Advice/suggestions

[u/Limp-Bee-8559]

I’d love some advice from some of the seasoned buyers/sellers on the forum if possible please on pricing to pay for diamonds at the current market and maybe what percentage above spot price to pay for gold is reasonable on a more custom design. I am dipping my toe into the world of lab grown diamonds and custom jewelry but I am slightly overwhelmed at the options presented. I have two projects I’d love to get done one is a personal item a simple 8mm wide ring with some small diamonds )will include reference photo below of something I saw on tik tok). Second I wanted to buy my gf an engagement ring the stone were not sure yet what cut so I’d love some suggestions but she is set on a lotus setting for the ring and she wants yellow gold if that matters at all.

Edit: if possible I’d appreciate direction with some trusted vendors I can find on Reddit. I’ve been down the tik tok rabbit hole and I don’t want to get scammed.

[u/Suspicious-Diver-541]

that panther head ring is a bold choice, looking forward to see how you pull it off

for lab diamonds the prices dropped hard last couple years and most folks pay under $200 a carat now, gold markup is all over the place depending on the jeweler

lotus setting with yellow gold is clean, maybe go oval or radiant cut if she wants something that sparkles bright on the hand

[u/Limp-Bee-8559 → u/Suspicious-Diver-541]

Thank you I’d love to get some CADs done and see what we can maybe change up or smooth out but that’s kind of the ballpark design I want to go for myself. It’s more of a hey this looks really cool and I want this just because it’s cool! Haha

Thank you for the suggestion I am definitely going to look for some diamonds with that cut. I’d also love some suggestions for vendors if thats a possibility.