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My visit to Brian Gavin Diamonds!

jess719

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Messages
137
My original engagement ring is not faring so well, so my husband has agreed to a reset. :) When he first bought it, we didn't realize that research had to be put into the setting as well as the diamond. It was just supposed to work, right? Anyway, after TONS of research (and waaaay too many hours looking at online catalogs), I thought I had made a decision. The only problem was that I really wanted to see the rings in person. Luckily, I live in Houston, so I gave Brian Gavin a call to see if I could make an appointment to see a few different styles. I really wanted something simple, so I was in luck. He has a little box of rings that didn't make the cut during production with examples of a bunch of different types of pave. That is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Even though he is an internet company, he happily sees customers in person!

I have to say my visit was so much fun!!!! :D He is an incredibly refreshing person to talk to. I love that he encouraged me to try on the different styles and see how they differed in sparkle. He is both interesting and informative; he'd seriously be an awesome guy to have as a friend. The best part is that I was there for an hour and a half and never felt pressured to make a decision. It felt like he was just sharing a passion of his and he really wanted me to make a decision I wouldn't regret. I hate it when I go someplace and they are so pushy and then try to upsell.

As for the rings...they are absolutely beautiful. Everyone is right when they post their rings and say the pics don't do them justice. Every. Single. One. was small and delicate with the most beautiful, fluid lines. I knew that they were of good quality; I did not expect them to be little works of art (even the most simple fishtail pave design) I tried to convince my husband that I needed a bunch of different settings, so my diamond would have choices. (That particular idea did not go over so well. ;) ) I'll post a few pics from my adventures!

The first one is the fishtail pave with plain band and a u-prong with 10pt stones. (It seems as though most of the oops rings were in about a size four, so my pinkie had to do.)
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These next two are the same, but instead of the fishtail pave, it's with the three row domed micropave. One is zoomed in so you can see the detail.
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This last one has this pretty little diamond and sapphire band. (I totally added it to my wish list, maybe in another ten years).
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I only took pictures of the ones I was considering, but there were quite a few more, all gorgeous!

Oh, I guess there was more than one best part, when I begged him for the u-prong band with diamonds from his Blue collection, he said maybe!!!!!! Maybe is sooo much better than no! I guess I will just have to wait and see!
 
And here I am by his big orange wall! (I'll have to take another one once I lose this baby weight!)
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You look fantastic!!! And I cannot wait to see what you end up with. That three row pave one is pretty awesome. Do you recall the width?
 
wow, they are all beautiful! So glad you got to visit in person too!!
 
ame|1338469701|3206715 said:
You look fantastic!!! And I cannot wait to see what you end up with. That three row pave one is pretty awesome. Do you recall the width?

Thanks! I believe that one is 2.5mm. The fishtail is 2mm. :)
 
Both look rad. Id go BLIND with a 3 row pave. Srsly. But they look amazing on your hand!
 
AWESOME! I've played with that little box too. But it didn't have that sapphire ring in it at the time. I can't wait to see what you decide to go with!
 
Looks and sounds like a lot of fun. The rings you tried on look great.
 
Wow, sounds like so much fun!!! The rings are beautiful, and you look great!
 
Thanks! It really was tons of fun!
 
I'm glad you had fun visiting with Brian, he is such a lovely person. I've never had need to play with his box of rings, but I do enjoy seeing how many three carat diamonds I can balance on one hand. :love: I think I'm over due for a visit.
 
ponder|1338525796|3207115 said:
I'm glad you had fun visiting with Brian, he is such a lovely person. I've never had need to play with his box of rings, but I do enjoy seeing how many three carat diamonds I can balance on one hand. :love: I think I'm over due for a visit.

Oh my! I don't think I've ever actually held a 3ct diamond!!!
 
Is it possible that the sapphire band is my wedding ring? When did you go? We had it done a couple of months ago- April sometime.... Looks really like our ring (same colour sapphires), and it was custom. Funny!
Your visit must have been great- would love to visit BG.
 
That sounds like it would have been a great visit - meeting and chatting with Brian and the gang - lucky you!

What did you decide to go for? Have you picked a new setting? These are bands, I thought it was the ering that was giving you trouble? or are you getting a large eternity to replace the ering?

(ooops!!! was that a *new* idea i just threw out there??? oh dear... so sorry for suggesting that.... :Up_to_something: )
 
mousey|1338543972|3207154 said:
Is it possible that the sapphire band is my wedding ring? When did you go? We had it done a couple of months ago- April sometime.... Looks really like our ring (same colour sapphires), and it was custom. Funny!
Your visit must have been great- would love to visit BG.

Hmmm...maybe it was an oops of your ring. I went on Tuesday, and he said his box was of the rings that didn't make the cut for some reason. It truly is beautiful. He may have added it to the catalog as well. :D I saw one there with pink sapphires.

Maybe one day you could plan a long layover in Houston. It is a hub of United after all. ;) I'm sure you would have just as an amazing time!!!
 
Enerchi|1338552481|3207190 said:
That sounds like it would have been a great visit - meeting and chatting with Brian and the gang - lucky you!

What did you decide to go for? Have you picked a new setting? These are bands, I thought it was the ering that was giving you trouble? or are you getting a large eternity to replace the ering?

(ooops!!! was that a *new* idea i just threw out there??? oh dear... so sorry for suggesting that.... :Up_to_something: )

It really was a great visit! I keep waffling between the fishtail pave with the six prong head or the three row domed micropave also with the six prong head. And yeah, he only had the bands to see as examples of the types of pave. But, it was exactly what I needed to at least make some sort of decision. (For some reason, I am so indecisive.)

We are doing a whole new set since my wedding band is soldered to the e-ring. The new wedding band will just be a simple plain one though. I love my center stone, so the eternity (well actually 3/4 eternity) would be in addition as an anniversary band. :lol: I'm trying to convince him that I need it now instead of next year! The pics are what I want it to look like as a whole, just adding my center stone to the top band. The plain one is actually the bottom of the dream band. :) Any opinion on which one you like better?
 
U prong all the way! I like seeing ALL of the diamond (or as much as possible) and I find its just such a super blingy look. That's just me! :sun: And --- I have very pudgy, ugly, old lady hands, so if I can distract with bling and fire --- that's my "go to" answer for everything!

U prong vote here!
 
Oh my...!!! Thanks for sharing your experience and allowing those who do not have physical access to BGD to live varcariously through you. I am itching to make a trip to Houston JUST for some good BGD.
 
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