What to buy..... terrible 1st post I know.....

[manning]

Well I've been shopping the last few days and trying to decide what to do, Not sure if this is the right place to post or to be asking these questions... but I've been searching and lurking on the forum now for a week, and have questions and I figure you guys will be able to shed some light.. at least more than the sales people...

I'll give you a quick rundown:

Monday the girlfriend and I went to the local crappy mall to look at rings, I don't want to just make a decision without her, because she's going to be wearing this thing for a while..

We decided that she likes pave/halo type settings, the 1st ring we found that we could actually agree on was this...

We really like how it's a lower type setting and enjoy the pave.

After searching on here and talking to the dealer we saw the ring @ I decided I don't want to buy a ring that I could not pick my own diamond. So I've moved on from the Ritani.

Searched all over today at the mall here in Raleigh, and Found a nice setting I liked that I COULD pick the diamond.

So we come to this, an A.Jaffe Setting.

I really like this setting, and as explained to me, the diamond will look a lot better because it's a short prong vs the bezel cut like the Ritani, (let it be known, I don't like huge prongs that you can see really)

Looked at this one @ a Jared in town, with a price of about $1499

Then spend some time and picked a nice diamond that I liked @ the price of $5100, It was a "Very good/Excellent" Cut, Vs1, and G color @ 1.01carat. She kept raving about how this was a good deal. After looking at Bluenile.com (friend recommended it) It seems like It could be. I want to say it was IGA certified?

After everything said and done I came to about $7200 after having A.Jaffe Mount It and the metal plan and such..

NOW.. comes more questions..

My parents next door neighbor, is a Jeweler (small independent) custom only type guy who is more artsy..

My little brother had him do his ring and was very pleased. I'm going to talk to him tomorrow about doing a custom type ring, is this something I even want to get into? Am I going to be spending a lot more?

I know this is a lot, and very jumbled, but I'd appreciate any help

THANKS Guys and Gals!

 

[Regular Guy]

sorry...didn't know you were coming back...

but typically, questions are free...

 

[Gypsy]

You''re pics aren''t showing up.

 

[manning]

delete this post please, I fixed the 1st one

 

[manning]

again, please delete, I fixed the first Post.

 

[Gypsy]

Well...

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/a-jaffe-jewelry/rings/26II1/6/ Same setting for less.


http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3002/ $5840 wire price OR http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/br1038gsi1/ $6,156 wire price

And that for an Ideal Cut AGS certified Hearts and Arrows cut G diamond.

To me, that''s a MUCH better deal. IGI is pardon me, not worth the paper it''s written on-- color, clarity, cut grades could all be loose. You could easily be buying what at AGS would rate an H or I in color and an average cut quality.

What I just posted? That''s the best deal. CUT is the most important of the FOUR C''s, and and AGS000 is the best of the best in terms of cut.

 

[manning]

Gypsy, Thanks for the reply..

Now I'll ask some more stuff, not sure if this is appropriate for PS forums or not.. sorry not sure if you guys discuss the "program benefits" or such of the different stores..

But as explained today at Jared and such, If you have them do it all, you get a warranty on all the diamonds and setting and all that for the life of the ring, is it worth paying a little more to get it all at one place to do it like that?

also what about financing on a "dual" person purchase?

 

[neatfreak]

Manning,

Whatever the local store told you about not being able to pick your diamond with the Ritani was BS. You can most certainly pick your stones with Ritani settings, I did, as did many many other PSers. So if she loves the Ritani, get her that one. I LOOOOOVE mine, it''s so much more dainty and delicate than the Jaffe.

 

[manning]

Neatfreak,

The one thing we decided we did not like about the Ritani was that it was bezel cut and thus we were told the diamond wouldn''t look as "brilliant"
as if it was in a prong type setting, and after looking at a Ritani Solitare we sort of agreed. Also after reading this forum, it really seems to me like it''s up in the air on the "your own diamond" in a Ritani setting.......

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 9/5/2007 12:46:31 AM
Author: manning
Neatfreak,


The one thing we decided we did not like about the Ritani was that it was bezel cut and thus we were told the diamond wouldn''t look as ''brilliant''

as if it was in a prong type setting, and after looking at a Ritani Solitare we sort of agreed. Also after reading this forum, it really seems to me like it''s up in the air on the ''your own diamond'' in a Ritani setting.......

It''s not up in the air. Ritani will set ANY diamond you''d like, but some stores don''t want to do it because they want to sell you their stones. Historically, Ritani wouldn''t always do it (thus the older posts saying they won''t). But we''re talking a few years ago now. Now they do.

Of course it is a personal choice, but the consensus around here is that a bezel setting won''t impede the sparkle factor of an ideally cut stone. A crappy stone, maybe...so I would pick the one she likes best regardless of what the salespeople at the "maul" tell you guys. There is a reason those stores are crappy...

But I think she''ll love whatever you pick out for her! So nice of you to do so much research for her.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 9/5/2007 12:41:35 AM
Author: manning
Gypsy, Thanks for the reply..

Now I''ll ask some more stuff, not sure if this is appropriate for PS forums or not.. sorry not sure if you guys discuss the ''program benefits'' or such of the different stores..

But as explained today at Jared and such, If you have them do it all, you get a warranty on all the diamonds and setting and all that for the life of the ring, is it worth paying a little more to get it all at one place to do it like that?

also what about financing on a ''dual'' person purchase?

Oh dear. PLEASE do a search for other''s experiences and EXTREME regrets about Jared''s and their ''services.'' More loop holes than a lawyer''s pre-nup.

It sounds great, but isn''t worth anymore than that IGI cert.

As for financing... you''d have to speak to the vendors about that.

I would at least try to do the setting cash, and just finance (if it''s offered at GOG) the stone. If not, Pearlmans also offers AGS 000 certed rounds and can certainly find you a lovely 1 carat eyeclean G SI1-- and I know they finance.

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/information/jewelry-financing/


And you could ask Pearlmans what their ''services'' are. I''m sure they''d be happy to tell you. Bill''s probably backed up on emails, so I''d call.

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/information/contact-pearlmans-jewelers/

 

[manning]

Neatfeak,

Thanks for the reply! All the posts I was reading were defiantly from about 2005, so what your saying today makes sense...

The Ritani wasn''t really a "CHOICE" but more of a ok, I like Pave and Shorter settings, all said and done, I was originaly planning on doing somthing custom because really I cant find exactly what I think I want to buy yet....

One of the big questions I guess I have as well is, if there is any way to do financing while buying my diamond and setting from different places, or though a custom person, I''m good for the money, just not in Cash

Thanks alot guys and gals!

 

[manning]

Gypsy,

Thanks for that vote of confidance I come from a very "support small shop" mentality and could NOT deal with buying somthing from Jared! You just proved me right again.

Pearlmans is in MI, so It's only an 8hr drive to my Grandmothers then up the road 1hr so that might work out!

Any susgestions on doing a "custom" ring or such?


Thanks!

 

[neatfreak]

Well, most PS vendors don't do financing. I WOULD however check with Pearlmans, who carries a large selection of settings and diamonds and does have financing.

Most places that do financing will allow you to finance whatever you want, regardless of what it is. But then again, most reliable custom places don't do financing. So that might be an issue if the place you choose to make your custom setting doesn't finance.

If you have great credit your bank might be able to extend you a personal loan, but really because of the finance charges I wouldn't do it personally. Your other option is to apply for a CC with 0% interest for a year, and then pay off the ring in that time.

I wouldn't recommend financing at all however and will now be the broken record here and say that luxury purchases shouldn't be made on credit and you should save the cash for it instead...ok I am done now with that.

 

[manning]

Paying it off in a year should be NO problem, In fact I would probably pay the ring off with my end of year bonus, just between the housing improvements and such, I don''t have that much liquid cash that I can get quick w/o penalty at the moment

I do agree about the luxury items on credit, however It would be nice for this purchase.


Time took look into options!

Thanks again! this is helping so much.

 

[Gypsy]

That vendor has very pretty pictures. But custom may cost you more-- in fact it probably will, doesn''t hurt to ask of course. That A jaffe setting is very well priced.