 200 setting or go for the 1250 setting with a 3/4 or .80 carat? HELP!!!!

Thanks
newbie
 
how old are you? your age will influence /change my advice....
 
It''s a personal choice and you should do what you would really want.

I love more complex settings, but I would stilll go with buying the bigger stone. That way, you can get a different setting a few years down the line (your own dream setting) when you have more money. The diamond is the real investment, I think, and if you get a higher quality diamond now, you are less likely to want an upgrade sooner.

That''s just my personal opinon. Obviously, you should do what YOU really want to do in your heart.
 
What about upgrading the center stone later?
I am a sentimental type so do like that idea personally, but a lot of people do. If you love this setting, maybe get it with the smaller stone and upgrade that stone later. (If that is what you decide to do - make sure you buy from a vendor that offers a 100% trade up.)
Good luck with your choice. I'm sure you will be thrilled either way.

(another thought) You could also get the stone you really want now and upgrade the setting later
 
It depends on whether you ever plan on upgrading your diamond. If you don''t, then go with the larger diamond and change the setting later on down the road. If you do plan on upgrading the diamond but not the setting, then get the setting now and the smaller diamond. And of course, if you don''t ever want to change the diamond or the setting, then I suggest waiting until you can afford both.
 
I''m 26, my first wedding his second. I want something that will be different, thoug I''m not into pave settings. The bluenile setting is platinum - which I don''t have to have, I wouldn''t mind white gold to put more money into the stone. The setting I''ve been drooling over has two sidebars with one small round diamond on each side w/a tc weight of .20. I''ve seen the setting on here in someone''s post though he had a princess and I''d prefer a round. Though, I''ve noticed I can get a bigger princess for the same price as round...interesting. Anyway, thanks for any and all help!
 
I don''t mind upgrading either one. He seems to think we could upgrade the setting easier, but honestly I don''t think we''d ever have the means to upgrade one way or the other. Since I''m getting up there in age, kids will come soon afte we''re married and I don''t forsee a ton of extra money hanging around waiting to be spent on a ring when I''m sure we''ll have more important things to spend it on, i.e. children, school, house, etc.

I don''t know if it will really matter in size to go from a .80 to 1. My hand is dainty and my ring size is 5.5. Does that help?

thanks
 
Definitely get a round!
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Can you link us to a picture? We''d love to see the setting you''re considering. $4500 is a healthy budget to work with. Hopefully we can help you get the best of both worlds!
 
ok, older woman to younger woman here. get the 1 carat in the $200 setting. the plain tiffany setting will wear out/get thin/look bad in five - ten years anyway, then you can get the mega upgrade setting of your choice.

one thing to remember is settings wear out /look bad/ go out of style, or you get tired of them.
with the 1 carat rock, you change out when you want to.

i just changed out my quarter carat engagement setting for an identical fresh plain tiffany setting. looks brand new.
 
The build your own ring page comes up.

Can you post the item #?
 
the build your own ring page comes up for me too, but it shows the ring. You can''t see it? I don''t know where to get the item number from. how do I do that? Thanks
 
View Your Diamond:
Ideal cut, H color, VS2 clarity
Round .82-Carat Diamond
Stock #: LD00433334 Price: $3,468.00

Your Setting:
Platinum Setting with Diamond Accents (1/5 ct. tw.)
Stock #: 2716
Size: 5.5
View Our Wedding Bands
Price: $1,250.00

Total: $4,718.00
 
IMO, go for the bigger/better diamond in the cheaper setting. A solitaire is always a classic style that looks great. I would rather put more $$$ into my center diamond and maybe change the setting later....
 
I would definitely go with the smaller center stone and the unique setting. Of course this is just my personal opinion, but for me, I think solitaires are too plain and commonplace. I want a setting that shows off the center stone, sure, but also one that is somewhat unique and special to me. I''d rather have that and a bit smaller center stone, than a plain solitaire setting that doesn''t look any different from the ones I see all the time.

Disclaimer: I''m also saying this because you said you are in love with the setting. I think that speaks volumes. If you were just so-so about it, I might say get the bigger stone. But since you love it, why not go with it? I don''t think there is that much difference between a .8 and a 1.0 carat, in my opinion.

I can''t see the Blue Nile setting from your link -- it just shows the "build your ring" page with a plain solitaire setting. I thought you were posting the complex one with diamond sidestones?
 
What would I do... find a diamond and a setting that fit all requirements and the budget... of course.

BN settings are quite basic - you could probably find something with similar look and better price.


Just IMO.
 
Larger stone, simpler setting. You can always change the setting later and the price of diamonds only go up...so if you can afford the larger stone now..get it!
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Has anyone seen this setting before aside from bn? I don''t care where I get it from (as long as they are reputable) nor do I need the plat.


Okay...i tried to attach the file...let''s see if this works.

lilmariasring.jpg
 
You hit it on the head. I don''t want the same old ring that everyone else has. I want my ring to be different from the one''s I''ve seen in my workplace. I just don''t know if the .8 to 1. is such a drastic change that it would matter much. Since we began talking about rings, I''ve always gone back to this setting. The only draw back that I can see at this point, is that I haven''t been able to try it on and see how it looks on me.

Verragio has a similar setting but they want about 2k from what I can see and I haven''t been able to find many others that are similar to it. When I went into the b&m by my house, I was told by jewelers that it would be hard to find a band to go along with the bars, etc. but I like the bars, that''s what makes it unique. In my opinion the ring reminds me of a royal crown for some reason, there''s just something about it.

Thanks for helping...talking this out with someone aside from my bf has been a big help.
 
Absolutely the smaller stone in the unique setting. .80ct to a 1.0ct isn't a huge jump (and not that noticeable to the eye), and the .8 in the unique setting would be my choice hands down. Actually, it was. I did the same thing! Slightly smaller stone, more fabulous setting. The plain $200 settings are SO boring!
 
You are in love with the setting. If you don''t get it, I''m betting you will be disappointed. Especially since you want something different. A plain solitaire is a classic, lovely look, but no one has ever called it different.
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One option to consider is seeing if Whiteflash could make you a similar setting in white gold. They are very reasonable and do a lot of custom work. That would save you money that you could then put into your center stone!
 
Date: 1/22/2006 1:58:15 PM
Author: lilmaria

You hit it on the head. I don't want the same old ring that everyone else has.
Click to expand...
I would bet either precisely that or very similar could be found in the catalogs of semifinished jewelry (Adwar, Ingwer, Stuller have lots of models online - there are many others). And it can't hurt to pass by local shops and try things on.

Randomly:
How does THIS look to you? It doesn't have much in common with the one you have posted - aside the four prongs and the slightly larger diamonds next to the centre. It just seems to offer quite a bit of look for the money, hence the mention.

About the diamond:
Around .9cts... I wouldn't give a second thought to whether that looks like 1 ct or not. 3/4cts is another thing.
 
What about a .90 carat or so diamond and the beautiful platinum setting? I got my .90 carat I/SI1 round diamond two years ago for $3000, and it looks bigger than some 1 carat stones out there. I think you should have enough money to get the best of both worlds. Good luck!
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I am trying to stay away from S1 b/c I''m afraid you''ll see the inclusion and I have a lot of knowledgeable cousins who are rather catty -therefore I''d like to stay with the vs2 (though, I don''t see much of a difference).

I''ve only found the .90s to be closer to 4000 so If I try to do that size it would go over 5200. I am going ot see if my sister-in-law''s jewler can make the same setting in white gold for me so that I could add the other money into the diamond. This board is the best. I''ve found a lot of helpful people and I can''t wait for the day to come when I can add a pic of the ring on MY finger. Thanks for the help!
 
Btw. Blue Nile doesn't mean the same by 'Ideal Cut' as you may have read around here (brilliance, H&A etc.). They don't check those stones in person. You have as much info as BN had off virtual lists.
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lilmaria,
You just have to look a little, and I''m sure you could find an .85 to .90 carat RB for around $3000. By the way, my SI1 has only 1 inclusion...that''s right, 1, and it is on the edge of the diamond so it was able to be covered by a prong. You just have to look a little and you may get lucky! Jewelers have told me that my diamond looks like a VS, except for the one small inclusion (that you couldn''t even see with the naked eye...even before my jeweler set it under a prong). Don''t totally eliminate the possibility of an SI...that would be a mistake. MANY people on this forum have SI''s and they all love them! I think you are jumping the gun a little by basing your decisions on what your "catty cousins" have told you. Who cares what they think? I bet if you got an SI and told them it was a VS, they wouldn''t even be able to tell the difference...especially with a round diamond (since they are so brilliant). I think you are caring too much what "others" will think. Do what YOU think is right and will make you happy.
 
I vote for the .9 diamond (vs2) with the setting made in 18K white gold/palladium alloy!
 
....Now I understand why you said you are seeing .90 carat stones for $4000....because they are VS''s. Trust me, that is quite a bit to spend for a .90 carat stone. I would do a little more research on this website before you make the plunge. There are some VERY knowledgeable people on this site who could help you in your search for the perfect diamond!
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OK... you really seem to adore that setting - that tells me that you would not really be happy with a plain Tiffany-style solitaire. (Although that was a great suggestion, and one that would have worked for some girls.)

My advice... think a little more about color and especially clarity for your center stone. Let me assure you that the SI stones here on PS are NOT like those poor sad creatures you have seen at the mall, with those big black boulders sitting inside them.

Have you seen the "Post your SI stones here..." thread in SMTR? I started that thread for anyone who was nervous about SI stones. Whoaaa baby, the killer EYECLEAN diamonds featured there are totally drool-worthy and well worth lookin' at. Just NEVER compromise on CUT (cut is THE most important "C" and the one that gives a diamond its beauty and sparkle.)

My diamond is an AGS-0 2.36 J/SI2 RB and it is completely eyeclean. I challenge any catty relatives to find anything w/o a loupe! Really! Completely eyeclean SI stones ARE out there, and they represent an excellent value. You're not putting $ into what you cannot see (eyeclean is eyeclean is eyeclean) -- but rather towards what you CAN see... *SIZE*!!!
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I have not shopped lately, so I'm not up on pricing, but I SUSPECT that with a carefully chosen SI stone, you just may be able to get the size diamond you desire in the setting you love. That's called having your cake and eating it, too -- and oh man, I LOVE THAT!!!
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Here''s the thread on SI stones Lynn is talking about..

I agree, sounds like you LOVE the setting, so i''d figure out a way to get both
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Lynn gave you great advice..
 
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