Anyone else with a very particular GF?

[bluedevil27]

As an addendum to my last post: I know that picking out and creating a setting is going to take many many iterations. For that reason, I can only see us doing this with a local jeweler. However, I actually like the online places and feel that I have received better service from them versus the BM places. I would like to buy my diamond online, however I am worried about having to find a good reputable jeweler to set the diamond over and over again without damaging the ring or worse, replacing it with another diamond.

Has anyone else on this board been in my position? (GF who will continously make changes to the setting). Its not that she is indecisive.. the opposite, she knows what she wants but is so particular that nothing has been perfect (we''ve seen upwards of 100 settings, alot of them have been duplicates of others). She will not know if its perfect until she has worn it for a couple of days, hence the constant changes.

Does anyone have any advice? It would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Cravin My Emerald cut]

Perhaps you could set a "look alike" cubic zirconia in the setting.....let her wear it. Then once she''s made up her mind, put in the real thing. This is assuming the jeweler will allow you to do this.

I imagine this will still be a lengthy (and expensive) process, but best of luck and *applause* to you for being so patient.

 

[sera]

I''m pretty picky myself... one of the things that helped me come to a decision was using fakey rings in styles similar to what I was considering... that helped me rule out a lot (whether cuz I didn''t like the look on me or it was not comfortable). I also had to try on a LOT of rings! And some were the same ones I had to try over and over again.

I really wouldn''t have my diamond reset again over and over... it would increase the risk of it chipping during setting and I don''t know how many jewelers would reset a diamond over and over again without charging a setting fee over and over again.

Ditto what Cravin said! Sometimes the rings even have a CZ in it for display.

 

[Gypsy]

Umm. Well, many of us many not have picky GF''s. But um, many of us, myself included, are VERY Picky ourselves.

 

[bluedevil27]

Thank you for your replies: So in conclusion, once I find the diamond I should be able to find a jeweler who can work on the setting using a CZ until my GF is fully satisfied. Then we use the actual diamond so that we actually only set the diamond once?

Anyone know of any reputable jewelers in Chicago who will do this to a diamond they did not sell themselves?

Thanks

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I don''t think you want to have a CZ set into your custom setting before your diamond is set. If she is uncertain about what she wants, I suggest that you have a ring made that she has already seen and liked (the sample rings are the ones with the CZ''s usually). I don''t think many jewelers will be happy to remake a custom ring multiple times. But yes, many of us here are picky!

 

[sera]

OH! she would want to keep making changes to a completed custom ring?! I thought you meant changing her mind on settings.

Good Luck.

 

[iheartscience]

Why don''t you have the diamond set in a simple 4 or 6 prong temporary setting until she decides what she actually wants? You can get one for around $200, maybe less, and that way the diamond will only have to be set twice-once in the temporary setting and once in the final setting.

 

[Gypsy]

I would go with a custom designer with a REALLY good CAD process, and a LOT of patience. If she wants to make changes AFTER the setting is cast or handmade... just because she wants tweaks, that''s not going to go cost the earth.

I would, as thing2 said, set the diamond in a simple 6 prong solitate for the time being, have her completely study and compare settings for a WHILE (it''s taken some of us YEARS to decide on settings) then when she is REALLY ready, to take the plunge.

 

[eac]

I used to work at a jeweler who focused on diamond and sapphire rings. And let me tell you, we talked about difficult customers who were never satisfied, very suspicious, wanted the moon, etc. If you want to have a good relationship with this good local jeweler you're looking for, it goes both ways. You need to find someone you truly trust so that you can relax about some of these issues. You can also work on your side of things by trying to be good customers yourselves. For your girlfriend, part of this is making up her mind and sticking to it. Other parts of this are keeping appointments; letting the jeweler explain things; and just being polite and well-mannered. Being good customers will give you some leeway with hemming and hawing.

I would consider myself fussy and particular. When I'm planning a new piece of jewelry, I go through many iterations of looking at pieces in stores, making sketches, etc. And then one day, it all "clicks". I go to the jeweler when I'm ready with the final design, and I have my money in my hand. For whatever reason, the finished piece is always not quite how I expected it to be. But if it's 95%, I give it a try. Within two days I am being a big showoff about my lovely new piece, and can't imagine myself without my new adornment. New rings are especially "disturbing" to wear, but once you get used to them, they become a part of you.