What to do? Setting perfect, center stone is terrible

[diamondseeker2006]

Several of you have asked about my budget. My original (and preferred) budget was about $4500-5000. But I could go as high as $7.5k out the door if I must...

My gf is very picky. So what i'll likely do is take the Fay Cullen pics to the best jeweler in town and have him manufacture it. Then I'll buy the biggest rock I can within my budget and have him center it.

Noooo! Oh my goodness, you never have a setting custom made before you have the diamond! And you never, ever just go to the "best jeweler in town" and assume they specialize in creating custom antique settings! FEW do a good job!

I haven't read back through this thread, but I am going to say something I have already probably said. Let us help you find a diamond FIRST. An OEC would be good. THEN, you get a quote from David Klass who is reasonable in cost and does a really great job of recreating settings from pictures.

 

[vladib2b]

Noooo! Oh my goodness, you never have a setting custom made before you have the diamond! And you never, ever just go to the "best jeweler in town" and assume they specialize in creating custom antique settings! FEW do a good job!

I haven't read back through this thread, but I am going to say something I have already probably said. Let us help you find a diamond FIRST. An OEC would be good. THEN, you get a quote from David Klass who is reasonable in cost and does a really great job of recreating settings from pictures.

Ok, so in terms of finding a diamond first, I think that's great advice. I think I'd rather go to a J diamond. Which one of these would you buy given the parameters? Keep in mind that I'd rather get the biggest rock I can, best cut possible, eye clean (I only care about what the naked eye can see) and one that looks as colorless as possible. Oh, and if I can, save money!

 

[rockysalamander]

#1. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...k-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3287821 {K gets you a bit more size but a VS2!}

#2. https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3240251

PUT THESE ONLY HOLD AND ASK FOR AN IS. Save 3rd request in case someone finds a better stone.

 

[foxinsox]

Ok, so in terms of finding a diamond first, I think that's great advice. I think I'd rather go to a J diamond. Which one of these would you buy given the parameters? Keep in mind that I'd rather get the biggest rock I can, best cut possible, eye clean (I only care about what the naked eye can see) and one that looks as colorless as possible. Oh, and if I can, save money!

If your girl loves antique cuts, I wouldn't buy any of those.
Assuming your budget tops out around $6k judging by the limits you set on JA, you have quite a few options:
From Ivy and Rose this I VS2 1.5ct , this 1.40ct I SI1 Old Mine/Old European, or this 1.5ct I SI1 OEC (LOVE the faceting on this one). They also have a number of rather nice settings.
I would also look at this 1.15ct J VS2 beauty from LoveAffair Diamonds.
You have quite a few really really pretty options at Jewels by Grace - some warmer than you've indicated as preferring but the facetting () - 1.09 M VS2, 1.04 I VS1, 1.43 KSI1, 1.06 H SI1
I'd put it in the Beverly K setting linked earlier that is basically exactly the original setting except made by a reputable vendor. Or I'd get David Klass to give you a quote.
I would not ever go to a local jeweller who doesn't specialise in antique styles and hope he could get it right.

 

[arkieb1]

I've got another suggestion phone Adam at Old World Diamonds show him a picture of that setting you liked and ask if he has anything original laying around that could be polished up to look like new like it and if not how much it would cost for him to make it for you. He also has a huge selection of decent OECs and has access to modern cut diamonds as well.

Phone him don't email him as they don't respond well to emails, unless you have spoken to them on the phone first. Tell him your budget that you want eye clean nice and sparkly and as big as possible. Link;

http://www.oldworlddiamonds.com/contact.php

Let him give you a few options.

 

[vladib2b]

Everyone keeps telling me to go to David Klass, but when I go to his website, it leads me nowhere:

www.davidklassjewelry.com

 

[rockysalamander]

Everyone keeps telling me to go to David Klass, but when I go to his website, it leads me nowhere:

www.davidklassjewelry.com

You have to message him via Facebook or email him on his AOL. Best is to actually call him. [email protected] and (213) 489-4569

 

[Jenniferngeorg]

Okay guys, I know I am late to the game on this one but.... My fiance ordered a ring for me from Ashton Taylor diamonds. Prepare yourselves. This was one hell of an experience.
So we nailed it down to one of two rings from Ashton. He said, in writing, they would have the same quality, eye clean, 2ct center stone. Fiance buys a ring, Ashton sends us oddly blurry pictures of the stone in process of being set in the ring. Fiance gets it, looks at it, tells me it's beautiful, puts it away, I never see it. A year later he proposes.

Now... There is a DAMN good reason that Ashton sent those misleading pictures of the stone, it is GARBAGE. A clear shot in daylight, like the one attached that I took at my desk with my cell phone shows not only a ridiculous dark cloud but dozens of visible inclusions. You can't even see the facets of the stone behind them.

I email Ashton he is extremely apologetic, wants to make it right, etc. He tells me that as part of the warranty he will take the ring back and would have the stone clarity enhanced, it takes 8 weeks or so. He told me he would reset the ring with a moissy and send it back as a place holder. Off the ring goes.

Week 8, 9, 10, 11, no word from him. I start sending emails with an attorney of mine who is licensed in VA on them as she starts figuring out the best way of me handling it. I tell him that I do not want that garbage stone that is so far removed from what he assured me we were buying back. His website says he has a 'no hassle, no questions asked money back guaranty', I want a clean 2ct stone set in my ring asap. Weeks 12, 13, 14, back and forth about how he will send it back with a different stone as soon as mine comes back from wherever he gets them enhanced at.

Week 15, I tell him that I want an immediate refund or I will pursue other avenues to recoup our money. Suddenly I will have it in a few days.

Shock of all shocks, it comes back and it's beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

But seriously, do not send that man $1,000 let alone $6000.

This whole experience made me lose sleep from the stress

If anyone is interested in more details, feel free to reach out to me!

**edited by moderator, please attach pics without contact info**

 

[cmd2014]

@Jenniferngeorg,

Do you know what you got back? Is it a clarity enhanced stone? A moissenite? Something else? Are you ok with accepting this from this vendor instead of insisting on a full refund? (I have to admit, I think I would have pushed for a full refund given the ring that you were provided and the 'solutions' that were being offered).

 

[lovedogs]

@Jenniferngeorg,

Do you know what you got back? Is it a clarity enhanced stone? A moissenite? Something else? Are you ok with accepting this from this vendor instead of insisting on a full refund? (I have to admit, I think I would have pushed for a full refund given the ring that you were provided and the 'solutions' that were being offered).

Clarity enhanced stones are a nightmare. And now do you know it's actually clarity enhanced vs a moissanite? I would never ever accept this

 

[KKJohnson]

You paid 6k...I would have asked for my money back especially when he said he would have it clarity enhanced. While it is pretty, it is also now very fragile

 

[lovedogs]

You paid 6k...I would have asked for my money back especially when he said he would have it clarity enhanced. While it is pretty, it is also now very fragile

And that it will likely "undo" over time. The clarity enhancement isn't stable at all except for like 1 company (which I almost guarantee that this company didn't use, since they seem super shady).

 

[distracts]

@Jenniferngeorg PLEASE take your ring to an independent appraiser to confirm what you have is actually a diamond and whether or not it is clarity enhanced and to what extent. If it IS clarity enhanced, please read up on the care you need to take of them.

 

[Dancing Fire]

$6K for a clarity enhanced stone? ... ask for a refund!

 

[tyty333]

Nobody should buy a ring and put it away for a year before proposing. The ring/stone needs to be evaluated by all parties within the return period
so if something is wrong it can be returned.

I agree with others. You need to go to a real appraiser (not associated with a jewelry store) and have them figure out what you have and how to
take care of it (or have the jeweler replace it).
https://www.pricescope.com/appraisers

Edit...FWIW The reason the poster decided to tack on to this thread is that someone made recommendations
for stones/rings from the same person/business with which she is having problems.

 

[arkieb1]

A clarity enhanced stone that size or a I1 should have cost no more than $2000USD new, that's the issue here, return it if you can and run do not walk away.