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please help with eRing

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howdysir

Rough_Rock
Joined
Nov 2, 2006
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basically, i'm currently looking for a setting that matches a setting at a jeweler i don't want to buy from, so hoping someone has some ideas of where i can look. (edit: i have looked thru UnionDiamond.com, James Allen, Blue Nile, and Diamond.com settings)


a have a ring from a jeweler (Kays) that my gf loved when she saw it and is now particular to, but i (think) i am unhappy with the center stone and pricing. so preferably i want to get an identical ring with a better stone for a more reasonable price.

i'm pretty intimidated/confused by everything and frustrated and stressed; please excuse any ignorance i have and correct me.

i think i will probably be unhappy with the center because when i got home i noticed they marked it as having a clarity of I1. i didn't get a real good look at the ring (i admit, carelessly) because it was dirty. i liked the way the ring as a whole sparkled so i bought it without being confident in it, mostly planning on researching it later. (now)

foremost on my mind is that seeing imperfections on that stone will be very disappointing to me, and most likely (and more importantly) will be to her as well. from the little research i've done last night and today, i'm feeling that i would be most happy with a similar stone in the vs clarity range.

so i called them and told them not to send it in to get sized yet. i told the person my concern about the clarity and she told me it has nothing the naked eye can see, and recommended i take a look at it being clean, since stones in vs range would be "big bucks".

my second concern is the price- and i really don't know what to expect, but i've read so many posts about Kay and some other mall stores being grossly overpriced that it's hard to ignore. i don't mind spending a lot on a nice ring but it gets me very angry to feel that i might get cheated greatly on something that is so important. so please let me know what you think:

(Kays handwritten cert)
wt., clarity, color
marquise 1/3 I1 GHI
round (x10) 45 I1 GHI
total weight 75pt
white gold
$1800
 
Hi howdy and welcome.

any chance you''re still in the return period that you can just get a refund?

also, can you post a picture or link to the setting. I''d be very surprised if Kay had a setting that we couldn''t find else where.

As for the I1..yes you will see inclusions in a I1 stone. If the inclusions are white you might be able to get away with not seeing them, if they are black you''re going to spot them. Eye clean I1 stones are very very hard to come by.

the pricing is also very high. you can do a search on the home page entering in your diamond specs for comparison purposes. I just entered in a .50 marquise g/h color VS/SI clarity and most that came up were closer to $1000. depending on the setting you can probably get her a larger stone by using one of the online vendors.
 
To add on what mrssalvo said, not only can you generally see the inclusions in an I1 stone, but this is a Kay handwritten cert, not even GIA. What I mean to say is, Kay's personal grading will not be nearly as strict as GIA's will be. For one, they have color "ranges" (GHI) which doesn't really narrow the field that much. Second, what Kay considers a "GHI" color stone could very easily be considered K color by GIA. Maybe worse. And third, Kay has every incentive to grade the stone a little more lenient than an independent lab (GIA), because Kay is interested in selling you the stone. So while you could normally see the inclusions in an I1 stone, I would say you will absolutely certainly see the inclusions in an I1 stone certified by Kay.

As mrssalvo said, you can get a higher quality, better color marquise for $1000, that is also MUCH bigger (nearly 50% bigger - the difference between 0.33 carats and 0.50 carats). Plus it will be GIA certified.

I wouldn't say you were "cheated", and I think it's great that you care enough to double check your purchase rather than "be done with it." I think at the end of the day, though, you could do better than your current Kay's purchase.

If you post a picture of the ring, we can probably help you find a match!

But I would consider returning the ring to Kay's and letting us help you hit a home run with your ring while still adhering to your budget.
 
hey buddy...
I have been in your shoes...a newb trying to figure out this diamond thing. I have spent the last two weeks immersing myself in all of this. Here is my thought...You should be able to get something of better quality for sure. I would check some of the good online retailers UnionDiamond.com, James Allen, Blue Nile, Diamond.com, etc. Find the diamond that you want and then worry about the band from there. Its hard to give advice on the band without seeing it.

You will probably be able to see inclusions with an I1 stone...I personally won''t go less than a VS2, but I have been told the SI ones aren''t bad either. I would at LEAST upgrade to the S''s. How can they rate the stone as a GHI? Man those stores piss me off!

Return it and start the online quest...your GF will thank you!1
 
Please, please, please, listen to the above posters. My husband and I bought my first stone at a mall jewelry store. It had no eye-visible inclusions either. However, it was laser drilled for clarity and not disclosed to us. The stone was not certed either. They gave us their best guess. It was a lesson learned, but oh it hurt. You can do much better than this ring from Kay''s. BTW, from what I have read, they only have to disclose fracture filled, not laser drilling alone. Live and learn. If they still have it for sizing and have not sized it, that simplifies everything. They can keep it as is, and they return your money, and we help you find a similar setting and a much better diamond.
9.gif


shay
 
Can you describe the style of the ring?
 
hi salvo, thank you for the reply. i just did this last night; so i should have 89 days left to return it, according to the people i talked to. i'm almost certain i do not want the center stone, but i don't know if Kay will sell me the setting alone. (doubting it)

i wish i had a photo, next time i go there i will try to snap one myself. there isn't much on their website.

i *think* there were two stones on each side of the center, kinda like:

__o/\o__
__o\/o__

then three immediately along the band on each side. ...that's probably not much help.

i wonder if theres a possibility that they handwrite I1 inaccurately on purpose, for insurance reasons or to avoid discrepancies.

earlier i came up with about $600 for the most similar stone i could find at blue nile. their white gold settings with sidestones range from $500 to $1200. based on that i could be paying a difference of $0-$700. finding an identical setting would remove the confusion of having such a big range of difference.

edit: thank you everyone for your input, it's appreciated.
 
i wonder if theres a possibility that they handwrite I1 inaccurately on purpose, for insurance reasons or to avoid discrepancies.
Click to expand...
there''s a one grade leeway for that sort of thing. If the report was done "in-house" you can be sure it is at least I1, if not lower. They could sell it for /A LOT/ more if it were SI2.
 
is this the ring?

990092102_MV_PD.jpg
 
wow, alvis, good find
 
Date: 11/2/2006 6:35:38 PM
Author: avlis
is this the ring?


990092102_MV_PD.jpg
Click to expand...

wow, i can''t believe i missed that. i went thru the rings twice last night and three times again after seeing your post and it took forever for me to recognize it. thank you so much for finding that.

it sure looks like it could be the ring... it''s also the right weight and same $... it seems like as soon as i exit any jewelry store i forget what all the jewelry looked like- even the ones i liked. (or in this case, even bought) i will be certain what it looks like tomorrow (i hope) when i go in and will probably ask for a refund after they tell me they won''t sell the setting alone.

thank you so much for finding that- it is very good to have a reference. i''ve gone thru blue nile and union diamond a second time because i thought i saw something similar before, but it ended up not the same. it is really a bummer i can''t seem to find this anywhere else.

next i will probably go thru amazons pages to see if i can find it.
 
howdy,

also try Mark T at www.engagementringsdirect.com he can get in a lot of the same settings you see on Bluenile and the like and could very well find that one for you too. it''s worth a call at least..
 
I imagine a look through the Stuller and Ingwer catalogs could be fruitful as well. As a matter of fact, if she has only looked at Kay''s, it is quite possible she might find something she likes even better!
 
thank you for the additional sites, i''ve looked thru them (except stuller and the other one, those are next)

this is frustrating... it feels so hard to buy a ring i haven''t been able to see. it feels like it would be almost impossible to order something and then not dislike it once it''s in my hand. (my gf is so particular, most of the time that happens even with the rings in the glass- majority of the time after she has it in her hand she doesn''t like it)

maybe the thing to do is find something i like online and then try to find it in a store. time is stressing me tho- it would really be nice to have this before the 20th.
 
I really think that your GF can find another setting she will love even more if she browes some of the rings in the sites people have given you. I would just hate to have you get the setting from Kays when the quality of the diamonds will be so low (even if we are only talking the semimount if they would just sell you that). Once she knows about the quality of both the diamonds and the settings that can be found online and in other more reputable jewelry stores, she may very well change her mind. Is she educated at all about diamonds?

Also, what area do you live in, as we may be able to recommend a B&M store in your area.

Here is another great site to check out. They have Scott Kay rings which seem to be the style she likes.

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/
 
Date: 11/2/2006 11:04:14 PM
Author: jazmine
Once she knows about the quality of both the diamonds and the settings that can be found online and in other more reputable jewelry stores, she may very well change her mind. Is she educated at all about diamonds?
Click to expand...

well, the first ring she wanted me to get had a tanzanite center and 4 surrounding stones (2 tanzanite 2 aquamarine) and the whole ring did this wavey thing:
.-''''-..-''

it was $300 and she wanted the aquamarines replaced with pink saphires. she decided this was her most favorite ring after spending hours visiting about 6 stores in two malls. she kept saying she wanted something ''different''.

a couple days later i talked it over with some people and concluded that i was really uncomfortable spending so little, that the wavey design would mess up the wedding band fit, and that tanzanite is way too soft for something i want to last decades.

that day she wanted me to get it to make sure no one else would buy it and so we went and between the dealer and i we convinced her that it wouldn''t work well with a band.

with a little more convincing i was finally able to get her to look at actual engagement rings and finally she decided that an all diamond ring isn''t so bad.

until she saw the tag and told me i shouldn''t buy it. before she left she asked me to promise i wouldn''t spend more than $1000 but i refused.

so the point is (if you''re still with me) i don''t really know how she would react to me telling her the ring she likes now isn''t that good. she''s doesn''t seem very knowledgable jewelry wise, and she usually tells me she doesn''t want me spending a lot on her. she might tell me she doesn''t care or it''s good enough for her. i will probably say something but right now she''s asleep.

Also, what area do you live in, as we may be able to recommend a B&M store in your area.
Click to expand...

upstate NY, near Albany.
 
Let me say I agree with all the other posters about returning that ring! My wedding band is from a mall store and when I bought it it looked nice and shiny but now that i''ve seen QUALITY stones, not only can I VISIBLY with my NAKED EYE tell the difference but I am furious that for the same price I paid I could of gotten BETTER quality onliine.

Two ideas....

One, this is an INVESTMENT for years and years to come :) If your stumped but you want this to happen soon, why not put all that cash into the rock and go with a simple solitaire? When you give it to her, tell her that both of you guys can upgrade the setting together to something more "different". Or even draw something custom

Two, if she really is dead set on something different, why not go custom with a gemstone ring. That is, if she hasn''t already been bitten by the diamond bug! You mentioned she liked pink sapphires. Sapphires are almost as hard as diamonds and lots of people use them as the main stone in erings. I say go for it! Maybe a pink sapphire with diamond accents?
 
I think devientdrow has a great suggestion. And lots of men go this route. Why not buy her a beatufiul diamond and have it set in a very simple, inexpensive WG setting. Then, when she would like, she can search for the perfect setting or even do some drawings and have just what she would like custom made (which does not have to be a fortune BTW). She could incorporated pink sapphire side stones or whatever she likes. She sounds not 100% sure about what she loves at this point and this will be a ring she will hopefully wear for the rest of her life so you want her to love it. You will be able to get a gorgouse very high qualilty diamond from an online vendor and satisfy your desire to give her something you feel is engagement-worthy and she can get a unique setting that she was able to choose herself.
 
Gotta make this quick, late.
Try thenatrualsapphirecompany.com

J448_1_th

.42 carats of diamond
J436_1_th

.28 diamond
You could put this pink into the above setting for $1296 and in the top setting for $1224
P560_1_th

,81 carat sapphire
They have a bunch of pinks and pads.

Antiqueengagementrings.com has interesting and unique stuff for a good price too if you keep an eye on their site:

9020A.jpg
9020c.jpg

For $885. .68 carat sapphire, .20 carat diamond
35.gif
 
The settings that IndieJones posted are really pretty. If you are short on time I''d put all the money into a really nice center stone and a cheap WG setting like devientdrow said.

That way you get the ring quickly and she can take her time in finding a setting that she loves.
21.gif
 
That is exactly what I did. I bought my wife a .86 carat GIA certed round I color/ VS1 stone with excellent proportions from DCD for around $2400. I then had i them set it in a $99 white gold six prong solitaire. (I think they are $145 now). That is a great way to go..

Three years later we are now in the process of upgrading her setting. If $$ is an issue that is certainly a great way to go. Spend it all on a NICE stone which really is the centerpiece of any ring...when you have the $$ later then get a great setting to match. Many times I have heard settings being referred to as the "junk" of the ring in the Boston Jewelry district. All the worth is usually in the center stone.

Think of it as having the turkey now and the mashed potatoes and gravy later..

Happy Thanksgiving..
36.gif
 
i found a setting that is pretty close to what you had... i know nothing of the vendor.
the setting in 14k WG is <$900. the center stone in not included, and anything could be mounted in its place.
ENR626.jpg
<a

link look at page 8
 
Date: 11/2/2006 11:32:49 PM
Author: howdysir

Date: 11/2/2006 11:04:14 PM
Author: jazmine
Once she knows about the quality of both the diamonds and the settings that can be found online and in other more reputable jewelry stores, she may very well change her mind. Is she educated at all about diamonds?
Click to expand...

well, the first ring she wanted me to get had a tanzanite center and 4 surrounding stones (2 tanzanite 2 aquamarine) and the whole ring did this wavey thing:
.-''-..-''

it was $300 and she wanted the aquamarines replaced with pink saphires. she decided this was her most favorite ring after spending hours visiting about 6 stores in two malls. she kept saying she wanted something ''different''.

a couple days later i talked it over with some people and concluded that i was really uncomfortable spending so little, that the wavey design would mess up the wedding band fit, and that tanzanite is way too soft for something i want to last decades.

that day she wanted me to get it to make sure no one else would buy it and so we went and between the dealer and i we convinced her that it wouldn''t work well with a band.

with a little more convincing i was finally able to get her to look at actual engagement rings and finally she decided that an all diamond ring isn''t so bad.

until she saw the tag and told me i shouldn''t buy it. before she left she asked me to promise i wouldn''t spend more than $1000 but i refused.

so the point is (if you''re still with me) i don''t really know how she would react to me telling her the ring she likes now isn''t that good. she''s doesn''t seem very knowledgable jewelry wise, and she usually tells me she doesn''t want me spending a lot on her. she might tell me she doesn''t care or it''s good enough for her. i will probably say something but right now she''s asleep.


Also, what area do you live in, as we may be able to recommend a B&M store in your area.
Click to expand...

upstate NY, near Albany.
Click to expand...
get her this wavy ring as a gift and tuck it away for a special time.... AND get her a diamond e-ring!
 
Date: 11/3/2006 2:09:27 PM
Author: avlis
i found a setting that is pretty close to what you had... i know nothing of the vendor.

the setting in 14k WG is <$900. the center stone in not included, and anything could be mounted in its place.

ENR626.jpg
<a


link look at page 8
Click to expand...

wow, that is really close, and a great find- thank you. i liked it, but when i showed it to her she insisted that if i don''t want the original ring then i should have it custom made to be identical. it''s a little funny because when i showed her the picture compared to the other one she couldn''t tell the difference at first. but i guess she likes what she likes.

when i first mentioned me wanting to get a different ring this morning we pretty much got in a heated argument over it. she told me she didn''t want to look at any more rings, and i''m taking too long, and the ring doesn''t matter to her so i shouldn''t spend so much time or money on it. i said if that were true then she wouldn''t have taken me to look at so many rings the other day, and it''s very difficult because she keeps changing her mind.

later, she actually clarified that she definitely wants a colored centerstone, either tanzanite or pink saphire.

i tried to get her to look at some more rings with me but she wants me to try to get a custom ring identical to the Kay one.
 
sounds like she's got lady in waiting syndromes.

I'd go for custom with pink sapphire!
 
Maybe you could have her read this....I myself thought the same way. It doesnt matter, I JUST want to be married. It''s not important. She also sounds like me where it''s hard to get out of me what exactly I like or want but i''m picky :) JUst some advice.....we ended up getting a ring I wasn''t totally in love with and I made the same mistake on my wedding band. Here I am barely married a year and already wishing I had something different. Maybe you could make her dinner or something and just let her know that you want her to have something that she will look at and love forever. :)
 
You are so, so sweet howdy. My Fiance would barely ever let me look at ring stores and I never tried any on until the day I purchased mine- ended up having it custom, as like your girl I had a particular design in mind that I had seen on-line, but wanted the custom quality of my family jeweller.

My advice to you, would be to print the pics out of your Kays ring design, take it to a manufacturing jeweller in your area sit down and talk to them about your options. Get the marquise pink sapphire if possible for your centre stone. If you are getting 14k white gold you will still have budget left- but if not you could go with white sapphires in place of diamonds- still very beautiful but a lower price tag. Or you can go with slightly smaller/lower quality diamonds- they are small, so colour and clarity don''t matter so much. You can do all of this on your own to surprise your girl- or take her with you, so that she can offer her own ideas.

In my experience you will get what you want- and the jeweller will work with you to have it done in your budget. Try to choose the most reputable jeweller you can find, ask around friends and relatives for recommendations. Look at some of their previous work- taking note of solderings- neatness and symetry as well as secure settings.

For the sapphire get a natural one!!!!!!- ask if it is heat treated or not- and decide whether this bothers you.
 
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