So don''t ask me why, but in a moment of lucidity this evening, I decided that my proposal is going to happen next week. I could let an opportunity for an amazing proposal pass me up, but I think I''ve got to do everything in my power to target Dec 17th or 18th for my proposal. As you can guess, this puts me in a precarious position. After everything you all have taught me after months of reading your posts and brushing up on sites like GOG, and a couple of days of posting myself, I am far too armed to even go NEAR a mall, and far too saavy to pay the Tiffany''s premium (a lot can change in a week, huh?). And so I find myself with less than a week to secure the perfect diamond (well, for me at least). My biggest problem is, I still want to go through the due diligence of having the stone appraised loose, and getting the OK from an independent appraiser before pulling the trigger, but I need to know if this is logistically feasible. I''m in the SF Bay Area, and am proposing in LA, but aside from IceStore, I don''t think any of the online jewelers that you all have mentioned (GOG, WhiteFlash, Superbcert, DirtCheap, NiceIce), have a B&M presence in California. So I have a few things I am grappling with here...
1) Is it possible for one of the aforementioned jewelers to turn a ring that quick, including allowing time for independent certification, as well as adequate time to set the stone in a simple platinum 6-prong solitaire setting?
2) If so, what is the process for doing so? Would I pick the stone and have them ship to an appraiser, and the appraiser ship to me? If that''s the case, when does the stone get set, and by who?
3) Is this a bad time to buy? I know with the holiday rush, the selection of great diamonds is probably low, but I still trying to find at least a AGS Triple Ideal (not necessarily a true AGS000, as defined on GOG...I can''t afford THAT), and preferably a true H&A, b/w 1.5-2.0ct. I''d like to see a solid HCA score in the range of 1.0-1.5 as well. Oh yeah, and I''m looking to spend b/w $10-$12K. Am I being to demanding, given the rush on diamonds around this time of year?
And just to throw a little extra something into it...
4) What about an Eightstar? I know this has been debated in length by most here, but is it really worth the price? I know I won''t be able to get near the same carat weight for my budget, but from what I hear, those who are believers say it doesn''t even matter...the diamond is worth it. And if it supposedly even looks bigger... Anyway, what could I even get away with in terms of an Eightstar for $10-$12K? Is what I get for the money that much more spectacular than the size increase I would see from an equally priced AGS Triple Ideal H&A? Not to mention that fact I''ll be hit with California''s hefty 8.25% sales tax... Well, I''m going in to see a local jeweler first thing tomorrow about Eightstars, but I wanted to know what everyone here thought.
Basically, I just need to know if this is feasible. I know it''s a busy time of the year for diamonds, and while I would love to hit the dates I''ve targeted, I refuse to compromise on the quality or the value of the stone I am looking for. I''m ready to buy, but not ready to be taken for a premium. If it looks like it''s not logistically feasible, or I won''t be able to get what I want, or I''m not being given a great deal on the diamond, then I have no qualms about letting the date slip. But if the stars can align and fate finds me with the ring of our dreams in my hands by Weds or Thurs, I will (hopefully) be engaged to the most incredible woman in the world by this time next week.
So what do you think...is it doable?
1) Is it possible for one of the aforementioned jewelers to turn a ring that quick, including allowing time for independent certification, as well as adequate time to set the stone in a simple platinum 6-prong solitaire setting?
2) If so, what is the process for doing so? Would I pick the stone and have them ship to an appraiser, and the appraiser ship to me? If that''s the case, when does the stone get set, and by who?
3) Is this a bad time to buy? I know with the holiday rush, the selection of great diamonds is probably low, but I still trying to find at least a AGS Triple Ideal (not necessarily a true AGS000, as defined on GOG...I can''t afford THAT), and preferably a true H&A, b/w 1.5-2.0ct. I''d like to see a solid HCA score in the range of 1.0-1.5 as well. Oh yeah, and I''m looking to spend b/w $10-$12K. Am I being to demanding, given the rush on diamonds around this time of year?
And just to throw a little extra something into it...
4) What about an Eightstar? I know this has been debated in length by most here, but is it really worth the price? I know I won''t be able to get near the same carat weight for my budget, but from what I hear, those who are believers say it doesn''t even matter...the diamond is worth it. And if it supposedly even looks bigger... Anyway, what could I even get away with in terms of an Eightstar for $10-$12K? Is what I get for the money that much more spectacular than the size increase I would see from an equally priced AGS Triple Ideal H&A? Not to mention that fact I''ll be hit with California''s hefty 8.25% sales tax... Well, I''m going in to see a local jeweler first thing tomorrow about Eightstars, but I wanted to know what everyone here thought.
Basically, I just need to know if this is feasible. I know it''s a busy time of the year for diamonds, and while I would love to hit the dates I''ve targeted, I refuse to compromise on the quality or the value of the stone I am looking for. I''m ready to buy, but not ready to be taken for a premium. If it looks like it''s not logistically feasible, or I won''t be able to get what I want, or I''m not being given a great deal on the diamond, then I have no qualms about letting the date slip. But if the stars can align and fate finds me with the ring of our dreams in my hands by Weds or Thurs, I will (hopefully) be engaged to the most incredible woman in the world by this time next week.
So what do you think...is it doable?