My Pear ER... a great deal!

[Lynnie]

I posted this oriinally in the SMTR section, figured I''d have more feedback here.

The original post:


Hi, all!! I am a longtime lurker. I came across this website during my search for "THE RING" - well, to get ideas on what I liked, at least. Thank you all so much for posting your pics!!! I love them!
So here is mine! After 8 years, my BF finally popped the question. He wanted me to pick it out, mainly because some of my girlfriends are disappointed with theirs So we went on the hunt. One of the family-owned jewelers was going out of business (retiring and moving to Florida), and we got a STEAL on it!
I do have a few questions, though. We went on their last day of business, at 1pm (doors closed for good at 3:30). I got a written appraisal from the jeweler, for insurance purposes, but its not a "certification". I was told to have it insured for $7000 - more than double what we paid.
Here are the stats:

1.25
K
VS-1
set in a platinum band with .15 in baguettes

I know the place is respectible. There were even dealers there. So here are my questions:
Is it typical for jewelers to sell non-certified diamonds?
Do jewelers typically jack up the price a little on their written appraisals? I was told the retail value would be $5600 (the lowest "sale price"), but the sticker on it said $11,300. Whats up with that?
On a more personal, level, what type of band should I look at? Will I have to get one made to match the curve in the ER?

I appreciate all your input and advice. I am definitely going to get a second appraisal ASAP, as the jewelers are already in Florida.
Thanks again!

So I just went for a second appraisal yesterday. Didn''t say a word about the ring, how much I paid, etc., and here''s the 2nd appraisal:

K
Si-1 (a small un-noticable inclusion on the edge)
1.33 (larger than I thought!)
10.15 x 5.95 l-w ratio 1.7
platinum band w/ .15 channel-set baguettes H-I VS1

Second appraisal value: $7730

I am SO GLAD I lurked on PS before shopping... you guys and gals really know your stuff, and although I was really nervous buying on the spot like that, I felt confident that I wasn''t getting ripped off or anything. Thanks for all your help!!!


Here are the pics:

 

[Lynnie]

Side View:

 

[Lynnie]

on the floor:

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Congratulations on finding your pear!!! I would say that almost all insurance appraisals are inflated over the true value. And yes, plenty of jewelers sell uncertified stones or those with meaningless certs. But as long as you paid less, you should be okay!

As far as a wedding band goes, the only thing to do is to try some on with it to see what you like. I personally would not want a curved band.

 

[Lynnie]

Another View:

 

[Lynnie]

My favorite! (sorry a lot of these are fuzzy!)

 

[Skippy123]

Looks great, congrats! I love pears! Enjoy!

 

[Lynnie]

Thanks to the both of you!
Diamond, thanks for your opinion on a wedding band. I''m kinda stuck... I imagine that a curved band would look nicer with the ER (I haven''t tried any on yet, wedding''s not till April ''09). But here''s the thing: I don''t wear my ER to work very often - I''m a nurse and deal with a lop of - uh - bodily fluids

So I thought that a curved band by itself might look kinda silly. But it''s such a deep curve in the shank that I think that maybe a straight band wouldn''t look right with the ER... I seem to be in a pickle!

 

[surfgirl]

You know, that''s a tricky band to match with a wband...I think you need to be a "two-band" bride! Here''s why/how...I think WITH the ering, a curved band that nests with the curves of your ering - baguette channel set on top, same size stones as your ering side stones, just like your ering - would be so pretty - as your wedding "set". Then, since you''re a nurse, just get another plain band for wearing to work. You can use both bands in your wedding if it''s important that both rings are blessed, so to speak, during your ceremony. But I think that''s the best way to go with your particular ring. I love the gap between a wband and ering normally, but I dont think it will look nice with your ering because of the curve...Two-ring bride, that''s your solution!

 

[Diamond*Dana]

I have to agree with Surf...I do not think that a straight band will look right with your e-ring. I think that a band (curved) to match your band of your e-ring would be beautiful! As for wearing your e-ring to work...I am a nurse and I have always wore my e-ring to work (also a pear

) and have had no problems at all, but it all depends on you and what you are comfortable with.

 

[Lynnie]

Surf, that''s a good idea!! I hadn''t thought of that! I''ll have to go to a jeweler and try stuff on...
Dana, I would love to wear it more at work... I am just so paranoid that I''ll either lose it, bash it or get "fluid" on my hands as it has a tendency to pop through the gloves if I''m not careful cause it sits so high. I''ve tried going up a size in the gloves, but I can''t work with large gloves!! My hands swim in them! Another thing - it''s not insured yet! (I know, yikes!). I wanted to wait till I got the second appraisal to do that. So hopefully by the end of the week I''ll have it insured (night shift is a pain!)

Thanks again!

 

[surfgirl]

Yeah, trying on is the best way. I''m sure you can find someone who''s got pre-made curved bands just so you can see how it looks, style wise.

I also understand your not wanting to get "fluids" (ewww)on your rings! From a patient''s perspective, let''s just say I''d rather not have a nurse administer an enema with a pear ering on...No good can come of that.

 

[marcy]

Pretty diamond.

 

[Lynnie]

LOL Surf!! Gives a whole new meaning to "This may hurt a little"!!!

 

[Steel]

I have never seen a pear set like that. Very pretty.

Thritto 2 wedding bands; one curved one flat.

 

[Lynnie]

Steel - I know, neither have I... I think that''s why I was drawn to it. Even in my expansive online search (including PS) I haven''t seen anything like it.
Thanks for your input!!

 

[Lynnie]

another pic...

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Eww, fluids...that is so gross, lol!
Mine does not sit up high at all...I have had them poke through the gloves as I am putting them on, but I have learned to maneuver them over the bling and now it has become habit to just do it that way. I can understand not wanting to do so until it is insured, that is a yikes! Oh, and I have done my share of night shift...it is tough to get stuff done, but I have 3 kids that will not allow me to sleep, either!

 

[Lynnie]

Dana - Haha, "fluids" was the best word (I thought) to describe the many kinds of liquids the human body produces without being too specific/gory/gross. And lucky us! We nurses get to experience these "fluids" up close and personal! Okay, I don''t mean to gross anyone out (so sorry). But I''ve just worked 3 12 hour night shifts in a row - and each night came with the bonus of a code!!! So I apoligize if I seem a little off my rocker. I swear, it has been the week from HELL.
No codes for like 5 months and then BAM! When it rains it pours!

So back to diamonds. Dana, can you post a link to your diamonds? I''d search your posts, but I''m too delirious right now to scroll through more than 2000 posts!

 

[BlueJeans]

Beautiful pear!

 

[lotsofsparkle]

beautiful pear and such a unique and delicate setting! gorgeous!

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Date: 3/3/2008 10:21:48 AM
Author: Lynnie
Dana - Haha, ''fluids'' was the best word (I thought) to describe the many kinds of liquids the human body produces without being too specific/gory/gross. And lucky us! We nurses get to experience these ''fluids'' up close and personal! Okay, I don''t mean to gross anyone out (so sorry). But I''ve just worked 3 12 hour night shifts in a row - and each night came with the bonus of a code!!! So I apoligize if I seem a little off my rocker. I swear, it has been the week from HELL.
No codes for like 5 months and then BAM! When it rains it pours!

So back to diamonds. Dana, can you post a link to your diamonds? I''d search your posts, but I''m too delirious right now to scroll through more than 2000 posts!

Sounds like a bad week!

Here is a link to my three stone anniversary ring
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/any-minimalists-on-ps-plain-band-lovers-unite.76178/

And my original e-ring is on page 2 of that thread (all the way at the bottom)
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/any-minimalists-on-ps-plain-band-lovers-unite.76178/page-2

My three stone sits up pretty high (6-8mm), but my solitaire is set pretty low.

 

[Lynnie]

Dana - your rings are beautiful!! I love pears
You''re 3-stone is spectacular!!

 

[Lynnie]

An update:
The engagement party was this past Saturday... and I tried on my aunt''s plain (straight) white-gold band. It definitely does not look right. So it looks like I''ll have to have one made. And I''ll get a plain band for work. Looks like I''ll be a 3-ring gal!
Thanks to all of you for all your help and kind words!!

 

[kcoursolle]

Beautiful ring, I especially love the curves and step cuts in the setting!! How about a matching curved wedding band with step cuts? It would be a gorgeous set!!!