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ť Christian Bernard bankrupt - lost her dream setting, now what...?

Christian Bernard bankrupt - lost her dream setting, now what...?

P: 1/7/2009 6:47:46 PM
ericg Rough Rock Total Posts: 4 Last Post: 1/21/2009 Member Since: 12/7/2008	While looking for a diamond for the Christian Bernard setting we picked out a couple weeks ago, a downtown Chicago jeweler gave me the bad news that Christian Bernard went bankrupt. I was devastated. My girl and I spent tons of time online and in stores trying to find the setting. And this CB one was it! It had a great antique look (almost Tacori-ish) that she fell in love with, and at a very reasonable price also I'm eventually going to have to give her the bad news that I'm not going to be able to give her the perfect setting, but I want to at least be able to bring her some good options or ideas on what to do next. That's why I'm here--I was hoping that maybe someone would have some good ideas on how to find a setting that looks something like this: She is picky, but I totally get it. I'm not impressed at how so many settings look manufactured, lack personality, have straight lines, or look blocky/chunky. And when I do find something like this antique looking engraving/filigrie, that detailing is usually all the same throughout the whole piece with just a diamond mindlessly slapped on the center. This CB one had all variations and detail that made it look like a designer piece without a designer pricetag. To help give you an idea, I'll try to explain what we loved about this CB princess setting: The two square side diamonds with the detailed dots on the metal between the center stone and the... Round diamonds with the metal outline narrowing near the square side stones, and the engraving even further down the side **All the great filigree and engraving variations on the insides With us knowing so specifically what we love about it, I wonder about possibly getting it custom made, but I have these reservations: 1) It's probably not going to look as good being a copy; this is the only picture I have, and it's not very detailed. 2) Custom made is probably going to eat into my budget, and I don't want to sacrifice a smaller center stone for that. Am I right, what do you think? So I'm feeling stuck. Stupid Christian Bernard had to go bankrupt. I was all ready to put a ideal cut rock in this thing, and now I'm screwed and back to square one. You guys and gals here at PS are pros at this stuff, so what is your advice?
Posted: 1/7/2009 6:47:46 PM

There are 10 replies to this message. There are 10 replies on this page.

P: 1/7/2009 11:37:20 PM
lyra Ideal Rock Total Posts: 1,761 Last Post: 11/19/2009 Member Since: 7/13/2007	You might want to ask admin to move your topic to Rocky Talk, as you'll probably get more replies there. You might check out Beverley K designs as an option. I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for, but they do have a lot of detail in them. Try looking at them online through Pearlman's for a start look here. I'm sure others will chime in too. This setting does look like Tacori as well. Oops, didn't notice your remarks about custom work. Definitely get this thread moved for more input, as many here have gone the custom route. Good luck!
Posted: 1/7/2009 11:37:20 PM

P: 1/8/2009 12:36:56 PM
steph72276 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,869 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 3/16/2005	Does look an awful lot like a Tacori I've seen before.
Posted: 1/8/2009 12:36:56 PM

P: 1/8/2009 12:58:53 PM
Sizzle Ideal Rock Total Posts: 551 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 7/4/2007	Sorry to hear they are bankrupt. Seems like the economy is affecting everyone! I have a watch from them that I wear everyday! ***************************** I'm sorry, we're you saying something, I was distracted by the Sparklie! -Sizzle
Posted: 1/8/2009 12:58:53 PM

P: 1/8/2009 1:27:36 PM
vespergirl Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,904 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 1/29/2007	Sorry to threadjack, but I just wanted to mentiont hat I'm totally NOT surprised that they went out of business. The CB in my area was the only one that had HOF diamonds, and I loved to look at their settings as well. However, any time that I would stop in there to look at settings & bands, it was like pulling teeth to get anyone to help me - the people behind the counter were so lazy! I was always so surprised at that, since I'm not walking in looking like a vagabond, and I usually am wearing about $20K in jewelry, so you think those people would want to help someone who may want to drop some cash on their products. Anyway, the setting that you like is lovely, but I think that you may have to look at Tacori for something similar, or maybe Natalie K., or Beverley K.? Sorry to hear that you lost out on your dream setting, but I know that you'll be able to find one like it.
Posted: 1/8/2009 1:27:36 PM

P: 1/8/2009 1:32:43 PM
vespergirl Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,904 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 1/29/2007	Here's a Natalie K. ring she may like:
Posted: 1/8/2009 1:32:43 PM

P: 1/8/2009 1:37:55 PM
vespergirl Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,904 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 1/29/2007	I forgot to mention that you may also want to check out Gottlieb & Sons website.
Posted: 1/8/2009 1:37:55 PM

P: 1/9/2009 7:42:37 PM
diamondseeker2006 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 17,609 Last Post: 11/18/2009 Member Since: 1/11/2006	The most beautiful princess setting I have seen is this one: http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/michael-beaudry-jewelry/rings/57B1/42/ ~~~ When in doubt...don't.~~~
Posted: 1/9/2009 7:42:37 PM

P: 1/10/2009 3:25:17 PM
Tuckins1 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 4,376 Last Post: 11/18/2009 Member Since: 4/13/2008	Hey there, Try browsing through this site Knox They have a lot of different styles, and I know that they can customize pretty much anything for you. They have an excellent reputation for customer service, as well as for quality! "If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding! How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?!"
Posted: 1/10/2009 3:25:17 PM

P: 1/11/2009 3:27:10 PM
ericg Rough Rock Total Posts: 4 Last Post: 1/21/2009 Member Since: 12/7/2008	Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! I hadn't been to most of those places before like Nnox, Beverly K, Natelia K, Pearlmans, and Gottlieb-Sons. Some of them had real beautiful stuff in the style she likes--it was really hard to part with that CB one, and a few were good competitors but a bit out of budget. I found a mounting on AntiqueEngagementRings.com which she loves. It's her style and even in platinum at a lower price that leaves me room for a better stone! Most of their customers seem to say good things, I only found one unsatisfied person who just returned it. I'm gonna ask the guy a few questions about me putting a princess cut in it (it's shown as a round setting), and do some more research. Now over the initial trauma, I joke that the economy has finally officially affected me :)
Posted: 1/11/2009 3:27:10 PM

P: 1/19/2009 1:46:51 AM
ejv207 Rough Rock Total Posts: 33 Last Post: 4/12/2009 Member Since: 1/10/2009	Looks like Christian Bernard will be opening their stores again for their liquidation: "Under the terms of the court-approved plan, the company will re-open its stores, possibly within a few days. A joint venture of The Gordon Company, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla, Tiger Capital, Boston, SB Capital Group, Long Island, N.Y., and Bobby Wilkerson, Inc., Stuttgart, Ark., will operate Christian Bernard Jewelers while overseeing the inventory and asset liquidations. A multi-million dollar court authorized bankruptcy liquidation sale. The date has yet to be determined." If you haven't made a commitment on the other e-ring and you don't have a set time frame, then this may be a way for you to save a little . liquidation Good luck!
Posted: 1/19/2009 1:46:51 AM

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