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Setting + Diamond from a Large Jewelry Retailer--Good idea?

H

hb203

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 22, 2013
Messages
16
Hi PS,

A new guy here, with questions on opinions from buying from a large national jewelry chain. We went to just have a look at what she liked and what looked good on her hand and we found this one. She really liked this setting/diamond. It's from a large national jewelry chain (Jareds) And while I don't think she's hung up on carat weight, it's a 1 carat princess cut, in a double halo, I am sure she would like it if the center diamond were a little bigger. However, she really likes the square halo style of it, as opposed to the more cushion halos that she has seen.


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Does this setting/diamond look okay? Or should I reach out to a jeweler and have something made that's similar? The price is around $9000 for this setting and diamond, also which includes the matching band. It's white gold. The one thing that appeals to me about jewelry chains is the warranties and a decent upgrade policy, as she is definitely one who I know will want a big, big diamond as we get older.
(My sanity and wallet have already accepted and prepared for this haha)

I would appreciate insight or comments.
 
Re: Setting + Diamond from a Large Jewelry Retailer--Good id

I would go elsewhere. The warrantee from what i understand isnt really all that much when it comes down to it, and lots if places have good upgrade policies.

I feel like this can be accomplished with one of the PS vendors, and that way you know shell be getting a quality stone with quality melee.

let me ask though, 9k is a whole lot, does she need all that pave or would she be happy with a plain solitaire if you could get a noticeably larger stone?

like...
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10689/
 
Re: Setting + Diamond from a Large Jewelry Retailer--Good id

I'm not a big fan of Jared's. I think you can do better at one of the PS vendors, especially since the setting you posted probably equaled half of your budget. If you know that you'll likely be upgrading in the future, why spend thousands on a setting that you won't be keeping? I like the stone that Niel posted, though I know almost nothing about princess cut stones. Just double check the upgrade policy at any of the vendors you talk to, so your expectations are set properly.
 
Re: Setting + Diamond from a Large Jewelry Retailer--Good id

its not a double halo, but its going to be very well made and its a good price,
http://www.ritani.com/engagement-rings/french-set-halo-diamond--v--band-engagement-ring-with-surprise-diamonds-in-14kt-white-gold/10612

Its Pearlmans sells this brand, and I think I have they give pricescope members a discount, so it might be cheaper than whats listen on ritani's website. Pearlmans wont probably have this on there site, but if you call them and discuss it I am sure they could have it. I am no good at princesses, but looking around seems like you could get an 1.25 ct ish if you went to an I..... they have one on their website, its AGS graded, but again im not sure about it, i would ask them about it though, it seems like it could be nice, a lot of people on here have used them and they seem to be well liked.

i cant link it by the way their website is, but if you search their diamond inventory and select only princesses and AGS certified. it was like 6300.

that would keep you under 9k.... i know you said the other one included the wedding band, but i would hold off buying that and putting it toward the e ring. You can buy the w band closer to the wedding date. That way, she can try on all sorts of bands on to see what kind she likes best, too
 
Re: Setting + Diamond from a Large Jewelry Retailer--Good id

^ but then again i dont know what their upgrade pol is...

I still think getting the largest stone you can right now isnt a bad option. :wavey:
 
Re: Setting + Diamond from a Large Jewelry Retailer--Good id

Center stone looks a little bit grayish/yellow compared to the surrounding melee.
 
Re: Setting + Diamond from a Large Jewelry Retailer--Good id

Honestly, that is a horrible example of a pave halo. I agree with the poster that the peg prongs are big and noticeable, with lots of petal showing between the pave. I’m also not a fan of the airline between the two halos- it just makes the ring look sloppy to me.

As for store warranties please don't be fooled by this. My DH brought my first diamond from a B&M store. If we didn’t take it in every 6 months to be inspected the warranty was void. Yup and we moved 8 months after getting engaged.
Also the warranty said it covered normal wear and tear, but what does that mean exactly?? While doing dishes I dinged my wedding band and chipped one of the diamonds, according to the warranty this was my fault. Didn’t' cover the new band or the diamond- got nothing.

And to just add insult to injury The upgrade policy was also x2 of the original purchase so if my original stone cost 3k then if I wanted to upgrade I needed to spend an additional 6k on the next diamond.

I can only tell you how much I wish I had found PS when shopping for a ring. :blackeye:
 
Re: Setting + Diamond from a Large Jewelry Retailer--Good id

I love the Ritani setting Niel posted. If you choose a setting by a designer rather than a chain, the quality of workmanship is going to go up markedly. With a setting like the one your gf chose, I wonder if she went for the double halo just to compensate for the size of the stone? Do you know if she actually prefers the double vs. single halo?

If you buy from a chain you end up paying a ridiculous markup for inferior quality.

Here's one diamond that might fit the bill. I'm not a princess girl so this is more of an example, but with the Ritani setting and the PS wire price, you'd be pretty close to budget. And no doubt this diamond would be much more sparkly and beautiful than the Jared.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2903455.htm

And as far as upgrades.. http://www.whiteflash.com/about-diamonds/jewelry/lifetime-upgrade.htm
Good Old Gold, another PS vendor, has a similar policy as well as a lifetime buyback policy.
 
Re: Setting + Diamond from a Large Jewelry Retailer--Good id

nicoleanne|1371955796|3470766 said:
I love the Ritani setting Niel posted. If you choose a setting by a designer rather than a chain, the quality of workmanship is going to go up markedly. With a setting like the one your gf chose, I wonder if she went for the double halo just to compensate for the size of the stone? Do you know if she actually prefers the double vs. single halo?

If you buy from a chain you end up paying a ridiculous markup for inferior quality.

Here's one diamond that might fit the bill. I'm not a princess girl so this is more of an example, but with the Ritani setting and the PS wire price, you'd be pretty close to budget. And no doubt this diamond would be much more sparkly and beautiful than the Jared.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-2903455.htm

And as far as upgrades.. http://www.whiteflash.com/about-diamonds/jewelry/lifetime-upgrade.htm
Good Old Gold, another PS vendor, has a similar policy as well as a lifetime buyback policy.
Click to expand...

This is a beautiful stone. :love:

I agree with the others that you will be seriously over paying and receiving an inferior product if you choose to use a retail chain. I cant remember a single instance when someone posted here about how happy there were that they chose (insert retail chain) instead of using a pricescope vendor. :wink2:
 
Re: Setting + Diamond from a Large Jewelry Retailer--Good id

Thanks so much to all. Appreciate the insight, borders with my thoughts on all of it, the price was so good--as in 'what's the catch'
And she's definitely not a solitaire person, we tried them on, discussed about whether she'd want a bigger diamond to 'set' later, she said 'no way,' she'd rather have a smaller diamond and a more elaborate setting. I will continue my search!
 
Re: Setting + Diamond from a Large Jewelry Retailer--Good id

hb203|1371960962|3470797 said:
Thanks so much to all. Appreciate the insight, borders with my thoughts on all of it, the price was so good--as in 'what's the catch'
And she's definitely not a solitaire person, we tried them on, discussed about whether she'd want a bigger diamond to 'set' later, she said 'no way,' she'd rather have a smaller diamond and a more elaborate setting. I will continue my search!
Click to expand...
No, the price is not good. The price is high!

Subtracting 1K for matching band, that is 8000 left. Center stone probably not more than 4000-5000. 4000 for that setting is very high! At the low end, expect to pay 2-3000. 3000 and up you should start getting platinum or well made pave.
 
Re: Setting + Diamond from a Large Jewelry Retailer--Good id

I think its great you've been shopping with her and now have a sense of what she'd love to receive for an engagement ring.

Knowing you have a good budget, why not contact a PS vendor and see how much diamond "Bang" you can get for your buck?? Lots of PSers (myself included!) have had great budget friendly success with www.idjewelryonline.com and you can speak directly with Yekutiel by calling their toll free number. They could source out a beautiful princess for you and then find a setting similar.

check out www.gabrielny.com - that's one of the setting companies they purchase from.

ERD (as mentioned above) is also a great option as would be www.jamesallen.com

If I knew then what I knew now, I would definitely prefer my DH purchase from an online PS recommended vendor - but there was no internet back in 1984 when I got engaged, for diamond shopping!! I'd at least check out the vendor options to see for yourself how much farther (or better quality) the ring could be.

Good luck!
 
Re: Setting + Diamond from a Large Jewelry Retailer--Good id

I agree that if you know you will be upgrading your diamond to a bigger one, it makes little sense to spend much of the budget on a fancy setting that you'll just have to sell down the line. I'd look for a setting around 2-2.5k and spend the other 6.5-7k on a diamond. I like the Whiteflash diamond posted with the Ritani setting.
 
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