Buying stone online and buying setting at local B&M

[murz]

After doing the shopping, I''m leaning strongly toward purchasing my diamond online and having it set at a local jeweler - this because she''s found THE setting that she can''t be happy without at that jeweler.

I have a couple of questions about this. First, is this a fairly common practice? Do B&M jewelers resent somebody buying the diamond someplace else and then having them bring it in for the setting work?

Second, I know I''ll have to have the stone appraised once I purchase it; would it be acceptable to have the jeweler I''m purchasing the setting done at to appraise the ring? Or should I look at another place entirely before bringing the stone to the jeweler for setting?

Finally, should I just have the stone shipped directly to the jeweler for setting, or directly to me personally? Any pros/cons to doing this?

Thanks for the help.

 

[niceice]

People buy diamonds from us and settings from their local jewelers all the time, sometimes they send the settings to us for the diamond to be set and other times their local jeweler does it. Either way is fine. Do whatever is going to make you the most comfortable providing that your local jeweler is willing to set the stone, some jewelers refuse to set diamonds that they didn't sell because it is their way of trying to hold people hostage and forcing them to purchase diamonds from them... They often tell people that it is for liability reasons, but the truth is that most jewelers block insurance policies provide insurance coverage for the liability of setting diamonds for people so we kind of think that ploy is just a scam. Have the package shipped directly to you so that you can see the diamond before your jeweler does, that way you can become familiar with your diamond and have it evaluated by an independent gemologist prior to handing it over to your jeweler. Become familiar with the inclusions, plot the inclusions and details of the diamond on the job envelope used by the jeweler on take-in and verify the characteristics of the damage and that it has not been damaged during the setting process BEFORE leaving the jewelry store to be sure that you are getting your diamond back and that it has not been damaged during the setting process.

 

[pqcollectibles]

Some local jewelers will set the diamond for you, some won't. Depends on the jeweler. Many don't want to be responsible for your diamond while it's in their care, including the possibility of chipping during the setting process. Some resent customers buying a diamond elsewhere and won't set the diamond for that reason.

You might ask your jeweler first. I would suggest you not tell the jeweler the diamond will be bought on the internet. You might just say you already have a diamond and ask if they will set it in their setting.

Another thought is to purchase the setting. Have the diamond shipped direct to an independent appraiser and take or send the setting to the appraiser. The appraiser can evaluate the diamond, have the stone mounted for you, and give you a finished piece appraisal.

 

[murz]

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On 3/21/2004 8:47:18 PM pqcollectibles wrote:

Some local jewelers will set the diamond for you, some won't. Depends on the jeweler. Many don't want to be responsible for your diamond while it's in their care, including the possibility of chipping during the setting process. Some resent customers buying a diamond elsewhere and won't set the diamond for that reason.


You might ask your jeweler first. I would suggest you not tell the jeweler the diamond will be bought on the internet. You might just say you already have a diamond and ask if they will set it in their setting.


Another thought is to purchase the setting. Have the diamond shipped direct to an independent appraiser and take or send the setting to the appraiser. The appraiser can evaluate the diamond, have the stone mounted for you, and give you a finished piece appraisal.

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Partially complicating this is the fact that I was already looking at stones at the jeweler that has the setting she wants. Ah well, I can always make something up.

Is it cool to have another jewelry store altogether do the appraisal/setting as you suggest? There's a jeweler I always drive by that has a sign in their window advertising appraisal specials. So, that leaves me with: a) purchasing the diamond from an online vendor, b) purchasing the setting from a local jeweler, and c) taking them both to a different jeweler, who would set the stone and appraise it. Is this a wise a course of action, or am I overly-complicating things?

 

[aljdewey]

Murz, I'd do this:




Buy the setting from your local place, and buy the diamond from your online vendor. Have the diamond shipped from your vendor to an APPRAISER (not another jeweler), and ship the setting there as well..




This way, the appraiser can do the appraisal with the loose diamond (more accurate), and he can probably arrange to have it set for you to if you arrange that with him in advance.




then the completed piece can be sent to you.