thanks so much for your input everybody!  i need to setup a time with david where me and MIL and he can talk and figure out what she really wants/needs, and what he can do.  though i love trilliants in general, i personally feel like the center stone just feels better with the traps, but the type of band is a big question. 

is it possible to have a three stone ring with these trap sides that would allow a straight band to sit flush against it, or would we have to get a curved band?

Thanks GL, I need to tell that to my MIL.

It could, but if your MIL is concerned with a thick shank, it won't work too well. Also, it has no side stones, and I thought you concluded she wanted a 3 stone.

thanks guys!  good input.
She's pretty set on a three stone, but we were browsing last night and she saw that ring and flipped.  unset, anything is still possible.

GL - Awesome ring! that's totally illustrative of what it is i think my MIL wants!  thanks!

SV, the similarity of the "left field" ring you posted to DBL R3347 (microset 1.71ct FYBrown S12 RB) is remarkable.

Also, as far as fingers and shank styles go, I have relatively medium/shorter fingers and I find DBL rounded shanks to be THE most comfortable for me. Too fat is not good because there is not enough room between my joint and the base of my hand to cram it all in there and still have it look good. OTOH, I find that thin or hard edged, squared-off, shanks are quite uncomfortable and can feel like they are cutting into my skin (some look like it too).

I've tried on a TON of DBL rings, and still, the plain platinum shank on my three-stone brown Glarkler ring (R2121) is THE most comfortable and well balanced ring that I have EVER had the pleasure to wear. However, it is a little weightier than most, and I know that many people prefer a lighter feel.

If it is a micropavé style, then I must add that DBL custom microshanks are incredibly well-made and SMOOTH to the touch. A wonderful feel and a rare treat... (I must acquire one for myself sometime – OINK – LOL)!

Before it was sold, I tried on (errr, actually, wore it around David's office for awhile) DBL split shank halo R1379 (1.51ct L/SI1 cushion in YG) and LOVED it on my hand. It gave me the coverage that I like and yet, the ring still had a lovely light and feminine look. Very flattering to my hand. The ring is one of my all-time favs, and to this day I am sorry I did not nab it when I had the chance.

As far as the perfect ring... for me, anyway, there are WAY too many outstanding choices to choose just one.

I was wondering why we saw the diamond on the list of rings being made currently.  I am just glad that there wasn't an unhappy reason for you giving it up.

Right now I *think* I want traps much like what was discussed here, but now I am not sure.  I keep seeing such gorgeous halos out there that I keep wavering.  I really do like that pink lemonade semi-mount.  I also love split shanks but I have no idea how it would work with my anniversary band. 

No help am I?

Like you I think I need to go to a jewelry store or two and see what I like.  Better yet, when the time comes I need to fly out to NY myself to just try a bunch of things on there

Oh yeah, i forgot to say, when we went to the B&M stores one of the saleswomen told me that:
 "all brown diamonds are included",
"brown diamonds don't get graded with the same scale as fancy colors or whites", and
"$22,000 for a 1.5ct deep brown round INCLUDED center, 18kt pave ring is the true and best price you can get"
and that a clearly faint yellow center was graded "GH" by GIA (not G or H, but GH).
have i mentioned i love David and hate most B&M stores?

Oye, well I haven't had much luck with B&M stores either.  I am not sure who to even try at this point to see.  Maybe when the time comes for us to reset, I'll be able to swing a $500 whirlwind trip to NY or something.  

One of my favorites was someone who had I think a 1.5-2 carat round pink stone set in a pave type ring with halo (platinum).  I asked if it had any brown in it since it was about $17K IIRC and she said "No, all pink in that stone"

I saw the brown  

Of course these were the ones who said they couldn't find a radiant in colors I wanted and only RB since radiants are impossible to find but RBs are easy.

Um yeah...

At least trying on even a gemstone ring might give a good feel for what she might like.

ha!  yeah another store we visited yesterday said that they only carried rounds and emeralds because those were the only ones people bought/wanted and they were the only diamonds that held their value because all other cuts were basically "irrelevant".  also rounds were the only "brilliant cut" stones and they sparkled more than any other cut because of it.  yay misinformation!

ha!

Oh wow what a list of totally irrelevent diamonds out there.  I bet they are worth nearly  nothing

OMC, I too am surprised that the Princess still holds her throne as second from the top. I would have guessed that such a cut would endure, however, not as a front runner above so many others. Seems the Ladies of Brilliant still do rule the land.

Oh, wait, we MUST be incorrect here... after all, according to SV's B&M expert, there is only ONE "brilliant cut" type diamond...