Should I have stone sent to local jeweler or to me?

[jj970]

Just got a 3 ct princess stone for my fiance''s ering and it''s at the appraiser''s right now. I''ve not ever seen the stone myself. I want it to be set by a jeweler that is about 2 hours away from where I live. Should I have it sent to me first? Or would people send it straight to the jeweler?

Also, do you appraise loose stones or do you wait until they get set?

I''m just worried because this is a large amount of money to be traveling around the US.

Thanks.

 

[Steel]

A 3ct Princess sounds wonderful!

From what I understand it is only when the stone is unset that the appraiser can truly grade your stone so yes it was best to get the stone appraised straight from the vendor. It also ensured that the stone appraised is the stone that was purchased in case there is an issue with the appraisal being less than the vendor expects, it hasn’t travelled around the US (as you say).

About sending the stone from the appraiser to the jeweller for setting or to you, then the jeweller this is your preference. I would like to see a 3ct stone before committing to the extra expense of a setting and setting/shipping fees. But maybe your appraiser is well respected and you trust their opinion or maybe they send you very nice pictures of your stone and you choose to send it straight on to the jeweller.

Up to you.

But sending the stone from the vendor to the appraiser was a great move!

Please keep us [me] updated... and best of luck.

 

[Ellen]

I agree with steels post, and would want to see the stone first. Then when you take it to be set, have them put it under high magnification and go over the inclusion plot with you. While we'd like to think all jewelers are honest, they're not. Doing this will ensure that you both know what your stone looks like. Then after it's set, go over it again to make sure everything matches up.

And please post pics when you're done, that's a nice size Princess.

 

[jj970]

Hey all, thanks for the replies.

It''s funny, the appraiser said he doesn''t do pictures. He''s a very well known, oft mentioned appraiser from this site. I was surprised. He only gave me a very low res pic and the appraisal/cert and brilliance scope. He said the diamond looked great.

I guess I''ll have it sent to me.

I''ll definitely get pics put up here when I can.

 

[Steel]

Yeah, pics...! I will be waiting with bated breath!

 

[jj970]

Ok, seems I have 3 options now. Please help me decide which to do...

I'll just say the vendors names at this point so people can give me informed advice.

I bought the stone from GOG. It's now at Dave Atlas' shop and got appraised. I now want to get it set but the setting as I said above is from another vendor, Shane Company.

Chris at Dave Atlas' place just offered to set the stone for me at his shop if I send the setting (or he could try to get it but I doubt he will be able to). So, I could go buy it (a 2 hour drive) and then send it to him.

Or

I could have it sent to me before it's set and look at it, then take it myself to Shane Co and have them set it.

Or

I could buy the setting, send it to GOG and have the stone sent back to GOG and then have them set it and send it back to me.

Oh yes, and Chris and Jonathan have both RAVED about how the stone "kicks optical a!@#$". They both really liked the stone.

Anyone got any other new opinions?

Thanks.

 

[mommybuss]

I personally would have it sent to you, and then you take it to wherever you want to get it set. I would want to physically SEE it before having it set.

Good Luck and I can''t wait to see pics!!

 

[Steel]

Date: 12/31/2007 12:11:02 PM
Author: jj970
Ok, seems I have 3 options now. Please help me decide which to do...

I''ll just say the vendors names at this point so people can give me informed advice.

I bought the stone from GOG. It''s now at Dave Atlas'' shop and got appraised. I now want to get it set but the setting as I said above is from another vendor, Shane Company.

Chris at Dave Atlas'' place just offered to set the stone for me at his shop if I send the setting (or he could try to get it but I doubt he will be able to). So, I could go buy it (a 2 hour drive) and then send it to him.

Or

I could have it sent to me before it''s set and look at it, then take it myself to Shane Co and have them set it.

Or

I could buy the setting, send it to GOG and have the stone sent back to GOG and then have them set it and send it back to me.

Oh yes, and Chris and Jonathan have both RAVED about how the stone ''kicks optical a!@#$''. They both really liked the stone.

Anyone got any other new opinions?

Thanks.

I like either of these option highlighted.

I would be confident buying from GOG and ''double sealed for freshness'' confident buying with Dave appraising it.

The real question here is what you would like to do? Are you unhappy proceeding without setting eyes on this stone?

Ps. Very nice of Chris to offer to set the stone (whether they charge or not, that is a great option to offer you). And I am delighted they think the tone ''rocks'' Whoo hoo!

You must be so excited!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh my goodness. I would NOT let the jeweler two hours from you touch it! Please either allow Dave Atlas to set it or Good Old Gold.

Seeing that GOG would have provided pictures for you, and I totally trust them, I would NOT have to see the stone first. The advantage of having GOG set it is that they would be responsible if something unthinkable happened like the stone being chipped while being set.

Do you have a picture of the setting? It's possible we know of a similar one that would save you the trip to the other jeweler.

(P.S. From older posts, that jeweler would not set other people's diamonds anyway, unless they have changed their policy. I'd still never take that chance.)

 

[mrssalvo]

I''d trust GOG and Dave enough to probably not have to see the stone but can completely understand if someone wanted to. I would however, purchase the setting and send it along with the stone to GOG to be set. I wouldn''t let shane co. set my stone unless i was buying a whole ring from them. is it a designer setting or a shane co setting?

 

[jj970]

Thanks for the replies...

Yeah the setting is from Nelson. You can see pics in my previous post here:
Princess Search

It''s not a Shane Co. exclusive, but I don''t think it''s easily found. She really like their gimmicky "Calla" cut stones. Shane Co. did say that they could set it for me and would not charge me a fee for it. I think I do like the idea of having it sent over to GOG to do though. Having it done at Dave Atlas'' place might be ok too, and it also saves me a shipping charge.

Oh, and I''ve not gotten ANY real pics of the stone. GOG didn''t give me any. He only did a Sarin and a reflector image. Chris also said he doesn''t do magnified images and has not sent me one. He did a cert and appraisal for me. Is this normal?

Decisions, decisions...

Jason

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 12/31/2007 2:57:26 PM
Author: jj970
Thanks for the replies...

Yeah the setting is from Nelson. You can see pics in my previous post here:
Princess Search

It''s not a Shane Co. exclusive, but I don''t think it''s easily found. She really like their gimmicky ''Calla'' cut stones. Shane Co. did say that they could set it for me and would not charge me a fee for it. I think I do like the idea of having it sent over to GOG to do though. Having it done at Dave Atlas'' place might be ok too, and it also saves me a shipping charge.

Oh, and I''ve not gotten ANY real pics of the stone. GOG didn''t give me any. He only did a Sarin and a reflector image. Chris also said he doesn''t do magnified images and has not sent me one. He did a cert and appraisal for me. Is this normal?

Decisions, decisions...

Jason

I am sure if you had asked Jonathan for a picture, he would have been happy to provide you with one. This probably was a stone that he called in for you, so it wasn''t already photographed for the website. And no, I don''t think it is necessarily normal for an appraiser to take magnified photos.

I''d either have the setting sent to Dave Atlas for them to set or send it all back to GOG to set. Then you could ask Jon for a photo of the stone before you proceed with having it set. It is likely that Shane will have to order your setting in the correct size for her finger and to fet a 3 ct. stone. Have you asked them how long this would take?

 

[jj970]

Hrm...frustrated now.

So I went and bought the ring she wants from Shane Co., just so I could take pics and see if anyone was willing to set the stone in it.

Turns out, GOG won''t do it. They think it''s better to have the jeweller who I got it from set it.
I thought that was kinda weird considering all the answers I''ve gotten here. I sent them a lot of close up pics and everthing.

Chris at Gem Appraisers (Dave Atlas) said he has a guy that can do it, but will charge me $650 for the work. The drawback here is that it''s someone I know even less and I can''t even see the work to say I like it or not.

Finally, Shane Co. says they can do it, but it''ll be $1.50 a point (3 ct stone) so about $450. I can see the work before I buy it and have the right to refuse it when I go pick it up.

I know, I know, it''s all up to me. But from the advice I got here, I just felt uneasy having them do it. I really thought GOG was going to say it was fine. I''m a little surprised that they (Marie and Charlie) both told me to go elsewhere.

I guess I''m set up with my decision, even though I feel a little uneasy about it. I think Shane Co is a decent, reputable "chain jeweller", anyone have experience to the contrary? I don''t think having Dave Atlas'' colleague (not inhouse) do it would have any advantage for me.

Thanks for all your replies.