Seeking shopping advice from the LIW

[sparklish]

Hi LIW, I''ve been lurking here for a while but as pre-e gets more definitive, wanted to post.

Just wondering, how involved do you plan to be in the ring selection? I am not yet engaged, but my BF and I have been shopping together.

I saw something amazing that I loved; it was a very small (.33) but beautiful diamond from a reknowned jeweller (I live in Canada, so you may not have heard of it''s Birks, very well known here). I''ve always known I wanted something very small as I have small hands and don''t consider myself a bling type (not that there''s anything wrong with that! big rocks are awesome... just not for me.) It had a great sparkle with little rainbows.

In the interim, my BF also met another jeweller who can custom-make a ring for half the price (or with a larger rock). I wouldn''t want an exact copy of the other ring, but would design something more sleek and unique.

I told the BF he should decide as I don''t want to be overly involved and want to have some element of surprise if and when. But if it were you, what would you choose?

My grandmother''s rings was a Birks ring, so I like the tradition there, but I also think that maybe it would be nicer to have something unique. The Birks comes with a 5 year warranty against stone loss and also it can be serviced anywhere around Canada. On the other hand if I got a bigger diamond from the jeweller, maybe that''s better... especially as the Birks settings might not be as unique.

Any thoughts? Have you been involved in ring selection? I have no idea when/if the actual proposal will occur...

 

[snow_happy]

Hi sparklish--

If I were you I would go for the custom-made setting and have a one-of-a-kind setting. You could also pick a larger stone. I am similar to you in that I don''t want anything *too* big... it''s just not me

I think stones just under half a carat are modest yet beautiful. Additionally, with the jeweler instead of Birks you might be able to get a better quality stone.

So in the end you could get a unique setting only YOU have, a slightly larger but not super flashy stone and a better quality diamond for less than you would at Birks. Either way as long as you are happy then that''s what counts right?

Good luck and let us know what you decide!

 

[Croí]

hi Sparklish !

Funny, you are nearly reading my mind only I''ve already had the proposal and now I know he has the stone.
My question is should I look at it unset, getting to see size and sparkle (like yourself, mine is a small stone) and/or should I let it all up to him until it''s set etc. ???
On the one hand he is trying to do his part but (as you all know) work has been a bear for him and I sometimes think it would take the pressure off him if I offered to take care of the rest. It does take all the surprise etc. out of it though ........ so I am stuck too !

I am big on tradition but you could start your own tradition with your new and unique personal ring.

I guess we just both have to talk to our wonderful men and see what decision we reach that we are BOTH happy with.

 

[allycat0303]

Hi Sparkish!

I''m from Canada too (Quebec) so of course I know about Birks. For me personally, I would not buy from there, only for the reason that I find it overpriced (although some of their stuff is very pretty). I want a big stone, and I know that getting it from Birks would be a near impossibility.Actually, probably a small stone as well (I saw 0.5 carats for $9120). If you really love the Birks setting and stone, then by all means go for it. I, however, would probably go for the custom route because I wan something a little bit unique. Good luck on your search!

 

[NoonersMom]

Hi Sparklish...

Congrats on your upcoming engagement. Each situation is different. I would go the route that both of you are comfortable as it''s just as big of a deal for him as it is for you.

Having said that, my BF wanted to surprise me with one that I fell in love with. Fortunately & unfortunately I found out about it. Once that happened open communication started flowing & I stumbled upon Pricescope. It turned out for the better. In our situation, we are purchasing the stone separate & having the ring designed. It will cost less & I can get a better quality stone. Since my BF is hands off (he''s hindu & this isn''t his tradition) I am handling the details up to the design of the ring. After that, I won''t know when it will be done as to ensure he can surprise me his way.

Good luck! I agree with previous poster....start your own tradition! There will be plenty of traditions to follow through the whole wedding process.

 

[sparklish]

Thanks for all your advice. It''s always intimidating to delurk on a board where everyone knows each other but you''ve given me some great food for thought and I think I''m definitely leaning towards custom now.

 

[MissAva]

Everyone is new at some point...I am now as well. Anyway another thought one you have likely had is if you spend less money and get your custom desgin that is more money for house payments or your honeymoon or whatever

like sexy things for your wedding night.

 

[psuheather]

Hi Sparklish--I just got engaged last month, and I went through a very similar situation with my ring selection process. I wanted to be surpirsed, but I am very picky, so I wanted to make sure that we went and looked at settings together so that he at least had a good understanding of what I liked. I found a setting at Bailey Banks and Biddle that I loved, and I thought that that was that. Then I let him pick out the diamond so that there would be an element of surprise (of course with direction that it''s all about cut, cut, cut!) Turns out he ended up surprising me on more than just the diamond....he went out and had the setting that I wanted custom made. Now, I am sooooo glad that he made that decision because I actually like my setting much better and it''s completely unique (plus, he saved a good deal of moolah!) So I vote for going the custom route!

 

[sparklish]

Date: 3/8/2005 10

0:44 PM
Author: psuheather
Then I let him pick out the diamond so that there would be an element of surprise (of course with direction that it's all about cut, cut, cut!)

Yes, that's my main concern - the cut. the ones we saw at Birks are Tolkowsky cut - they were all so rainbowy and lovely. I want to make sure that the rock we get has that same rainbow sparkle. But I'm pretty sure jeweller will let us/him see the diamond before buying.