Which shape with which shape?

[onlyforher]

Howdy,
After viewing this site, Bluenile, Union Diomond, and a few others, I've limited myself to a reasonable selection. Could you (plurual) give some advice on the shape combination, and/or the color?

Things I know about her:
-It dosen't matter if it's gold, silver, or palladium
-Favorite color is blue
-Active
-Dosen't mind more than just a diamond (sidestones)
-Quality is better than quantity
-Shape dosen't matter

My thoughts:
-Price at about $2,500 (Diamond and setting)
-Go with palladium? (Lasts longer than gold, less $$ than Platinum)
-Regular circular cut or heart
-ct: greater than .47

Because blue is also my fav. color, I picked out several with blue side stones. What is your advice about the combination of color, shape, and size? I've attached several previews from Bluenile.


I'm leaning towards the princess cut on both sides with the regular circular in the center, but am very open to suggestions. I want this to be something she wouldn't be afraid to wear for the rest of her life, or in case of an upgrade, pass it on to grandchildren.

Here are the pics.
(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

(E)

Which one is your favorite? Do you suggest something else?

Thanks,
-Me (I told her about these forums a while ago, so I'm not using a real name. ;o )

 

[Regular Guy]

I like (b), with smaller side stones.

 

[onlyforher]

Oh, did I forget to mention this is an engagement ring? oops.

*bump*

 

[Kay]

Of the options you posted, I would pick B, but in a white metal. The pear sides complement the round center nicely -- there are several beautiful examples on Pricescope. The square sides seem to clash/compete with the round center too much IMHO, while the rounded sides of the pears flow gracefully into the round center. I personally do not like the heart shaped diamonds -- they will not have the same light return as a well cut round, and seem too cutesy, while a round center is timeless and elegant.

 

[Kaleigh]

I also like B, in a white metal. I''m not a fan of heart shaped stones, but that''s just me. And don''t love princess cuts as side stones for a round...

 

[Sundial]

Date: 9/7/2006 5:44:11 PM
Author: Kaleigh
I also like B, in a white metal. I''m not a fan of heart shaped stones, but that''s just me. And don''t love princess cuts as side stones for a round...

Ditto.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Another vote for B in white metal.

BTW, unless I'm mistaken those look like Blue Nile pics. If I'm wrong, stop reading now (

), but if I'm right I recall a thread a while back where someone wanted setting like B with a round center stone and because the setting was "stock" there was a gap between the center stones and the side stones due to the size of the center stone. If that might bother you or your soon-to-be-fiance you might consider one of the other vendors on here who will make a setting to fit your stones so that you have a more perfect ring. Just my 2 cents.

(If you're just posting these pics to get style votes that disregard what I just typed. I had a wisdom tooth removed this afternoon and the pain pills are making me a little "chatty.")

 

[Rod]

Date: 9/7/2006 5:48:01 PM
Author: Sundial

Date: 9/7/2006 5:44:11 PM
Author: Kaleigh
I also like B, in a white metal. I'm not a fan of heart shaped stones, but that's just me. And don't love princess cuts as side stones for a round...

Ditto.

Ditto Ditto.......Do I get to vote twice? The round with pear sides is elegant, timeless and more closely looks like a real engagement ring, imho.

EDIT: I think heart shaped stones are cute, and would work great in a right hand ring, but not an engagement ring.

 

[Beacon]

Agree w/ you. Those side stones look big for the center and there looks like there is a gap. If BN only has certain premade settings available this is how finished product will look. Might look bad.

Call them and inquire about this. Have them discuss the proportions with the jeweler they have and give you the honest answer. If it gappy then you might want to buy just a single stone or buy the stone loose and look for someone else to make it for you. That second option migh mess up your budget though.

 

[E B]

If I were to receive a three-stone, this would be my first choice:

Three Stone Round followed by (B) in white metal. I'm a huge fan of rounds, and I love the idea of a sparkly RB with two gorgeous round sapphire sides.

I don't know if you've found any stones you like, but here's a great choice:

.50, H, VS2 AGS0

ETA: A good point is made about the gap. Perhaps someone at BN could tell you if the size will work?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 9/7/2006 5:54:16 PM
Author: Rod

Date: 9/7/2006 5:48:01 PM
Author: Sundial

Date: 9/7/2006 5:44:11 PM
Author: Kaleigh
I also like B, in a white metal. I''m not a fan of heart shaped stones, but that''s just me. And don''t love princess cuts as side stones for a round...

Ditto.

Ditto Ditto.......Do I get to vote twice? The round with pear sides is elegant, timeless and more closely looks like a real engagement ring, imho.

EDIT: I think heart shaped stones are cute, and would work great in a right hand ring, but not an engagement ring.

Triple ditto!!! Round with pear sides in white metal. We are either all developing the same taste or the choices are too limited this time! Lol!

 

[onedrop]

Okay I am going to be redundant here...but I agree with everyone else... (B) in white metal. I don't think I have ever seen anyone in real life with a heart shaped stone in an engagement ring. Definitely it's different, but unless she has her heart (no pun intended) on that, I'd go with the round.

 

[onlyforher]

Well, we have some fairly universal votes here! Thanks so much! I thought I'd posted a pic of B with a round center on white. My mistake.

eejay:: <-- Yes, those are from Blue Nile. Thanks for the tip on spacing. Perhaps I'll give them or another jewler a call.

I'm not partial to Blue Nile. It's nice to see what is availble for options.

Here's (B) with round in the center. (now (G))

The above setting is from Union Diamond, is the same $$ as from BlueNile, and looks better. (less gap)

I don't want the .5 ct diamond to look small because of the saphires!

You guys are right about the heart. At first I thought it looked neat, but it scores higher on the cute scale, and lower on 'elegant' and 'timeless'.

So, (G) it is? Remember, I think that's a 1ct diamond in the pic. Mine will be closer to .5 - .75 (If I up my $$ to 3000)

What do you guys think? Any more suggestions?
Thanks.
-only for her

 

[Tacori E-ring]

B is a white metal for sure! It is the most classic option you gave. Perhaps you should get a RB blue sapphire with pear shape diamonds to stretch your budget farther.

 

[onlyforher]

Hmm, but as an engagement ring? Is there pics somewhere of RB blue sapphire with pear diamonds on either side? I don't think the contrast (whitemetal-diamond-blue-diamond-whitemetal) would be as good as (B)/(G) (Whitemetal-blue-diamond-blue-whitemetal).

Thanks,
-Onlyforher

 

[mrssalvo]

I''m sure there is a pic somewhere around here of a sapphire center with pear sides. I think it would be a lovely combo. here is a gorgeous ring from Signedpeices so you can at least see how kinda how it''d look..this one is $3400

http://www.signedpieces.com/item.cfm?item_id=4353

 

[Pandora II]

All the women in my family have an oval sapphire centre with diamond side stones as their e-rings. They are very popular in the UK where we tend to go for smaller stones than in the USA. (Check the royal family''s rings - all coloured centres)

I love colour myself and wouldn''t want a just diamond e-ring, but I''m very particular about jewellery.

If your gf wants something that she can show off to friends and family and is not a gemstone nut like some of us then go for the diamond centre as you''ll probably feel happier.

Oh and I vote for G

 

[onlyforher]

Wow, that does look good.
Here''s a low-quality images of similiar designs:

Hmm.. I think I like (G).

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 9/7/2006 7:28:35 PM
Author: mrssalvo
I''m sure there is a pic somewhere around here of a sapphire center with pear sides. I think it would be a lovely combo. here is a gorgeous ring from Signedpeices so you can at least see how kinda how it''d look..this one is $3400


http://www.signedpieces.com/item.cfm?item_id=4353

Oh GREAT find. I just think you might get more bang for your buck with your budget. Growing up I knew a lady that had a RB three stone ring with a sapphire center and diamond sidestones. So elegant!

 

[Cehrabehra]

well of those I like B but I think other ideas could be square in the middle with either hearts or pears on the sides... I don''t like mixing the squares and rounds like that because it seems too geometric or something... too primary. Like if you put blue red and yellow stones in square circle and triangle or something lol

 

[Dee*Jay]

Here's a pic of my sapphire and diamond ring. The sapphire is oval (used to be *more* oval until it had to be recut due to chipping) and the sides are round.

I would have LOVED to have this as an engagement ring!

ETA: Didn't realize this pic would be so big--the monster hand from hell, ha ha!

 

[mrssalvo]

ooo DEEJay...love your sapphire ring

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 9/7/2006 8:32:31 PM
Author: mrssalvo
ooo DEEJay...love your sapphire ring

Ditto to that!!!

 

[Ellen]

Double ditto!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Me too

 

[Dee*Jay]

Only - sorry, didn't mean to case a threadjack there, but seriously if you think she might be willing to go with a sapphire center that would (a) save you a ton of $$$, (b) be something "different" than every other engagement ring on the street, and (c) be able to move over for a ring hand ring if she's so inclined at some point and you could get her a different diamond ring, maybe on a major anniversary.

Again, only my 2 cents...

(One thing to keep in mind is that sapphires are about 30% denser than diamonds so a 1.3 ct sapphire would be roughly the size of a 1 ct diamond. Pay attention to the mm sizes of the stone more than just the ct weight if you decide to go that route.)

 

[koko]

Date: 9/7/2006 7:05:17 PM
Author: onlyforher
Well, we have some fairly universal votes here! Thanks so much! I thought I''d posted a pic of B with a round center on white. My mistake.

eejay:: <-- Yes, those are from Blue Nile. Thanks for the tip on spacing. Perhaps I''ll give them or another jewler a call.

I''m not partial to Blue Nile. It''s nice to see what is availble for options.

Here''s (B) with round in the center. (now (G))

The above setting is from Union Diamond, is the same $$ as from BlueNile, and looks better. (less gap)

I don''t want the .5 ct diamond to look small because of the saphires!

You guys are right about the heart. At first I thought it looked neat, but it scores higher on the cute scale, and lower on ''elegant'' and ''timeless''.

So, (G) it is? Remember, I think that''s a 1ct diamond in the pic. Mine will be closer to .5 - .75 (If I up my $$ to 3000)

What do you guys think? Any more suggestions?
Thanks.
-only for her

"G" is perfection.....it''s too risky to go with a colored stone as the main one if she didn''t request it.....Hope you can go with a .75

 

[onlyforher]

I am curious DeeJay, what ct are the side diamonds on your ring? How big is the center sapphire (in sapphire ct.s)?

Which dealers would you guys recommend for sapphires? I''ve looked thru the resources page but don''t see any that specialize in stones besides diamonds. Perhaps I missed.

Thanks for the input DeeJay, that *is* a nice ring! Chipping could be an issue with her active lifestyle too... hmm.

She''s not used to wearing rings, so I might go for the smaller (better cut and color) diamond with the sapphire sidestones (G).. That seams like the safest way.

Thank you all for your input. These are great forums!

-Onlyforher

 

[E B]

Only,

What about a sapphire in a diamond halo? $2115 at www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com.

 

[justjulia]

Ooooo, that''s pretty with the halo.... I was going to chime in to look at her earrings for clues. What metal does she prefer there? Does she wear single stones or clusters? Does she like simple or busy styles?