Setting from a brand store, is it possible?

[star__gazer]

I just got engaged on my birthday! My bf fiance spent the past months picking out the gorgeous diamond for me and now, it''s my turn to pick my setting. The proposal was a total surprise so I''m not prepared at all in terms of deciding what I want and how to get it..
We moved to London for a year and living in a new city makes things even more complicated in terms of asking for referral! =(

Anyway, I hope some of you here can help me to answer some questions:


How can I ensure the jeweler will return the same stone to me?
Because of the above question, I thought one way is to go to a credited place - brand one. e.g., Cartier, Asprey''s, Tiffany''s... etc. However, do they do setting for diamond that wasn''t purchased from them? Does anyone here has any experience for setting in London that you can share with me?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Todd Gray]

A reputable jeweler should not take offense at your concern about ensuring that your diamond is not switched by them and should be able to set your mind at ease by taking a few moments to familiarize you with the internal characteristics of your diamond... This question is posed quite often and the way that I like to set our clients minds at ease is to pop up an image of their diamond as seen under our microscope on the computer, photograph the inclusions, discuss the characteristics of the diamond with the client, then draw a detailed diagram of the inclusions within the diamond on the take-in envelope...

This enables us to "walk through" the characteristics of the diamond with the client when they come to pick the diamond back up from being set or having some work done on the setting... At that time, I can pull up the file photograph of the diamond, place the jewelry item under the microscope again and compare the internal characteristics. Problem solved.

Every once and awhile a very cautious client will say something like "well how do I know that you won''t just replace that photograph with another one to show me when I pick up my ring?" and I respond by simply transferring the file to my email program and asking for their email address so that I can email the file to them. I don''t take any offense to the question or the concept, it is a reasonable concern and as I''ve stated, it is a concern that any reputable jeweler should be prepared to address.

Admittedly, the level of technology available to me as an online dealer is not always available in a traditional online environment, however most retail jewelry stores do have a microscope on hand and therefore have the capability to familiarize you with the characteristics of your diamond, plot those characteristics on the front of the take-in envelope (give you a copy) and then run through the stone again when you come to pick up the diamond after it has been set.

In my experience, the three retailers you mentioned will not set a diamond that was not originally purchased from them, but it never hurts to ask. This thread on Price Scope pertains to having a diamond set in London and should be of assistance.

 

[star__gazer]

Hi Todd,

It''s so wonderful of you to provide me with such detailed reply. Much much much appreciated. I''ll keep you guys posted on my finding regarding the setting. I hope I can help other newbies along the way.

Since I noticed this post has quite a few viewings, I thought I may just ask others'' opinion to help me to pick a setting for emerald cut ring. O, I love this forum!

The stone''s info:
It''s slightly over 2 carat, according to the report, it''s F, VS1, so it''s quite a good quality stone. I am debating to set it in vintage setting, with pave diamonds on the side. However, do you think it''d look very odd if the pave diamonds are of lower quality? I don''t want my fiance to have to spend more money on it but it''d be odd for me to chip in to pay for the setting don''t you think?

Another alternative would be plain 4 prone setting, but that may looks a bit plain, as emerald is already very subtle. What are your thought?

Thank you in advance!

 

[Todd Gray]

Smaller diamonds, called Melee (pronounced "mell-eee") as used for pave settings are not that expensive, I would keep the quality of the smaller diamonds at least the same color as the center stone... here is a picture of a ring that I found on the web site of dealer in London mentioned in the other thread that I referred to earlier... It might be a bit much for your taste, but it''s a good picture of an emerald cut diamond surrounded by pave set diamonds and you can always trim things down a bit to suit your preferences:

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Congratulations!!!!

I love that setting that Todd posted. There are several posters who have emerald halo rings as well

It''s not strange for you to pay for part of the setting, but that''s a personal decision the two of you would need to make.

 

[star__gazer]

Thanks again Todd! The more I look at halo setting, the more I''m inclined to "dress up" the emerald a bit. I''ll check out some designs tomorrow in person. Hopefully I''ll get a better idea then.

 

[star__gazer]

Thanks Bella mezza