Australian seeking advice on loose diamonds

[callumev]

I've just got home and I see what you mean. I've changed my mind and decided to go with the tapered top as per your suggestion (not sure how much they're going to be able to taper as its quite a thin ring already). Gave them a quick call seeing as I haven't had an email in a few days and requested the change. Also requested the diamond to not sit too flush to make sure it could still be cleaned (he said that it wouldn't sit as close as the designs and that the jewelers would make sure there's enough room to clean it). I also asked for the edges of the band to not be too straight (slightly rounded) as they look very straight on the CAD design.

He said that they'll show me photos before they set the diamond just be safe so should be fine. Should get an email from them shortly to sign off on everything and then they'll start the build next week.

They're an interesting business to talk to... The guy was very monotone and short and I had to give him several prompts in awkward silences. He made a bit of a smartass comment quietly when I was struggling explaining round edges on the band (something about not wanting people to get hurt by sharp edges and kind of belittling my request). I've seen similar feedback for these guys in other places so I knew what I was getting into and I've worked in customer service so I get it. At the end of the day as long as they give me a quality product at a good price I don't really care how they talk to the customer.

 

[arkieb1]

I honestly don't know what their settings are like I've never seen one. I've seen people buy stones that were fine from there that is why I recommended them but I cannot in all fairness comment on their settings. Brian Gavin would still be my recommendation as they truly do compare to Tiffany (or better) in quality. If you lived over this side of Aust. I would help you buy one and get the guy I use here to set your stone for you.

Again maybe you should post the CADs here so we can double check it again before you sign off on it.

 

[Niel]

Hmm, the setting seems industrial looking.  Well, as industrial as a soli can look.  I agree with arkieb1 that BG would probably be safer than this designer, though I understand wanting to stay local. I think if you wanted to have keep the strait shank you could but you might consider curving the edges, and reduce the amount of metal near the head. (Pic attached).  The metal goes up to the prongs in a dome convex fashion where your inspiration curves up more in a concave way. Might be something to discuss with them
I love this setting from Brian Gavin and I thought I'd post it because its a nice example of a super simple solitaire but is an uncommon design.
If you stay with your original design, I prefer it tapered as well

 

[MixedPeel]

Hello,

I'm from Australia too. If you prefer to see the diamonds before purchasing, I can highly recommend Diamond Specialist. I've worked with them on several occasions. They have a lot of their own inventory and can source exactly what you're after. They do have a website - it's pretty generic. Speaking to them on the phone is a pleasure. I can recommend Edward at the Sydney office. They are not a shop front and they do know what they're on about.

 

[adele_h]

Hey there,

How did you go? Any updates?

 

[callumev]

No updates at this stage!

I'll give them till later in the week before I start asking them how it's all going.

Gave a deadline of the end of this month so they're working towards that. Don't want to have them rush this stage.

Given the proposal looks like it'll be happening at the start of May now, it gives me plenty of buffer just in case something doesn't go to plan.

I'm getting excited to see how it all turns out

 

[adele_h]

All good - just wanted to make sure I hadn't missed a big reveal!

My SO and I went into a chain jeweller in Adelaide today.. Middle of the road type, just so he could get an idea of what I was talking about with colour, cut, etc. I was shocked to see they had GIA fair and good cuts in stock. When I asked to see a GIA XXX, they couldn't produce anything. From what I remember, they were asking $7000 AUD for a one carat, I1 H GIA fair. They then checked their database for what head office had in stock, and quoted me $24000 for a 1.23 H VS2 XXX...

I think you've made a good call! Look forward to updates as they arise - good luck!

 

[callumev]

My best friend got his from Bell and Brunt last year. I actually went and saw them and they were really really good (I would have ended up there if I didn't go with Jogia). You wont get the same level of choice/analysis with diamonds as online but you do get to see things in person, which is always a plus.

Another good friend had very good things to say about Gerard McCabe at Adelaide Arcade and someone else has mentioned VT Jewellers on Gouger to me as very good quality vs price.

Hope that helps!

 

[adele_h]

I've actually had a friend use Bell and Brunt, and they were super happy.. and I think Gerade McCabe will be our next point of call, I've been in there to try things on with a friend, not with my partner - the quality is awesome, but they do have a fairly hefty price tag to go with it.. I hadn't heard about the Gouger St jeweller, I'll be sure to check them out - thanks for the tip!

 

[callumev]

Moment of truth. The setting has been made and I have the 360 photos:

http://www.jogiadiamonds.com.au/images/files/003/003/003.html
http://www.jogiadiamonds.com.au/images/files/003/003-1/003-1.html


I'm pretty happy with it and the only things I'm thinking about asking to be changed are the clamps to be made rounder and the base (highlighted here https://www.dropbox.com/s/6g11u96dymm878h/Untitled-2.jpg?dl=0) to have some weight shaved off so it doesn't stick out.

My concern is if I ask for changes that they may take too much off and then it's not as good.

Thoughts? Opinions?

It's all starting to get very real now, haha.

 

[adele_h]

Wow, it looks beautiful! Can't wait to see the finished product

 

[arkieb1]

Has the lady in question specifically picked out and tried on similar boxy looking and what I think is really dated settings like this or is this your choice? Brian Gavin is 100% more elegant to look at than this setting but if you love it and more importantly she loves it then that is all that matters....

I would taper the shank/band part as it goes up to the head more, and trim down the thickness of the shank towards the top the part that cathedrals upwards to be less thick. I don't know what you are after with making the bottom of the head that holds the stone more rounded - it might look better it is sort of trying to be modern but the overall thickness in the shank in the part that cathedrals up is somehow dated looking to my eyes.

This head is more fluid to look at;

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/4-prong-tiffany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-for-princess-8.htm

 

[Niel]

Has the lady in question specifically picked out and tried on similar boxy looking and what I think is really dated settings like this or is this your choice? Brian Gavin is 100% more elegant to look at than this setting but if you love it and more importantly she loves it then that is all that matters....

I would taper the shank/band part as it goes up to the head more, and trim down the thickness of the shank towards the top the part that cathedrals upwards to be less thick. I don't know what you are after with making the bottom of the head that holds the stone more rounded - it might look better it is sort of trying to be modern but the overall thickness in the shank in the part that cathedrals up is somehow dated looking to my eyes.

This head is more fluid to look at;

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/4-prong-tiffany-style-solitaire-engagement-ring-for-princess-8.htm

I agree with the points made here.
It looks very basic and bulky. This is her style?

 

[callumev]

To confirm, the design concept came from my partner's pintrest board and she wears similar style of jewellery already. She's also hinted to me recently that she'd like a simple design but in something different (ie. Rose Gold) so I'm definitely "on brief".

I'm not really a fan of the design you've shown, but that's fine, everyone has different taste so I'm sure that's going to happen time to time.

Last night I sent them an email to take in the bulk of the base to blend in with the band (here's a guide to what I'm having taken off https://www.dropbox.com/s/4yelxao57lscma6/Untitled-4.jpg?dl=0 ). I also asked that the clamps be made rounder to fit in within the design and the original photos I provided them as their fairly bulky/flat at the moment.

 

[arkieb1]

O.K do you have a pic from her pins that you can show us that you based it on, that you can show us a pic of? I am not trying to be rude, only to help you, I see a lot of guys who either create what they like over what the lady really wants and get it badly wrong or they try and adapt something they see to what they think works and again then end up with something that really isn't like what the lady wanted at all. The style of ring like you have designed looks like something in fashion 20 years ago, not now that is my main concern.

The original ring you linked us to from Blue Nile on the very first page first post of yours is fluid and elegant and modern it looks NOTHING like this ring.

 

[callumev]

The design has evolved since the first post, where I was just spit-balling ideas that I liked, rather than what I thought my partner would like.

Appreciate your opinion but I've got her best friend and close sister's sign off on the design and they think she'll really like it as she is very fond of traditional (what you would call dated) designs.

At the end of the day I think we just have different opinions and we're going to have to agree to disagree on this.

Worst case scenario, she doesn't like what I've made and we just remake the band using her own design, using the diamond I've bought. I made the choice early on to play it safe so I'm very prepared to change it to something completely different if that's what she wants. It's not really a big deal for me

 

[Niel]

The design has evolved since the first post, where I was just spit-balling ideas that I liked, rather than what I thought my partner would like.

Appreciate your opinion but I've got her best friend and close sister's sign off on the design and they think she'll really like it as she is very fond of traditional (what you would call dated) designs.

At the end of the day I think we just have different opinions and we're going to have to agree to disagree on this.

Worst case scenario, she doesn't like what I've made and we just remake the band using her own design, using the diamond I've bought. I made the choice early on to play it safe so I'm very prepared to change it to something completely different if that's what she wants. It's not really a big deal for me

I wouldn't call this a traditional design, but what we think is worth what you paid for it .Sounds like you know her style. Its hard for us to reccomend suggestions for the setting as what we feel would improve the setting dont seem to agree with your end game. Do what you you think shell like best

 

[arkieb1]

I can appreciate that we all have different tastes, this ring as it is, is not traditional it looks like something you bought from chain stores in the 1970s and 1980s for not a lot of money. That is what it reminds me of, and that is why I expressed concern. I think you should link the next pics they provide you with shaving some mms off the top part of the cathedral of the shank and hopefully we can get it at least looking like it belongs in 2015 not something I can buy from a second hand dealer for a couple of hundred dollars.

I am sure, like most Aussies she is the type of lovely lady that would be happy with anything you give her - but lets get what you have looking as aesthetically pleasing as we can now while you have the chance.

 

[callumev]

For those that have been following to see the final product, here it is:

http://www.jogiadiamonds.com.au/images/files/004/004/004.html
http://www.jogiadiamonds.com.au/images/files/004/004-1/004-1.html

Everything has now been signed off now. Was hoping to get the base sticking out a bit less but I'm happy with how it all looks with the 72 point diamond in there.

Thanks to everyone for their advice over the past couple months! I may come back in a month or two with a photo on a hand to give further closure, haha

 

[GlamMosher]

I think the finished ring looks gorgeous and to my eye, traditional.

Good luck with the proposal! Come back then with hand pics.

 

[arkieb1]

I know you have signed off but just one more thing worth mentioning for practicality - on your latest rendition the two gaps on either side between the head and the shank, my suggestion would be to see if they can fill those gaps in because dirt and things will catch in there. Other than that please do come back when it is finished. I wish you the best.

 

[Throwaway]

Great work on the ring, I see the finished product has come up really well done.

 

[KobiD]

Nice work mate! Glad to see you got there in the end. Look forward to seeing some more pictures once its in your posession.

 

[callumev]

I received the ring via courier yesterday with all the supporting documents.

The photos don't do a lot of justice as the ring looks much better in real life. Diamond is very bright and reflects natural/artificial light really well. The rose gold is much "pinker" in real life and looks more like what you would normally see (in the 360 photos the white background makes the ring look almost yellow-gold like).

It's a very thin band and the base only sticks out less than 1mm and barely noticeable. Craftsmanship is very good on the band, especially considering they were hand making a design that they only had photos of.

All in all, very happy with the guys at Jogia in terms of quality vs price. My only advise to anyone looking to use them is to make sure you have a lot of time up your sleeve and be wary of time frames quoted (set a deadline early on and give an extra week or two just in case you want to make changes).

 

[Niel]

I received the ring via courier yesterday with all the supporting documents.

The photos don't do a lot of justice as the ring looks much better in real life. Diamond is very bright and reflects natural/artificial light really well. The rose gold is much "pinker" in real life and looks more like what you would normally see (in the 360 photos the white background makes the ring look almost yellow-gold like).

It's a very thin band and the base only sticks out less than 1mm and barely noticeable. Craftsmanship is very good on the band, especially considering they were hand making a design that they only had photos of.

All in all, very happy with the guys at Jogia in terms of quality vs price. My only advise to anyone looking to use them is to make sure you have a lot of time up your sleeve and be wary of time frames quoted (set a deadline early on and give an extra week or two just in case you want to make changes).

Awesome I glad it worked out! Custom can often be daunting particularly for your first big purchase. I'm happy you love it and I'm sure she will too

 

[KobiD]

PictureS!

 

[callumev]

Just some closure for this thread before I forget.

Here's the final product:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3c9bw62secp3p5q/11168565_960061730694380_5117853622800658543_n.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/orn85dukvnrkx7e/11169822_960061770694376_5884340445581740845_n.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5fbz83pwsie3x7y/18528_960060504027836_8946431353487136073_n.jpg?dl=0

To recap, very happy with the final product from Jogia. Great quality and for a very reasonable price.

 

[arkieb1]

I looks great in the real life pic on the hand/finger congrats - your time and effort I think it has paid off and I hope that she loves it!!!!

 

[Niel]

That last photo is great. I bet she loves it!
Congrats!

 

[KobiD]

Very nice mate!