Ritani Question

[Puppmom]

I need a little guidance. I fell in love with the Ritani endless love collection and would love to purchase. I saw it at BBB and apparently center stones under 1CT are not certified by a third party. Knowing nothing about diamonds, this makes me nervous. Is Ritani reputable enough that I can trust that I''m getting what I pay for? What if I have it appraised and it''s not the quality they say it is?

Thanks!

 

[neatfreak]

You will really really overpay at BBB and especially for one of Ritani''s stones.

Regardless of what they say at BBB, you can purchase any stone you want and Ritani will set it in their endless love setting for you. You DO NOT have to buy the ring as a package.

Call Mark at Engagement Rings Direct or Pearlmans Jewelers. You''ll get a much better price and much better service than at BBB.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 6/25/2007 6:17:04 PM
Author: neatfreak
You will really really overpay at BBB and especially for one of Ritani''s stones.

Regardless of what they say at BBB, you can purchase any stone you want and Ritani will set it in their endless love setting for you. You DO NOT have to buy the ring as a package.

Call Mark at Engagement Rings Direct or Pearlmans Jewelers. You''ll get a much better price and much better service than at BBB.

Ditto

 

[Puppmom]

I''m concerned about internet shopping and I think the setting alone is $3k. Would I really get .50 CT, G, VS for much less than $2k? I''ve priced other rings that are not platinum and they all seem to be overpriced. I hit jeweler''s row in philly and it was a nightmare. Great service...but the diamond prices were ridiculous. Steven Singer was asking $3k for .54CT, G, SI1 and $1600 for a white gold pave setting. Today, I priced a setting similar to the Endless love from the "Timeless Collection" and the setting alone was $2500. This is WAY harder than I ever imagined.

Any suggestions for loose diamonds besides the internet? I love the Ritani setting but think I should get a certified diamond.

Thanks for the info...

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 6/25/2007 10:00:30 PM
Author: roseg
I'm concerned about internet shopping and I think the setting alone is $3k. Would I really get .50 CT, G, VS for much less than $2k? I've priced other rings that are not platinum and they all seem to be overpriced. I hit jeweler's row in philly and it was a nightmare. Great service...but the diamond prices were ridiculous. Steven Singer was asking $3k for .54CT, G, SI1 and $1600 for a white gold pave setting. Today, I priced a setting similar to the Endless love from the 'Timeless Collection' and the setting alone was $2500. This is WAY harder than I ever imagined.


Any suggestions for loose diamonds besides the internet? I love the Ritani setting but think I should get a certified diamond.


Thanks for the info...

Well it depends on where you are, but many of the PS vendors actually DO have storefronts that you can go to as well so you don't have to deal directly online. You certainly can buy from B&M stores, but unless you have a local one you trust, it will be a PITA to get a stone and you will pay more.

And to answer your OTHER question, you can CERTAINLY get a .5 G VS stone for much much less than $2k and with a cert to boot.

Take your pick, from $840-$1600 or so:

http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/SearchResult.aspx?isStatic=false

ETA: Is it one of the halo settings? Or the same one that is in my avatar?

 

[Puppmom]

Thank, It''s a halo setting. The endless love round. I think I may give a call to Pearlmans to see about buying just the setting.

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 6/26/2007 6:38:06 AM
Author: roseg
Thank, It''s a halo setting. The endless love round. I think I may give a call to Pearlmans to see about buying just the setting.

Definitely give Pearlmans a call. they have a store in battle creek, MI. You might want them to go ahead and price it out with a center stone for you too though. Many times you can get a better deal when purchasing the total package from one place. all of their stones under 2 carats are ideal cut, they are just not listed on their website.

 

[denverappraiser]

You can be confident that BBB will be selling genuine Ritani merchandise and Ritiani does their own setting of the center stones so the real areas of concern are if they are charging more than their competitors for the ring you have in mind and if the Ritani craftsmanship is somehow defective in either the manufacturing or final assembly. A capable appraiser should have no problem inspecting the piece and confirming that the work has been done properly, that the materials are up to Ritani standards and that everything is undamaged when the job is complete. A shopping trip to several Ritani dealers should tell you if they are charging a competitive price and the salespeople themselves should be thrilled to explain what value added is being supplied by that particular store to encourage you to buy from them rather than one of their competitors. In this kind of situation, the visit to the appraiser is rarely about the price.

The center stone is being supplied by the jeweler, not Ritani. If you don't like it, shop elsewhere. Ritani will set any stone that fits into one of their mountings without regard to where you got it.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[Puppmom]

Thanks, you all have been so helpful. BBB is asking $5095 with .5 CT center stone. I saw it online at Solomon Bros which seems reputable for $4395 with .75 CT center stone. According to the specs, the center stone is of the same grade.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 6/26/2007 10:48:59 AM
Author: roseg
Thanks, you all have been so helpful. BBB is asking $5095 with .5 CT center stone. I saw it online at Solomon Bros which seems reputable for $4395 with .75 CT center stone. According to the specs, the center stone is of the same grade.

I'd trust Solomon Brothers more than BBB...but that's just me! Plus the price is much much nicer.

Have you tried Pearlmans? They're great too.