Recent experiences contacting Brian Gavin Diamonds?

[john44]

Please help! Is anyone willing to share about their recent experiences communicating with Brian Gavin Diamonds (BGD), especially if there are any recent, first-time customers? Either bad experience with lessons learned or good experiences with suggestions for me?

I first found pricescope about 9 years ago when I was looking for an engagement ring, and everything I know about diamonds I owe the community here. I found a really nice diamond and ring, and everything was great! I got married, but haven't been in the market for any diamonds until now, because my 10 year anniversary is coming up, and I wanted to get something to commemorate it. Anyways, I was looking for a diamond wedding band, and thought I would try BGD, so I contacted them using their website contact form. Since then, everything has seemed a little less than polished. The first time I used the web form, it failed without giving me an error message, so I waited a week without hearing anything, wondering what was going on, before trying it again. The second time, I was contacted by a sales rep right away, but when I replied to the email the next day, I didn't hear back until 4 days later with a follow-up wondering when I would reply -- my attempt to contact them by email had apparently failed. When I replied this time, my email went through, I forwarded my previous reply, and I was promised a response in 24 hours. Well, 24 hours has passed, and no reply yet, so I emailed back to follow up. (I think it is reasonable for a business to take more than 24 hours to respond, but I do think they should reply with some communication within self-imposed deadlines.)

I was wondering if anyone has had similar experience, or can give some context to my experience. Is this a rare event, or a recent trend? In my past experience, businesses that are not good at the little things typically don't do very well at the big things. My experience so far makes me a little worried about purchasing relatively expensive items from BGD. However, there is so much good feedback about BGD on this forum that I thought it was worth it to double-check since I have found the pricescope community to be very dependable in the past.

Just to be clear, I don't think any person at BGD has treated me poorly. For now it feels like I have been the victim of malfunctioning computer systems, poorly written web server software, or just been lost in a busy sales rep's to-do list. Maybe BGD is so great, they are having difficulty handling all the demand? However, it makes me a little wary because if these kinds of difficulties with communication transfer to my purchase as well, I will be having much greater headaches than just wondering when I might get the email reply I was promised.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions and help!

 

[Queenie60]

I suggest you make a phone call to them.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

There are lots of options. The best thing is to tell us what you are looking for, and we can look through all the hearts and arrows vendors to see who has the best options for you. I would not be committing to one place (especially with communication problems) before researching what is in the inventories of all the other dealers like Whiteflash, Good Old Gold, High Performance Diamonds, and Victor Canera.

 

[john44]

I suggest you make a phone call to them.

OK, will try that. Is there someone specific I should ask for?

 

[john44]

There are lots of options. The best thing is to tell us what you are looking for, and we can look through all the hearts and arrows vendors to see who has the best options for you. I would not be committing to one place (especially with communication problems) before researching what is in the inventories of all the other dealers like Whiteflash, Good Old Gold, High Performance Diamonds, and Victor Canera.

I'm looking for a platinum wedding band with melee size diamonds that will be relatively durable, not snag, and have lower chance of scratching children. I was considering something like a partial eternity style in a channel or bezel setting. Since my wife didn't like the gaps that rounds make in a channel setting, and I learned on these forums that rounds are generally more sparkly than princess, I had thought to start my search with something like a half-eternity, round, bezel setting band. Searching these forums for bezel eternity bands led me to my first vendor... but of course I am open to other suggestions.

 

[PintoBean]

5+ years ago my mom and I did ton of business with BGD. The customer service rep we worked with was DYNAMITE and she knocked it out of the park EVERY FLIPPING TIME! Yes, they were a bit pricier than other PS vendors, but this level of customer service made it worth it. The rep was a people person and loved diamonds, and was really good at connecting with people.

My last upgrade with BGD December 2015 - that rep was no longer there. The new rep i worked with was good, but not up to the stellar level of service I was used to. Their inventory has also not been as plentiful as Whiteflash's the past year, and the superideal diamonds they do have in stock tended to be higher in price than Whiteflash's, so that has also affected my ability to recommend them to PSers. I can say that as of 5 years ago, their cad/cast halos really are some of the nicest settings I've seen of the cad/cast variety.

 

[PintoBean]

There are lots of options. The best thing is to tell us what you are looking for, and we can look through all the hearts and arrows vendors to see who has the best options for you. I would not be committing to one place (especially with communication problems) before researching what is in the inventories of all the other dealers like Whiteflash, Good Old Gold, High Performance Diamonds, and Victor Canera.

I'm looking for a platinum wedding band with melee size diamonds that will be relatively durable, not snag, and have lower chance of scratching children. I was considering something like a partial eternity style in a channel or bezel setting. Since my wife didn't like the gaps that rounds make in a channel setting, and I learned on these forums that rounds are generally more sparkly than princess, I had thought to start my search with something like a half-eternity, round, bezel setting band. Searching these forums for bezel eternity bands led me to my first vendor... but of course I am open to other suggestions.

I've gotten a few bezel bands from James Allen and have been VERY pleased with the quality! Every so often they have a coupon code on their site. If you have time to be patient, you'll be able to score the band with a discount!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh yes, for bands there are lots of options! Can you please show us a picture of her engagement ring so we can get a feel for what style might look best?

I think it is so sweet that you want to get her a new diamond band! But I really hope you include her and let her have input into which she likes best once some are identified!

Okay, I just looked and see that she has a lovely Legato Sleekline ring with a .82 ct ACA from Whiteflash! That helps to know what it would be worn with.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I am looking at Whiteflash first, since that is where you bought the e-ring. I don't know if your e-ring setting is platinum or white gold, but definitely get the same metal as her engagement ring.

They happen to have a beadset diamond band that actually goes with the Legato Sleekline!

http://www.whiteflash.com/wedding-rings/legato-sleek-line-pave-diamond-wedding-band-67.htm

And, they have a lovely bezeled band as well (ignore that it says right hand ring, it is in the wedding bands):

http://www.whiteflash.com/right-hand-rings/danielle-jazz-bezel-diamond-right-hand-ring-174.htm

I think either of these would be fabulous, although they can maybe show you on hand what each one looks like with the Legato Sleekine e-ring setting.

 

[Skhii]

There are lots of options. The best thing is to tell us what you are looking for, and we can look through all the hearts and arrows vendors to see who has the best options for you. I would not be committing to one place (especially with communication problems) before researching what is in the inventories of all the other dealers like Whiteflash, Good Old Gold, High Performance Diamonds, and Victor Canera.

I'm looking for a platinum wedding band with melee size diamonds that will be relatively durable, not snag, and have lower chance of scratching children. I was considering something like a partial eternity style in a channel or bezel setting. Since my wife didn't like the gaps that rounds make in a channel setting, and I learned on these forums that rounds are generally more sparkly than princess, I had thought to start my search with something like a half-eternity, round, bezel setting band. Searching these forums for bezel eternity bands led me to my first vendor... but of course I am open to other suggestions.

If your wife doesn't like gaps, you could consider a semi-bezel eternity.

 

[john44]

I think it is so sweet that you want to get her a new diamond band! But I really hope you include her and let her have input into which she likes best once some are identified!

Don't worry. Let's just say it this way: My wife wishes, I execute.

I appreciate all suggestions and will pass them by my wife, but ultimately they need to meet her requirements (posted above), and she has to like it. For now, the bands described above are the only ones that have her approval, so I am trying to find an appropriate vendor. (Which was the original reason for this post.)

Can you please show us a picture of her engagement ring so we can get a feel for what style might look best?

The band will be worn without the engagement ring. In fact, she never wears her engagement ring at this stage in our lives because it does not meet her current requirements. That's one of the reasons for the new band: something that she can actually wear and enjoy because it meets her practical needs as well as having aesthetic appeal.

 

[john44]

Thanks to all that have already posted suggestions, and thanks in advance to others that might post in the future. I will pass them along to see if any of them get approved.

 

[john44]

By the way, here are some of the stock options we were looking at. Would appreciate any comments on specific items from personal experience.

For the 2 below, does anyone have comments on how the thickness of the bands would affect comfort for someone used to a 1.5mm thick, domed, plain band?

http://www.whiteflash.com/wedding-rings/channel-set-diamond-wedding-band-594.htm

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/wedding-and-anniversary-bands/eternity-bands/half-eternity-bezel-band-platinum-5396p

The items below were similar, but seem a bit on the thin side to wear by themselves. Looking for something in the 3mm-4mm range.

http://www.whiteflash.com/right-hand-rings/danielle-jazz-bezel-diamond-right-hand-ring-175.htm (Also recommended by diamondseeker.)

http://www.whiteflash.com/wedding-rings/honey-princess-channel-set-diamond-wedding-ring-1730.htm

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/wedding-and-anniversary-bands/eternity-bands/the-jen-matching-band-platinum-5703p

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/wedding-and-anniversary-bands/eternity-bands/crystal-matching-band!-platinum-5824p
(couldn't distinguish any difference between the BGD Jen and Crystal)

 

[Gypsy]

They are all nice. I don't like the thickness of the first channel set option, but the rest of them are nice.

Has you wife considered a nice baguette band like this one:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/236023801/the-cvb-angelina-cut-corner-baguette?ref=related-2 (you can get it without milgrain)

Or:

https://www.solomonbrothers.com/c-gonshor-4730-wedding-bands/item-85002?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shop&utm_campaign=feed&gclid=Cj0KEQjwnv27BRCmuZqMg_Ddmt0BEiQAgeY1l1oNCemXvAzltHpkdE9U22urchE40QYncP3BhoKXbXgaAujK8P8HAQ

Or something more unique:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/260812596/the-cvb-riviera-band-french-cut-diamond?ref=shop_home_active_37
https://www.etsy.com/listing/243161106/cvb-platinum-baguette-diamond-floral?ref=shop_home_active_10
https://www.etsy.com/listing/236021261/the-cvb-geneva-french-cut-diamond?ref=shop_home_active_21
https://www.etsy.com/listing/198612532/the-cvb-juliette-band-baguette-round?ref=shop_home_active_40
http://erikawinters.com/Wedding-Bands-Isabella.html#.V39eyzW_pKo

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Okay, it is a totally different ballgame if she wants to wear the band alone. Those 2mm bands are far too thin unless you wear two or three of them, which some people do. I wouldn't choose princess channel set. You can do either bead set rounds like that Legato band I posted but wider, or you can do a channel set asscher band if you really want channel set.

http://www.whiteflash.com/right-hand-rings/tiffany-style-bead-set-right-hand-ring-1380.htm

http://www.thefacetscollection.com/Channel-Set-Asscher-Cut-s/1871.htm


Other option is a custom made band. These are gorgeous and some can be made to be 4mm. Designed by Caysie van Bebber but contact Love Affair Diamonds. http://www.loveaffairdiamonds.com/bands/

 

[Gypsy]

Oh, she wants this to be a stand alone?

Or does she want a ring that can be both? Worn alone AND with her set. Those are very different things.

I disagree with Diamondseeker that a 2mm band isn't large enough for a standalone band.

My own wedding band is a 2mm pave band. I wear it alone 90% of the time. And actually I get a LOT of compliments on the elegant simplicity of it. You'd be surprised (I was).

My mother in law had a baguette eternity (like the second one above) she wore alone for years. It was 2.3mm and it looked very elegant on her hands as a stand alone.

So I think it depends on what the look is that she wants.

Best way to do that is to go to a really great jewelry store together (we can help you find a good one, where are you located) and try on as many bands as possible and see what she likes and doesn't like.

 

[arkieb1]

I suggest you make a phone call to them.

OK, will try that. Is there someone specific I should ask for?

Yes ring and ask specifically to deal with Leslie, or leave a message for her to call you back. That is the best way to get something complex done if you have no luck via emails.