I am so excited!!!

[Snufkin]

I finally bought my dream stone. Here is the stats -

Round Brilliant
5.35 - 5.38 * 3.25 mm
0.56 carat
Depth 60.6%
Table 56%
Girdle Thin, Faceted
Culet None
Polish/Symm. Ex/Ex
VVS2
Color D
Fluor. MEDIUM BLUE!!!

It should be in my hand by tomorrow. I just can't wait to see it. What do you think of this stone? After I realized that I couldn't find the design of platinum ring that I really liked anywhere on the Net (I even looked into European and Australian websites!), I found someone who makes full-custom original rings in Japan and he is making my ring! I personally designed my own ring so that it looks like tension setting but has a lot more liquid-like elegance to it, rather than industrial look. Even if you don't want to be that picky, you can find a lot more variety of ring from Japanese websites - like these

http://isweb9.infoseek.co.jp/shopping/jmsco/ringwaku3.htm
http://www.jritz.com/ritz/br/tr_catalog.htm
http://www.7tairiku.co.jp/engage/index.html (watch for funny English!!!)
http://www.intergem.co.jp/
http://www.i-ing.co.jp/f1/f1toppage/framepagef1top.htm

I am sure most of you guys don't read Japanese, but you can just click on these pics to get some idea. Especially folks at the last one makes the rings which actually collects lights and re-focus on the stone - pretty clever, I think. If you think you can't find unique rings anywhere but if you can't afford fully custom made rings, you should definitely check these out. I asked lots of these people if they would ship just the ring with no stone, they all said yes. Take advantage of yen/dollar exchange rate.

Snufkin

 

[pricescope]

Snufkin, so which model did you choose?

 

[Snufkin]

I picked kind of like this one. I will be more graceful, though.

 

[maulin]

hey,
i checked out these sites and would love to order a setting from there. How did you contact these people for prices on some of them.. I do not know japanese, so did you e-mail them or call and can they speak english... also do they offer any guarantees?

 

[Snufkin]

i checked out these sites and would love to order a setting from there. How did you contact these people for prices on some of them.. I do not know japanese, so did you e-mail them or call and can they speak english... also do they offer any guarantees?

Just e-mail them in English and ask. Japanese business treat customers like "God", as it is in a Japanese proverb, no matter whom. If the person who received your e-mail didn't know English, she or he will find someone to translate. The thing is you might have hard time understanding their "Engrish." Just be patient and polite. When you want to ask for the price you should send them photos of the rings you want so they won't be confused.

Calling them is not a good idea. You will just confuse them to death unless you are fluent in Japanese.

You should also ask them first if they take credit cards. They are still in cash society. Some of the places don't take cards. If that's the case, ask for the instruction of wire transfer. WesternUnion should do.

Speaking of warranty, it really depends on shop to shop, but in general their service is so much better than anywhere else in the world.

Good luck finding a perfect ring. Even if you had hard time finding one here, you should have harder time deciding which one to choose from among the extensive designs of their rings in Japan.

Snufkin