Bancsy
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2017
- Messages
- 15
Early last year, my then-boyfriend (now DH 
) and I began talking about engagement rings. Neither of us had any experience with diamonds. I knew that I wanted a cushion cut stone. And my dream setting was a Tiffany&Co Soleste.
DH began poking around the internet and fell into the Pricescope rabbit hole... and brought me along with him. I learned of and fell head over heels for antique stones.
Our "studies" here led us to four PS vendors - Diamonds By Lauren, IDJ, Old World Diamonds and Good Old Gold.
David at DBL was wonderful. He made time for us on a Sunday evening and let us get an eyeful of his wares. He didn't have anything that *spoke* to us though.
We braved the Diamond District after Sunday brunch one afternoon to visit IDJ. On our way, we poked into several shops; that was interesting... We were so frustrated at having uncerted, poorly cut stones forced on us that we almost about-faced and returned home. But I was determined to meet Yekutiel after reading so much about him here and exchanging emails with him. IDJ and Yekutiel did not disappoint. He sourced a genuine old mine for us. It was gorgeous and was a top contender for a long time.
Adam from OWD has to be the nicest guy I've ever met. I met him on a Friday afternoon in his unassuming office and he showed me stone after stone. He was patient and honest. He took the time to educate me on antique diamonds and tested my color tolerance. I drooled over OECs and lingered over a particularly lively bezel-set L-colored one. Who knew L could look so white?! But Adam was honest with me... he didn't have any cushions in my price range that he was proud of and so onward we went.
Finally, we took the drive out to GOG and met with David. We had gone back and forth over whether the AVC would really blow us way... would it live up to the PS hype? David brought some stones out for us and WOW! I've told friends the experience was life changing... and I mean it. We couldn't believe our eyes. We discovered that I wasn't particularly color sensitive, but DH is. I was open to J, K, even L. DH was not. David brought out a 1.69 I SI2, put it under a microscope, showed us the inclusions... so much transparency! And we both loved it. We looked at settings too. We were drawing out a custom design similar to the Soleste when a setting in the case caught my eye... the Tacori 2620. We dropped the AVC into the setting and I gushed. It was the one!
Unfortunately, it was out of budget. We left empty-headed (and me with a broken heart). I began searching JBG and LAD for stones almost daily... hoping to find one we both loved. DH was a bear. He vetoed every stone. He's a mind-clean guy and he just couldn't get over less than perfect cert stats.
Eventually, I stopped looking and told him he was on his own. I was too involved (and frustrated!). He agreed and we stopped talking engagement altogether. Until April of last year. We'd planned a trip to San Diego and LA. DH told me while we were there, we'd visit David Klass (who he'd been exchanging emails with) and Grace of JBG. I was too excited! We were to spend 3 days in San Diego and then head to LA.
On our last day in San Diego, we woke very early (still on east coast time) and drove to La Jolla for a sunrise (the beauty of which I have no words for!). During breakfast, DH asked if I'd like to take a boat ride. We both love to be on the water. I said absolutely. He "found" and available sailboat for that afternoon. Little did I know, it was all prearranged.
While on the boat, DH says to me, "I know you're the woman for me... and I know I want to marry you. We just need a ring. I know we're meeting people tomorrow but what if I told you we didn't have to? What if I said I was ready to marry you right now?" and then dropped to one knee, reached into his pocket and pulled out a beautiful blue box.
We are married now and have since added wedding bands to our little bling family all courtesy of the wonderful people at GOG. Our experience with them has been stellar and we've recommended them to every friend and family member since.
I am so grateful for everyone here. I haven't posted much but I have read a ton. You all have been so helpful on this journey. So THANK YOU!
And so, without further ado... plenty of pics!
First, GOG's pictures...
Here are some shots from when DH proposed...
) and I began talking about engagement rings. Neither of us had any experience with diamonds. I knew that I wanted a cushion cut stone. And my dream setting was a Tiffany&Co Soleste. DH began poking around the internet and fell into the Pricescope rabbit hole... and brought me along with him. I learned of and fell head over heels for antique stones.
Our "studies" here led us to four PS vendors - Diamonds By Lauren, IDJ, Old World Diamonds and Good Old Gold.
David at DBL was wonderful. He made time for us on a Sunday evening and let us get an eyeful of his wares. He didn't have anything that *spoke* to us though.
We braved the Diamond District after Sunday brunch one afternoon to visit IDJ. On our way, we poked into several shops; that was interesting...
We were so frustrated at having uncerted, poorly cut stones forced on us that we almost about-faced and returned home. But I was determined to meet Yekutiel after reading so much about him here and exchanging emails with him. IDJ and Yekutiel did not disappoint. He sourced a genuine old mine for us. It was gorgeous and was a top contender for a long time. Adam from OWD has to be the nicest guy I've ever met. I met him on a Friday afternoon in his unassuming office and he showed me stone after stone. He was patient and honest. He took the time to educate me on antique diamonds and tested my color tolerance. I drooled over OECs and lingered over a particularly lively bezel-set L-colored one. Who knew L could look so white?! But Adam was honest with me... he didn't have any cushions in my price range that he was proud of and so onward we went.
Finally, we took the drive out to GOG and met with David. We had gone back and forth over whether the AVC would really blow us way... would it live up to the PS hype? David brought some stones out for us and WOW! I've told friends the experience was life changing... and I mean it. We couldn't believe our eyes. We discovered that I wasn't particularly color sensitive, but DH is. I was open to J, K, even L. DH was not. David brought out a 1.69 I SI2, put it under a microscope, showed us the inclusions... so much transparency! And we both loved it. We looked at settings too. We were drawing out a custom design similar to the Soleste when a setting in the case caught my eye... the Tacori 2620. We dropped the AVC into the setting and I gushed. It was the one!
Unfortunately, it was out of budget. We left empty-headed (and me with a broken heart). I began searching JBG and LAD for stones almost daily... hoping to find one we both loved. DH was a bear. He vetoed every stone. He's a mind-clean guy and he just couldn't get over less than perfect cert stats.
Eventually, I stopped looking and told him he was on his own. I was too involved (and frustrated!). He agreed and we stopped talking engagement altogether. Until April of last year. We'd planned a trip to San Diego and LA. DH told me while we were there, we'd visit David Klass (who he'd been exchanging emails with) and Grace of JBG. I was too excited! We were to spend 3 days in San Diego and then head to LA.
On our last day in San Diego, we woke very early (still on east coast time) and drove to La Jolla for a sunrise (the beauty of which I have no words for!). During breakfast, DH asked if I'd like to take a boat ride. We both love to be on the water. I said absolutely. He "found" and available sailboat for that afternoon. Little did I know, it was all prearranged.
While on the boat, DH says to me, "I know you're the woman for me... and I know I want to marry you. We just need a ring. I know we're meeting people tomorrow but what if I told you we didn't have to? What if I said I was ready to marry you right now?" and then dropped to one knee, reached into his pocket and pulled out a beautiful blue box.
We are married now and have since added wedding bands to our little bling family all courtesy of the wonderful people at GOG. Our experience with them has been stellar and we've recommended them to every friend and family member since.
I am so grateful for everyone here. I haven't posted much but I have read a ton. You all have been so helpful on this journey. So THANK YOU!
And so, without further ado... plenty of pics!
First, GOG's pictures...
Here are some shots from when DH proposed...
Huge congratulations!!
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