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Is a Trip to Whiteflash worth it??

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3shebabes

3shebabes

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2007
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170
Hey everyone...

My husband told me he''ll be taking a business trip in early October to TX -- and wondered if I''d like to tag along. Even after I told him that Whiteflash was in TX (only about 2 hours from where he''ll be for 3 days) -- and suggested we take a side trip there - he was still game to go for a peek to get a few ideas and possibly see some of their settings in person. He knows I am itching for an e-ring upgrade for our 10th anniversary next year...

Has anyone out there made an in-person trip to Whiteflash? Was it worth it? Did you feel you were able to see enough (settings, stones, etc) to make the trip worth it? Were you there to buy or did you just look and get ideas? Did you make an appointment or work with someone over the phone/request to see certain stones that interested you or did you just show up? Any info you can share about this would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

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Date: 8/18/2007 7:55:30 PM
Author:3shebabes
Hey everyone...

My husband told me he''ll be taking a business trip in early October to TX -- and wondered if I''d like to tag along. Even after I told him that Whiteflash was in TX (only about 2 hours from where he''ll be for 3 days) -- and suggested we take a side trip there - he was still game to go for a peek to get a few ideas and possibly see some of their settings in person. He knows I am itching for an e-ring upgrade for our 10th anniversary next year...

Has anyone out there made an in-person trip to Whiteflash? Was it worth it? Did you feel you were able to see enough (settings, stones, etc) to make the trip worth it? Were you there to buy or did you just look and get ideas? Did you make an appointment or work with someone over the phone/request to see certain stones that interested you or did you just show up? Any info you can share about this would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

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Click to expand...
I haven''t been but would love to some day. You have to make an appointment. I think it''s very worth it. Just make sure you tell them ahead of time what you want to see, etc... Many people here have done it and have found it to be time well spent. Lucky you. Next time my hubby goes to Houston on business I am going with him!!
 
If I had the chance to go to WF, I''d do it in a heartbeat. If you do go, make an appt. ahead of time and have an idea of what you''re looking for. I''ve never been there but everyone that my FI and I spoke with were very friendly and helpful. Have fun!
 
I think they prefer that people make appointments when they are seriously ready to buy a stone. They do not operate a retail store, so appointments are usually to go see specific stones. You definitely can''t just show up. But you can call and ask if they accept appointments just to browse.
 
Ah, I wouldn't bother with Whiteflash, their stones don't have any fire. That's why they're called Whiteflash.

Just kidding..., only testing if John's in front of his PC on a Saturday night.


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From what I''ve read on other threads, you are pretty determined to get your 10th anniversary ring -- I''d say you''re a serious shopper!

Even if you don''t fall in love with a stone and jump the gun by a year, I''d say it''d be great to start developing a relationship with a vendor. Once you see WF''s current inventory in person, it may make it easier to trust their eyes should you make an online purchase from them in the nearish future.

Hope it works out!
 
If you decide to go, please take pics!!!
 
Thanks for the tips, everyone - and for the encouragement! We''ll have to see how it works out...that is, if I can schedule a few days away with my husband despite ballet lessons, soccer games, homework assignments,etc...

I would love to think they''d let me take pictures of things I see that I am interested in...I wonder!?

Has anyone else out there been to Whiteflash in person? I wanna hear about your experience...
 
Date: 8/18/2007 7:55:30 PM
Author:3shebabes
Hey everyone...

My husband told me he'll be taking a business trip in early October to TX -- and wondered if I'd like to tag along. Even after I told him that Whiteflash was in TX (only about 2 hours from where he'll be for 3 days) -- and suggested we take a side trip there - he was still game to go for a peek to get a few ideas and possibly see some of their settings in person. He knows I am itching for an e-ring upgrade for our 10th anniversary next year...

Has anyone out there made an in-person trip to Whiteflash? Was it worth it? Did you feel you were able to see enough (settings, stones, etc) to make the trip worth it? Were you there to buy or did you just look and get ideas? Did you make an appointment or work with someone over the phone/request to see certain stones that interested you or did you just show up? Any info you can share about this would be much appreciated!
Thanks!
41.gif
Click to expand...

YES! if you're in the market. dh and i went before we got engaged. i contacted them through email and made an appt. with brian. we looked at lots of stones and it was a very important experience for me and dh. yes, we let them know what we were looking for in terms of stones and they had them ready for us - and a couple of others - when we showed up. brian didn't tell us which was which and it helped us realize and appreciate what looked good to OUR eyes. not what the paper says. i must say that all the times we went, there weren't many settings for us to see. i think it's whatever is they've just finished. they didn't have a set of standard settings set with diamonds as i recall.

eta: so i'd go more for the diamond viewing than the setting seeing. also, we were allowed to take pics.
 
Thanks, jcrow, for the info on your Whiteflash trip. A big help!
 
You have to make an appointment. Don't just show up. They are in a multistory buiding dedicated to diamond businesses, security guard on main floor, etc. WF is on the top floor I think. Their door opens to a little sitting room, and then someone comes to talk to you--so I guess that's for security. If you are going to see a diamond, it helps them I'm sure to know what your specifications are so they can have them ready for you, I don't know what they would do if you just dropped in. I felt a little intimidated by it all.

Anyway, my DH and I took the trip to Houston (about 4 +hours away) to just see settings and we saw Leon? the production manager. He was great and thank goodness he helped me pick the right size, because I was gong to get one too big, so that saved lots of possible problems for me. However, as Tracy told me on the phone, they do not carry all their rings to show people, only what they might have in production at the time. I was able to see my two top choices, the micropave with legato head (which I chose) and the shared prong. I wish I had brought a list of all the different rings I was interested in and asked if they had any of those, but I forgot, so bring a list. You could also call and see if they have any of your specific ones in production at the time to save any disappointment. Since I loved the diamond I bought from WF a few weeks before by mail I didn't look at diamonds. But I wish I had gone their initially to buy the diamond because it would've been lots of fun to compare. AND, their building is not far from the Galleria, so if you like to shop, there is a Tiffany's, Cartier and Bulgaria store, too. Good luck!
 
I''ve been to WF twice. The first time I was there to meet the folks there and to get my pendant details worked out. The second time was for Mara''s stone upgrade; we met in TX.

During my second trip, I had them hold 2 diamonds that I wanted to see for a solitaire pendant. They lined up 4 stones, including the 2 I asked about, so I could pick a stone between them.

If you''re interested in seeing specific settings or perhaps specific stones, I''d let them know in advance. You can''t just show up; they see folks on appointment only.

It''s completely worth the trip, and I''d do it again in a heartbeat (and hope to again this fall).
 
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