Engagement Ring Process Help - Barsky Diamond

[ace88]

Hi, I am new and have 2 questions.
First, does anyone have any feedback on Barsky Diamonds, specifically bad experiences? I have heard they are a good place to start to get ideas but I have not heard if they are great to purchase from. I dont want to get ripped off.

Second, once you agree on a price/ring what is the process for gettting an appraisal. Do you take the actual ring to an independent appraiser or just a certificate? Do you have to pay for it first? Then how do you find a good independent appraiser and lastly how do you set up the insurance on the ring?

One more question...how long does it typically take to get a ring from explaining what you want and picking a jeweler and getting the actual ring? Assuming you dont want anything too crazy?

Thanks

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Welcome! It is always fine to do some casual shopping to get ideas of size, price, etc. Just tell them you aren''t interested in buying now!

Most of us on here came at one time because we were diamond shopping, and to make a very long story short, we learned that we can get top quality stones at better prices from some vendors that we learned about through recommendations on this forum. Some of us actually got hooked on the forum and stayed..but that''s another subject!

What shape stone do you want and what is your budget? Incidentally, this post really should be moved to Rocky Talky, because this is the forum for showing your finished ring! You can click thr button msg admin or something like that and ask them to move it to the other forum where you''ll get more help.

 

[UCLABelle]

If you are talking about Basky''s in Philly, I had a bad experience there. I purchased a halo setting for my asscher. They told me the diamond would sit flush, instead it came to be basically sitting on top....essentially, the setting was made to fit a 1ct instead of my 2ct. It was the POOREST quality diamond setting job I had ever seen. It was a nightmare. We asked for it to be fixed, only to have it come back with a broken prong, and bent head. Finally, they refunded money...but it took speaking with the manager and I believe the owner.

 

[Anastasia]

ace - if you are going to go to Barsky''s, I would shop all of jeweler''s row. You will get a good feel for which jeweler you are most comfortable with.

DH and I have purchased many items at Barsky''s over the last 16 years (beginning with my engagement ring and wedding band). I believe that the best thing you can do is to educate yourself, get an independent appraisal and go with the jeweler you feel best about. I don''t know if they are any better or worse than anyone else.

They usually have a jeweler on duty when you are there. Therefore they are usually pretty quick about turnaround. I think they made my custom wedding band in a few days (although that was in 1992!). One thing that I do like about them is that I have on many occasions had minor adjustments made to my rings while I waited.

 

[ace88]

thanks for the help. i did go to barsky in phildelphia and they were nice and made me feel comfortable, there was no pressure. looking for a circle diamond and still working through the process of the 4 c''s with a budget of around $20K.

So if I do settle on a diamond how much negotiation usually can take place? and then I guess i pay for an independent appraisal? If it comes back completely off then do I have any recourse?