The PS trends thread got me thinking...

[oranges]

How much has PS changed your perception of jewelry? Your standards?

Before PS, I would have been happy with anything. I had no obsessions with the size of a ring and only knew the "4C's". I loved Tiffany jewelry, and probably would have wished for a Tiffany ring. I had no knowledge about cut quality. I would have assumed that everything in Tiffany is good and called it a day! I also never noticed other people's jewelry too much. In other words, before discovering PS, I was clueless.

After PS, thanks to all of you wonderful members with EXCEPTIONAL taste, I have been introduced to SO many beautiful styles of engagement rings, wedding bands, pendants etc. Through lurking, I discovered my sense of style and what truly appeals to me. For this, I am eternally grateful. I'll be shopping for an engagement ring in the near future and now I have a good idea of what I would love to wear on my hand for the rest of my life (antique cushion in a pave halo with some sort of interesting shank details). The down side is that my taste has gotten significantly more expensive. Good thing I'll be starting my first job in the fall .. because thanks to PS, I have quite a few things on my wishlist (A .5ct AVR in BGD barbara w/ millegrain, a thin french cut eternity, a large gorgeous asscher eternity.....)

 

[Enerchi]

I'd have to say my standards have gone way up as to what I find acceptable now. Up till last year, I didn't have very many pieces of any significant value. I had some lovely silver/CS pieces that were important to me, I had several Tiffany items (which I thought was the creme de la creme... ) and I had upgraded my ering to a larger solitaire. Last year, around the time I joined PS, I started on a 3 stone project and bought 2 very nice side PR diamonds on my own (looking back - that was lucky!!). From there, it was a remake/combining of a family ring/my own ring, studs, 1/2 eternity band, IDJ jackets, BGD Barbara pendant, remade (AGAIN!) that 3 stone ring, a CSBTY necklace, RG spacer, 2 CS rings... and I'm not closing the door on anything further.... I kind of exploded in the jewellry department, all as a result of my new addiction to PS!!! (thank heaven's I have a paycheque!)

But I've learned TONS from all the amazing PSers, I've seen jewelery that I would NEVER have imagined and inspirational pieces I would have never been exposed to in my normal world, and really developed a much finer sense of what is quality now! I am very glad I found this community!

 

[TravelingGal]

I've always believed in research and quality. So in that sense, it hasn't changed much. I figured there was something more to diamonds than the 4c's and I have an engagement ring stone that I am still very happy with today.

I suppose I am lucky in that in the 8 years registered (including the 2 years I've lurked, it's been a decade) that I actually don't have a ton of jewelry because I've jumped on bandwagons. I don't tend to jump on them because I see pictures of jewelry. Until very recently, I chose not to meet PSers en masse, and I'm sure that's what saved me because...

SEEING the loot in *person*, OMG... I've met Alj and she brought a ton of gorgeous pieces, but I was drawn to her 3 stone and her OEC...and look, now I have both in one ring, haha. She also had a watch that sparked my interest in watches again, but I decided to be practical and go for a more modern piece.

I tend to buy pieces to mark events and keep forever. So yeah, I don't tend to collect based on the pretty things I see here.

Where PS has definitely influenced me is when it comes to quality of a ring setting. While I still adore my wedding set, that set was before I understood custom settings. I LOVE a good custom setting. No matter how amazing the stone, I am not blown over by a picture of a ring on PS that I see unless the entire package is perfection.

Also, just having been high end jewelry window shopping, I have to say that most of the run of the mill stuff at Tiffany, Cartier, etc, don't impress me anymore. I see many more fluid, elegant, perfect settings on PS.

(edited for spelling)

 

[miraclesrule]

Interesting self-reflective inducing question.

I am so grateful that PS has provided such a breadth of experience and education so that we are informed consumers. I can easily become sucked in to the all the information, but I would end up with analysis paralysis. I still want to cherish the excitement and experience of my purchase without the endless speculation of whether or not I paid too much, or could have gotten a better deal. Just knowing that I am getting a great quality piece for a great price is exactly what this girl needs.

I will never be able to purchase any diamonds or gemstones from a mall store or Tiffany's. Not now. I am even leery of jewelry stores. I don't consider myself snobbish, because I still throw caution to the wind when I want something, but I have a new level of appreciation for the quality of diamonds and gemstones...and of lapidaries. I am still learning and that is half the fun. I just prefer learning from PS'ers, but they know their shizz. Yanno?

But more than that...I cherish PS for the relationships. The sense of family. The friendships and experiences with PS'ers that have enriched my life in so many wonderful ways!! That's worth way more to me than the gemstones. Okay...maybe not wayyyyyyyyy more...but way more for sure.

 

[miraclesrule]

I've always believed in research and quality. So in that sense, it hasn't changed much. I figured there was something more to diamonds than the 4c's and I have an engagement ring stone that I am still very happy with today.

I suppose I am lucky in that in the 8 years registered (including the 2 years I've lurked, it's been a decade) that I actually don't have a ton of jewelry because I've jumped on bandwagons. I don't tend to jump on them because I see pictures of jewelry. Until very recently, I chose not to meet PSers en masse, and I'm sure that's what saved me because...

SEEING the loot in *person*, OMG... I've met Alj and she brought a ton of gorgeous pieces, but I was drawn to her 3 stone and her OEC...and look, now I have both in one right, haha. She also had a watch that sparked my interest in watches again, but I decided to be practical and go for a more modern piece.

I tend to buy pieces to mark events and keep forever. So yeah, I don't tend to collect based on the pretty things I see here.

Where PS has definitely influenced me is when it comes to quality of a ring setting. While I still adore my wedding set, that set was before I understood custom settings. I LOVE a good custom setting. No matter how amazing the stone, I am not blown over by a picture of a ring on PS that I see unless the entire package is perfection.

Also, just having been high end jewelry window shopping, I have to say that most of the run of the mill stuff at Tiffany, Cartier, etc, don't impress me anymore. I see many more fluid, elegant, perfect settings on PS.

Yeah, that Alj and her stash is a mind-blower! I was like And then she left and I had to give her back her stacker bands.

 

[Haven]

I'm similar to TGal in that I'm a researcher, and I haven't really acquired many pieces despite my tenure here on PS.

The only jewelry I've acquired since I joined PS has been my original e-ring, then my upgrade (for which I traded in my original,) my wedding band, and my affordable little twist band to match my upgrade. I don't buy much in general, so I think that's why I've never really jumped on the trend bandwagons.

SO, PS has definitely given me the knowledge I need to buy high quality pieces, and it's helped me help many of my friends to buy great pieces for themselves and their loved ones.

 

[HollyS]

PS changed my standards for all gemstone jewelry, diamond or otherwise. I've received an education on those stones; one I would not have gotten anywhere else.

As for hopping on the trend wagon, being influenced by the likes and dislikes of others, not so much. I don't buy expensive watches, or spend thousands on creating a RHR. I don't lust after diamond studs, because I'm not a stud kind of gal.

But, I have a new appreciation for yellow gold after viewing a particular thread; I would look for a warmer diamond in an older cut if I was in the market again; and I would seriously consider the designs of many of our vendors here, first, before going elsewhere.

 

[Tuckins1]

I definitely am much more picky and "snotty" if you will (as DH would say) when it comes to jewelry, but I also have more of an appreciation for other things that I hated before. For example, pear diamonds. I had never seen a really good quality one before, and I was just turned off to them. But now.... Yummm!!!

 

[ame]

I think that PS just reinforced my requirements as to what is acceptable for workmanship, cut quality, and what I like stylewise. I am and always have been a crazy researcher of items I want/buy and diamonds were no exception. I found PS originally about the time I guess it started in early 2002 when I was getting engaged to my ex. We had been looking and I came across it and Blue Nile and learned a great deal. It also propelled me to get actually legitimately educated--as in GIA--because not only is it good to really know, it's also really damn fun and interesting! I do prefer to have modified cuts, but they still fall under superideal proportions and light return.

I have always noticed other people's jewelry, but now I am even more vigilant to look and ask questions of them.

One thing that I am pleasantly surprised about...that this place hasn't made me want anything I wouldn't otherwise get or want to begin with. It has helped me as I am trying to figure out a reset situation for this Vatche though. I am debating a three stone or a threestone with sapphire sides or something. But not enough to make a solid plan. I wanted small diamond studs, I have them, and never really wear them because I just don't leave earrings in (in part due to getting them all gross with hair stuff I use). But I dont want an RHR, and can't wear one anyway due to a scar on my hand. Don't like bracelets much, so I don't really look for those. I like the look of a few dainty necklaces but I never wear those, so I don't invest. I mostly just like to see what everyone else has!