Verragio Warranty

[diamondseeker2006]

It is probably the norm for a designer setting to be ordered from the manufacturer in the exact ring size and with the correct head size for the stone. You already know, I think, that the Sister''s setting has a head for around a 1 carat stone, right? So the only issue is possibly sizing it. I think if I were you, I''d call them tomorrow and ask specifically what size their ring is and if it will work to size it to a 5 or should it be ordered in her size. I''d want to make sure that sizing the ring wouldn''t cause problems with the side diamonds. The other question I''d ask is if there is more than one style wedding ring that goes with that e-ring. Sometimes you may be able to choose between a half or full eternity, for example. That means diamonds halfway around the band or all the way around the band. If it would be better to order them both, then I''d do that. But it obviously is going to raise your budget some because we were only allowing $2000 for the e-ring and we weren''t including the wedding ring in the $8000.

Let me say, though, that is a very beautiful ring. It is good you found a discount source because it would really be too high otherwise!

As far as the diamond goes, it is pretty common for the diamond vendor to send the diamond directly to the setting vendor to have it set for you, unless you want the diamond sent to you to look at beforehand. I don''t see much of an issue if you go with an ideal cut F VS1, so you''d be pretty safe sending it on to be set. But I''d still ask for pictures to be sure you are happy with the size of the .91 as opposed to the 1 ct.

 

[MikeM]

BTW, here''s a picture of the wedding band. I got this from the bruchure on Verragio''s site.

Also, I did kind of figure in the cost of the band before (I assumed for some reason that it would cost around $2000), I probably should have mentioned that earlier. Actually, from the begining, I was kind of hoping to keep the price of the whole package: wedding band, setting, diamond to under $10,000. Although, maybe this is a little too much to spend on all of this.

 

[JulieN]

you can definitely stay in budget.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=860699
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=860807
Get idealscopes, of course.

 

[MikeM]

JulieN:
Wow! Thanks.

Also, I was wondering if anyone can help me with another problem. When I use HCA, which specs should I use? I noticed for example, on Good Old Gold's website, that the specs for a particular diamond they list were slightly different than the ones in the Sarin report (screen shot).

For example:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2131
________GOG_____Sarin
Depth:__62.10%__62.07%
Table:__56.41%__56.3%

 

[JulieN]

They''re very close, you could use any. The measurements depend on the calibration of the machines.

 

[MikeM]

Date: 6/1/2006 4:45:48 PM
Author: pebbles
Hi Mike!


You''re quoting of the previous posts is little confusing!

Ok, so if I understand you correctly, you have a budget of $6,000 for the stone, since the setting is about $2,000, and you want to get as close to 1ct as possible and have a completely eye clean stone, from the top and sides....AND you also want it to be close in color to the G side stones.


What about this one from Good Old Gold?


http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/1810/


It is a D color (can''t get any better than that!) so there will be no problem with the color difference of the G sides -- in fact, the smaller G''s will look even whiter b/c they are small.


On the GOG site, it says ''inclusions are white and scattered, the stone is totally eye clean''. The bank wire price is $5,745.90. It may be worth checking out!

pebbles:
I''m sorry about the quotes.

That sounds like a good summary. However, I really don''t know much about diamonds, so anything you suggest is far better than what I could choose on my own.

Thanks for picking out another diamond for me.

I was thinking of taking all of the diamonds everyone has suggested, and putting them into an Excel spreadsheet, so I could sort it according to different parameters, and see how all of the diamonds compare. Could I post it here?

 

[JulieN]

I think links to each stone you''re considering would work fine.

 

[MikeM]

I'm sorry to ask the obvious, but I was wondering if someone could tell me if the item circled in red means that it's an AGS0.

BTW, I cut and pasted this from Good Old Gold's website.

Thanks in advance.

 

[JulieN]

That stone was submitted to GIA. What GOG is saying is that if it had been submitted to AGS, it would have gotten a 0 grade.

At least, that's the way I understand it.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I still think the F VS1 stone is preferable than that one. If you want to go down in clarity, then go to the G SI1 and go up to a carat.

 

[pebbles]

Date: 6/2/2006 7:18:19 AM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I still think the F VS1 stone is preferable than that one. If you want to go down in clarity, then go to the G SI1 and go up to a carat.

What JulieN said is right -- that 0.91ct D from GOG means that if it was submitted to AGS it would have gotten an ideal grade for cut.

I really like this G, SI1 that DiamondSeeker linked earlier. Ask GOG themselves if the stone is eye clean from the sides. That was a big thing for me as well since I could see the sides in my setting too. That G would be my first choice, then the F, VS2.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I pretty much agree with Pebbles. Get Jon to have them to take a picture or two of the F VS1 and the G SI1 so you can see the difference in size, and get confirmation about the total eye-cleaness of the G SI1. Ask them which has better visual performance, too.

 

[MikeM]

pebbles & diamondseeker2006:

Thanks a lot for your help.

I'm sorry, just to double check, was the second diamond both of you were talking about the one recommended by diamondseeker2006 or JulieN? Here are the three I have, that I believe both of you mentioned:

I'll give Good Old Gold a call right now, and ask them the questions both of you mentioned. I'll also ask them to hold both of them, if they can, so I can hear both of your responses on what they tell me.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/1445/
Recommended by: diamondseeker2006
Size: 1.03
AGS Cut Grade: 0
Color: G
Clarity: SI1
HCA: 1.1
Light Return: Excellent
Fire: Excellent
Scintillaion: Excellent
Spread: Very Good

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2011/
Recommended by: diamondseeker2006
Size: 0.92
AGS Cut Grade: 0
Color: F
Clarity: VS1
HCA: 1.9
Light: VG
Fire VG
Scint: VG
Spread: VG

I'm almost positive that this isn't the one both of you were talking about since you did say to have GOG do an eye comparison, but just to be absolutely certain...:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=860699
Recommended by: JulieN
Size: 0.91
AGS Cut Grade: Excellent (According to GIA report)
Color: F
Clarity: VS2
HCA: 2.2
Light: VG
Fire: VG
Scint: VG
Spread: VG


diamondseeker2006:

I wrote the e-mail you suggested to Sisters last night:

Hello,

I was just wondering, is the head on the EUR-8015 that you have made for a 1 ct. stone?

Also, could you tell me what size finger the setting you have is made for?

Thank you in advance.

Mike


The hade made to accommodate from .75ct to 1.25ct diamond.

Mounting that I have in stock finger size 5.5, but it can be adjusted.

I am working on diamond for you.

Peter

 

[MikeM]

Peter from Sisters sent me the GIA cert. Along with the following message:

Here one of many diamonds I have in our inventory

 

[JulieN]

41.4 is a no.. 41.2 wouldn''t be so bad.

 

[MikeM]

Thanks, JulieN, maybe I''ll send him an e-mail and ask him if he has anything else.

 

[MikeM]

I sent an e-mail to Good Old Gold asking about the G SI1 and the F VS1.

Do you think it''s ok if I post my e-mail exchanges here?

In the e-mail before this one, that they sent to me, they seemed a little concerned that I had put two diamonds on hold.
-------------------------------------------
Hello,

Could I hold both of them for just a few hours?

I''d like to ask Jon if he could take a picture or two of the F VS1 and the G SI1 so I can see the difference in size.

I’d also like to get a confirmation about the total eye-cleanness of the G SI1.

If possible, I’d like him to look at both of them and tell me which has better visual performance, too.

Finally, if it’s not too much trouble, could he look at both of them and tell me if the stones are eye clean from the sides?

Thank you in advance.

Mike

------------------------------------------------------

Hi Mike

Of course we can hold both for a few hours.

How about till tomorrow morning 10:00am.

I took a look at the 1.034ct G SI1 and it is an Awesome SI1!

It’s even eye clean from the side view.

I’ll have Jon take a picture of the two next to each other and talk to you about the visual performance.

Thank you

Christen

 

[MikeM]

I moved them a little closer together using Photoshop. The original picture was slightly twisted, so I rotated it by 0.7 degrees before I slid them closer.

Here''s the e-mail I got from Jon at Good Old Gold:

Hi Mike,

Attached is a shot of the 2 side by side. The .918ct is on the left and the 1.03ct on the right. Both are very beautiful stones.

Kind regards,

Jon

 

[pebbles]

Well Mike, I guess the question is - what do you think?

I personally don''t see much difference between the two. For me there is something mental about having a 1ct stone; for your girlfriend there may not be; in that case save the $ and go for the smaller one.

However, a G, SI1 combo is a great find...and if GOG says it''s eye clean from the side, that''s the one I would go with.

 

[MikeM]

Just for fun, I also superimposed them. I lined them up on the top and the left the best I could, so that the overhang on the bottom and the right is visible.

Also, I put the larger one on top, and set it''s opacity at 30%.

Hope this helps.

Thanks in advance for any comments.

 

[MikeM]

pebbles,

Thanks. I was surprised how similiar in size they both look. Do you think that they would look even more similiar once they''re mounted?

It is a hard decision, the bank wire prices are very close:

$5800 for the 1.034 ct. G SI1 Round H&A
$6072 for the 0.918 ct. F VS1 Round H&A

My girlfriend is on her way over. I''ll let her take a look, and maybe she can help me.

Also, do you know if Good Old Gold gives a "pricescope discount"? I know WhiteFlash does.

 

[pebbles]

Shoot, for the price I would definitely take the G, SI1! Once mounted I would bet you really couldn''t tell the difference.

For some reason I thought the 0.918 F cost less, so that''s why I originally said save some money and go for the 0.918. I was wrong!

I think the only "discount" GOG gives is the bank wire one, but I would call and double check with them.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh, I just love these diamond comparison pictures! It helps me so much to see the size difference! There is very little difference. Like Pebbles, I agree there is a mental advantage, and slight visual, of having a 1 ct. stone. Plus they say it is a great SI1. Yet an F VS1 is certainly a very fine stone, and some people would prefer slightly smaller and higher quality. So basically, I think they are both excellent choices for your beautiful setting, and you really can't go wrong! Let your girlfriend give her input and I think you'll have a good decision! (I think I would choose the G SI1l).

Oh, and yes, they give a wire discount only.

P.S. That is not a good diamond at all that Sister's sent you. It is not in the same class as one of these.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

One more thing. It sounds like Sisters will be setting the stone themselves since they have the setting in stock. I imagine that is okay, but I would clarify with them that they will stand by their work if there are any loose stones, or whatever. That''s good that the ring in stock is only a half size difference. (Hey, it''s actually MY size...just send it to me!!!)

 

[MikeM]

pebbles & diamondseeker2006:

My girlfriend is here, and I think that she likes the 1 ct. too (GOG will hold them until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow).

Peter at Sisters said that I could choose whether I want them to set it or Verragio. However, I was thinking that maybe I should let Verragio set and size it, because according to Lindsay at Verragio (see below), the Verragio warranty would be voided if anyone else works on the ring.

Or do you think that would be pushing it with the July 29th wedding date (even if I buy the diamond tomorrow)?

Thanks again for all of your help.

P.S. I''ll check back in 2 - 3 hours, but I''ll be gone most of the day tomorrow.

============================
Lindsay,

Thank you very much for you help. However, I''m not sure if my whole message went through -- it was kind of long -- sorry:

Finally, although the tension set diamonds in most Verragio rings look very beautiful, they also look very precarious; under the Verragio lifetime warranty, will Verragio replace or reset a diamond (including the center stone) if it is accidentally knocked loose from the setting?

Also, do you think that it would be appropriate to ask my jewler to have my center stone set by Verragio? Would Verragio charge them for this service?

Thank you in advance,

Mike

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

It would depend on what the cause of the loose stone was. I always suggest that we set the center stone in house here, for the simple reason that we guarantee all work done in house. When someone else, even if they are an authorized dealer of ours, does work to your ring, whether it be sizing, setting, etc, we cannot cover any damage that may be caused as a result. If we, in fact, set your stone, did all the work on it period, and it was never touched by another jewelers besides our own in house here, we would in fact, cover the damages.
Lindsay A Conrath
Director of Marketing/Business Development
VERRAGIO

 

[jetmal]

if you end up sending the diamond to Verragio to be set....first make sure you really get to know your stone. Get a loupe, look under a scope, everything you can. Find a unique characteristic on your diamond so that you''ll bne able to identify it when it comes back to you, just to be certain it is indeed the same stone. I''m not saying that Verragio would swap it out, but its good to cover all your bases and protect yourself.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I would want a very firm timeline from Verragio before I decided. If they want to keep it for 6 weeks, then I''d forget it. If they can turn it around in a week, then fine. I would think that your fiance would want to enjoy wearing her engagement ring for a few weeks before the wedding! I wouldn''t worry too much about losing stones...that''s really what insurance is for!

I think the 1 ct. G is a great choice. Let us know what happens! I can''t wait to see the finished rings..please remember to come back and post pictures! There aren''t too many Verragio''s on here, so it will be a treat to see them!

 

[jetmal]

"I wouldn''t worry too much about losing stones...that''s really what insurance is for!"

you are soo correct diamondseeker....but with all the hard work this man has put into finding "the" perfect stone......yikes....I haven''t heard alot about losing stones...but I have heard about swapping them out....so I was just trying to encourage him to get to know his stone...the one that he invested alot of time and thought into.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 6/2/2006 11:36:10 PM
Author: jetmal
''I wouldn''t worry too much about losing stones...that''s really what insurance is for!''

you are soo correct diamondseeker....but with all the hard work this man has put into finding ''the'' perfect stone......yikes....I haven''t heard alot about losing stones...but I have heard about swapping them out....so I was just trying to encourage him to get to know his stone...the one that he invested alot of time and thought into.

Oh, yes, I wasn''t referring to what you were talking about at all. I just meant he didn''t need to worry so much about the Verragio warranty. He should check his stone regardless of who sets it. Of course, the smartest thing to do probably is have GOG send the diamond to Sister''s or Verragio for it to be set, and then let it go back to GOG to be checked and then have it sent to him. Some vendors will do it this way..you''d just have to ask.

The worst thing that may happen is to lose one of the tiny melee in the ring, and in that case, it probably would be less expensive to replace it locally when you consider the expense and inconvenience of sending it away to have it done under warranty.

 

[MikeM]

I''m back. I''m sorry I hope my last post wasn''t too abrupt -- we left in kind of a hurry.