Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Setting cost, am I overpaying?

C

cloudkicker3030

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 31, 2013
Messages
25
Hey everyone.. so I should be getting my diamond in today from JA (thanks once again to everyone that helped me!) and I will be going in right after to get the diamond fixed into the setting... but anyway

so I went to a local "chain" called Robbins Brothers because they were super friendly to me (i'm 30 but i look 18) and they actually treated me with respect and it was local.. and i really really appreciate that and tend to favor people who treat me fairly. anyway so the setting I want is very similar to this.. but the side diamonds are probably an H or I if i remember correctly...:

http://www.markbroumand.com/1.11ct-pear-shaped-diamond-engagement-anniversary-ring-3201-1d1718265/

I picked a wedding band very similar to that.. and their in-house jeweler is going to custom-make the top part where the diamond sets and the halo with diamonds (sorry i'm not sure the diamond lingo..) (because finding an "in-store" setting with a halo seemed impossible)

anyway it cost about $1k for the white gold and diamonds (the supplies needed to create the ring/setting i want) to make up the halo and about $700 for the labor.

I know I'm overpaying somewhat... as I figure it's a "chain" store.. but I'm just curious if someone can give me an estimate on how much exactly i'm overpaying.

thanks!

EDIT: bout to sleep, but will be back to see any responses in the morning! thanks in advance!

EDIT2: i know my details are slim and i'm sure there's many factors involved that i don't know.. i'm just looking for a general consensus i guess
 
Costs vary greatly, from jeweler to jeweler. I am in the UK & I am currently having a new setting designed & made for my pear (the one in my avatar). It is a plain, platinum, cast setting with a cathedral height to the crown. No diamonds or pazazz, but it is costing me £900. I have been quoted £550 from another jeweler, but that was just to provide a setting 'off the peg' & not hand design with my input over several sessions. So I think what you are paying would seem reasonable to me for white gold & diamonds, but I also know that the cost of jewellery in the US is cheaper than here in the UK due to our very high VAT. I do believe you get what you pay for when it comes to jewellery though, as I have had my fingers very badly burned with the current, significantly cheaper setting, which allowed my diamond to pop out after 8 weeks & is bent & cumbersome underneath.

And your ring looks beautiful!!
 
Have you looked at the pear halo rings at JA? http://www.jamesallen.com/se?q=pear halo If it were me, with an F-color pear, I'd prefer the F/G-VS2 melee of the JA halos... and if JA had done the ring for you, there'd be no setting fee and you'd know for sure the diamond is covered insurance-wise during the setting process. Plus, their customer service, 60-day return, and warranty policies are generous and clear.

Honestly, unless Robbins Bros. was able to show you other custom rings they made similar to the style you are looking for, I'd pass on that... besides the H/I melee (and what is the clarity? SI1 or SI2?), I am guessing the $1,700 quoted does not include a setting fee which local stores customarily charge for setting customer's stones. And is your diamond covered while at their store? What is their return policy should you not like the ring they make for you? Did you check Yelp and the BBB to see if there are complaints against that particular store?

Anyway, this is just my opinion... like the above poster, usually you get what you pay for, and I am not sure a bargain ER will have the quality you'd want to have for your upgraded F-color pear.
 
marymm|1383406794|3549066 said:
Have you looked at the pear halo rings at JA? http://www.jamesallen.com/se?q=pear halo If it were me, with an F-color pear, I'd prefer the F/G-VS2 melee of the JA halos... and if JA had done the ring for you, there'd be no setting fee and you'd know for sure the diamond is covered insurance-wise during the setting process. Plus, their customer service, 60-day return, and warranty policies are generous and clear.

Honestly, unless Robbins Bros. was able to show you other custom rings they made similar to the style you are looking for, I'd pass on that... besides the H/I melee (and what is the clarity? SI1 or SI2?), I am guessing the $1,700 quoted does not include a setting fee which local stores customarily charge for setting customer's stones. And is your diamond covered while at their store? What is their return policy should you not like the ring they make for you? Did you check Yelp and the BBB to see if there are complaints against that particular store?

Anyway, this is just my opinion... like the above poster, usually you get what you pay for, and I am not sure a bargain ER will have the quality you'd want to have for your upgraded F-color pear.
Click to expand...

Ditto on getting your setting from JA. Also I think the faceting of the F VS2 is much nicer than the G SI2. The faceting is the most important factor in choosing your stone. Can't wait to hear your opinion upon seeing both in person though.
 
No way would I have a jeweler alter a wedding band and make a halo. I would call and cancel that asap! Best option is to get one from James Allen (did you look into that when you bought the stone?), or you maybe can go to a jeweler that carries Gabriel and Co and they might have one that is reasonable. I don't like an unknown in such an important piece of jewelry!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top