Purchasing the Setting and Diamond from two different online vendors - the process?

[soontomarry2]

I am currently planning on purchasing my setting and diamond from two different online vendors. Unfortunately, the diamond vendor doesn''t offer the setting I''m looking for and the setting vendor doesn''t offer the diamond I''m looking for.

After contacting both with my choice purchases choices and making full payment, I have a few questions about the process. I know that the setting manufacturer and not the setting vendor will be mounting the stone and doing the finger sizing.

Is it best practice to have the diamond shipped to you for inspection, appraisal ,..etc., before it is mounted in the setting, or is it best to have it mounted and then decide if this is the exact diamond you want? I realize that doing this the first may will require paying extra shipping costs.

Also, after purchase of the diamond is it shipped directly to the setting manufacturer for mounting or is it shipped to the setting vendor and then the vendor ships it to the setting manufacturer for mounting?

Are there any other special considerations when buying the diamond and setting from two different vendors that I should know about?

As always, thank you PS for educating the masses!

 

[soontomarry2]

Also, would anyone have any ballpark figures on shipping cost and insurance for $9000 diamond and $3000 setting? Is the shipping price calculated at all as a percentage of the total value of the items shipped?