10 replies to this topic

[Amanda_]

So we recently have had the talk about getting engaged and I have begun the search for "the one" i.e. the perfect engagement ring.

I have done some preliminary research online just looking at styles and trends and I don't want just an ordinary ring.

Here are some things I do know:
1. Want an eternity band which I can wear without the engagement ring
2. I don't want the setting to sit up to high off my finger (I have a size 5 ring finger)
3. I want to have some width to the engagement ring band. A lot of the styles I like would not go with an eternity band but I won't want a wedding ring which looks weird if I'm at the gym or hiking and not wearing the larger ring with it.
4. This may seem shallow, but I want a substaintial setting. Not bulky though.
5. He is convinced it is best to buy the diamond online & then have the ring designed to fit the center stone. I am not quite sure about this, but I am trying to entertain his desire to have some creativity and save money for the time being.

Lately, I have liked the radiant shape, but I also like the oval, cushion, and emerald...

Since I am going to be wearing this ring everyday for a long time it is kind of overwhelming that I have to find something I love now and won't get tired of. A lot of engagement rings I look at online seem boring or too common.

Any direction or advice is greatly appreciated!!

Amanda

[davidelevi]

Find the person/firm/dealer that you are going to work with first - especially since you don't seem to have set a lot of constraints, they can help with suggestions and feedback, also bearing in mind one thing that will hit sooner or later is budget... Then focus on the centre stone, lastly on the setting.

Your fiance' is probably right that buying online is going to be cheaper; buying online from two separate firms (stone + ring) is not necessarily the best way to ensure that you get the best quality and least trouble. Also, note that not too many companies are "pure online" - most dealers have a shop, they just use the internet as another channel to reach their customers.

[HeartAndStone]

Hello Amanda!

The e-ring hunt is quite stressful but stating your considerations
only means that you won't be lost along the the way. Good start!
Knowing your budget is always essential.
You can click the "Find an online Jeweler" tool, compare prices, customize, and play with your fave cuts.. & check the nearest Jewelry B&M around your area.
I agree with your fiance but IMO that "stone+ring" from different jewelers is quite 'confusing', Why? They can always criticize your stone in a not-so-positive way. "Oh we've got better deals blah, blah" and it's tiring, you don't need that. Not unless, the +ring stage is referred by your loose diamond dealer.
You can also search for "manmade diamond ring" designs for the ring styles so to speak.
Now, lets wait more opinion..

Some eye candies that might suit your taste...

I'm happy for you girl!

Keep us posted

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Edited by HeartAndStone, 06 July 2010 - 01:28 AM.

[Britani17]

This ring we have is absolutely gorgeous. It is a Tacori ring in platinum, also made in 18kt gold, with epaulette cut diamonds on either side of a 1.20ct. VS1 D color cushion cut diamond. This ring is not bulky, but definitely has substantial weight to it. Also a straight eternity band fits next to it and it has so much detail and intricate diamond lace that it is definitely not boring. I put pictures up of this ring. This ring has actually been made with a round, asscher cut, and emerald cut diamond as well.

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[Britani17]

Here is the same style ring with an asscher.

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Edited by Britani17, 07 July 2010 - 08:50 AM.

[davidelevi]

That Asscher looks nice, Britani. Do you have any stats and/or an ASET image? Just out of curiosity, but it would be interesting to see it! TIA

[Britani17]

davidelevi, on Wednesday, Jul 7 2010, 01:26 PM, said:

That Asscher looks nice, Britani. Do you have any stats and/or an ASET image? Just out of curiosity, but it would be interesting to see it! TIA

That ring has already been sold. It was made especially for a customer. In the center was a 1.41ct. VVS2 D Royal Asscher to be exact. Beautiful stone. No ASET images. Don't really see what that does for someone to see anyway. Seeing is believing in my eyes as far as diamonds go. An ASET scope looks like a kaleidoscope of colors to me. Pretty but what does it tell you about a diamond? I think if you put a well cut diamond next to a dead diamond that anyone could distinguish between the two. I understand though some use it to weed out certain certain diamonds especially when purchasing online. We tend to use the brilliance scope and ISee2 machine. Your best bet is your eyes in my opinion. I am still learning though and probably will never stop as is there is always something new in this field.

Edited by Britani17, 07 July 2010 - 01:22 PM.

[Britani17]

I did manage to find the Gemex live report. This one was a beauty.

http://www.gemex.com/htmdocs/consumer/live...report_web.html

Some reason it is not going to the link. Just type this in to "jewelry/diamond ID" It should work.
DB141VVS2D2418

Edited by Britani17, 07 July 2010 - 01:33 PM.

[davidelevi]

Britani17, on Wednesday, Jul 7 2010, 10:06 PM, said:

davidelevi, on Wednesday, Jul 7 2010, 01:26 PM, said:

That Asscher looks nice, Britani. Do you have any stats and/or an ASET image? Just out of curiosity, but it would be interesting to see it! TIA

That ring has already been sold. It was made especially for a customer. In the center was a 1.41ct. VVS2 D Royal Asscher to be exact. Beautiful stone. No ASET images. Don't really see what that does for someone to see anyway. Seeing is believing in my eyes as far as diamonds go. An ASET scope looks like a kaleidoscope of colors to me. Pretty but what does it tell you about a diamond? I think if you put a well cut diamond next to a dead diamond that anyone could distinguish between the two. I understand though some use it to weed out certain certain diamonds especially when purchasing online. We tend to use the brilliance scope and ISee2 machine. Your best bet is your eyes in my opinion. I am still learning though and probably will never stop as is there is always something new in this field.

An ASET is useful to me because it's a (more) normalised view of a stone than "real" photographs. With a fair amount of practice, one can learn to associate ASET image characteristics to a "look", and it's a lot cheaper than Gemex/ISee2, so more people have access to it. An alternative is a lot of large scale photography, but even that needs some "normalisation" - one needs to have seen enough images taken by the same photographer in the same environment next to the items being pictured to get an idea of how something is really going to look "just from the photo".

I entirely agree that the eyes have it - but that means you need to be where the stone is... an more so for comparisons. I would never buy an important stone from someone who has not seen it (plus quite a few other conditions, but that's another story). How people - the majority of whom buy one or two diamonds in their whole lives - buy from BlueNile is a total mystery to me.

Thanks for posting the link to the Gemex! It really is a good stone - I hope it's making its current owner very happy.

[Britani17]

davidelevi, on Thursday, Jul 8 2010, 04:30 AM, said:

Britani17, on Wednesday, Jul 7 2010, 10:06 PM, said:

davidelevi, on Wednesday, Jul 7 2010, 01:26 PM, said:

That Asscher looks nice, Britani. Do you have any stats and/or an ASET image? Just out of curiosity, but it would be interesting to see it! TIA

That ring has already been sold. It was made especially for a customer. In the center was a 1.41ct. VVS2 D Royal Asscher to be exact. Beautiful stone. No ASET images. Don't really see what that does for someone to see anyway. Seeing is believing in my eyes as far as diamonds go. An ASET scope looks like a kaleidoscope of colors to me. Pretty but what does it tell you about a diamond? I think if you put a well cut diamond next to a dead diamond that anyone could distinguish between the two. I understand though some use it to weed out certain certain diamonds especially when purchasing online. We tend to use the brilliance scope and ISee2 machine. Your best bet is your eyes in my opinion. I am still learning though and probably will never stop as is there is always something new in this field.

An ASET is useful to me because it's a (more) normalised view of a stone than "real" photographs. With a fair amount of practice, one can learn to associate ASET image characteristics to a "look", and it's a lot cheaper than Gemex/ISee2, so more people have access to it. An alternative is a lot of large scale photography, but even that needs some "normalisation" - one needs to have seen enough images taken by the same photographer in the same environment next to the items being pictured to get an idea of how something is really going to look "just from the photo".

I entirely agree that the eyes have it - but that means you need to be where the stone is... an more so for comparisons. I would never buy an important stone from someone who has not seen it (plus quite a few other conditions, but that's another story). How people - the majority of whom buy one or two diamonds in their whole lives - buy from BlueNile is a total mystery to me.

Thanks for posting the link to the Gemex! It really is a good stone - I hope it's making its current owner very happy.

Normal to me is seeing how the diamond interacts in everyday surroundings and lighting. You are not going to see the ASET image when you are wearing the diamond. From what I understand of the ASET scope, it shows at which angle light may enter through certain facets of a diamond, but it doesn't show how a diamond separates the white light into spectral colors creating fire. It also, doesn't show the movement of light or the sparkle. Light enters through a diamond from all different angles and you also have to take in to affect the type of light that is entering the diamond. More diffused light, such as fluorescent lighting, bounces off the surroundings and suppresses the diamonds fire. Maybe I misunderstood how it works, but to each his own.

[davidelevi]

"Normal" in the way you use it in your first sentence and normalised are two very different things. That's the whole point of tools like Gemex and ISee2 (and ASET) - they normalise lighting conditions so that a meaningful comparison between stones can be made. The difference is in the level of sophistication and cost, and in the fact that Gemex/ISee2 generally provide dynamic info, but also they "compact" information much more, using subjective preferences that one may or may not share.

As quite a few people have remarked, at the end of the day, a pair of eyes is the only tool that you take home with you. On this we agree.

Edited by davidelevi, 08 July 2010 - 07:49 AM.