Getting engaged when I return from the Middle East (Sept/Oct) Buy now or later?

[liquidh2o]

Hi all! firstly, I would like to say thank you for having this forum and to everyone who contributes! The knowledge and discussion here have helped tremendously in my education for buying a ring, and I almost feel like I'm at a point to where I can start looking at diamonds/settings and finding the perfect match for my perfect match.

My dilemna is that I am currently overseas, and have set a few things up for the proposal to take place shortly after returning home. I'm unsure if I should start looking to buy now or when I return home.

If I were to buy now, I feel there are 4-5 vendors that I feel completely comfortable with their guidance (through the use of their staff, ASET, IS, numerous recommendations on this forum, etc..) while over here.

My concern of waiting until I return home is that I'll have a limited window to find what I'm looking for... I think it can be done, but it may come down to the wire...

If I were to buy from an online vendor this far out while being deployed, are there disadvantages that anyone can think of or have personally experienced? The big one I can see is shipping to my location (we have an APO address), but it does not have to be done, it can be sent to my home address.

Any other pro's/cons to either? Thanks!

P.S. cute story of the day.. my friend asked his girlfriend to marry him yesterday... he did it by sending her an e-vite to their wedding on facebook, she excitedly accepted the e-vite

 

[Lorelei]

Hi Liquid, thank you for your service!

Some if not all of the vendors should be able to ship to an APO box via USPS Registered Mail so I don't see a problem there, or as you say it could be sent to your home address. Do you mind me asking what area you are in as I take it you will be back in the States for a brief period? The reason I am asking is I am curious if you might be located near a vendor and can purchase in person.

Or you can certainly start looking if you are ready and see what comes up, if the right diamond presents itself then you can grab it!

 

[liquidh2o]

Hi Lorelei, thanks for your reply and info about the registered mail part, I hadn't thought of that! Right now I'm stationed just outside of Doha, Qatar, and I am able to go into the city. We have a jewelry vendor here on base, unfortunately their certification for diamonds seems to be done through a Qatari certification, and I'm not too sure how reliable it is. I've noticed that their prices are cheaper when it comes to the lower grade diamonds, they don't have any higher cut quality diamonds but assure me they can get them if I gave them specifics.

For the coming back to the states part, it will be the end of my deployment so fortunately I won't have to go back!

The proposal is the tricky part, there's a photographer whose work I really, really like. He was able to work out a photo shoot for my gf and I but he only had one available date that we could be there for (he's a 15hr drive away!), and I decided to snatch it up. My gf thinks it is just a regular couples photo shoot, because I have been raving about his work lol. The plan is, at our last location, to have him continue taking shots of her while I do one last wardrobe change, which will have me coming out, box in hand, and dropping down on one knee to propose, alll while getting it captured on camera. The photographer likes the idea and is all for it, I'm stoked

 

[stone-cold11]

Nice proposal plan, good luck then.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/5/2009 6:21:26 AM
Author: liquidh2o
Hi Lorelei, thanks for your reply and info about the registered mail part, I hadn't thought of that! Right now I'm stationed just outside of Doha, Qatar, and I am able to go into the city. We have a jewelry vendor here on base, unfortunately their certification for diamonds seems to be done through a Qatari certification, and I'm not too sure how reliable it is. I've noticed that their prices are cheaper when it comes to the lower grade diamonds, they don't have any higher cut quality diamonds but assure me they can get them if I gave them specifics.

For the coming back to the states part, it will be the end of my deployment so fortunately I won't have to go back!

The proposal is the tricky part, there's a photographer whose work I really, really like. He was able to work out a photo shoot for my gf and I but he only had one available date that we could be there for (he's a 15hr drive away!), and I decided to snatch it up. My gf thinks it is just a regular couples photo shoot, because I have been raving about his work lol. The plan is, at our last location, to have him continue taking shots of her while I do one last wardrobe change, which will have me coming out, box in hand, and dropping down on one knee to propose, alll while getting it captured on camera. The photographer likes the idea and is all for it, I'm stoked

Glad to help! I take it you have compared prices online compared with those in Quatar? I would think online US prices would be cheaper plus you know exactly what you are getting, and not to mention the support of a trusted vendor should you need it.
Is that a jewellery concessionaire on base or the AAFES jewellery store?
The proposal plan sounds great!

 

[oldminer]

Shop now, but I doubt prices will rise in the next 6 months. You can closely target what your exact needs are and I doubt you''ll be asked for more money during the rest of the year. While prices might go down, there is a lot of resistance to lowering prices and many diamonds are being sold at or near cost already due to declines in trading activity and market value. Of course, gold or platinum may rise or fall somewhat independently of diamond prices. In the long run, we are in for inflation and higher commodity prices, but in the short run it is just a guess.

 

[Todd Gray]

I assume since you have an APO address and are currently in the Middle East that you are in the service, thank you for serving!

I recommend that you start looking for the diamond now because there are very few truly well cut diamonds and it can be difficult to find exactly what a customer is looking for. If you do not want the diamond shipped to the Middle East, simply ask the vendor to keep it in their vault pending your return.

I don''t know anything about the certification process in Quatar, but I can''t imagine that they provide as much detail as most of the online dealers do - I''m pretty confident about this since very few brick and mortar jewelry stores here in the U.S. offer as much detail as we online dealers do

My son is serving in the USMC and I''ve had a chance to see the jewelry offered by the exchange Lorelei and I guess the best way to sum it up is that it "made me itch" - but then again, I break out in hives whenever I pass the jewelry counter at Wal-Mart too if that puts it in perspective... But I will say that the exchange IS the place to buy Tommy Bahama shirts! Oh man, you wouldn''t believe the price! It makes things easy for my son on Father''s Day!

Wherever you decide to purchase your diamond LiquidH20, be sure to pay close attention to the proportions and the location, size and extent of the inclusions. Most of the online vendors offer detailed information like computerized proportions analysis showing the facet-by-facet structure of the diamond; Hearts & Arrows images; ASET images; Ideal Scope images, etc. but if they don''t just ask them to provide them. Find a vendor who you feel comfortable working with and let them know the specifics of your perfect diamond (shape, carat weight, color, clarity, cut quality, price) and have them start looking for the diamond with the understanding that you''re just starting to look now and really need it in September / October and then you can either purchase it when it comes along -or- decide to keep looking and roll the dice later in the game. It''s really no different than how most of our customers shop online to begin with...

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/5/2009 2:59:25 PM
Author: Todd Gray
I assume since you have an APO address and are currently in the Middle East that you are in the service, thank you for serving!

I recommend that you start looking for the diamond now because there are very few truly well cut diamonds and it can be difficult to find exactly what a customer is looking for. If you do not want the diamond shipped to the Middle East, simply ask the vendor to keep it in their vault pending your return.

I don''t know anything about the certification process in Quatar, but I can''t imagine that they provide as much detail as most of the online dealers do - I''m pretty confident about this since very few brick and mortar jewelry stores here in the U.S. offer as much detail as we online dealers do

My son is serving in the USMC and I''ve had a chance to see the jewelry offered by the exchange Lorelei and I guess the best way to sum it up is that it ''made me itch'' - but then again, I break out in hives whenever I pass the jewelry counter at Wal-Mart too if that puts it in perspective... But I will say that the exchange IS the place to buy Tommy Bahama shirts! Oh man, you wouldn''t believe the price! It makes things easy for my son on Father''s Day!

Wherever you decide to purchase your diamond LiquidH20, be sure to pay close attention to the proportions and the location, size and extent of the inclusions. Most of the online vendors offer detailed information like computerized proportions analysis showing the facet-by-facet structure of the diamond; Hearts & Arrows images; ASET images; Ideal Scope images, etc. but if they don''t just ask them to provide them. Find a vendor who you feel comfortable working with and let them know the specifics of your perfect diamond (shape, carat weight, color, clarity, cut quality, price) and have them start looking for the diamond with the understanding that you''re just starting to look now and really need it in September / October and then you can either purchase it when it comes along -or- decide to keep looking and roll the dice later in the game. It''s really no different than how most of our customers shop online to begin with...

LOL!!! Absolutely right Todd!!

 

[Gypsy]

I would ask any vendor about any return policies they have if you purchase now. Say you find the right diamond from Infinity, purchase it and ask HPD to hold onto it till you get back. Does your return policy toll from the date of purchase of the date of reciept of the ring?

My only concern might be that it might not her her style, if this is a surprise. You know... if she''s a round girl and you buy a princess or vise versa.

 

[liquidh2o]

David, Todd, Lorelei and Gypsy, thank you for the insight and questions I should be asking that I didn''t think of!

I have decided to start the shopping process now in hopes that it will allow me to be patient in finding the perfect diamond in terms of quality/price. Gypsy, I actually wrote what you asked down on a sticky note and have it stuck to my computer monitor! I am lucky enough to know exactly what my girlfriend is looking for, we had a bit of a discussion about a friends wedding and I got all the details for what she likes (three stone princess, white gold setting). I played dumb about ring settings and what she meant, so I showed her various settings asking her "is this what you meant?" I got an "OMG I love that one" from the Vatche x-prong three-stone setting.

Lorelei, I managed to get into Doha today, and they are very overpriced. I found a 1.5c RB diamond that did have a GIA , Color was D, clarity IF, Symmetry/polish only fair-good, no other measurements, and they wanted $34k for it

I was not impressed. They did have some really nice jewelry though, I''ll post pics when I get them uploaded. The jeweler on base is a local concessionaire, his pricing seemed a little better when it came to pendants that I was looking at.

One thing I will buy in Doha is a couple of new suits! The pricing for bespoke suits w/ super 150''s wool is impressive, and the few vendors I have been to have excellent craftmanship!

Todd, tell your son thank you! I cannot express enough gratitude for those that choose to serve.

I''ll be starting a new thread here shortly, as well as contact vendors. Look forward to posting updates along w/ pictures when I''ve found the perfect ER for my gf.

Thanks again!

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 6/7/2009 1:50:00 AM
Author: liquidh2o
David, Todd, Lorelei and Gypsy, thank you for the insight and questions I should be asking that I didn''t think of!

I have decided to start the shopping process now in hopes that it will allow me to be patient in finding the perfect diamond in terms of quality/price. Gypsy, I actually wrote what you asked down on a sticky note and have it stuck to my computer monitor! I am lucky enough to know exactly what my girlfriend is looking for, we had a bit of a discussion about a friends wedding and I got all the details for what she likes (three stone princess, white gold setting). I played dumb about ring settings and what she meant, so I showed her various settings asking her ''is this what you meant?'' I got an ''OMG I love that one'' from the Vatche x-prong three-stone setting.

Lorelei, I managed to get into Doha today, and they are very overpriced. I found a 1.5c RB diamond that did have a GIA , Color was D, clarity IF, Symmetry/polish only fair-good, no other measurements, and they wanted $34k for it

I was not impressed. They did have some really nice jewelry though, I''ll post pics when I get them uploaded. The jeweler on base is a local concessionaire, his pricing seemed a little better when it came to pendants that I was looking at.

One thing I will buy in Doha is a couple of new suits! The pricing for bespoke suits w/ super 150''s wool is impressive, and the few vendors I have been to have excellent craftmanship!

Todd, tell your son thank you! I cannot express enough gratitude for those that choose to serve.

I''ll be starting a new thread here shortly, as well as contact vendors. Look forward to posting updates along w/ pictures when I''ve found the perfect ER for my gf.

Thanks again!

I''m very happy I could help! And as someone who has worked with High Performance Diamonds (Wink and now Todd) I highly recommend them as a vendor what what you want as Infinity Princesses are STUNNING and HPD carries the exact setting you want!

Please come back with pics for us of whatever you get, so we can see the ring on your lady''s hand. And take care of yourself. Please.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/7/2009 1:50:00 AM
Author: liquidh2o
David, Todd, Lorelei and Gypsy, thank you for the insight and questions I should be asking that I didn't think of!

I have decided to start the shopping process now in hopes that it will allow me to be patient in finding the perfect diamond in terms of quality/price. Gypsy, I actually wrote what you asked down on a sticky note and have it stuck to my computer monitor! I am lucky enough to know exactly what my girlfriend is looking for, we had a bit of a discussion about a friends wedding and I got all the details for what she likes (three stone princess, white gold setting). I played dumb about ring settings and what she meant, so I showed her various settings asking her 'is this what you meant?' I got an 'OMG I love that one' from the Vatche x-prong three-stone setting.

Lorelei, I managed to get into Doha today, and they are very overpriced. I found a 1.5c RB diamond that did have a GIA , Color was D, clarity IF, Symmetry/polish only fair-good, no other measurements, and they wanted $34k for it

I was not impressed. They did have some really nice jewelry though, I'll post pics when I get them uploaded. The jeweler on base is a local concessionaire, his pricing seemed a little better when it came to pendants that I was looking at.

Glad you took a pass on that one....

One thing I will buy in Doha is a couple of new suits! The pricing for bespoke suits w/ super 150's wool is impressive, and the few vendors I have been to have excellent craftmanship!

Todd, tell your son thank you! I cannot express enough gratitude for those that choose to serve.

I'll be starting a new thread here shortly, as well as contact vendors. Look forward to posting updates along w/ pictures when I've found the perfect ER for my gf.

Thanks again!