Where can I get the equivalent of a Tiffany "Embrace"

[Questions-questions]

Hi,
I'm new to this so please be gentle. Basically, am for an engagement ring which is like the Tiffany embrace ring. This means a round one with pave around it and on the ring itself. I was planning on a decent ring of about 1 carat which I figured would set me back at least USD10k. (but am in the UK)
Currently I'm gravitating towards buying the ring and setting at Blue Nile and found the Cirque Cathedral setting which looked quite good.

So, my questions are:
1) Are Blue Nile good value overall?
2) Is my budget realistic?
3) Should I get the diamond and setting from different places? If so which ones?
4) Are there good online dealers or should I not buy online?
5) Are there differences in price between different locations? (e.g. antwerp, NY, London, etc)

Any other advice would be super helpful. Sorry for the basic nature of these questions.


Thanks

 

[athenaworth]

I got my upgrade from BN, and as much as it pains me to say it, I have discovered that they're not as cheap as they seem. The customer service is amazing and the prep is fast and seamless, but the prices are not great. You could probably save yourself 10-15% shopping elsewhere.

I don't have answers to the other questions but you came to the right place. PS'ers are amazing.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Check out Good Old Gold, WhiteFlash, and Brian Gavin for ideal cut stones at prices that I usually think are better than BN. That setting style is popular and you won't have difficulty finding one. Here is a similar one that WhiteFlash makes:

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/halo-prong-diamond-engagement-ring-34.htm

Brian Gavin can make one without the milgrain and with prongs instead of bezel, but you can get an idea of the quality of their work:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5441

I would advise selecting a stone from a vendor that can custom make the setting for you. That is much easier than buying a stone and having to ship it to another place to have the setting made.

 

[antelope1]

as much as it pains me to say it, I have discovered that they're not as cheap as they seem.

OP, athenaworth is right. Try using the PS search tool and input your parameters. You will see that whenever more than one vendor lists the same stone (literally, these are called "virtual" stones because merchants "drop-ship" them directly from the distributor, so more than one vendor can sell the same diamond) -- BN is almost always the most expensive lister.

Also, buying from the UK, you really need someone who will take photos / videos / ASET / Idealscope for you and send those media to you for your evaluation. BN will only look at the diamonds that they have "in house" (the BN Signature line). So buying any other diamond, just based on the cert, that is a risk IMO -- and with the UK, you will pay customs incoming (and I don't know if you can get a customs refund if you later return the diamond).

Good luck!

 

[Circe]

I'd suggest the Ritani Endless Love ring for the look you're looking for (frankly, I always thought that Tiff's saw the popularity of that design, and ... er, embraced it). I think your budget is realistic, depending on the specs you have in mind for the stone. Any thoughts on what you want in color, clarity, etc.?

 

[Questions-questions]

Thanks a lot.

My thinking for the stone was along the lines of:
~1 ct, VVS2 clarity, F-colour, ideal cut
I was thinking that this would cost around USD10k. I hear people that keep telling me about looking at it myself but since I'm essentially clueless I thought it would be more useful to "trust" ratings as my judgement will otherwise be more dependent on light, sales staff chat, etc. So, I was thinking trust the experts with the trained eyes rather than my subjective untrained eye.

Is that stupid??

Also, just checked Ritani and Whiteflash and the settings seem to be significantly more expensive than at Blue Nile. Does that reflect quality as well?

Thanks a ton for all your help!!!

 

[antelope1]

Is there a particular reason why you want to go to VVS2 clarity? That is very very very clear. Is this a "mind clean" thing?

Most humans will not detect a difference between VVS2 and VS2 clarity. Many on PS go down to SI1 (as long as it is "eye-clean"). To do that, however, you will have to work with a merchant that will examine the stone and verify that it is eye clean -- BN will not do this unless they have it inhouse.

Is the metal for the Ritaini, BN, and Whiteflash settings all the same (PT)? Also, is the carat weight of the pave the same?

 

[MarkBroumand]

Thanks a lot.

My thinking for the stone was along the lines of:
~1 ct, VVS2 clarity, F-colour, ideal cut
I was thinking that this would cost around USD10k. I hear people that keep telling me about looking at it myself but since I'm essentially clueless I thought it would be more useful to "trust" ratings as my judgement will otherwise be more dependent on light, sales staff chat, etc. So, I was thinking trust the experts with the trained eyes rather than my subjective untrained eye.

Is that stupid??

Thanks a ton for all your help!!!

I think that it is good that you, as a consumer, know your limits. It is important, however, that you do your background research and learn as much as you can so that you are not going into it totally blind. Besides reviews, testimonials, etc...make sure that the vendor you choose can back up everything he is saying with paperwork, ie. independent grading report by a reputable company, pictures, return/trade up policies, etc. It is recommended, if possible, to go into a local store and look at different diamonds in person so that you get a real feel for what your personal preferences are beyond the numbers.

Just by you being here on PS is a good sign and you'll be able to acquire tons of info from a lot of participants with real life experience with online vendors.

 

[nomi]

Hello,
I'm new to this site. From your original post in October it's been some time. Were you successful in your search? I am currently in the process of having my e-ring modeled after the Tiffany Embrace center stone setting with Tiffany Novo side stones so that it matches the Novo wedding band. I worked with a jeweler who a friend of mine had used.

I would love to know how it worked out and if you have any pics to post that would be great!