Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Engagement Ring nerves and frustrations

N

Newmz

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 24, 2015
Messages
3
I've read a million of these threads on here so thanks in advance to those of you willing to tackle another one. = )

I am looking for an engagement ring. First step, went to Tiffanys to look at styles. I really liked the Novo look. Girlfriend likes the big rock, small band concept. I went to a local jeweler to see if I could get one custom made. They brought in two diamonds for me to look at. Here is the one they recommended.

http://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?pagename=GST%2FDispatcher&childpagename=GIA%2FPage%2FReportCheck&c=Page&cid=1355954554547&reportno=3195162736

I looked at the diamond through the scope but wasn't exactly sure what I was looking at. The salesman wasn't pushy but said this was a good diamond. They are asking $12k for the diamond.

For some reason, I do not feel completely at ease with the results. It looks great in person and I like the setting I've chosen. Its probably my lack of knowledge on this subject. I am not sure exactly what I am looking for in a diamond. I guess I am a typical man. I want to get her something that she will like but I also want to feel like I got a good deal.

My budget is $15-20k. I like the Tiffany Novo and for a halo I like the Harry Winston micropave, both of which I have seen posted here numerous times.

I feel more comfortable online because the reviewers aren't making a profit off of me. However, I am skeptical of purchasing such a big item online. I am also worried about buying an "engagement ring" online. Is there any backlash to be expected from that? Oh, he bought it online? Really?

Any help is much appreciated!
 
So many PSers can help you with finding a great stone and setting. I wanted to address your question about "backlash". First off, do you really care what people think? IF you find an amazing stone and setting that looks stunning on your fiance's hand at a very fair and reasonable price, who CARES what people think. I have always been more happy with the service and product that I have received from PS recommended "on-line" vendors than the B&M stores I have visited IRL. And, the online retailers actually have B&M stores. Whiteflash has a store in Texas. Victor Canera who makes hand forged settings and cuts his own stones has a location in LA, as I am sure many of the other vendors that other PSers will recommend, just not the gigantic Tiffany store front. And to answer your question, I have never experienced backlash myself, but then again I don't care. I just feel sorry for the people who are ignorant of what is out there, and get a lower quality product b/c they are not open to what is available "on-line".

Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking the Novo. It's beautiful. It's Tiffany. Many women would love it. It just seems that you want to be more educated before committing $15K-$20K. I sure would be.
 
Online is the way of the future. There ARE people who will say 'oh, he bought it online? Weird..'. But who cares. It means you get selection of WAY more diamonds, and way better cut ones. Instead of limiting your search to your city, you have the whole world ;)

The price isn't bad for the size, but is it eye clean? Could you see any of the inclusions? They are RIGHT in the center of the table, so it seems like it might be obvious.
 
Here are a couple of pictures I took last time I visited Victor Canera. He had just completed this hand forged platinum F (if I remember correctly) Canera Antique cushion in his Jocelyn setting.





I thought of this because she seems to like cushion shaped stones and a skinny shank. His work is stunning and extremely fine. He also does an amazing micropave halo. You get a discount on the setting if you source your stone and setting through him. He's in the LA area and super easy to communicate with on line and on the phone.

https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/engagement/the-jocelyn-pave-solitaire

Just go to his website which has videos that rotate and show you all viewpoints of the setting. Any of them can be made to fit a cushion cut stone.

https://www.victorcanera.com/rings/engagement/the-emilya-halo-solitaire-with-2ct-vintage-cushion
Here is his Emilya halo with a cushion cut stone.

Since this seems like a joint decision making process, has she considered the antique cushion cuts? Has she seen the flavors of the various modern cushion cuts?
https://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/npy8tq

This is a thread consolidating a lot of his work for PSers here.
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/post-your-victor-canera-beauties-here.175281/

I have also seen many PSers use ERD/Brilliantly Engaged, and been very happy with their rings.
https://www.pricescope.com/forum/sh...rd-brilliantly-engaged-thread-t192763-30.html

I will leave specific stones and comments on aset images to more proficient PSers. Good luck!!

_31426.jpg

_31427.jpg
 
I am by no means an expert but that sounds a bit more expensive than Id expect considering the medium fluorescence in a top colored diamond and VG VG pollish and symmetry. I would say 9-10.5k would be more fair personally.
 
Absolutely no backlash for buying online. I actually prefer it now that I've experienced it. My particular purchase was through James Allan though I had also looked at Whiteflash. Using an online chat program from their website I was able to talk to the James Allan rep, view diamonds with him (With real pictures of said diamonds) with my GF looking at the stuff too. Together we picked out a nice ring with a nice diamond and through it all we felt good about the purchase BECAUSE we were informed. I know exactly how you feel.

You don't wanna be that guy that drops 10k on a diamond that no one else will take and after you leave with it the sales guy is rubbing his hands together and muttering "Glad SOMEONE finally bought it". A caricature of reality of course but you get the point. ;)

As for the actual purchase, I did it over the phone with the company and they sent me multiple emails confirming my order. Then they sent me a Fed-Ex tracking number and overnighted the package right to my house. It took them less than 24 hours to send it from NEW YORK to CALIFORNIA. I was amazed with the shipping speed and the professional nature of the online representatives, it really does seem like they have your best interests at heart.

I can't open the package right now with my ring but I can't wait to get home and do it. I was gonna post some pics on here later! 8-)
 
That is one huge table on a shallow cushion. I don't like to gauge light performance based on the lab report numbers but this one is so out of whack that I would keep looking.
 
Yeah 10,500 seems like a better price although I would say it even deserves slightly lower. If I were you, with your budget, I think you might be able to do better. Unless you really really loved it in person and then I'd say buy it at $10,500. Good luck!
 
What metropolitan area do you live closest to? Buying in person at a PS-recommended vendor may be the solution to your worries.
 
Oh wow. I really like the Canera ring posted here. That is almost exactly what I was looking at. I am going to look into his brand now.

I am in North Texas, near Dallas, for the other poster who asked.
 
Newmz|1435179195|3893751 said:
Oh wow. I really like the Canera ring posted here. That is almost exactly what I was looking at. I am going to look into his brand now.

I am in North Texas, near Dallas, for the other poster who asked.
Click to expand...

Both Whiteflash and Brian Gavin are in Texas.

They are both very well-regarded vendors, and you would be able to see some stones/settings in person.
 
Newmz|1435284106|3894499 said:
I called and talked to Victor, SUPER nice guy. I am going to do the Jocelyn setting, thanks LLJsmom!! Now I need a diamond. What do y'all think of this one?

https://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/7fp1h1
Click to expand...

I am so jealous!! His Canera antique cushions are soooo beautiful. And he's super easy to talk to right? No pressure. Which Jocelyn are you getting? The regular or scalloped basket! I have the scalloped basket one. :love: Double or single prongs? I'm so excited for you! Please let me know how everything goes and send us pictures when it's done.
 
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top