Anyone been tempted to or have created a "diamond handbook for BF"? :P

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Now, I''m an extreme control freak on certain things. Right now, it''s diamonds and e-rings. Used to be a time where I didn''t really care as long as the style was approximately what I wanted and the size was ok. After 4-5 months on PS, though, whoa! Totally different! I''ve gone from being the B&M customer that could elicit "aww isn''t that cute, she thinks she knows something about clarity" customer to the PITA customer who wants to ask:

"So is this AGS certified?"
"Oh, well I''m really concerned about cut. Is this hearts and arrows?"
"Well, can I have the crown and pavilion angles, because I''d really like to run this through HCA."

So I''ve had a lot of extra time at work this week (it''s my last week at this job), and I had the bright idea of creating a "Diamond Buying Handbook" for the BF! Any engagement for me is at least 3 years away because BF and I are still in school (grad school), have debt, and we''ll be in a MUCH better financial position once we graduate (hopefully! This economy is affecting our job searches...we have interviews coming up in a couple weeks and hopefully all will go smoothly!). Anyway, so I thought I''d make this anyway and keep it updated through the years, advising on the four Cs, what to look for in a RB, explaining about certification and ideal cuts and H&A, setting styles, comparing Tiff/Cartier v. some of the known designers (aka Leon, MWM), etc. etc.

So my question is, if you''re still around reading this, have you ever thought about doing something like this? Or creating a checklist? Or have any of you actually DONE this, and if so, how did it work out?

 

[LaraOnline]

I couldn't answer your poll, because my answer was kinda 'in between' -
I would love to make a book - but my man would chuck it in the garden! The best solution is for me to supervise my own diamond buying! Otherwise... could luck in

could luck out

Depends what's in the one shop he goes into, on the saturday afternoon he has half an hour free when he's wanting to buy!

 

[musey]

I know I've seen at least 3 or 4 PSers mention having done it... and at LEAST one thread where a PSer scanned the pages of hers to share. I wish I could find that thread for ya but I haven't a CLUE how to word it for the google search!

Anyway, to answer your question, I wasn't/didn't because we did all the shopping and picking out together.

 

[erica k]

It wasn''t exactly a book, but I made a list and continued to ask my husband how the process was going. I didn''t interact with the jeweler, but I micromanaged everything. The funny thing is, I ended up with a ring that is more suited to my husband''s taste than mine. Just goes to show you, even if you''re a control freak like me doesn''t mean you won''t change your mind about your ring later on.

 

[Pandora II]

Nope, I was engaged without the ring and we designed it together afterwards (as did my mother, and grandmother). I had the most say in the design, he chose the type of stone and asked for melee in the setting.

I'm a huge control freak and above all, I wanted the fun of a 'together' project. It took us over 5 months to do....

I might produce one if DH wanted to buy me a piece of jewellery as a present I suppose, but an e-ring is WAY too important, especially if you don't agree with upgrades.

 

[Selkie]

I found two Pser''s ring book threads. I think it''s a pretty good idea if you are very particular about what you want!


Patient1
Equestrienne

 

[trillionaire]

I think it''s an okay idea if your BF will be receptive to it. I think my BF would have found it pretty off putting. I did do a tutorial with him, for a few minutes, and a follow-up email, but I think he really wanted to feel like he could make some decisions. He also wants to make me really happy, so I think input is good... if you want to micromanage the process, maybe you should ring shop together, or pick the ring after?

Just talk to him to find out what will work best for both of you. He might like the idea of a book because it gives guys a little more information that they can creatively use to design a great ring.

 

[luvmyhalo]

I think a checklist is a good idea. Most guys need and welcome help. I didn''t have a book made, but I have a funny story to add...
I emailed him a picture of a ring I loved (emerald cut solitaire) and went oooon and oooon about how I didn''t want a RB because I didn''t think it would look good on my long fingers. I continued the conversation at night that dinner.....at the end of the meal, he got down on one knee and proposed.... with a RB. I TRULY LOVE IT, but I felt soooooooo bad! Now, we laugh at it!

 

[iheartscience]

I made a whole list of info for my fiance before we got engaged, but then I finally just convinced him to let me pick it all out! So that''s what I did!

 

[FrekeChild]

I made a list. A very detailed list. And now...the list is almost moot because I''m picking it out on my own. But it''s very very different with a gemstone ering than it is with a diamond one, because there isn''t a lot of grading the way it is with diamonds. I can''t say, I want a blue grade 5 or anything....

Which totally sucks BTW. I wish I wasn''t doing this anymore. Totally frustrated.

 

[JulieN]

If I did, he''d probably throw his wallet at me and tell me to take his credit card and pick it out myself.

I''m not interested in micro-managing, anyway. I have a wide variety of tastes. Some days, I want classic, other days I want unique.

 

[trillionaire]

Date: 8/21/2008 8:14:11 PM
Author: JulieN
If I did, he''d probably throw his wallet at me and tell me to take his credit card and pick it out myself.


I''m not interested in micro-managing, anyway. I have a wide variety of tastes. Some days, I want classic, other days I want unique.

hehe, I can SO imagine this, followed by, would you like my balls too?!?

 

[Kay]

Well, I did make a list of acceptable ranges for color, clarity, size, length-width ratio (fancy cut), table, depth, etc., but that was to hand jewelers when we went shopping for diamonds together. My DH did not want the pressure of shopping by himself and hoping he would get it right. (I always do the research before we make any large purchases -- I find the research fun, he does not, so that''s my role.)