Ratani settings

[kolchak]

Hi
I''m currently shopping for an engagement ring and learning more about diamonds then I ever wanted to know.
Was hoping picking a setting would be easier because my GF likes ratani. A couple jewlers I''ve spoken with say they can get similar for much less. One showed me settings from a place called unique settings of NY, which were nothing like ratani.
Now a friend who works for a high end store says she can get me ratini for 40% off of the list.
Working with a budget of ~ 8k for everything, should I get ratani at 40% off, or even consider other settings to get a nicer stone?
Thank God for this forum!
Thanks for your advice.
Mark

 

[D&T]

Try Bill at http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/ and check his priciing compare to your friends. if you don''t see a style on his site, you can still give him the info and he can get it for you. I like Ritanis, they are just sooo beautiful! but what is more important? the stone or the setting? the setting you can always get replicated for a fraction of the cost (sometimes)

 

[kolchak]

Thank you D&T - I will check with Bill. Do you reccomend him because he has similar styles to ratani or just quality settings for good prices?
Not sure if your question is rhetorical but I agree the stone is more important, however still searching for that too.
thanks again

 

[Todd Gray]

Personally, I would focus on finding an exceptional center stone and proceed with a simple solitaire setting which will allow you to maximize the diamond size within your desired price range and then upgrade to a Ritani setting for an anniversary - like the five year mark or something...

Obviously if you do decide to proceed with purchasing a Ritani setting, it makes sense to do so through your friend who is offering you a 40% discount off of a Ritani setting as opposed to buying it from another authorized retailer... However be sure to verify that the purchase is for authentic Ritani production and that the discounted price does not void the warranty - as most designer line warranties do not apply to merchandise sold at discount.

Okay, so the obvious next question is "How would Ritani know that I purchased the ring at a discount if the ring is standard production and ordered from them by an authorized retailer?"

Well some years down the road, let''s say that the retailer your friend works for is no longer around, or they are no longer an authorized Ritani dealer... And the ring needs to be sized and/or refurbished, so you take it to an authorized Ritani dealer - who asks for the sales receipt in order to send it to Ritani as "proof of purchase" and Ritani looks down at the price and ''ta-da'' you find yourself in the land of Warranty Void.

I''m not saying that it will happen, I''m saying that it could happen, and suggesting that you dot your I''s and cross your T''s before writing the check...