Engagement ring, simple or not?

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#16
First of all, congratulations!

I agree with whistlerchic....a simple will definitely be more timeless. An engagement ring has a lot of sentimental value and memories attached to it...so you probably don't want a design that you get bored of easily.

Nice that you mentioned the Cartier 4 prong 1895 solitaire...it's really gorgeous...maybe I can tempt you with a picture here. I got it back in september...and I can say that I don't think I will ever get tired of it. The lines on this ring is really nice...I especially like how it's really a basket and the band goes up to meet the side of the basket. It makes me feel mushy inside too because I look at it so much that it reminds me of my fiance constantly.

Good luck in your hunt!!! i know it's very confusing...but I think that when you see THE ring, you'll know. :yes:
 

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#17
gingerfarm said:
Nice that you mentioned the Cartier 4 prong 1895 solitaire...it's really gorgeous...maybe I can tempt you with a picture here. I got it back in september...and I can say that I don't think I will ever get tired of it. The lines on this ring is really nice...:yes:
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Oh my gosh that is Gorgeous! May I ask what's the carat weight? It looks huge! Stunning. Love the 4-prong, I think it shows off the diamond so much more. That ring will never look dated. You're so lucky!!!
 
#18
whistlerchic said:
Oh my gosh that is Gorgeous! May I ask what's the carat weight? It looks huge! Stunning. Love the 4-prong, I think it shows off the diamond so much more. That ring will never look dated. You're so lucky!!!
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Thanks for the compliment! It's 1.12ct, I think the rose just make it look bigger. :p You are right though, the setting really shows the diamond well. I'll get a handshot when I get a chance to.

I also love the story behind this 4-prong, Cartier is the first jeweler to make a 4-prong setting and the first to introduce platinum into jewelry. It just means so much that after more than 100 years, (from 1895), that this ring is still around.
 
#19
Congrats on your engagement!

I'm going through the same thing: BF wants me to pick out the ring and the stone since I'm working on my Graduate Gemologist degree from GIA and know a bit about Diamonds and Gemstones, and we finally settled on Van Cleef & Arpels because they knocked our socks off. If we weren't going with VCA we would buy it from Cartier.

While I was still looking, I thought I wanted a similar Vera Wang ring but a trip to Harry Winston put a stop to that thought... I asked the SA at HW if there were any problems with a very thin micro-pave band (i.e. the Vera Wang) and she said the stones tend to fall out doing EVERYDAY things and will probably need to be replaced often. The only way to guard against this is if you take your ring off when you're doing something that might damage the ring but I found that to be too much (and what if I forgot to put it back on??! Oh no, there goes $XXXXX!). But, if you really love the design and are willing to baby the ring in that way, I say go for it! I had a chance to try on the Vera Wang ring, and it is soooo nice! I felt like a princess with that VW ring on. :love: That is until common sense hit me on the side of the head.


 
#21
Babyclouds, I'm going to check out VCA as well. They just opened a new store in DC! I love the alhambra collection, esp. the necklaces. That is so cool that you're getting your degree from the GIA, that's something that I've been considering, well if I could do it part time that is. Since I'm at a desk all day I don't think the Vera Wang would be an issue, but that's a good point. It would be a pain to have it reset - and I guess I would worry about leaving it around.
 
#22
Winternight: It's a lot of fun trying on all the different rings and you really don't know what will tickle your fancy. The only thing that matters is that you LOVE it and it is within your/his budget. It is one of the *most* important jewelry you will own so take your time and find what is right for you both.

Regarding GIA: yes you can do it on your own time frame! I don't live near the campuses so I do 90% of it online. The only portion I do on campus are the labs (they last a few days but they are a lot of fun!). I signed up last year and I have until 2010 to finish my degree, so it is up to you to do the work and get things done. PM me if you want further info.


 
#23
My engagement ring is simple but also classic. It don't think it will ever look dated. I like extravagant jewelry, but for my engagement ring, I wanted something that I wouldn't have to "baby" or worry about. Mine is also set very low so I don't hit it on everything. I just ordered my wedding band, and it is going to have five stones in the same setting as my engagement ring.
 

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#24
I love the looke of the pave diamands surrounding the main stone...I think 1-2 carats is a perfect size if you are under 30...after 30, I plan on gettin a larger center stone:)


Have fun picking out your ring!! It is sooooooo fun!!
 
#27
The Vera Wong ring is soooo pretty! But the Cartier 4 prong 1895 solitaire is the real winner for me!

That said, I think every girl knows when she finds THE ring. Congrats on ya engagement, and g'luck with ya search! :smile1:
 
#28
I have a 4 prong ring & I love it! I'm over 40 so DH said get the stone you want for life. He didn't want to upgrade later. Go with a GIA quality, you won't regret it. And use tiffany's standards. The broker I got it through called last year & said he'd pay us more for my stone than DH paid 5 years ago. I have no desire to trade.
I designed my own ring with a little of DH's help. Its a rounded square. wish I knew how to post pics.
 
#29
Congrats on your engagement! I also just got engaged and got a beautiful diamond ring. It's very simple, and has a pave diamond band. The center diamond isn't even as half as big as yours but I still love it.
I think the best and the most elegant is a simple ring. One big stone and a pave band is a great option I think. And for me 4 prongs are perfect.
 
#30
Winternight, I forgot to mention, if you like the 4-prong, you go check out Harry Winston also...they have a beautiful 4- split prong setting, very simple. It looks gorgeous from the top. I was trying to decide between that and the Cartier, I just went with the Cartier because I like the side view more....but for a lot of people they say that most people look at the ring from the top down.

I pulled this picture from Pricescope.com in case you haven't seen it (I hope it's okay to use the picture here.) I also saw this ring with a round diamond in real life...and it was really pretty.
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