Would love some thoughts

[Delster]

Date: 5/23/2008 7:12:55 PM
Author: MatthewG

You''ve sparked an idea - thank you! Think I''ll buy a cheap ring that I know will be too small for her usual ring wearing fingers - she''ll be forced to try it on others. Also following everyone''s wise words I''m thinking about GOG or WF diamond in a LM setting, but I''m still going to look at HW and Cartier I think. Logistics could still be a problem if I head for the LM route as I''d need to get the diamond delivered to the UK, ship it back to LM in NY and get it shipped back with setting. Am I missing a much easier route of doing this

Thank you everyone for all your advice - not sure you realise how much of a help you all are!

Clever boy! Just one thing - how are you gonna explain that you just took a notion to buy her a cheap ring?

I''d also like to second everyone who said you can have a stone shipped directly to a setter, or you can go through an independent appraiser. No need to have it sent to the UK. My BF bought from Wink at Winfields and they shipped it directly to Leon Megé (Leon got it literally the next day). After reading up on here he trusted Wink so we didn''t use an independent appraiser. He got all the paperwork in the post the following week and then made me hold the folder but wouldn''t let me open it! He''s having way too much fun with this whole thing

Leon is making us a flush-fit solitaire with single prongs - he recommends single prongs on the non-planet-sized stones

I would do like Splinter and offer to provide feedback but you could be waiting a few months as I don''t get to see the finished product until BF proposes!

 

[Delster]

Date: 5/24/2008 6:47:03 AM
Author: MatthewG
Hi ginzagirl - thx for the feedback on De Beers. I''d been kinda coming to the same opinion - I thought the settings maybe weren''t quite as interesting but just wanted to check that I wasn''t going barmy.

This forum has helped me from feeling a bit overwhelmed by the whole thing to feeling excited about what I''m going to choose!

She''s a lucky lucky girl!

 

[MatthewG]

Date: 5/24/2008 7:11:04 AM
Author: Delster

Date: 5/23/2008 7:12:55 PM

Author: MatthewG


You''ve sparked an idea - thank you! Think I''ll buy a cheap ring that I know will be too small for her usual ring wearing fingers - she''ll be forced to try it on others. Also following everyone''s wise words I''m thinking about GOG or WF diamond in a LM setting, but I''m still going to look at HW and Cartier I think. Logistics could still be a problem if I head for the LM route as I''d need to get the diamond delivered to the UK, ship it back to LM in NY and get it shipped back with setting. Am I missing a much easier route of doing this


Thank you everyone for all your advice - not sure you realise how much of a help you all are!

Clever boy! Just one thing - how are you gonna explain that you just took a notion to buy her a cheap ring?

I''d also like to second everyone who said you can have a stone shipped directly to a setter, or you can go through an independent appraiser. No need to have it sent to the UK. My BF bought from Wink at Winfields and they shipped it directly to Leon Megé (Leon got it literally the next day). After reading up on here he trusted Wink so we didn''t use an independent appraiser. He got all the paperwork in the post the following week and then made me hold the folder but wouldn''t let me open it! He''s having way too much fun with this whole thing

Leon is making us a flush-fit solitaire with single prongs - he recommends single prongs on the non-planet-sized stones

I would do like Splinter and offer to provide feedback but you could be waiting a few months as I don''t get to see the finished product until BF proposes!

I''m in the middle of exams for my job - she is literally doing everything for me (12hour work followed by 4hr studying)! A little thank you present wouldn''t be too suspect I think.

I''m still torn between LM, HW and Cartier - but think I''m going to give myself a while to really think about it, scan around the shops and see what is most important. As I''m unlikely to buy for another few months any feedback/photos you do have would be fantastic. I''ve checked out the LM photo thread - not too many plain bands on there, but his stuff is lovely!

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 5/24/2008 7:41:57 AM
Author: MatthewG
I''m in the middle of exams for my job - she is literally doing everything for me (12hour work followed by 4hr studying)! A little thank you present wouldn''t be too suspect I think.

Wow, sounds like you''re swamped! I definitely think a thank-you present would be non-suspect. Sounds like she deserves it (and you sound like you could use a vacation!

).

I''m still torn between LM, HW and Cartier - but think I''m going to give myself a while to really think about it, scan around the shops and see what is most important. As I''m unlikely to buy for another few months any feedback/photos you do have would be fantastic. I''ve checked out the LM photo thread - not too many plain bands on there, but his stuff is lovely!

If you''ve got a few months, then definitely try and be calm about the whole thing. It *is* supposed to be fun.

LM''s classic solitaire is absolutely gorgeous (a runner-up, sometimes tied for 1st place with the Mark Morrell Torchiere for me), and is similar in style to what it sounds like you like (I think our tastes are similar). I have a few pictures saved of the LM classic solitaire, if you''d be interested. Or some Mark Morrell.

 

[MatthewG]

Date: 5/24/2008 8:16:26 AM
Author: gwendolyn

Date: 5/24/2008 7:41:57 AM

Author: MatthewG

I''m in the middle of exams for my job - she is literally doing everything for me (12hour work followed by 4hr studying)! A little thank you present wouldn''t be too suspect I think.

Wow, sounds like you''re swamped! I definitely think a thank-you present would be non-suspect. Sounds like she deserves it (and you sound like you could use a vacation!

).

I''m still torn between LM, HW and Cartier - but think I''m going to give myself a while to really think about it, scan around the shops and see what is most important. As I''m unlikely to buy for another few months any feedback/photos you do have would be fantastic. I''ve checked out the LM photo thread - not too many plain bands on there, but his stuff is lovely!

If you''ve got a few months, then definitely try and be calm about the whole thing. It *is* supposed to be fun.

LM''s classic solitaire is absolutely gorgeous (a runner-up, sometimes tied for 1st place with the Mark Morrell Torchiere for me), and is similar in style to what it sounds like you like (I think our tastes are similar). I have a few pictures saved of the LM classic solitaire, if you''d be interested. Or some Mark Morrell.

Would love to see the LM solitaire photos. On the MWM, I like, but still undecided whether I''m so keen on six prongs. And yes I have a holiday booked all too soon after exams.

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 5/24/2008 10:28:03 AM
Author: MatthewG
Would love to see the LM solitaire photos. On the MWM, I like, but still undecided whether I''m so keen on six prongs. And yes I have a holiday booked all too soon after exams.

Good! Sounds like you deserve it, mate.

Ok, there was a ring posted here recently of a 4-prong MWM. I am sure (if you decided you did like his style) that he could do this sort of setting without the bead-set diamonds in the shank or in the head (I personally love the accent diamonds in the head but would want a plain shank). I think my ring will be similar, but I do not want the prongs to be quite as big as those, so I will get mine with claw prongs, similar to LM''s below. Check out the photos here of the MWM: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-mark-morrell-4-prong-with-bead-setting.85331/

Attached is my first pic of the LM classic solitaire. People go nuts over the elegant simplicity of this setting and LOVE the claw prongs he does. The focus is all on the diamond.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

My LM solitaire is here:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/thank-you-andrey-leon-jonathan-and-tiffany.80475/

I may have already linked it, but I didn''t want to read back through the whole thread to see if I did!

 

[gwendolyn]

And the same setting, from the back. I think if I wasn''t so in love with accent diamonds in the head, this would be my setting.

 

[gwendolyn]

Another 4-prong ring (different style) by MWM.

 

[gwendolyn]

And from the front. This set is on display on Mark''s website.

 

[MatthewG]

Thanks Gwen - I think I''m seriously going to have a hard time choosing between LM and MWM after those seeing those photos!

diamondseeker - that ring looks fantastic!

 

[MatthewG]

Anyone any thoughts on where (online - uk preferably) to get a cheapish ring that I can use as the size tester? Looking for something fairly simple.

You guys are awesome.

 

[gwendolyn]

Define ''cheapish.''

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Matthew, since you are basically trying to find the right size, you need to buy a ring locally so that when it turns out to be the wrong size, you can simply go back and exchange it. It''s not worth ordering online and having that hassle for an inexpensive ring. Just go in a local jewlery store.

And thanks for the nice words about my ring! You can''t go wrong with MM or LM!

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 5/24/2008 12:05:35 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Matthew, since you are basically trying to find the right size, you need to buy a ring locally so that when it turns out to be the wrong size, you can simply go back and exchange it. It's not worth ordering online and having that hassle for an inexpensive ring. Just go in a local jewlery store.


And thanks for the nice words about my ring! You can't go wrong with MM or LM!

Agreed! Everywhere in the UK has an H.Samuels, jah? If you're looking for something inexpensive, maybe there? Online they've got a ring with channel-set diamonds in white gold for £100: http://www.hsamuel.co.uk/webstore/detail/R/4310969/

Or, there's a silver ring with one small diamond in it, silver, for £45, but I'm not sure how helpful it would be with sizing since it comes in sizes small (L), medium (N) or large (P). It's here: http://www.hsamuel.co.uk/webstore/detail/R/4917553/

On those links is also a thing that reads, "Unsure of your ring size?" which is a print-out thingy that you can use to help you out...kinda looks like it's only really useful if you've got a ring of hers for that finger that you could put over the circles to guess the right size, since you're doing this sneakily.

 

[purrfectpear]

I always think MM looks so clunky compared to LM? I know everyone says they look more delicate in real life but they sure don''t in pictures

Anyway, just wanted to mention that both LM and MM could take awhile. I think LM quotes 4-6 weeks, and I''ve heard that MM can take considerably longer - when he accepts new clients.

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 5/24/2008 12:16:30 PM
Author: purrfectpear
I always think MM looks so clunky compared to LM? I know everyone says they look more delicate in real life but they sure don''t in pictures

Clunky? There''s more metal, making them have a more substantial look, but clunky? In my opinion, both LM and MWM have some of the most fluid, organic rings available. Different to each other, but both graceful and elegant. Decidedly non-clunky, IMO.

 

[MatthewG]

The MWM are growing on me. Not clunky with those aspects in them!

 

[MatthewG]

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3450/

Anybody got any thoughts on this diamond?

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 5/27/2008 12:39:01 PM
Author: MatthewG
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3450/

Anybody got any thoughts on this diamond?

Sorry if this has been addressed, but any reason for the IF?

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 5/27/2008 12:55:35 PM
Author: arjunajane

Date: 5/27/2008 12:39:01 PM

Author: MatthewG

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3450/


Anybody got any thoughts on this diamond?

Sorry if this has been addressed, but any reason for the IF?

I am curious about this too. Matthew, you might know this already, but in case not, you can get a totally eye clean stone in the VS range and go up in colour and/or size and pay the same amount of money.

 

[MatthewG]

Date: 5/27/2008 12:55:35 PM
Author: arjunajane

Date: 5/27/2008 12:39:01 PM

Author: MatthewG

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3450/


Anybody got any thoughts on this diamond?

Sorry if this has been addressed, but any reason for the IF?

Sorry - looking through the diamonds around the size I was looking at within budget, the inclusions were a bit too visible for my liking (originally looked at only D-F coulour). Decided to drop down the colour spectrum a little and an IF popped up. No specific reason as such, but just worked out that way. Thx

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 5/27/2008 1:03:25 PM
Author: MatthewG

Date: 5/27/2008 12:55:35 PM

Author: arjunajane

Date: 5/27/2008 12:39:01 PM


Author: MatthewG


http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3450/



Anybody got any thoughts on this diamond?

Sorry if this has been addressed, but any reason for the IF?

Sorry - looking through the diamonds around the size I was looking at within budget, the inclusions were a bit too visible for my liking (originally looked at only D-F coulour). Decided to drop down the colour spectrum a little and an IF popped up. No specific reason as such, but just worked out that way. Thx

So...what level of clarity were you originally looking at that had visible inclusions? Do you not want to be able to see any inclusions at all, from any angle, with the naked eye? Because you still should be able to do VS level--lots of folks have a really hard time finding the inclusions in their VS diamonds with a loupe!

There''s a loverly 1.32ct G VS2 H&A at GOG that scored a 1.4 on the HCA (ex/ex/ex/vg) that appears to be within budget: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4308/

I''m sure there are other lovelies out there but I have to run right now!

 

[Rhea]

What kind of photos are you looking at when you determined the inclusions to be too visible? All the vendors around here have images that are magnified about 30-40 times. Nothing looks fabulous in those kind of conditions!

 

[arjunajane]

Matthew, I agree with Addy - its really not a great idea to discard diamonds based on the inclusions in the magnified photos only.
Its easy to lose perspective when looking at diamonds just on our monitors all the time - everything looks huge!
If you''re sensitive to clarity than no worries - but you''ll be soooo totally fine with anything in the VS range from a reputable vendor such as GOG.
Most will advise that, unless it is for a symbolic or really "mindclean" issue, IF can be overkill - it attracts a large premium that you could instead contribute toward a bigger sized stone, or the setting, etc.

just my 0.02 on the subject!

 

[Deelight]

I would prefer a higher color and lower clarity

If your really worried about inclusions stick the VS and above range VS1 IMO is more then high enough not to be able to see anything .

I like the one Gwen posted

 

[MatthewG]

Thanks all - I''m on a steepish learning curve!

 

[Rhea]

You''ve only been here 6 days. It''s a learning mountain then!

 

[jms160577]

Hi, I''m pretty new to the whole diamond thing myself but have been reading up a lot as my fiance to be and I are shopping for a ring too. I also want Cartier because I love their designs (I don''t actually care about the name). I am actually taking the pictures from the Cartier website and having another jeweller copy it with a better much less expensive stone. If it is the design and not the name you are after you might want to do the same.

Cheers,

Jenny

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 5/28/2008 2:23:43 PM
Author: jms160577
Hi, I''m pretty new to the whole diamond thing myself but have been reading up a lot as my fiance to be and I are shopping for a ring too. I also want Cartier because I love their designs (I don''t actually care about the name). I am actually taking the pictures from the Cartier website and having another jeweller copy it with a better much less expensive stone. If it is the design and not the name you are after you might want to do the same.


Cheers,


Jenny

Er, I didn''t think jewelers were allowed to exactly copy trademarked designs?