Help with finding Cartier/HW dupe @ online vendors

[jelliebellie]

Hi all,

I've been reading up on PS to prepare for selecting the perfect e-ring. I have tried on RB solitaires at Cartier and HW, and fell in love with the brilliance of the stones and the simplicity of the platinum band. I tried on a 1.70 G VS1 at Cartier (the simple 1895), and a 1.76 E VVS2 at HW (the solitaire). The sticker price ranged from $47000 to $57000.

Then my boyfriend had a chat with one of his good friends who said only tourists buy rings at fancy jewelry stores. I disagree, but anyway, his friend recommended buying the stone and getting it mounted so it looks just like a Cartier or HW. I know PSers are miracle workers, so can too help me achieve this?

What cut should I be looking for that has the sparkle of a Starburst? What cut does HW use for its RBs? For a setting, what most closely resembles the 1895 and the HW settings? I am fairly active and clumsy so I'd like something sitting low on the finger.

Finally, I remember my mom had a custom setting, and she had to get her ring appraised before and after taking it to a jeweler for repairs/cleaning because she was afraid they'd switch out the stone. This is the kind of thing that makes me paranoid about not being able to take it back to Cartier/HW for "maintenance" and have peace of mind. I also like the respective upgrade policies and their guarantees.

In short, I am set on a Cartier/HW but want to consider all possibilities and am willing to go another route if the end product will have the same quality as the branded rings. I'd greatly appreciate any guidance!

Also, in the event we go the custom route, and the end product is not what I expect, what are our options? I don't want to commit to a ring (ha ha) before I am certain it will look just like what I love.

Many thanks!

 

[rubybeth]

In short, I am set on a Cartier/HW but want to consider all possibilities and am willing to go another route if the end product will have the same quality as the branded rings. I'd greatly appreciate any guidance!

The quality with many of the online vendors that Pricescopers use/recommend often is going to be at LEAST as good as Cartier or HW, if not better, and typically will save you some bucks, too.

For example, here's a Whiteflash Expert Selection 1.73 F VS1 for about $30k (usually these stones are just shy of meeting the 'A Cut Above' branding criteria, so a very good value):

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2215537.htm

Or this 1.74 G VS1 from Brian Gavin for $29K:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.743-g-vs1-round-diamond-ags-104054185002

Or this 2.07 G VS2 from Good Old Gold, about $37k:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8175/

And there are many beautiful solitaire settings, some very similar to the HW solitaire or the Cartier 1895. One of my favorites is Victor Canera’s ‘Trueste’: http://www.victorcanera.com/the-trueste-solitaire.html

or the Vatche Caroline (can be ordered either with or without the diamonds on the basket, without looks similar to the 1895, I think):
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/custom-design-vatche-caroline-ring-from-whiteflash.171998/#post-3141081#p3141081']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/custom-design-vatche-caroline-ring-from-whiteflash.171998/#post-3141081#p3141081[/URL] (and you can get this setting from Whiteflash or Good Old Gold, not sure if Brian Gavin is a Vatche dealer).

A post asking about the 1895 with some other ideas: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/setting-help-cartier-1895ish.169384/#post-3080460#p3080460']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/setting-help-cartier-1895ish.169384/#post-3080460#p3080460[/URL]

but generally whatever vendor you use for the diamond can help you find a setting that is closest to what you want, without having to deal with buying the stone one place and the setting from another. You might enjoy poking around this thread of some of the ‘favorite’ plain solitaire settings: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/post-your-favorite-plain-solitaire-setting.164906/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/post-your-favorite-plain-solitaire-setting.164906/[/URL]

Edited to add: I wouldn't worry about your stone getting 'switched out' when you take your ring into a jeweler for cleaning or maintenance. Either send the ring back to the original vendor that made it for general maintenance or sizing, or find a local jeweler you trust to do these things. And, if you get a loupe and learn how to identify your own diamond, you can have peace of mind every time you pick up your ring. Plus, insurance would cover loss or theft. I think 'stone switching' is incredibly rare and basically unheard of amongst the vendors that people would recommend here.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I agree with Rubybeth's recommendations about the Victor Canera solitaire and the Vatche Caroline. Both are gorgeous solitaires. I also will say that you have the opportunity to get a BETTER diamond buy having it custom made. Someone here in the past who was determined to have the brand name ring did some shopping and posted GIA reports here and the diamonds were not the top cut quality you'd expect (although they were very nice, of course).

 

[farmer gal]

These might be similar
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/grace-platinum-5414p

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/elegance-platinum-5415p

 

[jelliebellie]

Re: Help with finding Cartier/HW dupe @ online vendors - UPD

Update!

Okay, per a deal with the boyfriend, I've been looking at solitaire settings and RB stones in the 1.8-2.3ct range to see if I can recreate my dream HW solitaire.

I have an appt with Perry Chen tomorrow to look at some diamonds, and received a very reasonable quote from Leon (I do love those tiny pointy double prongs).

I also contacted HW re: the ring I'd seen, just to compare the specs of their stone with the stones I've seen recently, to see whether it is worth the "risk" of going with a custom design and not the brand name/security. I also requested specs so I could run it through the HCA, convinced that what I'd seen at HW was perfect. I think the SA suspected I'd do as such, and informed me that they are not allowed to release that information at the moment. Okay.

So I plugged in the specs I *do* have (color, clarity, measurements) into the PS diamond search and came across a JA stone with the very same specs, and the very same measurements. Hmmmmm. The stone is not available from JA, but I was able to see the GIA report. The stone gets a whopping 5.0 on the HCA!!! I may be getting ahead of myself, because I was told that HW sources their stones and then sends them out to Tiffanys, etc. It couldn't be that HW got the stone from JA, right? And it's probably a RB with the same 4Cs and same measurements, but not *the* stone I saw at HW, right?

Needless to say, this is veeery interesting. I don't want to assume I've been a super sleuth here, and could be totally jumping the gun re: this being the same rock, but the HW ring retails at ~$25k more than what this stone was offered at JA.

 

[rubybeth]

Re: Help with finding Cartier/HW dupe @ online vendors - UPD

Needless to say, this is veeery interesting. I don't want to assume I've been a super sleuth here, and could be totally jumping the gun re: this being the same rock, but the HW ring retails at ~$25k more than what this stone was offered at JA.

Even if it isn't the same stone, I am not surprised at all that a comparable stone is $25k less at James Allen than Harry Winston. You really would be paying for the brand name, not necessarily 'quality.'

As an aside, I'd be pretty miffed if I couldn't get the numbers I wanted from Harry Winston in order to run them in the HCA. That would be a big turn-off for me, since it seems like they are hiding something. I'd prefer to go with a vendor like Good Old Gold that lays out all the information possible, and understands that this is a large purchase for most folks, and that you want to be assured that you've gotten the best for your buck.

Edited to add: it *could* be the same diamond, since some stones with online vendors are 'virtual' stones and not actually 'in house.' I've no idea how Harry Winston gets their stones, but if they have GIA reports, they could also be 'virtual' and available from various vendors. For example, I saw a stone on JA that I liked but preferred a setting from Whiteflash. They said they had access to the same diamond and would match the JA price, so I wouldn't have to purchase the stone from one vendor and the setting from another, and all the hassle that goes with that.

 

[jelliebellie]

Re: Help with finding Cartier/HW dupe @ online vendors - UPD

As an aside, I'd be pretty miffed if I couldn't get the numbers I wanted from Harry Winston in order to run them in the HCA. That would be a big turn-off for me, since it seems like they are hiding something. I'd prefer to go with a vendor like Good Old Gold that lays out all the information possible, and understands that this is a large purchase for most folks, and that you want to be assured that you've gotten the best for your buck.

I know! I wonder what the deal is - I like how she said "at this time" - I wonder if the right time is after you've bought it and your only option is to get a store credit if the stone ends up being low quality?

 

[rubybeth]

Re: Help with finding Cartier/HW dupe @ online vendors - UPD

As an aside, I'd be pretty miffed if I couldn't get the numbers I wanted from Harry Winston in order to run them in the HCA. That would be a big turn-off for me, since it seems like they are hiding something. I'd prefer to go with a vendor like Good Old Gold that lays out all the information possible, and understands that this is a large purchase for most folks, and that you want to be assured that you've gotten the best for your buck.

I know! I wonder what the deal is - I like how she said "at this time" - I wonder if the right time is after you've bought it and your only option is to get a store credit if the stone ends up being low quality?

That's pretty poor service. You wouldn't buy a car without knowing what safety options it had until *after* you purchase. Then come to find out it doesn't have anti-lock brakes, but can only return for 'store credit.' Maybe not a perfect analogy, but in some cases, a heck of a lot more money for a diamond than a car.

 

[decodelighted]

Those "status" brands use their *reputation* as a stick to beat back specific questioning. "No, ours are the best. Simply the best. Believe us!"

I think you'll end up with a much finer/larger/well-cut STONE and equally lovely RING elsewhere. There are people who value the name more than the *value* that can be attained w/o the name. And I'm not saying there aren't lovely rings & stones at those places. It's just not optimal value in my eyes. And I would prefer not to pay so very much for the name only. ALSO: you are going to need a trustworthy local jeweler ANYWAY. I assume you'll eventually have other fine pieces that require servicing & you won't want to trapes all the way to different brand stores all the time. AND AND AND -- most of the vendors recommended around here, will also offer trade up policies that are more flexible than any offered by those name brands you admire.

Good luck! Look forward to seeing what you choose!