Updrading my e-ring, need some help with q's to ask jeweler

[sportster]

Hi there,

I have been lurking for a long time, learning as much as I can. I am ready to ask questions! I currently have a 1.12 princess SI2 G stone. It is my original stone. It has 3 rb graduated shared prong stones on sides (this was not the original setting). I was young when I got this (23) and princesses were in style and I *thought* they looked bigger than rounds. I have changed my taste in 5 years.

I want at least 1.85-2.24 carats this time. I want an optically pleasing stone. I learned on Good old Gold that you can go down on color and clarity with a perfect cut because it will have the best light performance. I also wan the biggest actual span of stone in mm (carat does not always mean much) which is why I will go down below the 2 range because I know sometimes you an get a stone that is better because it's better cut so you aren't paying for unnecessary weight.

In comes obstacles: I am using the same jeweler that we got the ring from (to use the upgrade policy of turn it in and get a stone equal or more if you are willing to pay) - it's a hometown store and I feel they are actually decent. The only problem is that they tend to not be quite as knowledgeable (I've found from lurking here) and they try their best to sell branded stones (hearts on fire, etc). I'm not getting a hearts on fire. I am just starting my quest, but tend to be somewhat impatient and want to contact them asap.I love large flashes of light and adore AVC but simply cannot afford the size I want and am not willing to wait 5-10 years.

Here are my questions:

I want to keep my setting. It has the 1.12 in it now and obviously will be putting a larger stone in. When I got this setting (used to be a simple solitair) they put a peg head which I hate but they said it had to be...? Anyway, I want these smaller rbs because I want my stone to stand out so much more. Can they remove the old peg head, cut the ring and somehow make room for a 2c stone? I checked on my exact setting and if you upgrade to a larger stone the side stones get bigger as well....it also wouldn't match my band if I did that.

I want him to be comparable to the diamond finder/blue Nile type finders on the net. I realize a lot of these dealers listed on these things are both internet and b&m. I also see a lot of the same stones listed (I ASSUME this means they don't physically have the stone and will acquire it from some magical place I don't understand). I'm afraid he will say 'well we can't keep up with the internet' (he's done this before with some of my other pieces that I eneded up getting the stone from his father (has an estate type jewelery store) and then taking the stones to my normal jeweler for his guy to set (I love the actual guy who makes the stuff!). So how do I approach this angle? I don't want to pay a premium because it's not the internet but again I need to use him because I can turn in the value of my stone and that's really the only way I can get the size I want in any foreseeable time frame. Should I print the diamonds on the diamond finder type sites and bring it?

I see the thing Jonathan from GOG uses to show diamonds. The gray tray. They don't have this. They use the fold out blue leather/velvet things. I want to be able to view all stones sitting upright in a neural display. If he doesn't have access to this can he get it or can I get one OR is this only a GOG thing?

I know they never talk about cut and I am armed with info from GOG and here. I don't want to sound arrogant or throw my printed facts in their face....any ideas about making sure they understand that I need cut to be a priority and not just the 'shape'?

Lastly- I loved my princess- I gravitate towards square/rectangular shapes. However I LOVE the sparkle of a round. I will probably have this one for a LONG time. I have considered the cushion and radiant. Can you all give me some insight to which in person is more brilliant (given the specs/cut are the same)? I am finding that the mm size of round on diamond finder seem to be bigger next are cushions then radiant (in the styles I like).

I am very anxious and nervous to even talk to them. I really thing they are going to try to charge WAY more than what diamond finder offers. Any advice?? Sorry to ramble on!

Here is my e-ring with my band. I only have one picture without the band but it has my 3 stone EC beside it so please ignore that. Ring size 6.75. Sorry- pics are not great, I used my phone!

thanks for any help!

 

[motownmama]

Re: Updrading my e-ring, need some help with q's to ask jewe

So, why aren't you using Good Old Gold?

 

[MissGotRocks]

Re: Updrading my e-ring, need some help with q's to ask jewe

Tell your jeweler that you are interested in AGS0/GIAxxx cut stones. This will help to insure that you only see well cut stones. Even for the GIAxxx stones, you might need to double check the stats to see where the stone falls in terms of ideal cut.

Having said that, you will probably find that your jeweler is not going to have competitive internet prices. You can get some idea from the toolbar at the top of the page as to what you might have to pay through an internet vendor. You might also find that even with the trade in value of your current stone that you would be better off keeping it and buying a new stone outright. I would definitely spec out some stones to show him what you can get and for what price. It might serve as a bargaining tool for you.

 

[PintoBean]

Re: Updrading my e-ring, need some help with q's to ask jewe

I personally would be nervous dealing with a vendor that I had more knowledge than. Have you reached out to other online vendors to get an idea how much they would be willing to offer for a trade in? For example,ID jewelry will let you trade in diamonds bought elsewhere, and they are very competitive in pricing. They also have a bench in the same building if any modifications have to be made to fit our new diamond into your current setting.

 

[sportster]

Re: Updrading my e-ring, need some help with q's to ask jewe

So, why aren't you using Good Old Gold?

I would LOVE to use GOG but I won't be able to afford the size I want (for a very long time). I would trade every diamond I have for a big AVC but it still wouldn't make up for it. I have acquired other diamonds I wear on my left hand that are just as big as my e-ring and I want a bigger diamond for my e-ring.

impatient, I know.

 

[sportster]

Re: Updrading my e-ring, need some help with q's to ask jewe

Tell your jeweler that you are interested in AGS0/GIAxxx cut stones. This will help to insure that you only see well cut stones. Even for the GIAxxx stones, you might need to double check the stats to see where the stone falls in terms of ideal cut.

Having said that, you will probably find that your jeweler is not going to have competitive internet prices. You can get some idea from the toolbar at the top of the page as to what you might have to pay through an internet vendor. You might also find that even with the trade in value of your current stone that you would be better off keeping it and buying a new stone outright. I would definitely spec out some stones to show him what you can get and for what price. It might serve as a bargaining tool for you.

Thank you for the exact way to ask about cut!

Do most PSers get their stones from the internet (using the diamond finder/ upper tool bar) or do they go to B&M stores? Why not pay less from ones on the net if they have good specs.

Yes, the other idea was to keep my current diamond and get a new one if the jeweler cannot offer near what the various internet dealers do.

 

[sportster]

Re: Updrading my e-ring, need some help with q's to ask jewe

No I haven't looked at other vendors. I was assuming no one would give me near what I paid for it. I will check out the one you mentioned. Thanks!

 

[Alexiszoe]

Re: Updrading my e-ring, need some help with q's to ask jewe

How about working with Mark or Chris at EngagementRingsDirect (ERD)? They are well known for cushions, and it's possible they can pick out some beauties with characteristics similar to the AVC. Diamond prices have risen a lot in the last few years, so trading it in to your jeweler might not make sense and you might be taking a huge loss. You could ask ERD if they are willing to take it as a trade, or selling the diamond to them or some of the vendors here: Perry and ID Jewelry comes to mind.

 

[SB621]

Re: Updrading my e-ring, need some help with q's to ask jewe

Honestly I would try trading in your diamond to a PS vendor or selling it on LT or DB and buying what you want online. I think that is the only way you will be happy.

 

[TC1987]

Re: Updrading my e-ring, need some help with q's to ask jewe

Yes, they could put a different head in the and make a bigger stone fit. A "tulip head" like Stuller Item #: 20182:141096:S (4 prong) or the 6-prong version would work. If they need more width side-to-side, they can cut out that bar and solder a wider one in to get enough spread for a larger diamond.
Round 6-Prong Tulip Style Peg Setting
Item #: 314:166:S

There are other heads that could be used, but I showed those as an example because they are narrow at the base where the peg is, and then they flare out wider at the top. So, they fit a typical peg-head shank and allow for about a 2ct RB to fit without other modifications, in most cases.

 

[sportster]

Re: Updrading my e-ring, need some help with q's to ask jewe

Yes, they could put a different head in the and make a bigger stone fit. A "tulip head" like Stuller Item #: 20182:141096:S (4 prong) or the 6-prong version would work. If they need more width side-to-side, they can cut out that bar and solder a wider one in to get enough spread for a larger diamond.
Round 6-Prong Tulip Style Peg Setting
Item #: 314:166:S

There are other heads that could be used, but I showed those as an example because they are narrow at the base where the peg is, and then they flare out wider at the top. So, they fit a typical peg-head shank and allow for about a 2ct RB to fit without other modifications, in most cases.

Thank you so much for this! This setting is from Unique Settings of New York but I have 3 different other rings with setting from Stuller (not e-rings)