On a sunny Saturday afternoon in Chicago my beloved proposed with the loveliest ring. (PICS 1, 4, 5, 6)
A month earlier, we traveled to New York City and visited Steinhardt and Stones where we selected the diamond and the setting, so I had an IDEA of what I was getting.
I was a bit surprised when I saw the setting, it was not the split shank I had tried on in our appointment. (PIC 2)
Honestly, I like what I've got even more -- it was very important to me that the geometry of the Dutch Marquise was the focus of my ring -- and I think the triangles made by the split shank do that. It feels well balanced.
I went in for a 3-4 carat Elongated Old Mine, set in platinum with several side stones. (PIC 3) Once I saw the Dutch Marquise held above a gold band, I was sold.
Waffled back and forth for a couple days between platinum and gold because I own and wear absolutely no yellow gold, but I decided that was one of the ways my ring could stand out and be different. The way the yellow prongs set off the shape of the diamond, and give a bit of a warm twinkly star feeling -- AHH! I LOVE IT!
DIAMOND DETAILS: 3.08 carat Dutch Marquise, color E, VVS2, excllent cut, 14.62mm long & 7.31mm wide (ratio 2).
RING: Size 6, 14k gold, Seco setting from Steinhardt and Stones.
PS. We worked with Jeffrey M at S&S and would recommend him for selecting the right diamond. Loses points for not knowing the setting would be different even after I pointed out the discrepancy between the sample band and the online mock up. To his credit, he said he wasn't really on top of all the new settings S&S has started to offer. Major plus: Jeff was warm, patient, and clearly not working on commission.