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drbuck

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 18, 2006
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I need some help. I have two different types of ring designs in mind. I am looking at a Michael B. princess ring (pave setting) with a round center stone. I am also looking at Jeff Cooper''s R2974 which has princess channel set diamonds on the side with a round center
stone. I am interested in getting the Jeff Cooper custom made to have 8 princess diamonds on each side instead of 4. My girlfriend has "hinted" at the Michael B. but does not know about the Jeff Cooper. I personally like the Jeff Cooper more and I think it will be a more brilliant ring than the pave setting. Both rings are about the same price. Any thoughts on which one I should go with??

thanks!!
 
Pave and channel set are very different looks. What does your girlfriend like?

It would be terrible to get a custom ring that she doesn''t like.
 
If she is a big fan of pave and the Michael B, I can''t imagine the Jeff Cooper is also her style. I would definitely make sure to ask or find out some way before going ahead with the Jeff Cooper.
 
Thank you both. The thing is, she has not been real specific (she wants this all to be a surprise!). I have just been sly enough to notice that she was looking at the Michael B. on the internet as well as Precision Set. Prior to that, all she has said is that she likes diamonds on the side. Personally I don''t know that she is "dead set" on the Michael B. or a pave setting for that matter. It is just what I''ve noticed.
 
Surprises can be good or bad! Can you possibly go trying on rings together just to see how they look on her hand? I''ve loved many rings on the internet then been disappointed in how they look on me. Those two styles are quite different imho.

Good luck and have fun!

a
 
Trust me, it would be much easier on my that way. The problem is, she wants to be surprised. I don''t know if she has ever tried on any rings byherself. I guess I could ask her friends.
 
Well I was the opposite of her
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but I a positive she would have told a mom/sister/best friend what she wants. Try there.
 
After reading this excellent forum as well as input from others, I am leaning toward the Michael B ring. I am thinking of a 1 carat or a little bigger round center stone. In this forum, some people have said that if the center stone is less than 1.5 carats, to go with the Michael B petite princess instead of the princess. Any thoughts? I have seen both rings in person and the princess is more brilliant than the petite. However, I don''t want to "wash out" the center stone. Help!!
 
It seems like Bill Pearlman may have given that advice on here, and he sells MB and knows. So I''d for sure go by that advice. A smaller setting will make the stone look larger and a larger setting may have the opposite effect. You might want to compare Pearlman''s prices for MB, too.

OH, wait! Do you want a fantastic deal?! Honestly, this is unreal for a Michael B with a 1.5 AGS0 diamond!

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-specials/previously-owned-jewelry/rings/061PO1/0/
 
Oh yeah! that ring is fantastic! The setting is close 8k on it''s own I think. What a great deal DS!

a
 
It may boil down to which one is closest to her size...not sure those princess rings can be sized much, if any.
 
Thank you all for your help. I am going to look at some diamonds at the jeweler that has the Michael B. rings. When I first went into the store, they told me they could offer 15% off the ring and 30% off the diamond that I chose. Any thoughts? Is this a reasonable discount or should I be looking around elsewhere?
 
Well, a 30% discount means nothing if you don''t know the starting price! The diamonds may be marked up higher than they should be from the outset. It is unlikley you could come anywhere near the prices of the rings at Pearlman''s, and those 2 rings both have top quality diamonds in them. My advice would be to ask for a copy of the certificate of any diamond you are interested in, and post the stats and price on here. People will tell you whether the stone is a good buy or not or good quality. From what I have seen, the selection of ideal cut diamonds is far greater online with lower prices.
 
Well here is an example of one of the diamonds: 1.08 carat, ideal cut, D, VS2 Gia certified for for $13,020. They would take 30% off the diamond. Is this a good deal?
 
I forgot to mention its a round diamond
 
Plug the stats into the pricescope your diamond feature at the top of the page and see what comes up.
 
Date: 10/23/2006 5:06:15 PM
Author: drbuck
Well here is an example of one of the diamonds: 1.08 carat, ideal cut, D, VS2 Gia certified for for $13,020. They would take 30% off the diamond. Is this a good deal?
Click to expand...

i agree with jasmine. I just plugged your numbers and although 30% is nice, you''d still be paying more than if you went though and online vendor. Once you get your stores price for your total package stone and setting call pearlmans and get a quote for the same thing and see what pricing he gives you, unless you just like paying more for the local convenience and there are many folks who do.
 
I didn''t plug my numbers in...what''s the price difference?
 
I have another question...if they offer 30% off of a diamond, is it reasonable to ask for more off. Basically, how well does haggling over a price work? They are offering 15% off of the Michael B. princess or petite princess ring and 30% off of the diamond.
 
Date: 10/23/2006 5:32:05 PM
Author: drbuck
I have another question...if they offer 30% off of a diamond, is it reasonable to ask for more off. Basically, how well does haggling over a price work? They are offering 15% off of the Michael B. princess or petite princess ring and 30% off of the diamond.
Click to expand...
Depends if you can get it for less or not.
 
Date: 10/23/2006 5:32:05 PM
Author: drbuck
I have another question...if they offer 30% off of a diamond, is it reasonable to ask for more off. Basically, how well does haggling over a price work? They are offering 15% off of the Michael B. princess or petite princess ring and 30% off of the diamond.
Click to expand...
You can offer less, no telling whether they''ll take it.
 
WhiteFlash literally has about 7 ACA diamonds (AGS0) in E and F VS around 1.04-1.10 right now. The prices on their site range from around $8400-9400 and you''d get 5% off for the PriceScope/wire discount. So your price of $9100 isn''t bad, but it isn''t a "deal" either. You''d have to check with Pearlman''s to compare the discount on ordering MB.
 
Just throwing out options, now (you have been given some REALLY GOOD advice and those rings at Pearlman''s are a REAL DEAL if the ring size is close!) but... you can also consider having a ring custom made. Mine is from Whiteflash - it''s VERY Michael B-looking, only with a different style head (which I chose and LOVE). The price for custom can be surprisingly affordable - sometimes much less than many brand-name designer settings.

You can do a search in the SMTR forum and see 10,000+ more photos of it!
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Lynn-

Do you have a picture of the head of your diamond?? :) The diamond and band are so pretty!!
 
Lynn-

Thank you for sending that thread!! That is the most beautiful setting. The head, the band, the diamond, everything!!!! I just love the scallop!! :)
 
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