Hi PS!!
I've been lurking since last year when my bf first took me ring shopping. We've now booked flights from California to New York to look and hopefully buy a diamond and ring setting there.
I did want some advice and questions about how I should go about things. I've done some good enough research already and have some ideas. So here it goes.
What I Am Looking For
I am currently going in between either doing a halo or a solitaire.
Pave on the side of the band
RB diamond 1.8-2ct
At first, I wanted the halo, but as time had passed I felt worried that this trend my pass and I may no longer be interested in my setting in the long run (and I don't want to have to upgrade/change in the future), so I started looking at solitaires and have found one still I love, but still torn because I like the extra sparkle the halo gives (and size)!
Additional concerns:
- If I get a halo, I don't want the pt of diamonds to be too big OR see a lot of metals
- If I do a solitaire I don't want the bucket diamonds to be big either or see too much metal
BUDGET:
$15,000 for stone + setting
My Current Plan
1. Go to Harry Winston NY and see The One in person since the halo is said to be very delicate. Maybe I was hoping this would help to give me some reassurance if the halo wasn't too big that it will still be beautiful and loved (by me) as continue to passes. I still think halos are beautiful and had followed the threads for frankiextahs!!! Just worried about the long term feeling.
2. Go to Lauren B Jewelers (has anyone heard of them and have personal experience with them?)
I found them on instagram at instagram.com/LAURENBJEWELRY and that's when I started falling in love with some of their stuff. I think being able to see live photos and the rings in motion really helped to show it's quality and sparkle more.
Granted, for some of the stones I do feel like it looked "blue" and not sure if that's just me or the camera?
Regardless, I'm interested in this setting, which is similar to Steven Krisch Presioa (but over my budget):
http://instagram.com/p/ti_EI4pGmS/?modal=true
3. Check out Jangmi Jewelers (also good reviews on Yelp & apparently pricing too)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/jangmi-jewelry-new-york-2?osq=jangmi+jewelers
MDC DIamonds - but there wasn't a lot of reviews on this, but they provided good quotes for the setting & answered my emails
http://mdcdiamonds.com/engagementdetails.cfm?Stock=ES298&Country=US#
Eternity by Yoni to check out their Madison which is HW inspired & currently waiting on quote for a custom ring like the SK Presioa - I know that some people had used Yoni on PS too
http://www.eternitybyyoni.com/
MY QUESTIONS FOR PS-ers
1. Do you think my plan is good? I'd really like to get a place selected in the first day so that we can enjoy our trip in NY. We are only there for 4 days. Do you think we will need more time and that I should try to do 2 (3,4) days of searching?
2. What are your thoughts on the quality of the setting for Lauren B?
3. Do you think I should do halo or a solitaire considering my concerns?
4. If not LaurenB, do you think Jangmi would be able to do quality settings and MORE IMPORTANTLY, how can you distinguish if a vendor can create you a good setting? I think this is the scariest for me because if I have something custom made, how would I know the store would be able to do a good job with the details?
I just don't want to be overwhelmed when I get there and try to narrow places that are good and affordable.
I've been lurking since last year when my bf first took me ring shopping. We've now booked flights from California to New York to look and hopefully buy a diamond and ring setting there.
I did want some advice and questions about how I should go about things. I've done some good enough research already and have some ideas. So here it goes.
What I Am Looking For
I am currently going in between either doing a halo or a solitaire.
Pave on the side of the band
RB diamond 1.8-2ct
At first, I wanted the halo, but as time had passed I felt worried that this trend my pass and I may no longer be interested in my setting in the long run (and I don't want to have to upgrade/change in the future), so I started looking at solitaires and have found one still I love, but still torn because I like the extra sparkle the halo gives (and size)!
Additional concerns:
- If I get a halo, I don't want the pt of diamonds to be too big OR see a lot of metals
- If I do a solitaire I don't want the bucket diamonds to be big either or see too much metal
BUDGET:
$15,000 for stone + setting
My Current Plan
1. Go to Harry Winston NY and see The One in person since the halo is said to be very delicate. Maybe I was hoping this would help to give me some reassurance if the halo wasn't too big that it will still be beautiful and loved (by me) as continue to passes. I still think halos are beautiful and had followed the threads for frankiextahs!!! Just worried about the long term feeling.
2. Go to Lauren B Jewelers (has anyone heard of them and have personal experience with them?)
I found them on instagram at instagram.com/LAURENBJEWELRY and that's when I started falling in love with some of their stuff. I think being able to see live photos and the rings in motion really helped to show it's quality and sparkle more.
Granted, for some of the stones I do feel like it looked "blue" and not sure if that's just me or the camera?
Regardless, I'm interested in this setting, which is similar to Steven Krisch Presioa (but over my budget):
http://instagram.com/p/ti_EI4pGmS/?modal=true
3. Check out Jangmi Jewelers (also good reviews on Yelp & apparently pricing too)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/jangmi-jewelry-new-york-2?osq=jangmi+jewelers
MDC DIamonds - but there wasn't a lot of reviews on this, but they provided good quotes for the setting & answered my emails
http://mdcdiamonds.com/engagementdetails.cfm?Stock=ES298&Country=US#
Eternity by Yoni to check out their Madison which is HW inspired & currently waiting on quote for a custom ring like the SK Presioa - I know that some people had used Yoni on PS too
http://www.eternitybyyoni.com/
MY QUESTIONS FOR PS-ers
1. Do you think my plan is good? I'd really like to get a place selected in the first day so that we can enjoy our trip in NY. We are only there for 4 days. Do you think we will need more time and that I should try to do 2 (3,4) days of searching?
2. What are your thoughts on the quality of the setting for Lauren B?
3. Do you think I should do halo or a solitaire considering my concerns?
4. If not LaurenB, do you think Jangmi would be able to do quality settings and MORE IMPORTANTLY, how can you distinguish if a vendor can create you a good setting? I think this is the scariest for me because if I have something custom made, how would I know the store would be able to do a good job with the details?
I just don't want to be overwhelmed when I get there and try to narrow places that are good and affordable.