Experiences with getting a ring/setting in Paris?

[calbear81]

Hi Everyone,

I''m planning on proposing in Paris in mid-December and am currently shopping for the ring here in the states. However, I''m not sure about her ring size and she''s quite picky about how it actually will look. I was thinking of getting a temporary ring with the diamond and then after proposing to get the diamond reset into a ring she picks out herself in Paris.

Questions are:

1) Is the temporary ring just a silver ring?
2) Risks involved with having the diamond reset?
3) Prices, quality of getting something done in Paris?

I''m only going to be in Paris for 3-4 days so is that enough time for them to set the stone and such?

If this is a bad idea, I can find a way to get her ring size and then just pick out a standard Tiffany-style solitaire ring.

Thanks in advance!

 

[neatfreak]

I wouldn't...you will pay through the nose and unless you speak fluent French it will be hard to make sure you get exactly what you want. And it will be hard to get everything done in such a short period of time.

If you want to do the temp setting (which is a great idea!) just get a plain WG or YG solitaire and have the stone set in that. That way you can also insure it before the trip, which is a MUST.

Any vendor can supply you with this type of setting for a few hundred dollars. And as long as someone good is doing the setting/resetting there shouldn't be a problem, although there is always a small risk of chipping the stone when setting. But that is what insurance is for!

 

[JulieN]

a temporary setting is usually a cheap, but solid 14K setting, that runs I guess 200 dollars?

I would never, ever buy jewelry in a foreign country where I am just a casual visitor (no real connections to that country) unless maybe you wanted to shop at Cartier...

 

[MishB]

I totally agree with this, I had a special anniversary in Paris which called for a new RH ring, we debated purchasing it over there but decided to get the ring here first. Unless you have the budget to walk straight into Cartier and pick something out of the case (agree with this previously posted), I don''t think it''s worth the trouble. Plus the language barrier, waiting time if any customisation is needed etc. Also, if your fiance is like me and needs to look at every single ring in every jeweller in a given city, you don''t want to waste your time in Paris schlepping around every jeweller.

 

[Deelight]

Date: 10/30/2008 2:46:04 PM
Author: JulieN
a temporary setting is usually a cheap, but solid 14K setting, that runs I guess 200 dollars?


I would never, ever buy jewelry in a foreign country where I am just a casual visitor (no real connections to that country) unless maybe you wanted to shop at Cartier...

I got a stuller white gold temp setting from GOG a few months ago and it cost me like $100, prices however might have risen, but like Neatfreak said get insurance before you, you don''t know what can happen.

Looking at the jewelery in Europe and in NY, I think the selection and price is better in the US , plus there is so much to do in Paris I know I would rather be doing other things .