EC estate ring--Did I do the right thing??

[AnitaT]

Dear PSers,
I need advice about the following piece. I found a beautiful estate emerald cut engagement ring in an antique-looking platinum setting. Initially, I was only interested in the setting and got an estimate for $2800. The jeweler would like to keep the ring intact and has offered a price of $8600. I think the ring is gorgeous. I wasn’t interested in an EC, but it has grown on me.

About the stone--
EGL certified emerald cut stone,
measures 6.88 x 5.84 x 3.84
1.34 ct, H color, VVS2

Today I hear from the jeweler, it turns out someone else is interested in the setting, but they wanted to check-in with me and give me a chance to get it before this other customer. The jeweler gave me the EGL report number and I found out the following:
Depth: 65.7
Table: 76
Fluorescence: very faint
Polish: good to fair good
Sym: good to fair good
*the polish and symmetry sound strange

Today was really, really busy at work, so my research and thought process wasn’t the best…so, given the information I had, I decided to turn down the ring.

Did I do the right thing? I mean, it seems like a reasonable price and it is a beautiful ring. However, I felt unsure about the EGL certification and proportions and couldn’t go through with it. My boyfriend just wants me to find a ring that I will be happy with and I want to make sure he ends up getting a quality purchase. I would really appreciate hearing from others about all this! Can I do better than this? Is this a good deal?

 

[strmrdr]

You did the right thing.
With those numbers the EC would suck.

 

[Kaleigh]

Sleep well. You did the right thing.

 

[Circe]

strmdr''s the number''s guy, and well worth listening to ... me, I''m just a sap. It sounds like you loved the setting, and loved the price, but didn''t love the *ring*. Given that this is something that you''ll be wearing for a lifetime, it''s definitely worth continuing the hunt until you find something that you love as a total package ... consider this one of those "penny saved, penny earned" situations.

Could you share a little bit more about what you''re looking for? People on this site tend to be scarily good at finding Exactly the Right Diamond ....

 

[strmrdr]

Settings are easy, there are over 500000 different designs on the market and if one of those don't strike your fancy there are thousands of skilled craftsman that will make exactly the ring you want.
A great stone is the foundation on which a kicken ring is made.

edit: yes I pulled the 500000 number out of my hat but there are at least that many.

 

[AnitaT]

OMG--thank you for saying that!!! I have been worrying about it. We have looked at other stones and this price sounded pretty fair. It is certainly larger than anything else we have considered and seemed like a good bargain. So...I felt stressed about saying no.

 

[chirp]

s.o. here in ps has this motto: a deal is only a deal if you're getting exatly what you want. Now, I think this is great advice. You did the right thing, if you're not sure, then it's not the 'one'. sleep well.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/6/2008 12:26:53 AM
Author: Kaleigh
Sleep well. You did the right thing.

And thritto Storm and Kaleigh!

 

[AnitaT]

Thank you everyone--you certainly helped me get a good night''s rest last night! I had to wake my bf and share everyone''s comments with him. Once he was alert enough to understand what I was talking about, he was relieved!

Circe, I am pasting the setting below (hopefully this works). The story gets a little weird too. I was told the piece was "one of a kind." However, I was able to learn (thanks to Pricescope) that it was a Philip Press setting. I got a quote from a local retailer of $3600+ which is why the other setting was appealing.

 

[AnitaT]

This picture doesn''t do the setting justice.

So, now that my bf and I have said no to the estate piece with the EC, we need to decide if we go with ordering the setting from Renaissance Platinum (Philip Press). Does anyone have a Philip Press ring?

 

[Love in Bloom]

Hey, I recognize that ring! I'm sure you probably already know this AnitaT, but Phillip Press (for lack of a gentle word...) steals original designs by casting, and the original in this case happens to be a die-struck ring from one of my favorite designers. I'm definitely not trying to deter you from purchasing a cast setting as the price is a lot less than the original die-struck one from VC. However the fact that the people you are dealing with use the term one-of-a-kind is definitely questionable IMO

.

 

[AnitaT]

LIB---Thank you for saying that, we were wondering about it and weren''t sure what to think. This whole process has been interesting to say the least.

Update to the estate EC ring situation: after my bf and I passed on the ring, we heard back later that the "other customer" didn''t get the ring afterall and it was still available! The store caused my bf and me lots of stress on a busy day at work for what...?! In hindsight, it seemed like a thinly veiled attempt to make a sale.

Anyway, this incident coupled with all the "one-of-a-kind" rhetoric made us lose faith in the store.

And, we are looking into VC designs now.

 

[strmrdr]

VC?

 

[Gypsy]

Van Craynest. Serious Heirloom Quality stuff. TDF

 

[surfgirl]

Date: 3/8/2008 12:49:11 PM
Author: Gypsy
Van Craynest. Serious Heirloom Quality stuff. TDF

Yeah, that ring you posted is either a Van Craynest or a fake VC...either way, just call VC directly and talk to them. Better to get the original if you can.

 

[diamondfan]

The ring itself aside, I think that is a pretty common sales approach. SA sees your interest is wavering and so they make it sound like someone else wants it...there may or may not be someone else at all.

Sounds like you made the best choice and now know whose settings to hone in on!

 

[AnitaT]

Hello! Strmrdr--as others have stated, VC is Van Craeynest (www.vancraeynest.com). I didn''t know about them until PS.

You know, if it wasn''t for PS, I would have fallen for everything I was told The price seemed for reasonable for a 1.34 EC "one-of-a-kind" piece...so I am grateful for everyone''s feedback.

Now, as diamondfan and surfgirl pointed out, I know about Philip Press and Van Craeynest. I have actually had the opportunity to talk to Larry Van Craeynest and he has been very kind. I was quite impressed that he actually answers himself. Wow. I only wish there were more stores that carried VC rings.

 

[surfgirl]

I''m sure if he sends you photos and something strikes your fancy, he might be able to send you a setting sample (if you''re not in his area) so you can see it in person...Worth asking.

 

[Love in Bloom]

Date: 3/8/2008 2:48:33 PM
Author: AnitaT
Hello! Strmrdr--as others have stated, VC is Van Craeynest (www.vancraeynest.com). I didn''t know about them until PS.

You know, if it wasn''t for PS, I would have fallen for everything I was told The price seemed for reasonable for a 1.34 EC ''one-of-a-kind'' piece...so I am grateful for everyone''s feedback.

Now, as diamondfan and surfgirl pointed out, I know about Philip Press and Van Craeynest. I have actually had the opportunity to talk to Larry Van Craeynest and he has been very kind. I was quite impressed that he actually answers himself. Wow. I only wish there were more stores that carried VC rings.

I adore Larry Van Craeynest. I think it is cool too that he answers the phone as he is refreshingly not pushy and yes, very kind!

Also, I''m very disappointed that you have been given lines by pushy sales people, AnitaT. But on the brigher side, I''m relieved and happy that PS has helped you follow what your gut had perhaps been telling you all along.

 

[strmrdr]

thanks for the info I don''t pay much attention too designers, preferring too design my own and have my local guy make them.

 

[AnitaT]

Surfgirl, I will have to look into that. The problem is, of course, that there are a lot of beautiful to designs and it will be difficult to pick just one or two . Thanks for everyone''s help.