Love Bluenile setting but......

[tmdblue]

Hello All,

This is my first post on PS although I''ve been reading through posts for a few weeks now. I came across this lovely setting at blunile, it has everything that I''m looking for, partial pave, antique look, available in princess cut, platinum and milgrain (love this). Here is a picture of it http://http://www.bluenile.com/product_details.asp?oid=6217&page=1&show_all_pages=1&col=2&row=9&pos=26&set_shape=

The problem is that blunile only sells their settings WITH a diamond purchase and we all know that they don''t have the best prices. Our budget is $4500 for e-ring and diamond. I''m not at all concerned about blue flourescence as long there isn''t a milky haze thing going on. I''m not into the "investment value" aspect of purchasing a diamond b/c I wouldn''t dare sell it. I''m open to upgrading in the future but I''d still keep the original diamond to pass down to family. Ideally I would like a 1ct but would probably settle for something in the range of .80-1ct. I would be appreciative of any help you can give. Oh and I almost forgot, I''d rather buy online in order to avoid paying sales tax and eating away at our budget.

Thanks

 

[codex57]

How bad is the price difference? I don''t recall them being obscenely more. If you can find a comparable diamond elsewhere, just take the difference and add it to the price of the setting. See if you still like the setting that much.

 

[cinnabar]

Date: 5/5/2006 1:40:20 PM
Author:tmdblue
Oh and I almost forgot, I''d rather buy online in order to avoid paying sales tax and eating away at our budget.

Sorry to depress you, but if you live in a state which has a "use tax", then you are just as liable to pay tax on an internet purchase as one made in your own town.

If you type "tax" into the search box on this site, you''ll find a number of previous discussions here on the topic, for example:

sample Pricescope discussion

"In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes" - Benjamin Franklin

 

[E B]

tmdblue,

I don''t think you have to buy a BN setting with a diamond. XChick03 (a PSer) just bought her setting from Blue Nile, and I''m almost positive her diamond came from her jeweler.

If it''s a setting you love, go for it. Remember, you''ll be wearing a ring, not just a diamond.

 

[tmdblue]

Date: 5/5/2006 2:14:49 PM
Author: EBree
tmdblue,

I don''t think you have to buy a BN setting with a diamond. XChick03 (a PSer) just bought her setting from Blue Nile, and I''m almost positive her diamond came from her jeweler.

If it''s a setting you love, go for it. Remember, you''ll be wearing a ring, not just a diamond.

Unfortunately you do have to purchase a diamond from Blunile if you buy a setting. It states this (although inconspicuosly) on their website. I also called today and spoke with a representative to confirm it. I''m not sure how XChick03 could have gotten around this policy.

The setting is much more important to me than the diamond. I look for settings first then negotiate how the diamond will fit into what''s let over budget wise. Maybe I''ll just have to get a smaller diamond like .75ct. Also I need to see the what different carat sizes look like. Maybe I''ll visit a B&M just to get an idea.

 

[tmdblue]

Date: 5/5/2006 2:12:44 PM
Author: cinnabar

Date: 5/5/2006 1:40:20 PM
Author:tmdblue
Oh and I almost forgot, I''d rather buy online in order to avoid paying sales tax and eating away at our budget.

Sorry to depress you, but if you live in a state which has a ''use tax'', then you are just as liable to pay tax on an internet purchase as one made in your own town.

If you type ''tax'' into the search box on this site, you''ll find a number of previous discussions here on the topic, for example:

sample Pricescope discussion

''In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes'' - Benjamin Franklin

Wow Cinnabar I had no idea. I have been buying stuff online since 98'' without paying tax about 99% of the time. I live in PA and I haven''t been able to find anything about "use sales tax" online regarding my state. Even my computer was brought sales tax free. This is what I don''t get, if you buy something online from a vendor in California then why pay your state''s sales tax. Wouldn''t it make more sense for the sales tax to be paid to California? When I buy within the state I can understand paying sales tax but buying outside the state doesn''t make any sense. It''s like going to Mexico and buying a lamp and then paying sales tax once you come back to your home state. The Internet is a tricky thing when you get into legal issues because as it is a global market place. Thanks for the info though.

 

[JulieN]

link doesn''t work

 

[cpster]

Have you tried saying that you have a diamond that was passed down from family? Maybe that will work?

 

[cinnabar]

Date: 5/5/2006 2:57:11 PM
Author: JulieN
link doesn''t work

Which link, Julie? If you mean the Bluenile setting, it''s this one:

 

[Gypsy]

That''s a lovely setting. But I think PSers here can help you find a similar one. I know I''ve seen a couple similar... will look for you tonight. What''s BN''s price for the setting... as a reference point. I know of a few sites I can visit tonight-- but I can''t recall their names now... they are bookmarked on my laptop at home, though.

 

[JulieN]

ok, bluenile setting if you''re really set on it, is 1675, leaves 2825.

I SI1 .81, proportions are all cherry (girdle, depth, C/P angles)=1.2 HCA as well as VG polish and EX symmetry: http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00913329&filter_id=0

 

[mrssalvo]

tmdblue...the bluenile link you posted take me to Microsoft

ETA: nevermind I see cinnabar found it..

 

[E B]

Date: 5/5/2006 4:32:58 PM
Author: JulieN
ok, bluenile setting if you''re really set on it, is 1675, leaves 2825.


I SI1 .81, proportions are all cherry (girdle, depth, C/P angles)=1.2 HCA as well as VG polish and EX symmetry: http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00913329&filter_id=0

Ooh, great choice, Julie! That''d be perfect.

 

[JulieN]

the setting is 4mm. a .8ct diamond is about 6mm, a 1ct is 6.5

I''ve made this for you. In my opinion, I would find a thinner setting, which would put more money to the center. It''s up to you.

 

[cinnabar]

Date: 5/5/2006 4:32:58 PM
Author: JulieN
ok, bluenile setting if you''re really set on it, is 1675, leaves 2825.

I SI1 .81, proportions are all cherry (girdle, depth, C/P angles)=1.2 HCA as well as VG polish and EX symmetry

That is a lovely stone, but tmdblue said he/she wants a princess:

"I came across this lovely setting at blunile, it has everything that I''m looking for, partial pave, antique look, available in princess cut, platinum and milgrain (love this)."

 

[JulieN]

yeah, I just realized that. all my work!

 

[mrssalvo]

here it is with a .81 princess

a 1 carat princess

 

[JulieN]

That setting plus this diamond is 4449: http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00913452&filter_id=1
AGS-0, I VVS2, $2774, .82 cts. It''s the only one on BN worth buying that is in budget. However, I could wish for higher color (F-G) and lower clarity (VS2-SI1)

 

[tmdblue]

Thank you so much Julie.

I hadn''t considered the effect of the thickness of the ring might have on price and the appearance of a smaller stone.

Decisions, decisions. I go to see my finace next month and that''s when I''ll be receiving the ring. I plan on sending him my wishlist so he can proceed with the purchase and "surprise" me sometime during my visit with a "formal" proposal. I would consider getting it custom made by whiteflash (they have some excellent diamond prices) but a custom design might not be budget friendly. I''m so glad that I got to see pics of everyone''s e-ring. The websites just don''t do them justice.

 

[JulieN]

Have you seen this? Of course, you could get a princess head put in (which will probably bring the cost down)

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 5/5/2006 6:52:19 PM
Author: tmdblue
Thank you so much Julie.

I hadn''t considered the effect of the thickness of the ring might have on price and the appearance of a smaller stone.

Decisions, decisions. I go to see my finace next month and that''s when I''ll be receiving the ring. I plan on sending him my wishlist so he can proceed with the purchase and ''surprise'' me sometime during my visit with a ''formal'' proposal. I would consider getting it custom made by whiteflash (they have some excellent diamond prices) but a custom design might not be budget friendly. I''m so glad that I got to see pics of everyone''s e-ring. The websites just don''t do them justice.

If you are willing to look at thinner platinum settings I have three for you from Firenze. Two have a round head but I''d call and find out about getting a princess head on them (especially if you like the $850 dollar one with the millgrain, pave and antiquing). They are all antique style, which would open the budget up for a larger princess from someplace other than bluenile (which I understand can be more expensive than other places). Also...this one which isn''t an antique setting but was just stunning (IMO) with pave in a Micheal B way from Whiteflash-- and WF has a nice selection of diamonds.


Whiteflash:
http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/U-Prong-Champaigne-Pave-by-WF_740.htm

Firenze:
http://www.firenzejewels.com/diamonds/info/9-Engagement-Mountings-127-1556-000-LADY-S-.58CT-VINTAGE-ANTIQUE-STYLE-DIAMOND-PLATINUM-ENGAGEMENT-RING-MOUNTING-000-.html

http://www.firenzejewels.com/diamonds/info/9-Engagement-Mountings-217-905-000-LADY-S-.22CT-VINTAGE-ANTIQUE-DIAMOND-PLATINUM-ENGAGEMENT-RING-MOUNTING-000-.html

http://www.firenzejewels.com/diamonds/info/9-Engagement-Mountings-301-224-000-LADY-S-.40CT-ANTIQUE-STYLE-DIAMOND-PLATINUM-ENGAGEMENT-RING-MOUNTING-000-.html

 

[Gypsy]

Also Dimend Scaasi has this nice selection of princesses:



They don''t have a setting that struck me as perfect... but I know they do custom settings. *shrugs.* But with that 850 Firenze setting... you have a nice budget for a diamond.