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My dilemma...input welcome

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plg_cp

Rough_Rock
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Mar 15, 2005
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Hi, I am having trouble deciding on the best course of action for my e-ring and any advice/comments are welcome!

Note: I live in Canada and I am price-sensitive. I figure I have these 3 options for my diamond/setting:

1. buy both stone and setting online (one of the PS vendors). This is the cheapest route initially and probably gets me the better stone but if I ever need resizing/repairs or otherwise have to send it back over the border it gets very ugly (shipping, taxes/duties).

2. buy both stone and setting locally. This is the most expensive option and I will get a lower quality stone versus buying it online (although I don''t know if I''ll be able to see the difference). But this is very convenient for repairs/maintenance and does not involve the ring crossing borders.

3. buy stone online and get it set locally. I can get a better stone for cheaper than at a B&M. The jeweler I know won''t set a stone bought off the net. I can get it set at other places but they won''t guarantee the safety of the stone since it''s not theirs meaning I am risking my stone. Is this an issue realistically?

Any thoughts would help me a lot, I feel like these are lose/lose/lose alternatives...help!

Also, I am wondering what if I buy locally but move out of town. Do I then have to find a jeweler to pay every time we need it cleaned, etc or is there a better way? What do those of you who''ve bought online do for your day-to-day needs?

Mark
 
Well, just a thought:

it may be that a local jelwer would not sell an "empty" setting or just assemble some setting & stone you have bought elsewhere. Either of these signal a lost deal for them... But, once you have the ring, I can''t imagine why they would not size it.

"Maintainance" means very little, if anything at all.

All in all, if you are looking for a type of ring difficult or imossible to size (e.g. eterinity style or tension settings), there is definitely some need to be able to send the ring to the maker (or find someone else with aspecialized set of skills) for delicate operations. For most rings, this is not a problem. All that''s needed is to guess ring size within 1 size or two, and this is not too hard - the seller can assist you as well.

Just my 0.2, of course
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Valeria,
Thanks for the quick response.
So am I correct in taking away that you vote for option 1 (buy both stone online and get it set ny the vendor)? Assuming I receive what I order from the online vendor and all is well, can you think of any reasons why I might have to send it back to them in the future that I couldn't get taken of locally? (I am not looking to buy an uncommon/fussy setting).

Mark
 
Date: 3/30/2005 1:24:19 AM
Author: plg_cp

can you think of any reasons why I might have to send it back to them in the future that I couldn''t get taken of locally?
No.
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... this thread is just starting though, someone else might have some idea.
 
I think you will get a better deal online. If you go with someone that sells diamonds AND a setting you like that makes it easy because they can set the diamond in the setting for you. (E.g. Whiteflash.) To me it seems your best option (not a "lose" option) because you save money, and if you''re using a vendor a lot of PSers have used they are trustworthy and you will have seen samples of their work. Try and look at a style you like in a B&M store, to make sure you like it "in person", then get it online. That would be my vote ...

If you really don''t feel comfortable with that I''d probably get the diamond online and the setting locally ... but personally I wouldn''t go the whole stone and setting B&M route ... but I''m sure what you might lose in a bit of value you''ll gain in peace of mind so it might be worth it for you.
 
I''ve been in the same position tho more a GB based... buying in the US. - I eventually went the route of stone online/ring local - it mainly cut down since GB ring sizes are letters, and the US numbers... and iv seen 3 charts around, each with a difference calcuation of the conversion of British to US.

I was fortunate to find a small one man band jeweller who was happy to set a stone i had bought elsewhere... but then it seemed that during my inital queries - the main shops... like those in the Malls... are only interested in turnover and only wanted to sell a complete ring... while the smaller shops... where more interested in trying to accomodate me...

so it may be worth you looking around a some smaller places... talking to them - some may want to see if they can match what your seeing online - if they cant they may still be happy to look after you ring wise... in the hope that if they treat you right, you''ll be back for anniversarys... birthdays... odd repairs (changing a watch battery... a clean of the ring... that kind of thing)

But always remember to include Taxes and shipping in your costings - incase you do get hit for em... then at least its in the budget.

I dont know what US/Can tax is but the US/GB tax was about 41% so a heafty wack ontop (still cheaper and better than what i could find here)
 
If you''re in or around Toronto, then USAcerted diamonds is in your area and you could consider buying from them.

Otherwise, get both the diamond and the ring at the same internet vendor. There is no reason to send it back to be sized unless you buy a designer setting which has a warranty that becomes void if someone else does work on the ring.

If you wanted your vendor to size it, you couldn''t send the ring back straight from Canada, you would probably have to drive down to the border to mail it and then back down again to pick it up, because Canada customs would want to charge you for the full value of the ring again even though all you would have had done would be the sizing.
 
Even if you are not in the Toronto area, USACerted can help you out find a fabulous diamond. They are located in Thornhill, ON, and have access to a lot of stones.

What sort of setting are you looking for? Would it be a standard sort of setting, or something you have a vision for?

You can probably find a local jeweller that will help you out with the setting. Some business may better than no business in their eyes. The jeweller may see this as a way to establish a relationship with you. This is the route I took with the two diamonds I purchased on-line. Both stones are in custom designed settings from this same jeweller and the rings are gorgeous. I've just gone back to him with some beautiful amethysts that did not come from his store. When these earrings are done, he's going to set a lovely half-black opal into a necklace for me. After that, it's going to be two wedding rings. The jeweller is always glad to see me and my money. His benchman enjoys working on my custom projects because they offer a break from his usual routine.

Jewellers who do a lot of custom work often keep a portfolio of their work in the store, if you are looking for something out of the ordinary. Ask to browse through the portfolio, and to look at current pieces in progress. Most jewellers will be happy to show you their work.

One question you should ask the jeweller though, is who will cover potential damage to your stone if something happens during setting, if you did not purchase the stone from the jeweller.

Ask your friends and family for their experiences with their jewellers. Many will have gone to the chain stores at the mall to meet their needs, but some will have gone to independent B&M's.

Edited: I'm from Canada too.
 
Thanks all.

Yes, for getting a diamond set locally that I would purchase online, some places I''ve contacted said they''ll do it but they can''t guarantee the safety of the stone. This seems reasonable from their point of view, but isn''t this a large risk to take on my part? How did those of you who have gone this route handle this issue?

Also, for settings like Vatche X-prong does it void the warranty to get it sized locally as Daniela suggested? What is the value to me of the warranty on the setting anyway, is it just in case it falls apart? Since it appears the designer inscription on X-prong is right at the back, wouldn''t it be melted away by getting the size adjusted? (I know her size to within a 1/2 size)

Mark
 
Why not go to a local jewelry store & try on some similar width rings to find out your size. Than you can order the correct size from an internet vendor & not have to worry about sending it back to resize later. Just remember if you''re going to wear a wedding band with it you''ll have to make it a 1/4 size larger because the wedding band will make both rings tighter, not sure why but it''s true. Also are you planning to insure the ring? If you do so right away & you take it to a local jeweler for sizing & they damage it you''ll be covered under your insurance policy.
 
Hi, Lord S, are you saying you had to pay 41% of your purchase price when you took delivery of your stone in the UK? God and I thought Belgium was bad, we had to pay 21% of the cost.

This is an important point. I''m trying to figure out now whether to send a possible purchase (really hope it comes off) to my parents in the UK, his folks in France or to us here @ 21%. Was it really almost double the price of the stone to just import it to the UK?

Wow you guys are so lucky to be on the other side of the Atlantic!

Sounds like it''s the price of a holiday to go and pick the darn thing up in person. Love the design you chose by the way.

Concerning up keep - we bought our ring from NicIce and have never had any issues. There''s no way we could find something of equal quality in an asscher cut here. Apart from the 21% duty it was a perfect thing to do.

Good luck in your choice, but don''t let maintenance or sizing trouble you.

A
 
Aye.. that figure is made up of 2.5% import duty + the then 16% added import on an item more than the threashold (its now 17%) and then 17.5% VAT which total a 41% additional cost. plus the delivery companys fees

It very nearly WAS the same price of a return trip to Philly
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Rosy,
I can''t go to a B&M for sizing because I''m the guy...I''m buying the e-ring for my soon-to-be-fiancee and I don''t want her to know about the ring. I took one of her current right-hand rings to find out the size and it''s a 5, so I guess I should do 5 1/4 based on what you''re saying.

laughinggravy,
Even in Canada (2 hours drive from US border) to receive a ring from the US it will cost another 25% on top of the actual cost of the item to get it into the country with duties and taxes. And that''s with NAFTA in effect... So the only people who are lucky to be on this side of the Atlantic in terms of charges are Americans.

Lord,
I don''t follow your logic here...correct me if I''m wrong but if you physically go to the US and pick up the item and bring it home you are still responsible for the exact same duty and tax charges as if it gets shipped. The method of entry is irrelevant.

Mark.
 
Date: 4/1/2005 11:28:40 AM
Author: plg_cp
Rosy,

I can''t go to a B&M for sizing because I''m the guy...I''m buying the e-ring for my soon-to-be-fiancee and I don''t want her to know about the ring. I took one of her current right-hand rings to find out the size and it''s a 5, so I guess I should do 5 1/4 based on what you''re saying.

Be careful here..women''s hands aare very different person-to-person. I, for example, can wear a perfect size 6 on the ring finger of either hand. My friend''s hands are 1/2 difference between the left and right. My sister''s are a 1/4 difference. If you''re not sure, you may want to consider bigger than smaller (which it seems you are), or try to knab a left-hand rings of hers to prevent undersizing (which then you won''t be able to slip the ring on her finger!
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)

Good luck to you!
 
style="WIDTH: 99%; HEIGHT: 170px">Date: 4/1/2005 11:28:40 AM
Author: plg_cp
Rosy,
I can''t go to a B&M for sizing because I''m the guy...I''m buying the e-ring for my soon-to-be-fiancee and I don''t want her to know about the ring. I took one of her current right-hand rings to find out the size and it''s a 5, so I guess I should do 5 1/4 based on what you''re saying.
Oh I wouldn''t recommend using one of her right hand rings to guess the sizing. Each finger on my hands are a different size & most women''s right hand fingers are larger (if they''re right handed & vice versa for lefties) but this is not always the case. Also the width of the rings you are buying can cause you to take a larger or smaller size. For example a thicker band will fit tighter on the had than a thinner band. You''ve really got to try the different sizes on. My ring was sized from a 6 to a 5 1/2 & I thought that was perfect. Later when I picked it up & wore it, I realized that the 5 1/2 was still too large. Luckily when I got married & placed my wedding band with it it tightened up just enough that I don''t have to get resized to a 5 1/4 which was what I was planning to do.
 
Date: 4/1/2005 11:28:40 AM
Author: plg_cp
Lord,

I don''t follow your logic here...correct me if I''m wrong but if you physically go to the US and pick up the item and bring it home you are still responsible for the exact same duty and tax charges as if it gets shipped. The method of entry is irrelevant.


Mark.

Technically yes... If i walk through the red channel... in the case of a loose diamondm in its little paper wrapper... it would quite easily go unnoticed in my wallet. and go throught the green channel without paying duty.

Not that i advocate it of course
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But i would rather not give anymore money to this bunch of crooks we''ve got in goverment.

In the same way a few of my Mountain bike buddies have gone over to the US with their bikes, and fitted a pair of old forks that aint worth much. Bought a new set out there, and had them fitted, dumped the old ones.. ridden the new ones to get em muddy... and come home with out having to pay that 41% import.
 
I was told by HM Customs and Excise that the 17% charge is only applicable upon set diamonds and loose diamonds have no duty. So just 17.5% VAT, but then you have to get someone to actually set the diamond in your own country and many will not accept responsibility.
 
Lord Summerisle Did you get charged the duty charge on your loose diamond?
 
I am in the US, and just recently used USACerted Diamonds to purchase loose diamonds which were then sent to gemappraisers (D. Atlas) for a gem audit and Chris at D. Atlas was able to find studs, email me pictures of the studs with my diamonds sitting in the studs, and have them set (and then rechecked after setting) all for a very reasonable fee. I would highly recommend that you give Martin a call at USA Certed Diamonds.

Mark
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