Lots of newbie questions - please help!

[hoofbeats95]

HI! This is my first post. I''m a jewlery addict, but have never diamond shopped before. My boyfriend proposed a week and a half ago. It was totally unexpected. He bought a ring from Kays. Thought I would love it. It was too small (1/2 total weight). I ended up getting the same ring in a 1 c. total weight from Roger''s and Hollands. They gave me a good deal and I felt under pressure to get a ring. And under pressure from him to stay with the same setting as his feelings were already pretty hurt. But so were mine - that''s a long story.

I''m not happy with my ring and thinking of returning it. I''ve done some online browsing at goodoldgold and whiteflash. I''m scared to death to buy a diamond online. But it seems to be the best prices. Can someone help me figure out how to learn more about cut. The reports talk about percentages of certain areas of the stone and I need to know what is ideal. (I''m looking at a princess, but will consider any square stone - just haven''t seen the other cuts in person). Also - how do you guys end up getting your stone set? Do jewelers set outside stones? And then how do your warranties work? I like the warranty at R&H''s because it was free and everything including the diamond falliing out is covered? I assume that doesn''t work like that when a jeweler sets an outside stone? Can someone explain? Also - if I order a setting online from where ever I would buy the diamond then what happens if I have a problem? Also - we can''t afford platinum. And I have to get white gold jewelry replated twice a year it seems. That''s typically under warranty at most mall jewelers, but how do I deal with that online? I''m so confused about all of this. Any advice is appreciated! I feel under pressure to decide quickly as it seems that I can''t NOT have a ring on my finger. That seems to be a big sin once you''ve accepted a proposal. So I need to decide and I''m not good with decisions normally - so this pressure is not helping and neither are the hurt feelings of my fiancee.

Thanks in advance

BTW - what is a B&M store?

 

[Skippy123]

Hi Welcome to Pricescope!!

B&M is brick and mortar (a store front)

I like to use this tool to look for stones and select excellent excellent for cut since cut is king https://www.pricescope.com/sift.aspx also make sure it falls in the AGS 0 category for cut and helps select the best stones. Also read under Knowledge you can read more on the 4 C's. I bought my stone online and couldn't be happier. I had Solomon Brothers set my stone from Whiteflash. I insure my ring; that is they only way I would do it. I paid only $25 to have a white gold replated but I only did that once every 2 years.

 

[beach]

http://diamonds.pricescope.com/round.asp

Link helps with cut info

You will save ALOT buying online......

 

[swingirl]

I think you first better find out if you can return the ring you have and if everyone will be okay with you purchasing a stone off the internet. After doing some research on PS, including looking in the Show Me the Ring thread for lots of ideas, you need to set a budget and some specs that you want to aim for. There are so many great success stories here about people like yourself who bought something and then had buyer''s remorse after doing a little thinking and research. Good luck with your search and let us know if you need suggestions but it sounds like you are looking in the right places.

 

[LGK]

The warranty thing is something that tends to get people really excited about buying from certain stores, it seems. However: typically one will insure one''s ring, unless it''s the sort of expense that''s easy to cover if it''s lost. The thing is, typically those in-store warranties don''t cover loss or theft, which is a huuuuge issue. That''s about half of why we insure jewelry- breaking/damage being the other half. So, most people will need to get insurance in addition to the warranty from a store; but the insurance will cover the same stuff a warranty does, typically, like breakage and damage etc too, so thus the warranty becomes rather redundant. Now, I have no clue if your store is the same as most I''ve heard of, but usually you HAVE to follow the fine print of the warranty or it is void, and that usually includes coming in every six monts (not a day later) and getting your ring inspected.

Replating usually isn''t that expensive; in fact a local jeweler I go to will do it for free for me, so I suspect others out there will too. Usually most of us who have online jewelry purchases just take them to local jewelers for simple stuff like rhodium plating. Repairs typically one would send the ring in to the jeweler who sold the setting. Some people will buy the diamond online and setting locally- which makes sense; settings can be sheer hell to find out what looks nice on the hand by looking at pics! Others get the diamond and setting from the same place, since that means the stone is usually covered by the jewelers insurance while being set. If you choose to get a diamond and setting separately but not have the setting vendor actually put them together, most jewelers will set a stone in an existing setting too.

I''ve got no advice for shopping for princess stones, other than if I was, I''d just go for an AGS0 ideal cut from Whiteflash or GOG or someone like that, and be done with worrying about it... there are so very many blah princess cuts out there unfortunately, and that''s an easy route for those who don''t wish to immerse themselves in table %, crown angles etc. Sorry that the first two ring attempts have left some friction. It happens sometimes; hopefully the third time will be the charm! Good luck!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/23/2008 11:29:10 PM
Author:hoofbeats95


looking at a princess, but will consider any square stone - just haven't seen the other cuts in person).

Welcome!

If you are looking at square Princess shapes then this chart might help you, use it as a guide only though otherwise you could miss out on some diamonds you might love.

http://diamonds.pricescope.com/fnc1.asp

If you do decide to buy online then you could consider one of the trusted PS vendors who have inventory Princess or other square shapes with photos and very useful images such as ASET. So buying online can be done with great success and we will help you through it if needed! And AGS0 cut grade Princess can take some of the guesswork out of buying a great looking Princess so that could certainly be an option.

 

[hoofbeats95]

I''m missing something maybe - aren''t all princess cuts square? What I meant by square was square H&A, Cut corners square brilliant, princess of hearts. . . that kind of thing.

The warranty and R&H did cover loss of the stones. Loss of the WHOLE ring was not covered. The only thing I had to do was bring it in every 6 months, but let me tell you guys. . . I''m in the store ALL the time!

If I find some on GOG that I like what forum do I post them in to get you guys to help me?

I''m looking at .70 - 1.0 carat. Cannot be any bit yellow to my eye and no inclusions to the naked eye. I am anal about being able to see the inclusions. Any help is MUCH appreciated!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/24/2008 10:00:23 AM
Author: hoofbeats95
I'm missing something maybe - aren't all princess cuts square? What I meant by square was square H&A, Cut corners square brilliant, princess of hearts. . . that kind of thing.

The warranty and R&H did cover loss of the stones. Loss of the WHOLE ring was not covered. The only thing I had to do was bring it in every 6 months, but let me tell you guys. . . I'm in the store ALL the time!

If I find some on GOG that I like what forum do I post them in to get you guys to help me?

I'm looking at .70 - 1.0 carat. Cannot be any bit yellow to my eye and no inclusions to the naked eye. I am anal about being able to see the inclusions. Any help is MUCH appreciated!

I wasn't sure if you meant just Princess or any other square shapes. GOG does carry some other types such as PoH you mentioned above. If you find any diamonds you like, then go ahead and post the info or the link here in Rocky Talk and we can help you from there. With visible inclusions make sure you tell the vendor you are working with your expectations so that you can find a good fit for you clarity wise. It depends but maybe VS clarity or higher might be a good initial approach but see what GOG have available - Jon will be able to advise you with each aspect of your selection process.

You might also take a look at the X Factor branded diamonds from www.whiteflash.com or A Cut Above Princess.

 

[hoofbeats95]

Who is better to work with - WF or GOG? I like the policies at GOG I think. Trade up has to be $500 higher - not double like at most places. I can''t tell what WF trade up is - just says you can trade up. Jon has gotten great reviews at GOG. So who is better? I''m still not sure where I will get the setting.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/24/2008 11:11:03 AM
Author: hoofbeats95
Who is better to work with - WF or GOG? I like the policies at GOG I think. Trade up has to be $500 higher - not double like at most places. I can't tell what WF trade up is - just says you can trade up. Jon has gotten great reviews at GOG. So who is better? I'm still not sure where I will get the setting.

Either are excellent vendors and you can't go wrong. WF do have a lifetime upgrade policy on some of their diamonds which has proved very popular also.

Here is their upgrade policy http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds_info/t/confidence.aspx?articleid=10&zoneid=3

 

[hoofbeats95]

Do you know how much higher in value you have to trade up with WF? GOG has a lifetime trade in policy too. $500 more. So not sure what WF is, but I don''t really see a lot of difference between the two in terms of trade in policy.

 

[JulieN]

At WF, you don't have to trade up by a minimum amount.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/24/2008 12:12:09 PM
Author: hoofbeats95
Do you know how much higher in value you have to trade up with WF? GOG has a lifetime trade in policy too. $500 more. So not sure what WF is, but I don't really see a lot of difference between the two in terms of trade in policy.

Its been a while and I can't recall exactly but I don't know if there is a minimum spend...I will get this info clarified for you though.

ETA - thanks Julie, I thought that was the case but couldn't remember!