Hello all,
Reading the PS boards has been extremely helpful over the past few weeks in my search for an engagement ring. To call this forum informative and empowering is an understatement. I have a question regarding the most prudent decision on setting the stone.
Last week I visited a jeweler to look at stones and a ring they have which my girlfriend loves. At the end of the day, I put a (refundable) hold on a stone and a Verragio setting (7046 platinum split shank w/ halo). The quote for the setting was a great discount (40% less than the sticker; she claimed it was mis-tagged but gave me the tag price plus the trunk show discount), but I grew less interested in the stone the more I thought about it and continued to do research--it's an SI1-D cushion with an EGL certificate; a quick search of PS and other sites showed I can do better for a lesser or equal amount. Deciding to look for something in the VS2 F/G range (with a GIA cert.) in order to save some money, hopefully still get the setting, and still have a stone that the future fiancee will love, I decided to check with other local dealers about stones that might come in closer to a price point where I can still get the setting without exceeding my budget; I found one such stone and will be meeting with the dealer later this week to check it out. (A search of the original jeweler's inventory reveals nothing comparable to the quality of what I'm going to look at for the same price.)
What I'm ultimately wondering is:
1. Based on the experiences of those far more versed than I in diamond shopping, would it be unreasonable to contact the first jeweler to let them know I found a stone I prefer at another place but still would like to get the Verragio at the quoted price? Or might a jeweler be hesitant to still go through with that part of the deal, a price she called a mistake because it had the wrong price on the tag but she was going to give it to me at that price anyway?
2. If I can do that, who should mount the stone in the setting: the person who sells me the stone or the person who sells the setting? The dealer showing me the stone has a craftsman that he works with and I'm wondering if taking the ring to him would be an option. Are there any concerns that one might have bad intentions with the setting because I opted to pull out on part of the original deal? Also, if anyone has experience with Verragio settings, are they only adjusted by Verragio and authorized retailers, rather than any skilled jeweler/goldsmith?
Thanks to all for your help.
Reading the PS boards has been extremely helpful over the past few weeks in my search for an engagement ring. To call this forum informative and empowering is an understatement. I have a question regarding the most prudent decision on setting the stone.
Last week I visited a jeweler to look at stones and a ring they have which my girlfriend loves. At the end of the day, I put a (refundable) hold on a stone and a Verragio setting (7046 platinum split shank w/ halo). The quote for the setting was a great discount (40% less than the sticker; she claimed it was mis-tagged but gave me the tag price plus the trunk show discount), but I grew less interested in the stone the more I thought about it and continued to do research--it's an SI1-D cushion with an EGL certificate; a quick search of PS and other sites showed I can do better for a lesser or equal amount. Deciding to look for something in the VS2 F/G range (with a GIA cert.) in order to save some money, hopefully still get the setting, and still have a stone that the future fiancee will love, I decided to check with other local dealers about stones that might come in closer to a price point where I can still get the setting without exceeding my budget; I found one such stone and will be meeting with the dealer later this week to check it out. (A search of the original jeweler's inventory reveals nothing comparable to the quality of what I'm going to look at for the same price.)
What I'm ultimately wondering is:
1. Based on the experiences of those far more versed than I in diamond shopping, would it be unreasonable to contact the first jeweler to let them know I found a stone I prefer at another place but still would like to get the Verragio at the quoted price? Or might a jeweler be hesitant to still go through with that part of the deal, a price she called a mistake because it had the wrong price on the tag but she was going to give it to me at that price anyway?
2. If I can do that, who should mount the stone in the setting: the person who sells me the stone or the person who sells the setting? The dealer showing me the stone has a craftsman that he works with and I'm wondering if taking the ring to him would be an option. Are there any concerns that one might have bad intentions with the setting because I opted to pull out on part of the original deal? Also, if anyone has experience with Verragio settings, are they only adjusted by Verragio and authorized retailers, rather than any skilled jeweler/goldsmith?
Thanks to all for your help.
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