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Advice on two Costco Options

D

dub

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 16, 2012
Messages
3
Been reading topics to try to educate myself as much as possible. Finally found the perfect ring setting, but it's from Costco, which doesn't give me too many options on the center stone.

Can someone please comment on these two options?
Option #1: http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?prodid=11672930&hierPath=108*49547*88419*&whse=BC&topnav=&Browse=&lang=en-US

Option #2: http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?prodid=11672965&hierPath=108*49547*88419*&whse=BC&topnav=&Browse=&lang=en-US

It seems like Option #2 is a better cut, trading off the clarity and color. Am I better off sacraficing cut for color and clarity (and price preimium) for option #1? On the HCA scale, it seems like Option #2 is better rated at 1.6 - Excellent.

Does any one know whether any other retailers have the same setting, which will allow me to pick the center diamond?
 
Are you very stuck on Costco? That setting is a fairly common-looking one, and there are lots of large online diamond retailers that would have similar settings. Have you looked at the sites people frequently mention here, like james allen, whiteflash, engagement rings direct, IDjewelry, etc? If I were you, I wouldn't want to limit my stone search by sticking with a Costco setting. You are spending a decent amount of money, you might as well investigate all the options. Also, there are plenty of sharp people here that are great at helping find stones from online retailers if given your budget and search parameters, I would try that too. Just my humble opinion, good luck! :))
 
That's a pretty common ring setting that you can find at many online dealers - I honestly think you can do better. The cert included is BS. FYI - the diamonds in the case at Costco are CZs (for anything over .5 carats, generally). You can tell by looking at the tiny ones that are an I color and yellowy and comparing to the big giant white ones. Last time I passed by, someone had done a "smash and grab" and there was cardboard over the main diamond case. They got themselves a bunch of CZ and some semimounts... :naughty:

Here's an F VS (even though I can guarantee you that the Costco is not ACTUALLY an F VS2) for $8750 (with pricescope discount):
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Very%20Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1461953.asp
With a similar setting for $1500 : http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones/Platinum-Common-Prong-Ring.html

If I had more time, we could find you an exact setting.

EDIT: I just wrote this before fridays_child but I agree! :) Nothing against Costco, if they had an great deal on a GIA diamond I'd buy it in a heartbeat and tell everyone within range it came from Costco! So it's not the idea of buying it there... it's the value.

2nd EDIT : I see that they do have GIA certs - wow, moving up in the world Coscto! So I would ask to ask to see them in person and get them appraised. They have a fantastic return policy!
 
dub|1334597729|3172447 said:
Been reading topics to try to educate myself as much as possible. Finally found the perfect ring setting, but it's from Costco, which doesn't give me too many options on the center stone.

Can someone please comment on these two options?
Option #1: http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?prodid=11672930&hierPath=108*49547*88419*&whse=BC&topnav=&Browse=&lang=en-US

Option #2: http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?prodid=11672965&hierPath=108*49547*88419*&whse=BC&topnav=&Browse=&lang=en-US

It seems like Option #2 is a better cut, trading off the clarity and color. Am I better off sacraficing cut for color and clarity (and price preimium) for option #1? On the HCA scale, it seems like Option #2 is better rated at 1.6 - Excellent.

Does any one know whether any other retailers have the same setting, which will allow me to pick the center diamond?
Click to expand...


http://www.costco.com/Images/Content/Misc/PDF/592529gia.pdf
Report looks fine, no red flags - would need more info/clear closeup pics to tell you more. Have you seen the stone? What did you think?

http://www.costco.com/Images/Content/Misc/PDF/592427gia.pdf
Steep pav + short LGF = not promising

That is a basic setting - it would be easy for any vendor to make, either as a fully custom job or by adjusting an existing setting... A couple that are similar -
http://www.exceldiamonds.com/-Engagement-Rings-5/Diamond-Accent-Engagement-Rings-12/Vatche-Slim-Line-X-Prong-Pave-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-165-58420.html
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/x-prong-channel-set-diamond-engagement-ring-565.htm
 
webdiva,

Wow! thanks for the great advice. I agree with you 100%, if I can find the same ring at one of the online retailers, I will have WAAY more choices with regards to the center stone.

But that's the hard part right now, trying to find the setting that looks like the Costco one. I went through whiteflash, a couple came close, but the tiny diamonds on Costco's band is 0.30ctw / 10 mini diamonds = 0.03ct each. The settings that I've seen so far from other online retailers contain 18-20 mini diamonds at 0.20ctw...so they are really really really tiny.

I need to keep searching. Once I find an online retailer with the matching setting, then I can look for the perfect center diamond to compliment it.

Thanks for the info!
 
dub|1334603154|3172529 said:
webdiva,

Wow! thanks for the great advice. I agree with you 100%, if I can find the same ring at one of the online retailers, I will have WAAY more choices with regards to the center stone.

But that's the hard part right now, trying to find the setting that looks like the Costco one. I went through whiteflash, a couple came close, but the tiny diamonds on Costco's band is 0.30ctw / 10 mini diamonds = 0.03ct each. The settings that I've seen so far from other online retailers contain 18-20 mini diamonds at 0.20ctw...so they are really really really tiny.

I need to keep searching. Once I find an online retailer with the matching setting, then I can look for the perfect center diamond to compliment it.

Thanks for the info!
Click to expand...

Dub, you're very welcome! I just listed a few of the online merchants, definitely run through the entire list on the pricescope search engine. All of the online merchants do custom work and can customize settings for you. Please email them for quotes! :)
 
dub|1334603154|3172529 said:
But that's the hard part right now, trying to find the setting that looks like the Costco one. I went through whiteflash, a couple came close, but the tiny diamonds on Costco's band is 0.30ctw / 10 mini diamonds = 0.03ct each. The settings that I've seen so far from other online retailers contain 18-20 mini diamonds at 0.20ctw...so they are really really really tiny.
Click to expand...
Brian Gavin has one with 3 pointers - 12 of them!:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/u-shaped-half-eternity-18k-white-gold-5483w18

Here's another option:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/six-prong-regal-truth-18k-white-gold-5401w18

Guaranteed those sidestones are 100% sparklier than the costco ones.

Bigger! .04 stones (I would not go bigger than this, it'll outshine your center): http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/dream-half-eternity-truth-head-18k-white-gold-5498w18

But if you want .05 : http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/sabrina-18k-white-gold-5522w18
 
And more centers:
1.2 H&A I SI1 - $9400
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8382/

And let's blow your mind a bit. ;)
1.57 Hearts & Arrows J SI2 - $11k
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9091/

GOG can order in Gabriel & Co settings and I'm SURE they have one for $3k or under in that sidestone size.
http://www.gabrielengaged.com/styles?category=ER&style=Eternity

e.g http://www.gabrielengaged.com/style/ER4013W83JJ - these are 4 pointers (.04 ct sidestones), if my math is right. $3k in white gold, $3800 MSRP in platinum.
BTW - they discount off MSRP.
All rings come in platinum and white gold.
 
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