Buying a diamond in Bucharest

[radu]

Dear all, and especially Ana,

I would like to buy an engagement ring in Bucharest, Romania, and I''m not having an easy time. The options I''ve thought of are:

1. Buy the ring from one one of the shops in town. Most obvious, I know, but it seems that a diamond solitaire engagement ring in platinum is nearly unheard of around here. Most shops I''ve been to don''t work with platinum. I might settle for white gold, but there''s really little in terms of choice - both for the diamond and the setting. I have eventually found a shop with a ring looking better than others (a small diamond in a low white gold setting) but they won''t go for platinum or a larger stone.

2. Shop over the Internet: kind of discarded this one, since there''s no reputable vendor accepting a credit card over the net from Romania, or shipping such an item to Romania.

3. Shop abroad: tried looking for a ring in Dubai and Istanbul (my last two trips), and found nothing relevant - mostly very large, very expensive rings. I even went to Tiffany''s and other larger names in Dubai, and they said they don''t have engagement rings like that, and that I should try in Europe. Which I would - I would consider a short trip to a major European city in order to buy my ring; I''m not sure what I''ll find, though, and there might be an issue with the sizing, too (finding a ring I like but not being the right size, and having to wait for at least a few days to have it adjusted - too expensive a trip).

Ana mentioned in some of her previous posts of some reliable jewelry shops where she got some stuff made, and I was hoping for her help and advice on this matter, since she''s Romanian and lives in Bucharest. However, I''d appreciate advice from anyone else

I did register today, but I''m reading the forum for a few good months now. Hello to everybody!

Radu

 

[valeria101]

Happy Easter! Great to hear someone from close by!

I suspect that buying such a thing in Bucharest would mean that the jeweler asks for the stone & ring from some corresponding shop elsewhere (one would provide certified diamonds etc. from their related shop in NYC, the other shop I know relatively well... not sure). You may know the shops I like in town - one is a small Armenian-run shop on Republicii (cross Mosilor), the other with the US connection is in Piata Amzei next to the theatre entrance. I must say.. neither looks like a big deal from the outside. The first may be more helpful with platinum work, the second... I liked the accommodating custom work (they seem to have lots of time to spend with customers and work quite fast), obtaining certified diamonds should work out, but it would most likely take an order rather than pick up from in-store stock. I had some pleasant surprises in the colored stone department there, with the owner shopping for his own supply (rare practice? probably). Both stores have their own workshop. Regardless, the database here may not be very relevant for prices on a market with low demand though

I am feeling your pain about the Credit Card... and that is why I kept a foreign bank account - just to avoid the questions from just about anyone but Amazon.com.

A couple of years back used to be much worse though (IMO).

 

[thunkpad]

On point 2. I liev in the UK and plenty of US websites don't like our credit cards (despite the rest of the world seeming happy to take them

) That's why I used a wire transfer to buy my e-ring over the internet. Don't see why you couldn't do the same.

And by the way. Are you a Steaua fan? I live in Middlesbrough

(for those who don't know Middlesbrough and Steaua Bucharest are playing each other in the semi finals of the UEFA Cup soccer tournament at the moment)

 

[radu]

Dear Ana,

Thank you for your quick reply, and Happy Easter to you too!

I was also glad when I realised that one of the forum''s older and respected members was a Romanian living in Bucharest; it gave me hope of getting more specific advice and help.

Thanks for your shop recommendation. I know the Armenian-run shop - I was a customer several times in the past, and I appreciated their work. I talked to the actual owner (the Armenian guy - forgot his name) back then. However, when going there a few months back there was another younger guy that did not leave me with the same trusting feeling, and I also heard that the old man is ill. This gave me some doubts about being able to get what I wanted there.

I didn''t know about the second shop you mentioned; I have been to most of the others, I think. There''s a guy doing custom work on Lascar Catargiu, near the observatory; he''s the only one agreeing to work in platinum, but he did not inspire much trust to me. The second interesting shop is on Calea Victoriei, across the street from Stefanel; this is where I found the closest thing to what I want (I mentioned it in my first post). No platinum, and no other stones, either. They do give you a diamond certification when you buy a diamond ring, and they offer free cleaning and caring for the life of the item bought; these things give them a better position for me compared to others. There are some new shops in the Marriott shopping gallery, but only one has engagement rings (no platinum, of course) but they have really small stones (0.09-0.15ct) and I don''t quite like the settings. There are a few more, with more brands that seem to have built a name on the Romanian market, but they cater to people with much higher incomes, I think (am I allowed to name shops on this forum? it would be easier for you to recognize them).

As for prices, I realized that databases like the one here, or prices I''ve seen at bluenile.com (good looking site) are quite different from what I would find here in Bucharest. I suppose I''ll have to live with that.

I''ll go again to the two shops you mentioned, and hope to find help in getting what I''m looking for. I''ll keep you posted and eventually ask for more advice

 

[radu]

thunkpad,

Even if I would be able to arrange a wire transfer, I will still not get delivery of the item in Romania, unfortunately. I hope this situation will change in the following years, considering Romania''s EU accesion and the steady development.

I am not a Steaua fan; not much of a soccer fan, either, but I have watched the game on TV. We''ll have a finalist next Thursday, right?

 

[valeria101]

Date: 4/22/2006 3:46:15 AM
Author: radu

I talked to the actual owner (the Armenian guy - forgot his name) back then. However, when going there a few months back there was another younger guy that did not leave me with the same trusting feeling...

Oh, I am sorry to hear that... Didn't pass by for a while. The young guy is a close relative who apprenticed in the shop for a few years. He may be a bit inexperienced.




There's a guy doing custom work on Lascar Catargiu, near the observatory;

Interesting.. no idea of the place, but will try it out. I am a gold fan, so I haven't asked around for platinum much.




The second interesting shop is on Calea Victoriei, across the street from Stefanel ....They do give you a diamond certification when you buy a diamond ring.

Yeah, I know the place better than I'd wish. Would not call 'certification' a paper that is not issued by an independent lab. The folks from Amzei have shown a couple of diamonds to me with HRD and IGI paper, and offered to send anything for GIA or AGS if desired.





Am I allowed to name shops on this forum? it would be easier for you to recognize them.

Everyone does. I would to if could ever remember their names!

As for prices, I realized that databases like the one here, or prices I've seen at bluenile.com (good looking site) are quite different from what I would find here in Bucharest. I suppose I'll have to live with that.

No... if you can work out payment with one of the sellers... Blue Nile may not be the most accommodating if personal contact is needed.

 

[thunkpad]

Date: 4/22/2006 3:50:55 AM
Author: radu
thunkpad,

Even if I would be able to arrange a wire transfer, I will still not get delivery of the item in Romania, unfortunately. I hope this situation will change in the following years, considering Romania''s EU accesion and the steady development.

I am not a Steaua fan; not much of a soccer fan, either, but I have watched the game on TV. We''ll have a finalist next Thursday, right?

Yes, next Thursday. Looking forward to greeting lots of your fellow Romaninas here to Middlesbrough.

Shame about the delivery problem. Shocking considering we''ll all part of the same EU by this time next year. I''ve seen the rings in Dubai and have to agree that they tend to be HUGE and LOUD.

As for shopping in Europe, I remember people mentioning good dealers in London and Antwerp. I''m sure they would be able to work with you by phone and perhaps have you finalise things in person if delivery was an issue. Do a search for those two cities on here and see what comes up.

Well good luck finding a ring and congratulations on your engagement

 

[radu]

Hi Ana!

Hope you had a nice Easter holiday.

The place next to the observatory is Kirio (www.kirio.ro). If you go there, let me know what you think of the place.

Thank you for the info about FiresQ, the shop on Calea Victoriei. Indeed, the paper they showed was not from GIA or AGS. I''ll check the shop in Piata Amzei these days.

I''m giving a second try to online purchasing. I have 2 sites on my short list (so far): Excel Diamonds and Whiteflash. I came upon Excel Diamonds in a recent message about a high quality replica of the 6-prong Tiffany classic, and then discovered their SuperbCert diamonds, and got all excited about their quality. The setting is a bit expensive, in my view, especially if you compare with the stone. I wrote a message to Barry at Excel Diamonds today, asking about delivery to Romania, payment methods and other details. If communicating with them goes well, they have a high change of getting my business.

As for Whiteflash, it seems most people around here mention it as one of THE places to go shopping for diamonds online. I''ll spend some time on their site today, and ask them similar questions. Then I''ll make up my mind - pretty soon, I might add.

Is it ok to contact you direct, like email or phone, in order to ask a question about a detail or something that rings a bell? If not, the forum is fine.

Radu