Post engagement ring purchase; What would you do different?

[codesherpa]

I'm in the process of buying an engagement ring and was wondering what someone who's already gone through the process of buying one would do different if they had the chance. That is to say, knowing what you know now, what would you have done different?

I've been trolling this site for a while now and have picked up a ton of good information but I've always found this type of question good for getting some more advice.

In case anyone's wondering where I stand right now, I've already picked out the ring with her help. I love surprises as much as the next person, but I figure if this is something she's going to wear for the rest of her life (hopefully), then she should get to help me with what it's going to look like.

I'm not sure where I'm going to buy it yet, but here's a picture of the ring:
http://i.imgur.com/YirES.jpg

It's the Coast Diamond LC5257. I'm going to get it in Platinum.

As for the diamond, I'm going to look for something around 1.25 / H / SI1. I really want to make sure it's eye clean and has a GIA cert. I'm trying to keep the whole thing under $10,000 if I can.

I'm still unsure about how to get it set if I purchase them from separate places.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Post engagement ring purchase; What would you do differe

I think, but am not 100% certain that Coast doesn't sell just settings. I think you have to buy the stone from them. I'd ask one of their retailers to confirm. But I seem to recall another poster that wanted to use them but they could not find an well performing stone (it's more than a GIA certificate. You need a GIA Ex/Ex AND even then that's not enough) for her and so she went with a different designer setting.

 

[bunnycat]

Re: Post engagement ring purchase; What would you do differe

You may want to check on what Gypsy has said about not being able to get that without a stone already in it. If they only sell it set, then I think you'd be better off searching around for a similar setting you can pick your own stone for because I think getting stores to comply with finding a nicely cut stone is going to be hard (not undoable, but probably a lot of extra work because they're going to want you to be an uneducated sheep most times and not ask questions about the stone..the most expensive part....and just be happy with what gets plunked in there).

That type of setting is certainly available many places. It's pretty popular as a style and you ought to be able to find things very like it in several brands.

One thing I would have done differently on my own ring is really get a feel for what different size stones feel like to wear around and what size feels right by getting a couple of cheap solitaires to try out. All I did was try different stone sizes on in stores, but that's not the same thing as wearing one around and getting a feel for it. I'd never had an expensive piece of jewelry before my e-ring or even a diamond, so what I thought was going to be a reasonable size for me has ended up feeling a little disproportional to my hand. I kind of had an inkling of it at the time but just decided to let it go (probably a bad idea) because it took so long to find the setting. The good news for me that may also be something you want to check in to also is what kind of policies the company has on upgrades. My halo is from Simon G, and apparently they are pretty flexible and so if I ever want to upgrade my stone they can do a head change for me without a lot of trouble (because they are built to fit the stone). That was nice to find out.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Post engagement ring purchase; What would you do differe

I remember Coast settings being for sale when I was looking at settings locally, so I don't think you have to buy the center stone from them. Maybe it was a 3 stone setting that someone wanted and you probably can't choose the side stones. But those halo settings are available in almost every brand, so it won't be hard to find one like it. It is much easier to buy both from the same jeweler.

Here are a couple of nice stones within your budget, and they sell many, many brands of settings. Gabriel and Co. carries a lot of halos. Not sure if you'd have to go with a 6.5 or 7mm head as that will depend on the size stone you eventually buy.

http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/styles/engaged?style=Halo&default_head_shape=RD

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9627/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9690/

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Post engagement ring purchase; What would you do differe

Maybe it was a 3 stone setting that someone wanted and you probably can't choose the side stones.

That's a possibility. I really don't recall it, just that I was surprised as they had a lot of lovely settings and it seemed a shame you couldn't buy them as stand alones.

I'll be honest though. My memory is so bad right now I'm not 100% it was Coast. They do appear to sell the settings separately, per 1910's site. So... ignore me.

 

[mogster]

Re: Post engagement ring purchase; What would you do differe

I'm in the process of buying an engagement ring and was wondering what someone who's already gone through the process of buying one would do different if they had the chance. That is to say, knowing what you know now, what would you have done different?

I would have worried less. I ordered a HW-style ring from ERD and wanted to micromanage the details. In retrospect, that style is like their bread and butter and they've probably made hundreds, if not thousands of them, and, furthermore, are very good at it! Yet, I, with no jewelry experience, wanted to dictate the halo shape, shank width, and other details. When I damaged my ring and sent it back for replacement, I only specified my ring size, and my new ring was just as beautiful.

 

[AP1976]

Re: Post engagement ring purchase; What would you do differe

I would have tried on all types of rings. I thought I always wanted a solitaire, and I used to play around with my Mom's all the time but hers was a 3 carat! I have size 8 fingers, so hers always looked really good on me with lots of coverage I had told my boyfriend at the time that I wanted a classic solitaire, and while I knew he wouldn't be able to come close to a 3 ct., I figured I'd still love any solitaire. My stone is a 1.2, a very respectable size, but I did not love it all alone on my big finger Eventually, we changed it to a 3 stone which I adore!

But thinking you want one type of ring is not the same as seeing it on your finger. If your lady hasn't tried it on in person, I suggest she do that! Congrats on your upcoming engagement!!

 

[codesherpa]

Re: Post engagement ring purchase; What would you do differe

Thanks for all of the advice.

I just checked around at a few sites and I can buy just the Coast ring without the diamond. I'd prefer to find a site that will give me close to PS listed prices to set it for me as well, but I'll figure something out.

I had heard that seeing the actual ring on her was important, and being a rather practical person, I opted to let her in on the process of picking out the exact ring. We went to around a half dozen large stores in Boston. The process was really great and she told me that even though she likes surprises, she likes that she'll get exactly something she'll love. (I personally like 3 stone rings and would have got her one of those, but I really like the Halo she picked out. I never liked the pave settings of the halo stones and the one she picked out are all prong set).

Being extremely informed has helped the process greatly. Two salespersons were very turned off by this but a few were really happy to talk to someone who knew all the terms and more than just the 4C's.

 

[WinkHPD]

Re: Post engagement ring purchase; What would you do differe

Maybe it was a 3 stone setting that someone wanted and you probably can't choose the side stones.

That's a possibility. I really don't recall it, just that I was surprised as they had a lot of lovely settings and it seemed a shame you couldn't buy them as stand alones.

I'll be honest though. My memory is so bad right now I'm not 100% it was Coast. They do appear to sell the settings separately, per 1910's site. So... ignore me.

LOL! Ignore the Gypsy at your own risk. She is one of the wise ones here!

Once upon a time, in another Century*, I was a Coast dealer and am still friends with the owner. It should not be a problem getting a Coast ring without a center stone and you can even have it made with the right head to fit the center stone if you are working with a local Coast dealer. I sold a stone earlier this year that went into a Coast ring at a local dealer's store.

Coast makes a great product and they protect their brand so you will get what you want with no shortcuts made just to lower the price.

As for your quest for a well cut stone with a GIA paper, you are missing a bet, a DARN GOOD bet if you do not look at AGS papered diamonds as their cut grade actually means something. Oh, and yes, even we dealers pay a 3 to 5% premium for the same grade with an AGS document over GIA paper due to the cut grade meaning something. There IS a reason why we don't all just buy the cheaper paper.

Wink

*I was a Coast dealer back in the late 70's through the mid 90's. I still see the owner at least once a year at the Vegas show.

 

[WinkHPD]

Re: Post engagement ring purchase; What would you do differe

I'm in the process of buying an engagement ring and was wondering what someone who's already gone through the process of buying one would do different if they had the chance. That is to say, knowing what you know now, what would you have done different?

I would have worried less. I ordered a HW-style ring from ERD and wanted to micromanage the details. In retrospect, that style is like their bread and butter and they've probably made hundreds, if not thousands of them, and, furthermore, are very good at it! Yet, I, with no jewelry experience, wanted to dictate the halo shape, shank width, and other details. When I damaged my ring and sent it back for replacement, I only specified my ring size, and my new ring was just as beautiful.

Mogster,

That is Priceless! You should send them a testimonial that says just that! Then the rest of us can be jealous that you did as we all have clients who tell us how to invent the wheel. We happily do it, but few of us vendors have ever had anyone publicly say what you just said. I know they would love it.

Wink

 

[codesherpa]

Re: Post engagement ring purchase; What would you do differe

As for your quest for a well cut stone with a GIA paper, you are missing a bet, a DARN GOOD bet if you do not look at AGS papered diamonds as their cut grade actually means something. Oh, and yes, even we dealers pay a 3 to 5% premium for the same grade with an AGS document over GIA paper due to the cut grade meaning something. There IS a reason why we don't all just buy the cheaper paper.

I was under the assumption that GIA cert's were the gold standard that every other cert was measured against. IGI, EGL, AGS, GSI, etc., were all inferior and you couldn't trust the grades. Lots of "All you have to know" guides I've read said don't even bother looking at any other certification (Again, this whole process is new to me so I'm still trying to get a consensus).

For me, the two biggest factors for the diamond are color and cut ( being a size 6 and with the halo being pretty big, a 1.25 looks great so size has already been figured out). I'd even be willing to get a SI2 if it had a great light return and brilliance as long as it was eye clean.

I love the prices of buying close to wholesale online, but I don't know what I can trust when it comes to how good the cut is. Every site seems to have it's own way of filtering out the 'best' ones. I'd be more than willing to pay a (reasonable) premium to ensure that the diamond I'm buying, but won't be able to inspect, meets my criteria.

If including diamonds with an AGS cert in the mix gives me a bigger pool to search from, I'd love that.

 

[yssie]

Re: Post engagement ring purchase; What would you do differe

You'll be fine with GIA or AGSL. I wouldn't go with any other lab for an MRB if I'm buying in the US.
Overseas other labs have different reputations.