It looks like I found my jeweler (And ring)!!

[Christmas Eve Proposer]

Hello everyone,

You''ve all been so helpful so I wanted to keep you updated...

Last week I spoke to a few vendors from here and thought I was well on my way to finding my jeweler. But I had a problem...I wanted a lot of special stuff. Of course the purple sapphires, but I also wanted some special stuff done. Like taking a Shane company hanging heart necklace that I like, which features 3 small diamonds and removing the center one in order to incert a purple sapphire. Also, I was torn on whether to go with a tempory setting or not (I didn''t want too...I want to give her HER ring and that be that). And of course I didn''t know what to do about the sapphires I wanted to include in the setting.

And of course my biggest concern was doing all this on the internet where you can''t see what you''re buying nor does it make it easy to convey odd wishes (Of which I have many).

So anyway...

I headed into Fort Wayne This past saturday in order to, for the first time in my life, inspect some diamonds...To finially see for myself what carat, color, cut and clarity really mean...

Well, during my journies, I found a GREAT place....

These guys are going to bring in numerous platnum settings for me to inspect (Some with small side stones so the sapphires don''t overwhelm the REAL important part of the ring...The diamond...And some with standard sized three stone settings), and they''ve offered to insert the sapphire into the Shane Company necklace for me. And they''re basically going to make the sapphire earrings for me in-house after I decide on the size and shade I like. On top of that, they showed me many example of different stones and I FINIALLY understand the 4 c''s. And if that''s not good enough, they''re basically going to treat the finial ring as a "Tempory Setting" if I wish. If she doesn''t like it, or if the purple sapphires just aren''t right, they''ll take it back and "Make us happy".

On top of all that, they''ve got great prices!!

Here is the stone I really like...

1.52
F
SI1

$8200.00


Now...Here is a link from the internet vendor search from here using those tight perameters...

https://www.pricescope.com/panning.asp


And as you can see, it''s right in line!!


Well...Needless to say, I''m pretty happy! This place is about 10 minutes from my girlfriend so we''ll always have a place to go in order to have it cleaned or whatnot. And, I just got a great feeling from these people...Very personal! Them bringing-in the rings and telling me he''ll find me the perfect purple sapphires really sinched it! I haven''t purchased yet, but it''s looking good!!

Thanks to all of you for your help! And if I can figure out how, I''ll get a digital of this ring and post it. And I''ll still be around. Before I actually hand the cash over, I''ll need to check to make sure I''m doing the right thing and I''ll be here to ask for more favors.

Thanks again!!

 

[lmurden]

Good for you!

 

[headlight]

Yeah -- after all that... don''t keep us in suspense!

 

[Christmas Eve Proposer]

Fairfield''s Rare Coins and Jewelry.

I didn''t know if it was OK to list them. And, I feel a little bad since everyone here has been so helpful but I''m not going to buy through this site.

 

[Christmas Eve Proposer]

Date: 11/1/2004 3:48:28 PM
Author: headlight
Yeah -- after all that... don''t keep us in suspense!

Headlight...You''ll be a good one to run this by, since you''ve been keeping me thinking what SHE might want, not what I think she might want...

I found a three setting ring that has smaller than normal side settings. So, the sapphires won''t overwhelm the diamond at all...Hopefully just add to it.

What do you think?

 

[Hest88]

Congratulations! Sounds like a good way to go. Can''t wait to see the results!

 

[headlight]

Date: 11/1/2004 3:51:13 PM
Author: Christmas Eve Proposer


Headlight...You''ll be a good one to run this by, since you''ve been keeping me thinking what SHE might want, not what I think she might want...

I found a three setting ring that has smaller than normal side settings. So, the sapphires won''t overwhelm the diamond at all...Hopefully just add to it.

What do you think?

Will it be a round center stone with smaller round shaped purple sapphires? If so, I think it will be lovely. You don''t want the purple to overshadow the center diamond so I think that your idea of doing a three-stone but with smaller sides in purple is a great one. And, if for some reason she does tire of the purple over time, you can easily have diamonds replaced in that mounting (or rubies, or blue sapphires, etc.).
Can''t wait to see it! From everything you said on your other thread, I think she is really going to flip over this ring!

 

[Christmas Eve Proposer]

Yeah...They''ll all be round. And like I said, I think I''ll go with smaller than normal side settings for the sapphires.


And now that I think about it...

Any help on earrings from anyone? Of course I want them to feature purple sapphires. But, I''m not really set on anything else. She seems to have a lot of loops and not as many studs. Anyone have any great ideas?

Here is a picture of the heart pendant (Which is going to have a sapphire replace the center diamond) if anyone thinks I should go with some kind of matching thing, or something...

 

[Hest88]

How about something like this for earrings?

I definitely wouldn''t match earrings with a heart pendant. To be honest, it''s always difficult to tell if a woman will like a heart-shaped anything, though it sounds like you''re pretty sure about your gal. Heart-shaped earrings, though, would be bit too juvenile.

 

[nuhobby]

Where are those earrings from?

 

[Hest88]

Those earrings are from Blue Nile, though it''s a very common style.

 

[Lynn B]

Wow, CEP! You done good!

It sounds like a GREAT stone, and it sure was a GREAT PRICE!!!!

Lynn

 

[Christmas Eve Proposer]

Date: 11/1/2004 5:47:23 PM
Author: Hest88
How about something like this for earrings?


I definitely wouldn''t match earrings with a heart pendant. To be honest, it''s always difficult to tell if a woman will like a heart-shaped anything, though it sounds like you''re pretty sure about your gal. Heart-shaped earrings, though, would be bit too juvenile.

Thanks Hest. Good tips on the earrings. I had planned on going with something simple, the heart design was a last second thought. But now, my decision will be easy.

 

[marriahlyn]

Do you have the specs on that 1.52 F stone? I couldn''t see anything on the link. Congrats!!

 

[Christmas Eve Proposer]

Date: 11/2/2004 7:31:53 AM
Author: marriahlyn
Do you have the specs on that 1.52 F stone? I couldn''t see anything on the link. Congrats!!

Just this...

1.52
F
SI1

$8200.00

And if I remember right, a good crown/base (Or whatever it''s called) ratio.

The link I provided is bad. It was just a tight search on the specs I listed here. And all of them came back at about the same price...So that makes me feel really good with a local jeweler!!!

 

[reena]

congrats! make sure you get ALL the info on the stone before buying, though, or you''re not going to be able to make a meaningful judgment about the stone (or a meaningful price comparison vis a vis stones offered here)

 

[irish]

Congrats!
Keep us posted.

RLI

 

[Rhino]

Congrats CEP! I would ditton Fey''s sentiments. We are here to help and educate.

Now ... am I the only one who thinks a 1.52ct F SI1 for $8200 is either being ...

a. misrepresented (I can''t even purchase a 1.52ct F SI1 for that price).
b. misgraded
c. or if it''s accurately graded cut like total garbage...
d. There is the slim chance its a great cut and accurately graded but the only possibility of this happening is perhaps if the stone is used

Let me just say that the price makes me very skeptical CEP. That price does not sound right for the stone unless it has serious problems.

CEP ... one of the things we will teach you on this forum is also not to be too gullible. While the intentions of this store sounds on the up and up the details you are giving us so far do not stack up. Here are some questions you should require an answer to ...

1. Is this diamond lab graded? If so, by whom?
2. Demand a Sarin or OGI analysis. You may be looking at a stone with a 64% depth and a 65 table. If so that will explain why it is the price that it is.
3. Before locking yourself into anything ask if you can bring the stone loose to an independant appraiser for verification and confirmation. They may require you put a hold on a credit card or something but a little leg work now can save you many headaches later on.

Get this basic information, share it with us here and we''ll be able to give you more input on your potential diamond.

Peace,

 

[noobie]

Date: 11/3/2004 11:11:18 AM
Author: Rhino


Now ... am I the only one who thinks a 1.52ct F SI1 for $8200 is either being ...

Jon,

I''ll buy one of yours, today, tomorrow or any day at that price! Let me know when you can ship

You know I''m good for the wire transfer!

Seriously CEP, this sounds too good to be true, but if it is, great find

 

[reena]

yes, i''m just concerned because it doesn''t sound like you got a lot of info on the stone . . . be careful!!!!!!!

 

[quaeritur]

I''ll echo that. The price really seems rather too good to be true -at least for a well-cut stone. CEP, please do make sure you get all the specs (the ACTUAL specs, don''t just take someone''s word for it that they''re good!)... total depth%, table%, crown and pavilion angles, dimensions. And I''d really encourage you to run it by an independent appraiser before any money changes hands. This is a big and significant purchase, important enough to get all the facts up front rather than trying to fix it later.

Best of luck!

 

[Christmas Eve Proposer]

Hello everyone!

Sorry for the late reply. I saw these comments on Friday but was running crazy and didn''t get a chance to address them here. Plus, I wanted to try to answer the concerns before replying anyway. So...Here we are...

The one stone I listed above for 8200 (Which, by the way, I thought was just a "Good Deal" based on similar stones with similar prices when doing a search here...Not anything that was "Alarmingly Good" as has been described here. But, I do undestand that I''m a novice, so I was concerned) has the following information...

Lab that graded it: EGL (And I can order a report on it if I like)

Dimensions: 7.72 x 7.76

Depth%: 63

Table% 60

(I''ve looked at two other stones and both have checked-out OK like this one has. I won''t list the detail here because this is the one I''m REALLY interested-in).

Now...As many of you can probably guess...I don''t really understand the above information but I do know that it all falls into what is common in a good stone here. (Except for the lab, and I can only assume that''s a good one?)

As for the jeweler...I do trust him. Based on his store, his character and his lack of a "Sales Job". Also based on the service he''s given me so far. Basically, he''s a good man.

BUT! I don''t want my impressions of him to keep any of you from telling me your REAL opinions, just like you have above. What you said above alarmed me, but after getting this information, I feel a little better.

As he just said...If I buy a stone that''s in inventory, and it turns-out that we don''t like it, we can exchange it at full price. No questions asked. If I order one that he has to bring in (More on that in a moment), then it''s not the same deal.

Anyway...What do you all think about all that? Do I need to ask for more info??

Now onto my little surprise this weekend...

"She" and I were sitting around and she had a Kay''s catalog there and started looking through it...I took the oportunity to play dumb and ask about her preferences on jewelry...

1) She doesn''t dislike gold and like only white gold...She''s just never had ANY "Good gold". Just low quality stuff. So, she wears silver because, at least, it''s "Real".

2) She said she doesn''t like heart jewelry. (ARRRRRG!!)

3) When looking at rings, she claimed that she doesn''t like round stones (ARRRRG!!) She said she likes "Different" kinds of stones. She said she likes marquis, oval and pear (But then went on to say she doesn''t like them because they "Snag" on things...ARRRRG!!). She said she likes square and recgangle cuts. And she specifically said that she doesn''t like round side stones when we saw one of those settings that has the row of stone to each side of the main stetting. (And I mention that because I''ve changed course a bit...I looked at some of those kinds of settings and REALLY liked them and am now considering them. Which, by the way, came-about after I saw some sapphires as side settings. I didn''t like the look. It was too busy and took away from the main stone. Not such much the sapphires, but the setting was busy...With all the extra prongs).

So...The heart neckace is out. Gold is back in the game and I don''t know what I''m going to do about the stone...

My problem is, we were looking at regular rings, not engagement rings when she made the above comments. And I couldn''t really press her, for obvious reasons. So really, I''m not sure WHAT she would prefer in an "Engagement" ring.

So anyway...Now I''m basically back to square one!! Which is OK because I do know one thing for sure...I could give her a rock out of my back yard, taped to a rubber band and she would LOVE it!

Well...That''s the update. Don''t worry about all the other stuff I''ve listed here...I''ll figure all that out. All I''m interested-in now is if the data I''ve listed on the above stone makes us feel like it''s not "Too Good to be True" or not. (And again, I know none of you can give me any guarantees, just your invaluable comments is WAAAAAY more that I can ask.)

Thanks!!

 

[marriahlyn]

Something is definitely NOT right with this stone. A 1.52 should not have that diameter, should be closer to 7.5. It is not an ideal with 63% depth. However, the price seems ok.

 

[marriahlyn]

Also, is it EGL USA or EGL Israel? I had a stone graded EGL Israel and it was 2 grades off color and clarity and NOT a good buy.

 

[Hest88]

Heh, so she doesn''t like hearts. Many women don''t. Funny story, but my sister got a heart pendant from her boyfriend a few years ago, smiled wanly and said, "Uh thanks" and had to wear it. When she went into work the first time her co-worker looked at the necklace and said, "A guy gave you that, right?"---knowing perfectly well that my stylish sister would never had bought a heart pendant!

Okay, so now CEP, what if we look for a good princess or radiant? It''s a bit harder finding great ones, but not as difficult as if you were looking at ovals, pears, or marquises.

 

[Christmas Eve Proposer]

Date: 11/8/2004 11:20:43 AM
Author: marriahlyn
Something is definitely NOT right with this stone. A 1.52 should not have that diameter, should be closer to 7.5. It is not an ideal with 63% depth. However, the price seems ok.

I should have included this part...

That diameter info I gave was given to me by someone who didn''t know what they were talking about. She, I do believe, actually measured the stone and gave me that info. It wasn''t taken off of some certificate or anything. Bottom line, I wouldn''t be surprised to find she was off. And if you say it should be 7.5, and is 7.72, I would say that was within her margin of error.

But I''m curious...We''re talking about milimeters and the circumfrence of the stone, correct? If so, I could see there being differences such as these with no concerns. No?

 

[Christmas Eve Proposer]

Date: 11/8/2004 11:21:59 AM
Author: marriahlyn
Also, is it EGL USA or EGL Israel? I had a stone graded EGL Israel and it was 2 grades off color and clarity and NOT a good buy.

No idea. I really don''t understand your question. All I can say is what I listed. Plus, he said I could order a report on the stone...All I have to do is ask for its number from him and then ask them for the report and they send it to me. I don''t know if that company is this one I listed or another.

By the way marriahlyn...

Are you familiar with the jeweler I''m working with?

 

[Christmas Eve Proposer]

Date: 11/8/2004 11:45:23 AM
Author: Hest88

Heh, so she doesn''t like hearts. Many women don''t. Funny story, but my sister got a heart pendant from her boyfriend a few years ago, smiled wanly and said, ''Uh thanks'' and had to wear it. When she went into work the first time her co-worker looked at the necklace and said, ''A guy gave you that, right?''---knowing perfectly well that my stylish sister would never had bought a heart pendant!

Okay, so now CEP, what if we look for a good princess or radiant? It''s a bit harder finding great ones, but not as difficult as if you were looking at ovals, pears, or marquises.

It was a bit odd...

She''s got a heart necklace, like the one I want to give her but on a black chain/rope and with no diamonds. And when she said that, I asker her why she has it, and she said "Because it''s not normal, it''s funky and I like different stuff".

ARRRRRRRRG!!!!!!

And a bit of a funny story...

We''re looking at all these stones and she mentioned she like the "Odd shaped ones". She knew "Marquise" and she said "Oval" but couldn''t remember the other...And because she was hinting that she liked it the best, but couldn''t remember the name, I wanted to SCREAM "IT''S PEAR SHAPED...DO YOU LKE IT OR NOT??!"

So...I AM learning something here. But obviously, had to play dumb in fron of her.

But now, I must admit my ignorance...

I assumed princess was just another name for Ovals, Pears and Marquis? And I assumed "Radiant" refered to the shine of the stone.

 

[Christmas Eve Proposer]

OH...And by the way...

Since the necklace is out (I assume...ARRRRRG!) and she said she needs a nice bracelet, I''m probably going with a bracelet and earrings. And since the sapphires are more than likely out on the ring, I would try purple sapphires on both, in a matching set. Any tips?

 

[Hest88]

If she said she likes the square and rectangular shaped stones then that''s definitely princess or radiant.

Princesses are usually square and have a more defined "X" shaped faceting, while radiants are more often rectangular and have more of circular look to their facets.

There are numerous examples of princess and radiant rings in the "Show me the ring" section.