oh boy......she picked out something over budget!

[coach_x+]

Anyways we went to Harold Jaffe Jewelers in Toledo, OH. Keep in mind she wanted to try on and not look at a pic online. (fair enough) Keep in mind they do NOT have this ring on their web site!

So After about 100 rings in about 1 week she finally said. "I LOVE THIS RING" (GOOD!)

It''s not a "special ring" just a simple set similar to this one.

http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/images/rings/princess/platinum/sidestone/p2.jpg

Then it had the matching band all (minus center stone) for $3725

The band was made out of palladium (whatever that is?) with a platinum setting. The setting in the example was the exact same this pic is nearly exact (being fairly uneducated).

My GF is so concerned that the rings band & the E-ring match and fit well together.


My original budget was $5,000 w/ a 1ct princess THEN she fell in love with a "Square step cut emerald" (i think thats what it was called) anyways......


What do you suggest I do? Currently I have $3,000 in cash and can get another $3,000, but only wanted to spend $5,000.
I will only pay CASH no credit (CASH is KING!)

Here are some options I thought of:

1) walk in the store with 25 crisp $100 bills flash them and say "This is what I can do." Then get the diamond online & figure out how I''m going to get it mounted.
2) Get the ring & diamond online in hopes it is the EXACT same thing, even though my GF said she LOVED that ring in the store because it was the "perfect" width of bands & "Perfect" fit (meaning e-ring & band together) and the bands were not too flat or too rounded but rather "Perfect".
3) Get the ring & diamond there, and just wave 50 $100 bills and see what they do and just bug the crap out of them.

(How far would they possibly drop the price? btw I do have walk-a-way power)

I would rather buy online but she wants to make sure it is something she loves, and not being able to try it on makes her slightly apprehensive.

From all observations the jeweler is not like the "mall jewelers" and they were not a pushy salesman either, they never rubbed me the wrong way.

HELP!!!!!!

 

[E B]

Hi Coach,

Depending on the ct. weight of the diamonds, $3275 seems pretty steep for a simple channel-set setting and band in palladium with platinum heads. Is there any way you can call the store and get the width/diamond info?

The picture you posted looks an awful lot like this picture, from Blue Nile. They have the set (which, from the picture, looks like a flush mount) in white gold for $925:

Channel-Set Princess-Cut Engagement Ring/Wedding Band

 

[surfgirl]

I think you need to back up and re-group. First of all, you have a budget, and your gf should know what that budget it. It shouldn''t be up for debate since you already know what your comfort zone is for this purchase. Tell her that you have to work within that parameter. You dont say what size the center stone will be. Perhaps you need to see what the price is for stones in that range online, then see if that is still out of your budget. If so, you need to sit down with your gf and decide with her, if you go for a similar set online that might be cheaper, or if you get the set she saw, but with a smaller center stone.

 

[coach_x+]

YES I thought the same exact thing looking at the BlueNile site as well! I *think* it was 3mm per band,


Not sure if this would help but the model # was AG-23790



I could call and see what they say, but I also want my GF to be completly happy and at peace with the choice.

 

[coach_x+]

I''m not too wacked out about the budet other than the fact I know I would go over a little, (nature of the beast).

She''s being more practicle then me! How crazy is that? I want to get her what she wants but at least close to budget.

 

[gailrmv]

BlueNile has a great return policy, why not order something from there and see if she likes it as well as the one from the store?
I''d also find out if she wants princess or asscher (which I think is what she is describing with square cut emerald). While both square, one is faceted and one is step cut so they look quite different. In my opinion the small stones in the band should be the same kind as the centerstone.

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

maybe you can get it all in palladium? everything will match and it will be quite similar to platinum? not something you should just jump into without researching, but if they offer the band in palladium they might be able to do your Ering too, and it would certainly change the price in your favor!