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union diamond or brilliance

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farbyndrn

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Feb 15, 2010
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Has any one ever delt with either and was the quality of the setting bad. Brilliance is quoting me $460 less on the exact same ring. I don''t want to risk quality for savings. Thanks
 
I have purchased from Union Diamond and was very happy. They are very prompt in replies and very helpful. Very good quality as well. I dealt with Leah Cawley.
 
If there is a 400.00 difference for the same piece check to see if one offers more than the other:

1. Return policy
2. Upgrade Policy
3. Buy Back policy
4. Images (Idealscope, ASET etc...)

Something might be more expensive if there are value added options to the purchase.

Also, do a search (upper right) for both vendors and check out the results.

I haven''t dealt with either but I''m sure someone here has.

If everything is apples to apples, I say go with the 400.00 cheaper option. Unless you can find it otherwise, I''m sure the quality of setting will be very similar. I highly doubt (but can''t confirm) that one vendor would have a 10/10 quality rating while the other vendor had a 2/10.

Good luck.
 
I haven''t purchased yet. I''m about to from Union Diamond. I''ve been dealing with Leah Cawley too. She is extremely customer oriented and helpful. She took ASET and IS pics of the diamonds I''m looking at which is huge. They can only do a maximum of two though, so make sure you find a good stone before having her bring it in for testing.
 
How do you know that it is the ''exact'' same ring? I ask because there are many times when settings appear to be similar, but are actually built to different specifications - for instance, there are four versions of a ''standard'' six prong solitaire setting and they all look pretty much the same in terms of a photograph, i.e., ultra light, light, medium, heavy (weight).

Is this a designer piece? Something with a specific sku number?

As a vendor, I always appreciate the opportunity to ''price match'' on items which are truly the same, it not only provides us with the opportunity to retain a valued customer, but also to fine tune our price structure to be globally competitive on the internet, so personally, I''d ask Union Diamond to evaluate the price discrepancy and give them the opportunity to work with you if they are your preferred vendor.
 
another reason to buy from Union Diamond, no tax...
 
thanks everyone for the advice... i am going to order with Union Diamond... I know it was the same diamond because the specs along with the GIA cert number were the same... I told UD that my budget was $7,500 and if they were not able to work with that i would have to go with Brilliance..I did a search on Price Scope and online and found some really bad reviews for Brilliance.com. the reviews ranged from bad craftsmanship to extended shipping delays .. I am still going to be paying $242 more (final price $7,500) for the ring with UD but after reading multiple reviews i feel more comfortable going through them...... i wish more people knew about this site... It has been extremely helpful.


Cold-Stone11 made one good point. UD at least sent me an ideal scope image when i asked for an ASET. The rep from brilliance said he would not send me anything because the diamond was ideal and certified by GIA.
 
glad to be of help. Good luck. :)
 
Date: 2/18/2010 1:25:00 PM
Author: farbyndrn
thanks everyone for the advice... i am going to order with Union Diamond... I know it was the same diamond because the specs along with the GIA cert number were the same... I told UD that my budget was $7,500 and if they were not able to work with that i would have to go with Brilliance..I did a search on Price Scope and online and found some really bad reviews for Brilliance.com. the reviews ranged from bad craftsmanship to extended shipping delays .. I am still going to be paying $242 more (final price $7,500) for the ring with UD but after reading multiple reviews i feel more comfortable going through them...... i wish more people knew about this site... It has been extremely helpful.


Cold-Stone11 made one good point. UD at least sent me an ideal scope image when i asked for an ASET. The rep from brilliance said he would not send me anything because the diamond was ideal and certified by GIA.
Just to clarify here concerning the info this particular rep gave you, the " Ideal" cut grade is vendor applied as there is no such GIA cut grade for round diamonds at least, nor do GIA grade fancy shapes for cut quality at this time. Furthermore, just because a diamond is graded by GIA is no guarantee of any standard of cut quality, also images are essential in order to evaluate a Princess as in your case.
 
Date: 2/18/2010 1:25:00 PM
Author: farbyndrn
thanks everyone for the advice... i am going to order with Union Diamond... I know it was the same diamond because the specs along with the GIA cert number were the same... I told UD that my budget was $7,500 and if they were not able to work with that i would have to go with Brilliance..I did a search on Price Scope and online and found some really bad reviews for Brilliance.com. the reviews ranged from bad craftsmanship to extended shipping delays .. I am still going to be paying $242 more (final price $7,500) for the ring with UD but after reading multiple reviews i feel more comfortable going through them...... i wish more people knew about this site... It has been extremely helpful.

Cold-Stone11 made one good point. UD at least sent me an ideal scope image when i asked for an ASET. The rep from brilliance said he would not send me anything because the diamond was ideal and certified by GIA.

Apparently I''m ''lost'' because I didn''t catch that this was a specific diamond being offered by two vendors, thanks for the clarification... As Lorelei has indicated, the GIA does not have an ''ideal cut'' grade - only the AGS Laboratory has an ''ideal cut'' rating. That said, it is possible to determine whether a diamond has ''ideal proportions'' as compared to the criteria set forth for the AGS ideal proportions grade - however with princess cut diamonds, there is so much more that goes into the equation because of all the variances that occur with the facet structure of this particular shape... Obviously some vendors are more willing than others to earn the business of their customers, I''m glad to see that you found one which is willing to provide the images that you requested.
 
Date: 2/18/2010 12:56:39 PM
Author: Todd Gray

How do you know that it is the ''exact'' same ring? I ask because there are many times when settings appear to be similar, but are actually built to different specifications - for instance, there are four versions of a ''standard'' six prong solitaire setting and they all look pretty much the same in terms of a photograph, i.e., ultra light, light, medium, heavy (weight).

This is a really good point that I wouldn''t have thought of. Thanks!

thanks everyone for the advice... i am going to order with Union Diamond... I know it was the same diamond because the specs along with the GIA cert number were the same... I told UD that my budget was $7,500 and if they were not able to work with that i would have to go with Brilliance..I did a search on Price Scope and online and found some really bad reviews for Brilliance.com. the reviews ranged from bad craftsmanship to extended shipping delays .. I am still going to be paying $242 more (final price $7,500) for the ring with UD but after reading multiple reviews i feel more comfortable going through them...... i wish more people knew about this site... It has been extremely helpful.


Cold-Stone11 made one good point. UD at least sent me an ideal scope image when i asked for an ASET. The rep from brilliance said he would not send me anything because the diamond was ideal and certified by GIA.

Awesome! I''m glad you found answers that helped you make a decision - Good Luck with the rest of the process
 
I had an excellent experience with Union Diamond too! I worked with Todd Neuhaus. UD has very good customer service and wokmanship!

Good Luck!
1.gif
 
I got the ring and figured i would post if anyone was curious. This is the best pictures i could take with my camera phone... sorry. I really like the ring and am getting it appraised soon by Raymond H. Mason in Scottsdale, AZ.

2010-03-05 10.02.49.jpg
 
-= )

2010-03-05 10.09.35(2).jpg
 
It looks very pretty! Is it for you, or are you popping the question soon?
 
Before I found my dream diamond, I had one from brilliance in one of their settings. It was okay, but when I inspected it I noticed there was lint between the prong and the diamond, which I did not particularly appreciate, though that in itself wasn''t a huge deal. I sent the diamond back for other reasons, but I was not at all impressed with the setting. It seemed flimsy.
 
I''m going to pop the question soon. The ring appraised for 10,250 and i purchased it for 7500. I am very happy with the quality of the ring.. there were no loose stones and the ring shines in 18k gold -= )
 
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