Well, you are in the same crux that I was in until today.
I started to look into purchasing an engagement ring for my fiance back in May. I came across "pricescope" early on, and this proved to be invaluable advice. I spent many days getting informed on simply what constitutes a good diamond. Secondly, I came across GoodOldGold and from the start I was inclined to purchasing the ring from Jonathon and GoodOldGold.
From the beginning, I, myself, was set on a round cut solitaire set in a "Tiffany-6-Prong" type of setting. Fortunately and UNFORTUNATELY, I decided to take my fiance with me to look at different rings from different retailers in the area. While we were out in Southern Cal, we dropped by a Tiffanys out there and immediately she was sold on the Lucida. She really liked the contemporary and unique yet classic touch of the "Lucida."
A few weeks later in early-July, we went to see the Lucida again at a Tiffanys back here in Tyson's Corner. It was a 0.82ct/E or F/VS2 which retailed at approximately $8.4K or so. At that point, I thought I had to caugh it up and buy from Tiffanys since I thought they were the only ones to sell the Lucida. Fortunately, I did some follow up research and found a number of posts from pricescope on the Lucida and realized I could essentially get a "Lucida-like" by combining a Lucere with the Vatche X-Prong.
I quickly found out, and you will too, that the easy part is nailing down the setting, since the Vatche X-Prong is essentially the Lucida setting. A number of vendors sell it and that was/is not the problem; instead, the problem was/is getting the Lucere.
I took the information from pricescope and the first 2 online retailers I contacted in early-July were GoodOldGold and Whiteflash. Since both my fiance and I are reasonable consumers, we both agreed that the diamond would not have to be "perfect," but just a darn good diamond that any normal person would find beautiful.
I told them my specifications: a 0.75ct to 0.90ct Lucere F/G/H/I and "Eyeclean" SI2 or better. Most importantly, I mentioned that I wanted to get the best cut quality I could for $3.0 to $4.0K. In a few days, Christen from GoodOldGold responded with a Flanders cut. Unfortunately, that was a little out of my price range; more importantly, although the Vatche X-Prong can take a lot of different square cuts (i.e. Flanders, Square Emerald, Spring), my fiance was simply sold on the Lucere and preferred it everything else.
In the meantime, I contacted Whiteflash, and spoke to Ramona, and specified the same parameters. She said she would look into it, and it turns out that Whiteflash no longer carries the Lucere. A few weeks later, Christen followed up with me with a round cut and sent an attachment of a round set in a Vatche X. I thought it was very very nice, but my fiance again was more inclined to the Lucere. Although she would be ok with a round, I knew she had her heart set on the Lucere.
I didn't hear from GoodOldGold for a few weeks thereafter, and eventually a week ago, I emailed CutbyGauge, the "manufacturers" of the Lucere, and they took down my contact information and said a authorized distributor would get hold of me. I found them to be a little "stuffy" and not the most pleasant people to speak with, and most of all, no one ever followed up with me.
I pretty much gave up at this point and was going to settle for a round when Christen and Jonathon from GoodOldGold gave me a call yesterday to inform me that they might have a Lucere that fit my parameters. I checked it out, and it fit the bill--a Lucere 0.81ct G SI2. Best of all, it was in my price range (I'm sorry, but I do not feel comfortable disclosing the exact price). I found Jonathon to be incredibly down to earth and I was very satisfied with our conversation. I told him to give me a day to think about it and this morning I finalized the purchase.
So that's it, after about 2 months or so, I got what I wanted, but I have to tell you that it was an experience. In short, now that Whiteflash no longer carries the Lucere, other than Jonathon at GoodOldGold, I don't know of any other on-line retailers selling the Lucere.
All in all, although I know that I could've gotten a better "bang for the buck" with a round, I'm very happy because I got my fiance what she wanted. I even told her that the Lucere is not the "best-buy-for-the-money." In particular, the light retention from the firescope and light return from the brilliantscope simply don't measure up with most rounds I was looking at. Still, that's what she wanted and at the end of the day, it is her ring.
My advice would be--if you simply have to have the Lucere--is to give yourself a few months or at least 2 and give Jonathon a heads up.
Once I get the ring, I'll try to post it on the forum.
Best of Luck!
Fallschurchva
