Yeesh GIA vs EGL

[Gypsy]

Ask them if you can upgrade the diamonds in the setting for an additional cost.

If you buy this beauty, you can afford to upgrade the setting.
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-5026294-1.30-carat-Radiant-diamond-G-color-VVS2-clarity.aspx

I'd put it on hold for now.

 

[Gypsy]

This one is nice as well:
http://www.b2cjewels.com/Diamond-Accent-Settings/Halo-Emerald-Cut-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-14K-White-Gold-6390-1.aspx

Again, upgrade the melee diamonds.

And then she can get any band she wants. It will allow any straight band next to it.

 

[necedemalis]

This one is nice as well:
http://www.b2cjewels.com/Diamond-Accent-Settings/Halo-Emerald-Cut-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-14K-White-Gold-6390-1.aspx

Again, upgrade the melee diamonds.

And then she can get any band she wants. It will allow any straight band next to it.

Yea, I suggested that to the operator but they said the radiant won't fit in that setting :/

 

[Gypsy]

They are wrong and probably completely ignorant.

I'll page Diamond Hawk for you. There is no difference in the outline of a square radiant and a square emerald cut.

 

[necedemalis]

FUDGE!!!

All the b2c work was for nil. The earliest they can get a ring to me is July 14th bc that diamond is in India

 

[necedemalis]

So now I'm back to this:

Going to GoG for
Diamond: http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/10221/ ... a measly 1 ct
Setting:http://www.goodoldgold.com/setting/V1002/ ... Hope they have a nice matching wedding band

Last resort is BN from post above.

 

[Gypsy]

No. You don't need the BN. Alright. Indian Call centers and lack of communication would have me looking else where in frustration. Not to mention the I Si2 clarity melee (I'd like to know if there is upgrade option on the melee).

This is quality pave with F/G melee. Has actual images of the settings posted so you know what you are getting. And the sales people are all in the USA.
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/18k-white-gold-pave-set-engagement-ring-asscher-center-item-31885 2100

With one of these:
And this: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.30-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-183837 Put on hold. Will take three business days for an ASET.

I know you said square but this is a REALLY nice rectangle (and rectangles are very flattering on the hand): http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.13-carat-f-color-if-clarity-sku-23433

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.30-carat-e-color-si1-clarity-sku-228265

You get three ASETs from JA. So put these three on hold (you can do it VIA the website, right now) and ask for an ASET.

That way if GOG doesn't work out (though it probably will) you have this as a back up.

Picking ANY of these even without an ASET is better than BN. At least you have the video.

 

[Gypsy]

They have these settings as well. All F/G Melee and quality pave.

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-pave-halo-shoulders-engagement-ring-emerald-center-item-17510

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-pave-halo-shoulders-engagement-ring-asscher-center-item-17513

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/18k-white-gold-pave-set-engagement-ring-emerald-center-item-31884


I personally like the last one and the one I originally posted for you ( http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/halo/18k-white-gold-pave-set-engagement-ring-asscher-center-item-31885 )

 

[necedemalis]

^ LOVE it.

On the phone with JA now. Is BN a no-no among Pricescopers?

 

[Gypsy]

No. I like BN for their Signature Ideal line. But it doesn't include Radiants.

The Signature Ideal line stones they can usually get you images of, etc. And those are guaranteed eyeclean. And they come with a GCAL cerficate. I still wouldn't recommend them for step cuts. But for rounds and their hearts and arrows cushions... I have and do recommend them.

There is no one vendor that is good at everything for every shape. For radiants I cannot recommend Blue Nile. Not when JA has great settings, in budget for you, and videos of the stones.

 

[necedemalis]

womp womp, JA won't be able to get a ring to me till July 24. I'll nearly be out of the country again.

 

[Gypsy]

OK. So... email GOG now. Tell them that you want a Radiant, generic, but with great light return similar to these: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.13-carat-f-color-if-clarity-sku-23433
and
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-5026294-1.30-carat-Radiant-diamond-G-color-VVS2-clarity.aspx

Ask them if they can call a couple in. Make an appointment to go see them in person then for when they have them in. And that way you can have larger stones called in as well.
STRESS urgency and deadline.
Tell them H or better color. Eyeclean. 9k budget. Preference for squarer, but will consider a nice rectangle. Preference is for 6.00mm square if the stone is square.

Then tomorrow call and follow up on your email.

 

[necedemalis]

OK. So... email GOG now. Tell them that you want a Radiant, generic, but with great light return similar to these: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.13-carat-f-color-if-clarity-sku-23433
and
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-5026294-1.30-carat-Radiant-diamond-G-color-VVS2-clarity.aspx

Ask them if they can call a couple in. Make an appointment to go see them in person then for when they have them in. And that way you can have larger stones called in as well.
STRESS urgency and deadline.
Tell them H or better color. Eyeclean. 9k budget. Preference for squarer, but will consider a nice rectangle. Preference is for 6.00mm square if the stone is square.

Then tomorrow call and follow up on your email.

Ok sent an e-mail to [email protected]. I will call them when they open at 10:30am to see if I can come in (or if they are even open - I'm looking at you IDJ! )

Hopefully I can go in today & leave with a commitment today.

 

[mochiko42]

OK. So... email GOG now. Tell them that you want a Radiant, generic, but with great light return similar to these: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/radiant-cut/1.13-carat-f-color-if-clarity-sku-23433
and
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-5026294-1.30-carat-Radiant-diamond-G-color-VVS2-clarity.aspx

Ask them if they can call a couple in. Make an appointment to go see them in person then for when they have them in. And that way you can have larger stones called in as well.
STRESS urgency and deadline.
Tell them H or better color. Eyeclean. 9k budget. Preference for squarer, but will consider a nice rectangle. Preference is for 6.00mm square if the stone is square.

Then tomorrow call and follow up on your email.

Ok sent an e-mail to [email protected]. I will call them when they open at 10:30am to see if I can come in (or if they are even open - I'm looking at you IDJ! )

Hopefully I can go in today & leave with a commitment today.

*whispers* I paid for my AVR at GOG in-store (wonderful wonderful folks!! they have a happy customer from Hong Kong), and after I asked, they shipped it free to the FedEx in Hoboken, and I hopped on the PATH and picked it up in NJ 3 days later. Saved both international shipping cost AND NY sales tax.

 

[CanuckAB]

Fantastic! So glad you had a good experience with GOG! Don't forget to come back with pictures!

 

[Diamond_Hawk]

Hey Gypsy – Thanks for the patience while I was away.

A couple things here:

Ask them if you can upgrade the diamonds in the setting for an additional cost.

Again, upgrade the melee diamonds.

Yes – B2C guarantees all melee to reach a minimum standard of I SI2 quality. Frankly, like many other vendors, B2C could just give a blanket statement of ‘melee will be in the HI SI range” but the management wants to be completely open with the customer. Every side stone that is placed in our settings has been examined by a gemologist and classified accordingly. If the customer would like to have FG VS side stones or melee that is completely doable. The ONLY additional cost is the difference in price of the diamonds.

They are wrong and probably completely ignorant.
I'll page Diamond Hawk for you. There is no difference in the outline of a square radiant and a square emerald cut.

This was a tricky one – I learned something. I had several exchanges with the manufacturing side of the company. I understand your point: any square shaped stone should be able to fit into a setting for a rectangular stone, right? I mean if the stone is 5X6 and fits, and 5X4 fits, obviously so would 5X5 (as examples). Interestingly, this is not entirely true. There are ranges to which the prongs can be altered so any negative space is still within tolerances to be nearly indistinguishable to the naked eye and holds the stone securely.

In the case of the reference setting:

http://www.b2cjewels.com/Diamond-Ac...nd-Engagement-Ring-14K-White-Gold-6390-1.aspx

In this iteration it’s pre-formed (more below). Tolerances will allow adjustments up to certain sizes until integrity is lost. If you look under “Item Details” on the link you will notice it gives 3 options for center stone sizes:

6X4, 7X5, and 8X6

The setting can be ‘adapted’ by up to ½ mm in each direction and still maintain integrity. Therefore:

In a setting for 6X4 - there are available sizes of 5.5X3.5 up to 6.5X4.5
In a setting for 7X5 - there are available sizes of 6.5X4.5 up to 7.5X5.5
In a setting for 8X6 - there are available sizes of 7.5X5.5 up to 8.5X6.5

This covers a WIDE variety of rectangular shapes, but does not allow for any square stones at all. While that seemed mathematically improbable to me, it is true in this case!

But there is more: With EVERY setting, B2C can create the ring to fit a custom size. There is a slight additional cost (around $500 for a setting like this) but it’s doable if desired.

Sorry about the delay in responding to these concerns – I always want to get it just right.

 

[necedemalis]

Sorry for the delay guys (family complications) the GoG experience was nothing short of perfect. My initial impression of the ring was that the center diamond showed a bit too yellow even after seeing everything in person/in store(I color in H halo setting) but it isn't that noticeable. I will try my best to do the proposal tomorrow & will get back to you!

 

[SirGuy]

Awesome! Can't wait to hear how it goes and see a few photos!

 

[necedemalis]

Ok guys! We did it! The proposal was accepted & I am now engaged to be married to my long-time sweetheart.

I wish there was more for me to say about GoG - it was perfect. They stuck to every thing they said. My limited time constraint was met perfectly. Everyone was so pleasant to work with. There is a staff member named David who was the diamond expert for me. He is young but this is not a handicap - he is immensely informed & is a 2nd generation jeweler. Stephanie was my assigned setting expert and she worked with all of my demands. John, the guy from their videos/YouTube, was also there and was a blast to chat with.

No one was pushy & there was none of the car-salesman sense I got from the Diamond District NYC. Yes, they are located out of the way in Long Island but if you drive, it is very accessible from NYC. The other point of hesitation is that the brick-and-mortar store is located in a strip mall . However, once you walk in, the store resembles a luxury hotel with classic European styled decor and art.

Take a look: http://i.imgur.com/pBHkhQI.png

Before I received the final product I was given a detailed appraisal. This impressed me very much. This is the final product:
http://i.imgur.com/wfXjkI6.png
http://i.imgur.com/fh5N0el.png

When I picked up the ring the first thing I said was, "holy cow." I was very impressed. The only critique I have is that if you look carefully, the center diamond's color (I) is slightly less clear than those in the setting. I actually don't see it anymore, now that my fiance is wearing it.

My fiance says that it is much larger than she expected and really likes it.

We did it guys! Thanks for all of your help!

 

[Gypsy]

Okay so you got a cushion! It looks fantastic. Can we get some handshots for perspective? I'm sure she is over the moon. And I am so happy that you had such a great experience at GOG.

 

[necedemalis]

Yea, David & the folks read my requests in the e-mail you helped me send and brought out that diamond. In comparison, in person, it looked better. Hand shots:
http://i.imgur.com/J6mo3MG.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/AeDoAwR.png

 

[Gypsy]

Yeah. I'm not surprised. GOG is great at picking and stocking nice cushions. And WOW does that look just fantastic on her hand. I think it's just lovely.

Congratulations on your engagement. Wishing you both health and happiness.

 

[SirGuy]

That's great news, congrats! I'm glad to hear things went so well at GoG! I love that first hand shot with the fountain in the background. Very dramatic and well done.

What a success!

 

[Madison2]

Necedemalis, The ring is gorgeous!
Which cushion did you finally pick? What are the specs of the cushion?

Congrats to you and much happiness!