Advice Needed Please!!!

[gwedge]

My gf (now fiance) and I have been shopping around looking at ring styles and have been planning on going to downtown LA or the internet when we are ready. In our search we went to Robbins Bros and she fell in love with a particular ring. It has three small stones (maybe like .25 each?) with pave (sp?) around each and some pave on the bands under the stones. The price there is around $4k which is the upper level of the budget but I work for a company that has a deal with Robbins Bros and they can take $700 off the price. However, all of the warranties go away with the discount.

The problem is that the stones are already in and have no certs so I have no idea if they are good and the deal is okay or not. Before finding that ring, we were planning on going someplace where we could buy the stone(s) with cert(s). But, since the ring she likes has three small stones instead of one bigger one, would it be worth it to buy certified stones? Also, I don''t know the approximate prices of Robbins Bros versus online or downtown (from what I''ve read here it''s more expenseive) but would the discount I can get make it comparable? Also, from what I''ve read here, Robbins Bros isn''t very good at honoring their warratnies, so it''s not a big deal that they take those away with the discount - right? Would I want to get it insured by a thrid party instead?

Thanks for any help you all can provide! I''ll try to post a pic of the ring or a similar ring if it helps.

 

[gwedge]

This is the closet thing I could find - except all the three center stones are the same size and there is a little pave down the band as well.

thanks!

 

[JulieN]

This is problematic situation. 4K can get you a great ring. But this style ring...

1. most of the cost of this ring is in the setting, not the diamonds. say you did it at 2K for the setting and 1K for the 3 .25ct stones. it just isn't going to look like a 3K ring IMO.
2. did she like the style because it's the most finger coverage she could get at Robbins Bros prices? or did she really fall in love with this ring, regardless of price?
3. to have all three stones of the same size is kind of.... I think one round in a halo solitaire, or 3-stone with nice proportions and some pave on the shank would be nicer.

Now, if this is the ring of her dreams, I think a custom job at Whiteflash is probably the way to go.

 

[gwedge]

Date: 2/13/2008 2:50:07 AM
Author: JulieN
This is problematic situation. 4K can get you a great ring. But this style ring...

1. most of the cost of this ring is in the setting, not the diamonds. say you did it at 2K for the setting and 1K for the 3 .25ct stones. it just isn''t going to look like a 3K ring IMO.
2. did she like the style because it''s the most finger coverage she could get at Robbins Bros prices? or did she really fall in love with this ring, regardless of price?
3. to have all three stones of the same size is kind of.... I think one round in a halo solitaire, or 3-stone with nice proportions and some pave on the shank would be nicer.

Now, if this is the ring of her dreams, I think a custom job at Whiteflash is probably the way to go.

Thanks for the reply. To answer your Q''s:

She really fell in love with the ring. We wern''t looking at prices, just trying to get an idea of styles and would then go elsewhere. But she said that ring was perfect so we looked at the price and it works (especially with my company discount).

How would we go about getting this exact (or very similar) ring made custom at whiteflash? Would you expect the prices to be better there? And how long (approx) would it take until she could have it.

Thanks again for the help and advice!

 

[JulieN]

no, I don''t expect it to be less. probably the same, and sometimes they quote prices that seem very high... but you are getting a quality setting and quality stones in it. there is a similar setting on Dimend Scaasi for 3300.

also, has she considered wedding bands with this? maybe you can take her shopping again. it''s fun.