Post # 1
Member
37 posts
Newbee
ok so I’m completely new to this site, however me and my boyfriend have started the process of looking at rings. Honestly, I’ve known exactly what I’ve wanted for some time. If i had my choice I would easily choose a diamond in the rough engagement ring but we’re on a buget under $1,000. Basically, I’m looking to have a decent size diamond 1/2 a carat to a carat size center stone (small town girl) but I want it to be a flawed/natural diamond as long as it doesn’t have black markings inside. Something like an I2 I3 diamond and either white or champagne in color. And then set into a pave split shank setting. I think the whole thought of a diamond that is supposed to last forever but is flawed with the fact that we’re such strange and flawed people and yet everything works out for the better with us is great symbolism. Anyways what I was wondering is if any of you have ever considered having a rough diamond engagement ring. And if you do have one if you’d post pictures?? Thanks 🙂
This is my dream ring if i could get it. 1.69 carat rough diamond with .17 pave shank set in platinum
The ring style I’m going for!
sorry if that picture is really big.
Post # 3
Member
3793 posts
Honey bee
I love this guy’s work with raw diamonds. I didn’t find him until after we got my engagement ring, so I got a regular canary diamond.
http://www.facerejewelryart.com/artist.php?id=32
http://www.artfullyelegant.com/catalog.php?artist_id=37&af=cat_5&pg=1
Post # 4
Member
1260 posts
Bumble bee
I think rough diamonds are really cool!! I also love what you mentioned about the symbolism — what an awesome thought! 🙂
Wanted to point out a couple things to you though. Just so you know, I3 is the lowest grade in clarity there is for diamonds, and it’s highly, highly likely that an I2 or I3 WILL have “black markings inside” that are eye-visible. Anything less than IF clarity would be flawed, as IF stands for “internally flawless,” but anything down to an SI1 or sometimes SI2 will be “eye-clean.”
The other thing is that pave split shank you posted is beautiful! But unfortunately you probably are not going to find a ring like that, with a .5- 1ct stone, for under 1k. (if you did, it would be very, very low quality.) I can totally hook you up with some reccomendations on what I would do with a 1k budget though!! Hmm let’s see:
How about this stone with this setting? Classic and beautiful! Weell okay that puts you at $1100, but still pretty good!
Be sure to check out pricescope.com to learn about diamonds before you buy. That’s probably the best advice I can give! Good luck!
Post # 5
Member
37 posts
Newbee
@littlemissmango thanks! I actually have a few diamonds Ive been passed down to from my grandmother and both are more natural diamonds. one is .41 European cut diamond and a .65 round champagne diamond (which is the one i’m leaning on using). Even though the champagne diamond is an I2 its doesnt have visible black markings. Obviously the clarity isnt great but I’m more than fine with a diamond that doesnt sparkle as much obviously. haha
And as luck would have it I’ve found a split shank wedding set for about $800 in 18kgold and .42 carats of pave diamonds between the engagement setting and the wedding band 🙂 so tcw would end up at 1.07 which isn’t too shabby
Post # 6
Member
28 posts
Newbee
I actually love the look of rough diamonds– and also rings with rough or patterned gold instead of the shiny metal you always see! I love the flawed, organic, natural look.
Have you checked for rings on Etsy? They have a few made from rough diamonds but not in the setting you like, but they still look cool!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/55034057/natural-rough-diamond-engagement-ring?ref=sr_list_2&ga_search_query=rough+diamond+ring&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes%5B0%5D=tags&includes%5B1%5D=title
I really liked this ring for awhile– it is sapphire, but has a rough textured metal:
http://www.etsy.com/transaction/30578706
This is my rings style– I liked how the metal had texture to it:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/46262721/delicate-moissanite-and-recycled-14k
Post # 7
Member
26 posts
Newbee
Sarah Perlis, Todd Reed, Melissa Joy Manning are all designers that work with rough diamonds.
etsy is an amazing resource.
Post # 8
Member
551 posts
Busy bee
Oh wow! I didn’t even know this type of stone existed…. but it makes perfect sense! Are they cheaper than others or more expensive?
Post # 9
Member
37 posts
Newbee
@kaitlin well it depends on what kind of stone you’re planning on but for the most part they are considerably cheaper because they are rough diamonds which havent been cut. However my diamond will be a round cut but I’m not wanting something of excellent clarity i like inclusions and for the stone to look real i guess
Post # 10
Member
393 posts
Helper bee
I was really interested in raw diamonds but Fiance wanted to get me a traditional ring…maybe ill get one for a right hand ring 🙂 They are so interesting!
Post # 11
Member
2402 posts
Buzzing bee
I love the “flawed diamond” sentiment. I didn’t know you could get a rough ring, but the one you posted is beautiful!
Post # 12
Member
1 posts
Wannabee
Okay, I’m new to this site too (not to mention the larger wedding web world) so forgive if I breach some kind of protocol by unabashedly shouting out the jeweler where I got my rough diamond engagement ring. I don’t know where you’re located, but if you’re in Southern California it could be the answer to your quest for the perfect-to-you and incredibly-unique ring.
Unlike you, I had no clue what kind of a ring I wanted, but my fiance was nice enough (and smart enough) to bring a control freak like me to Liza Shtromberg Jewelry where I could pick my own. It’s in the Los Feliz neighborhood in Los Angeles, where we live, and he knows it’s a big thing with me to support local vendors (bonus points for the fiance!).
Let me preface that I am not a jewelry person, at all (I3, I2 what the who?). I had no idea what to expect so I browsed the website and had a couple vague things in mind when we went in, some of which were designs featuring tiny diamonds swirled around gemstones. Liza whipped off one of her own rings, thin diamonds twisted up and around a rough gray stone, to try on while she hustled to the back for more samples. I slipped it on and it was love at first sight (cheesy, but true, no joke) … not that I didn’t make her and my boyfriend sit through another hour and a half while I tried on every other option in the store. But like you I found my own symbolism in the rough diamond. I felt the stormy gray stone brought the ring back down to earth, while it’s thin diamond-studded band satisfied the girl in me.
We played with the design until it was within our budget, which was significantly more than your own, but the rough diamond itself was a great deal, only a few hundred dollars, and Liza is really patient and committed to working with what you got. All the rings are custom made so it took a couple of weeks to come in, but well worth the wait.
Anyway, if you’re not in the SoCal area, she has a website, so definitely worth checking out! Some of the simpler designs above also look great to me (particularly like the hammered white gold band with the clearer rough stone in the middle). Make sure you post it once you find it!
Post # 13
Member
1 posts
Wannabee
Hello ladies!There is a Toronto based designer that creates beautfull raw diamond and rough diamond rings (ANOUK Jewelry). Check out her website http://www.anoukjewelry.com . I’m pretty sure that they ship worldwide. Her pieces have a very organic and natural look…
Post # 14
Member
434 posts
Helper bee
@AnnaBelleLee: I just started to look for this site because the girl is a friend of the family and you posted it first! Happy to see that. Her rings are lovely but not too cheap, unfortunately
Post # 16
Member
1699 posts
Bumble bee
love rough diamonds, so interesting!
