HELP: Order of events - GOG stones; setting; appraisal

[Dadof4]

I need advice on how to put together a 5 stone ring for my wife. I have 4 small Jubilee side stones (.25 - .29 ct)on hold with GOG, and am waiting my turn to pick a .75 Jubilee center (I''m #30 on the waiting list). There is a 5 stone Vatche setting for princess cuts I could get through GOG. But it will have to be custom made/fit for the size stones I am getting. Since Vatche goes on vacation in July, we are looking at August before we would get the finished ring.

So, now we''re hunting for a setting elsewhere. How do we select another setting, get stones appraised, put them all together in the smartest order possible? Should we shop via catalogue for a setting through a local jewler? Or, is a Vatche worth the wait? My head is swimming, and I''m real nervous about making a mistake.

Sometimes I think, "Just go get the HOF 5 stone Dream setup and pay the premium to save all the hassel."

What say you all?

 

[ep6585]

I'm also looking to have a Vatche setting for a new Jubilee that I'm purchasing from GOG. I'm not in a rush so I'm gonna wait.

Vatche's only gonna be on vacation for two weeks which should give you time to have the diamonds appraised. You should be able to get the completed ring back by the first week in August.

 

[Dadof4]

So, if we got the Vatche through GOG, is this the order: GOG sends stones to me, I send to appraiser, then I (or appraiser) sends stones back to GOG (who will give to Vatche for setting?

Is a Vatche something special? Could I find a nice setting through a local jeweler, and send that back to GOG for setting (after I've had the stones appraised)? Does every setting need to be somewhat customized for the size stones? Who does that?

 

[ep6585]

Usually GOG would send the diamonds directly to the appraiser. They would send them back to GOG who would then send it to Vatche to do the setting. Talk to Marie at GOG about the logistics.

Vatche has set Jubilees before so they're familiar with them. They also do really great work. A local jeweler may or may not be comfortable setting them.

 

[Dadof4]

In that case, I won't get to see the stones until I get the finished ring. I think that would be ok since I'll get to see the lightscope, and ideal scope reports from GOG. Or, does anyone think I need to see them first?

 

[Richard Sherwood]

You might consider the following orders:

1. GOG sends to appraiser.
2. Appraiser sends to Vatche.
3. Vatche sends to appraiser for verification of stones & work, & appraisal revision with ring mounting added.
4. Appraiser sends to you.

or...

1. GOG sends to Vatche.
2. Vatche sends to appraiser.
3. Appraiser documents the ring mounted, and sends to you.

 

[ep6585]

I'm planning to use Rich's first option. There just aren't any appraisers close enough to me that I could use.

GOG and Rich's appraisal and information will act as my "eyes" since I won't actually see the diamond before getting the completed ring.

 

[moremoremore]

Hmmm...I didn't know GOG had a waiting list for jubilees....

 

[limey]

I skipped the appraiser step altogether. This was partly because of timing since the first batch came in a few days ahead of our 10th anniversary. I could have gone to a local appraiser recommended to me by Richard Sherwood but I had 100% confidence in Jonathan and the reports he had supplied. Finally my local jeweler promised to cast a critical eye on the Jubilee. He thought the color grade was right when viewed throught the body but was pleased that it faced up so white, as for clarity he thought that GCAL was conservative!

I think the Vatche settings will work out fine. Good luck!

Limey

 

[limey]

Waiting list!!?? #30 altogether, or #30 for an approx .75 ct??

 

[Dadof4]

----------------
On 6/19/2004 11:27:20 AM limey wrote:

Waiting list!!?? #30 altogether, or #30 for an approx .75 ct??----------------

That would be #30 altogether. I think most people are going for 1+ct.