[Eire]

Manolo- you ring is amazing!

[iliabags]

Originally Posted by Japster

Here is what a halo/microset style is, though this one is done with yellow diamonds.

Wow! What a GORGEOUS RING!!

[iliabags]

Originally Posted by TheImportersWife

I asked for a classic Tiffany style 6-prong RB solitaire in Platinum:

Gorgous!! I love this classic ring! Breathtaking!

[iliabags]

Originally Posted by Japster

Lovely

Regarding Vintage or Vintage style rings....
This guy is in a trade/dealer group with me, though I have never done business with him. He has amazing vintage stuff and it changes all the time.
sharpfacets.com

I also do custom work and can make anything if you don't find something you like. I've done work for a few MUA members. Just for some eye candy:

Here is a custom piece I made:

This is a 14K pink gold Necklaces I made:



These are rings I worked on.
The 1st, a three stone ring--I made & designed. Center- 3.1ct, sides 3/4
2nd- 1950's 14K &pearl ring (three broken pearls)
3rd- Vintage 1960's Emerald (I repaired two broken stones and a gold piece)


Here are some that are not mine but interesting. Natural 12k Sapphire, 5ct diamonds


20 ctw vintage 1940's

Awesome work!! I've always wanted to design jewelry!! These are fabulous!

[iliabags]

Originally Posted by chloesmygirl

Here's my ring. I really love it. It's a round stone with 2 pear shaped side stones and each of the side stones are lined with small pave diamonds and a Tacori setting. I got this pic from the Tacori website.

I have the same stones, well not the exact same ones since yours are on your finger and mine are on mine I have the round center with pear diamonds too! I designed my setting and ring! And I love these stones together!

[iliabags]

Originally Posted by manolo maven

Here's mine, an Asscher cut in a micropave setting. It's an upgrade from my original, a 1.5 ct pear. Someone asked if they would get engaged without a ring in another thread; I had none when I got engaged and ended up with two beautiful rings!!

ohhh! So lovely! Never seen one like it! I love it!

[iliabags]

I LOVE talking about Diamonds!! LOVE IT!

My hubby and I learned a lot before we created my ring.

Make sure you understand the 4 Cs

Try not to go below a I color, or VS, it will affect the brilliance of the diamond. There is a formula too, ask them, they should know it. It's like taking the table and dividing by another number (that the diamond you already have established.) This formula is VERY Important. if it is not CUT RIGHT, it will be flat and not sparkle correctly. That is why you see diamonds at all prices!

MOST importantly, NEVER Purchase a ring unless it has a GIA or AGS certificate. I shouldn't say NEVER. You just have to compare apples with apples right? I just STRONGLY Suggust you ask them to get one if it doesn't have it already. Unless obviously it is a PERFECT stone and that is visible with your naked eye!! Obviously then you don't need ANY kind of certificate!

If they don't have the GIA or AGS cert ask them to get it graded by GIA or AGS before you will consider it.

It is the benchmark of standards, all the rest are BS, like IGI, EGS.

Those certs are fine but don't rely on them to make a good judgement in price. Just kindly ask for them to get it done by AGS or GIA.

AGS are best, they have a better, more precise grading scale based on 1-5. Mine is a GIA, it's usually a little less expensive.

Do your research! Don't fall in love with it and not look around. You can always buy a lose diamond from elsewhere and then buy that setting you loved.

Do you know a great place for diamonds? Costco, those looked really good to me, though I have never really looked at one there (held one and inspected it.)

FINAL AND BEST TEST AROUND! Asia really emphasizes this (but that is because they carry better diamonds, I think they just have a higher standards)

The ultimate test is also the most breathtaking. Ask to see the hearts and arrow "machine" tubey thingy. We learned that when we were in Asia.

if you diamond is cut correctly. From the bottom side you should see 7? PERFECT hearts (can't once you set it) and the table should show 7? PERFECT arrows. Mine are not PERFECT but very very close, I am assuming perfect would be expensive. If you have a great diamond and a decent size, the SA showed us you can cup your ring and see it.

Good luck!! I am so excited for you. I will photograph mine later and post it. If you have any questions please feel free to ask me, or the jeweler on here. It is always best to make an educated purchase, especially on something so expensive and sentimental!!

Congrats!

[Japster]

MOST importantly, NEVER Purchase a ring unless it has a GIA or AGS certificate. If they don't ask them to get it graded by GIA or AGS before you will consider it.It is the benchmark of standards, all the rest are BS, like IGI, EGS.

Generally that would be correct. An EGL I color is sometimes more like a GIA K. Not always but sometimes. HOWEVER, recently there was that huge shakeup with GIA, where some of the gemologists were taking bribes and fudging grades.

I HIGHLY suggest buying online through a reputable jeweler, as the markup is MUCH lower than brick and mortor and VERY competative.
But if anyone ever would like a suggestion of a good jeweler in your area, I'd be happy to help. I trade and deal with some wonderful jewelers allover the US.

[Lanbanan]

wow, there are some gorgeous rings and descriptions, you girls are very lucky. Im not engaged but wish for a stunning ring!

[Katklaw]

You should check out www.pricescope.com! My boyfriend and I are ring shopping right now and they have the best forum I have found (very comparible to the Purse Forum!)

They have a section called 'RockyTalky'-- go to that from the forum header at the top of the main page and you can search any topic you want. I like it because they aren't pushing any one jewler or website, and are just more a consumer information site.
Also, they have an internet price comparison page-- this helps when you want to see what you can get in your pricerange.
AND most of the internet vendor's you see on their comparisons give a percentage discount to members of that forum!

But that's just my .02c :)

[alexandrainparis]

Originally Posted by kymmie

While he and I never made it down the aisle, I still love my ring. A very simple, classic princess cut diamond set in platinum. Hmmm. Maybe I should get rid of it and buy a nice bag...

Your avitar is from my favorite movie! sorry....it's bout engagemnt rings....but, oh, how I love that movie!

[gillianna]

My husband wanted me to pick out new rings 2 years ago--we will be married 27 years this summer. It has taken me forever to find just what I wanted. I love Tacori platinum rings----they have a beautiful selection. First I picked out a small platinum band with diamonds on top. It is engraved and looks very old fashioned. People always think it is a antique. Then last year I finally decided on a platinum Tacori engagement ring that had diamonds on the outside (where the ring is round)--so the diamonds face you when you are looking at it and had it set with a beautiful blue sapphire. I love it. I kind of got sick of white diamonds and wanted colored stone rings now. I do have my eye on a yellow diamond ring for the future. I bought my rings from BillBarnes.com, Brooke was the SA who could not do enough to help make sure my ring was perfect. They have a great website and you can do different stones in the rings. I wanted something different. I had a pretty small platinum band with pink and white diamonds made when our daughter was born. I find as I get older I like more delicate pieces, things that look like your grandmother could have worn them.
Do check out Tacori rings, they are quite stunning.

[ETenebris]

Here are some pics of my engagement ring and my ring with the wedding band...one of the pics has the band a bit off center, but we had it custom made to correspond exactly to the width of the diamonds on the engagement ring. Center is RBC 1.63 carat, with two smaller RBCs one on either side, then double baguette stones set into the band tapering toward the outside. The wedding band is channel set rounds. It's very nice, and unique. The engagement band is "cut in" around the center stone.

I love my rings, but if I had to choose a DIFFERENT ring I would definitely go Tiffany classic RBC in platinum, just because I love the setting (esp the side view).

[Bag Fetish]

What a gorgeous wedding set.

Originally Posted by ETenebris

Here are some pics of my engagement ring and my ring with the wedding band...one of the pics has the band a bit off center, but we had it custom made to correspond exactly to the width of the diamonds on the engagement ring. Center is RBC 1.63 carat, with two smaller RBCs one on either side, then double baguette stones set into the band tapering toward the outside. The wedding band is channel set rounds. It's very nice, and unique. The engagement band is "cut in" around the center stone.

I love my rings, but if I had to choose a DIFFERENT ring I would definitely go Tiffany classic RBC in platinum, just because I love the setting (esp the side view).

[meow509]

good taste Mischa..me and my husband got this wedding band..we luv it!