So I bit on a setting, I was actually not planning on purchasing separately but the opportunity for a discounted setting (compared to the 1500+ I was looking at) was too great to pass (mind you once I receive it, I may think differently). I purchased the setting from Kay's (I know I know I was planning on avoiding them for being so over priced on their diamonds) from their previously owned clearance. It is a 14k White gold with 12 channel set princess diamonds and was around $300 OTD (shipped+sized, they claimed $900 original price). My GF really loved their smooth edge channel set rings (funny thing is she also liked their L1 center diamonds, really hoping for a minimum of a SL1 H or better for the center) so I have tried to find a comparable one elsewhere and had but then this one popped up and while it is a little thinner than the specific one she wanted, it looks nearly identical.
I felt with a $300 setting which I knew she liked, I could dump the crappy 1/6th cw primary stone and get a better one here, which Kay's said they could set for me (the local shop actually has a setter coming in later next month where they can set it that day). I will definitely need a new stone mount but was also told that it should not be a problem to replace the mount on this ring (called a Kay's store which had the new version in stock, he was claiming to sell it on clearance for $550 or so). As my total budget for a ring is 4-5k, I am now thinking I should be able to get a 1+ cw vs2 eye clean primary princess diamond without a problem.
So first question is, do you think I made the right choice? I do not want to be the cheap fiance, but I also dislike spending money I don't need to. I always feel if I look hard enough and give myself enough time, there has to be a deal out there and I felt this was it.
Setting wise, has anyone had experience with Kay's or with changing their diamond mount on a ring? Wondering what the cost will be. And any thoughts on what I can do with a 1/6cw L1 center diamond?
Finally, I have been keeping an eye out on the diamond search and Solomon brothers/USA Cert seem to be offering the cheapest prices but they are not GIA certified. I am considering requesting an IS image from them, do they send them? If not I will probably want to go with a better certified diamond, correct?
thanks
I felt with a $300 setting which I knew she liked, I could dump the crappy 1/6th cw primary stone and get a better one here, which Kay's said they could set for me (the local shop actually has a setter coming in later next month where they can set it that day). I will definitely need a new stone mount but was also told that it should not be a problem to replace the mount on this ring (called a Kay's store which had the new version in stock, he was claiming to sell it on clearance for $550 or so). As my total budget for a ring is 4-5k, I am now thinking I should be able to get a 1+ cw vs2 eye clean primary princess diamond without a problem.
So first question is, do you think I made the right choice? I do not want to be the cheap fiance, but I also dislike spending money I don't need to. I always feel if I look hard enough and give myself enough time, there has to be a deal out there and I felt this was it.
Setting wise, has anyone had experience with Kay's or with changing their diamond mount on a ring? Wondering what the cost will be. And any thoughts on what I can do with a 1/6cw L1 center diamond?
Finally, I have been keeping an eye out on the diamond search and Solomon brothers/USA Cert seem to be offering the cheapest prices but they are not GIA certified. I am considering requesting an IS image from them, do they send them? If not I will probably want to go with a better certified diamond, correct?
thanks