Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendors

[mkruse02]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying a setting and diamond from different vendors? Is this practice generally avoided or is a regular thing?

Conversely what are the advantages of buying both from the same place. Is it worth buying from different places if you save $100, what about $200, what about $300. At what point does it make sense to split them up?

 

[mkruse02]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

bump

 

[denverappraiser]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

The disadvantage is primarily a fingerpointing session if there is trouble but also there’s an issue if what you want isn’t all available from one source.

The fingerpointing issue is this. The problem is that mounting was defective. No, the stone was defective. No, the craftsman was a butcher who should be fired. All of this evaporates if all 3 are the same.

The advantage of buying in one place is the same thing plus the fact that you only need to go through the vetting process with one supplier rather than two (or three).

 

[liaerfbv]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

It can be faster to buy the stone and setting from the same vendor. No delay in shipping. For me it's not about saving money, it's about getting exactly what I want. If that can happen in one place, that's great. But if a stone needs to be shipped somewhere for the setting I want, that's fine too.

 

[ame]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

Obviously denverappraiser hits the primary target on the head here. But there's also the cost, the shipping--what if your diamond goes missing in shipping to the setting vendor? Then what?!

 

[elle_chris]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

I've done this..
Bought a pear from James Allen and had it set into a DBTY pendant by Whiteflash.

Only issue I had was being charged extra for the setting, because I didn't purchase the stone from them.
But it seems most on-line vendors do this.

 

[denverappraiser]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

I"ll add one more issue. Routinely setters don't include breakage liability coverage for stones that they didn't sell, and most won't if they didn't sell at least the mounting. Most insurance policies don't cover it either. If you buy all 3 elements from the same source this is usually part of the bundle.

 

[mkruse02]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

What denverappraiser says makes sense. The only reason to do this would be to save some money. But if there is an extra charge if I didn't get the stone and setting in the same place that may negate the savings I would get from getting the stone and setting from different sources. Also, insurance, cleaning, returns, are all important factors to me and it appears that if I don't get it all from the same source I may run into trouble.

Am I getting all this right?

 

[scb175]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

I am in the same situation as you. Purchasing the complete set from an online company looks glorious until you need your ring serviced/cleaned/repaired, etc. I can't imagine spending $50 on shipping to mail out the ring to get inspected. Obviously, price and quality are great online, so I am in quite a pickle.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

All good points raised here.
mkruse02 - you also identified a biggie- after sale care.
Many rings today have pave- which may require some after sale care.
I encourage consumers to inquire what sort of care a seller is offering.
From a pragmatic standpoint- it's generally not possible to offer such care on a sale that does not include all the elements.
IOW- buyers who spent $10k on diamond and ring with one company have a lot more weight to throw around with the seller of the ring than if they spent $8k on the diamond and $2k somewhere else for the setting.

 

[Niel]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

I am in the same situation as you. Purchasing the complete set from an online company looks glorious until you need your ring serviced/cleaned/repaired, etc. I can't imagine spending $50 on shipping to mail out the ring to get inspected. Obviously, price and quality are great online, so I am in quite a pickle.

Most places will clean your ring for free, regardless of where ypu bought it.

And I don't know why would need "service or repair" more than a few times ever.

Eta: David mentioned pave. I didn't think of that, though when stones pop out or what have you- i feel like I've seen vwndora pay for shipping.

 

[mkruse02]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

Oh I am still going to buy online, what I get for my dollar is still much better. The question is whether I will buy the setting and diamond from different places. If heaven forbid something happen when I send it in for cleaning/maintenance, I want to be sound of mind that whatever vendor I buy from will make it right. I am worried that if I buy from two different vendors that, as denverappraiser, said, there will be finger pointing and I will be SOL. I think as soon as someone of experience tells me that I am interpreting everything here correctly, I will be going with the same (online) vendor for diamond and setting.

FWIW, I think most of the vendors listed on PS are absolutely awesome and I will most likely go with Eternity by Yoni or James Allen.

Also, if it matters in the advice being given, I will be getting a solitaire in the $3-4k range.

 

[elle_chris]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

What denverappraiser says makes sense. The only reason to do this would be to save some money. But if there is an extra charge if I didn't get the stone and setting in the same place that may negate the savings I would get from getting the stone and setting from different sources. Also, insurance, cleaning, returns, are all important factors to me and it appears that if I don't get it all from the same source I may run into trouble.

Am I getting all this right?

There are times when one vendor can not get the stone you want (if another has it in-house) or they'll charge you quite a bit more to call it in than someone else.

In those cases (the stone I wanted JA had in-house) it may well be worth it to use different vendors. One for the stone, the other for a particular setting.

Also, Jewelers Mutual will cover it while it's being set, and shipped to the other vendor. You just need to provide them with both receipts.

 

[Niel]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

What denverappraiser says makes sense. The only reason to do this would be to save some money. But if there is an extra charge if I didn't get the stone and setting in the same place that may negate the savings I would get from getting the stone and setting from different sources. Also, insurance, cleaning, returns, are all important factors to me and it appears that if I don't get it all from the same source I may run into trouble.

Am I getting all this right?

There are times when one vendor can not get the stone you want (if another has it in-house) or they'll charge you quite a bit more to call it in than someone else.

In those cases (the stone I wanted JA had in-house) it may well be worth it to use different vendors. One for the stone, the other for a particular setting.

Also, Jewelers Mutual will cover it while it's being set, and shipped to the other vendor. You just need to provide them with both receipts.

Oh I was wondering this myself. JM will insure in transit?

 

[elle_chris]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

What denverappraiser says makes sense. The only reason to do this would be to save some money. But if there is an extra charge if I didn't get the stone and setting in the same place that may negate the savings I would get from getting the stone and setting from different sources. Also, insurance, cleaning, returns, are all important factors to me and it appears that if I don't get it all from the same source I may run into trouble.

Am I getting all this right?

There are times when one vendor can not get the stone you want (if another has it in-house) or they'll charge you quite a bit more to call it in than someone else.

In those cases (the stone I wanted JA had in-house) it may well be worth it to use different vendors. One for the stone, the other for a particular setting.

Also, Jewelers Mutual will cover it while it's being set, and shipped to the other vendor. You just need to provide them with both receipts.

Oh I was wondering this myself. JM will insure in transit?

Yup. This was about 5 years ago though so yeah, call and confirm.

 

[scb175]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

Will Jewelers Mutual pay for any future shipping costs back to the ring company if it does need to be repaired?

 

[elle_chris]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

Will Jewelers Mutual pay for any future shipping costs back to the ring company if it does need to be repaired?

Jewelers Mutual doesn't cover shipping costs at all. They just cover it while in transit. Meaning, if it's lost or stolen while being shipped, you're covered.

 

[WinkHPD]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

Probably not, unless it is a repair that is covered under the JM insurance, and in that case, probably so. If it is ordinary wear and tear, such as a prong being worn down and needing retipping or sizing due to weight gain or loss, those are not covered by insurance, so neither would the shipping.

Wink

 

[cflutist]

Re: Pros/Cons of buying diamond+setting from different vendo

I'm old school and do not shop strictly for price. I prefer to build a relationship with a trusted jeweler which is why I have been doing business with Wink for over 10 years now.

It is just easier and less stress to buy a diamond and the setting from the same vendor knowing that the vendor is responsible for the entire project. There is also the finger pointing issue already mentioned.

I had a similar incident happen earlier this year. Against my better judgment, I allowed the tile and the granite people to work in our hallway bathroom on the same day. We had earlier put a "corner protector" on our brand new vanity. Normally I would be "micromanaging" the project but hubby said "just let them do their job". Sure enough, someone removed the protector and dented my new vanity. Neither would take responsibility and pointed fingers at each other. Well, I know the I didn't do it. Lesson learned.

As far as Jeweler's Mutual is concerned, Wink would not ship my loose CBI diamond to Vatche for setting until I had a JM policy in force (my pear was bought locally who set it while I waited so this was a new experience for me). He prepared the necessary paperwork that I used to insure the loose diamond and future setting. I kept this policy until I received the completed ring, then moved it to my own insurer.