Whiteflash vs. Brian Gavin for full bezel diamond pendant?

[bem3231]

Hello everyone...

I am considering getting a full bezel-set diamond pendant made as a 40th birthday gift for my best friend (featuring a .40 ct diamond). I have gotten a quote from Whiteflash, which recommended this setting with a modification to make the bezel as unobtrusive as possible:

http://www.whiteflash.com/diamond-pendants/full-bezel-diamond-pendant-1567.htm

I would be looking at having it made in platinum, so the cost for the setting only would be $595.00 plus an extra $95.00 for the modification = $690.00.

I was just looking at Brian Gavin's site, and he has this pendant listed:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond-pendants/slider-bezel-pendant-platinum-5422p

Although it's hard to tell from the photos, the bezel on the pendant pictured already lookes lower-profile than the Whiteflash one to me, but I could be mistaken? The Brian Gavin pendant in platinum is listed at $425.00 - a considerable difference.

I have worked with Whiteflash before, but not Brian Gavin. It looks to me as if their prices on loose ideal cut diamonds are about the same, and thier inventories are similar as well.

Does anyone have any recommendations of one over the other, or does anyone have experience with a similar pendant that they can share?

I am considering a slider style as I think that it would stay centered and be less frustrating than a dbty-type fixed bezel - am I correct in this assumption?

Any feedback or advice would be very much appreciated - thank you!!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Whiteflash vs. Brian Gavin for full bezel diamond pendan

Hi, Bem!

Well, I don't think the BG one is lower. It just has that ridge in the center. I strongly favor BG's handmade Barbara bezel pendant over either of those, but I think with a .40 stone, you might be better off doing the fixed bezel kind of like a Tiffany dby single diamond necklace.

 

[bem3231]

Re: Whiteflash vs. Brian Gavin for full bezel diamond pendan

Hi, Bem!

Well, I don't think the BG one is lower. It just has that ridge in the center. I strongly favor BG's handmade Barbara bezel pendant over either of those, but I think with a .40 stone, you might be better off doing the fixed bezel kind of like a Tiffany dby single diamond necklace.

Hi DS! Thanks for the feedback, and sorry for the delay in responding. We are away from home right now and internet access has been sketchy.

Thanks so much for recommending the Barbara pendant - I far prefer that one to the styles that I had posted. I am wondering, however, why you think that a fixed bezel style would be better for a .40 stone? I was wanting something that would stay centered well, and thought that a sliding style would be better than a dbty style, but I don't have experience with either so would love to get some feedback!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Whiteflash vs. Brian Gavin for full bezel diamond pendan

Ask BG which they think would be best for that size stone. But I think either the fixed handmade or Barbara would be fine. I have a modified Barbara with milgrain in a .80.

 

[swingirl]

Re: Whiteflash vs. Brian Gavin for full bezel diamond pendan

I had this one made by WF. The stone is about 0.5 ct. I had them use smaller loops.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Re: Whiteflash vs. Brian Gavin for full bezel diamond pendan

Hi,
I have a fixed dbty .38 and it doesn't stay centered...it travels all over the place. If you can find a slider, then go for that! (mine was custom made by a local jeweler.)