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wehberb

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 17, 2009
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Well after a long time searching these great forums I have decided to go ahead and purchase a diamond for an e-ring. I have narrowed it down to two stones. First I know the color is a little low for some of you but my girlfriend and I decided that we actually don''t mind the warmth of the J color. We also wanted to go with a stone ~1.5 ct (important) and that grade can get us there. I have James Allen getting me a report and idealscope (I know it''s not real great for a fancy shape) just to give me any additional information because it is a big purchase, they also put them on hold (which was nice). I will be purchasing a setting at a local jewler because honestly I havn''t seen anything like it anywhere else. I honestly like the photo on JA''s site of the 1.49, but let me know what everyone else thinks. I was also wondering if anyone knew how long it takes to get a stone set? I wish I didn''t have to rush to have it set but I am trying to aim for a Sept. 3rd pickup of the completed ring (her birthday). The jewler said 10 days but I was wondering because they send it out to get done. If I picked up the setting and had the stone and gave it to another local jewler to have set would it take shorter? Otherwise do you think I should just get the JA stone on a solitare band, and switch it when we get back home from vacation after the purposal.

1)
Shape: Princess
Carat weight: 1.50
Cut: Ideal
Color: J
Clarity: VS2
Certificate: GIA

Depth: 68.6%
Table: 69.0%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Slightly thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.37*6.33*4.34
Ratio: 1.01
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1188239.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

2)
Shape: Princess
Carat weight: 1.49
Cut: Premium
Color: J
Clarity: VS1
Certificate: GIA

Depth: 72.4%
Table: 73.0%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Thin to thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.56*6.30*4.56
Ratio: 1.04
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS1-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1244262.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

THANKS!
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The 1.49c looks better. Request an Idealscope image from JA and post the image here.
 
I''m going to agree with stone-cold. I also liked the 1.49c diamond. And for princess cuts its really important to look at an IS and/or ASET image.. but IS images take time from james allen.. you might not have enough time for your sept. 3rd deadline.

Goodoldgold.com and whiteflash.com have a lot more information on diamonds to view immediately.

I would recommend 1: checking out those sights for alternative diamonds

2: Calling James Allen to ask them about the diamond you liked- they are a reputable service and they can tell you about their diamond
 
Interesting.
"On paper", the proportions of the 1.50ct stone seem better - including the L:W ratio of 1.01. I look for princess cuts with L:W under 1.025. I''d hesitate to buy a princess of 1.04 - and I reckon that I can just about see that the 1.49 stone is slightly rectangular.
The picture on the website favours the 1.49ct stone though......
 
I saw a video on goodoldgold.com about color. The J color deff has a nice warmth to it (lol i love that term)...but they repeatedly stated the reason this diamond looks so good even with the warmth is the superior cut. Cut is everything in my mind. I dont know if you are looking for the best cut? or just something close. Let us know.. this might help others out too.

good luck

Can you re-explain what you want with your setting + diamond? Did i understand this right? The diamond, may come from JA (shipped over night). The place that sells the setting, wont set it? It has to be shipped out? OR you can purchase the setting, and the diamond, and then take it to someone who sets it?

I personally have not had any experience with setting a diamond and setting from two different vendors. I have heard to make sure you have insurance during setting. But i really can''t say what would be better/faster. My gut says it would be better to buy the diamond, setting, and then take it to a third party that you ALREADY talked to and set a date where he can work and get it done by sept. 3rd.


-Ted
 
remember the image you are looking at is HUGE compared to real life. I heard you can safely go up to 1.05 without notice
 
Thanks for the input.

The situation with the setting is that we found one we really like at a local shop. They don''t actually set the stone there, he sends it out to get done and to have the head made. The manager told me that it generally takes 10 days to do. What the hold up really comes to is that he will only give me the price of $2500 for the setting on the 24th of August (Monday). Normally it would cost ~$4000, but they are having some special sale that day, why I can''t get it earlier, who knows... So he wanted me to bring the stone in as early as I can. He would send the stone out, have the head made, and then when the sale takes place, buy and send the ring out. What makes me nervous is that Sept. 3rd is 10 days from then. I asked if I can put a rush on it but he really fumbled with his words. He''s a new manager and I''ll give him that but if I''m willing to pay the extra $$ can''t we speed up the process? We looked all over and this is THE one.

I didn''t know if I could purchase the setting that day, and bring it to a local shop in which they set stones in house. I would assume if I paid the $$ they would do it more quickly. Is my logic correct or even feasible.
 
I was told once to be careful of "50 percent sale!!". I''m interested in what kind of setting costs $2500 marked down from $4000?

It must have side stones, or a halo?

Did you mention what kind of setting it was? If you can describe it, you never know.. maybe someone can find the same dam thing online for you. Just an option
 
Hi,
That's a huge price discount for the setting. I have a few questions for you, if you don't mind.

Is the setting one-of-a-kind? This seems to be a very large discount for a setting.
Are other settings going on sale on August 24? Is this a store-wide event of some kind?
Is this a chain store or an independent business?
Is this setting from a well-known brand like Ritani?
Are you absolutely sure that your princess stone will fit in the setting?

I'm leaning toward advising that you have the stone set in a temporary setting by James Allen, and get it insured. This will give you some time to consider all your setting options (I'll be we can save you some money) and will ensure that you have the ring by Sept. 3.

Your sales associate is being too vague for my comfort level!
 
SARAPJ! excellent idea with having it in a temp. setting for the proposal.. and this would give him additional time for the perfect setting...and more time to investigate this certain setting without getting ripped off.
 
Thanks, Tap!

I also liked your idea of getting a description (or a cell phone photo) of the setting in the store, so we can help find the same or similar one for him.

Also, wehberb, I understand that your gf loves this setting -- right? That''s always a tough one, because we get attached to things and nothing else will ever look the same.

I am not ruling out this setting for you with my suggestion of a temporary setting. If the sales associate can give you a guarantee that this setting will a) fit your gf''s finger -- how was the size, btw? and b) fit a 1.49 princess cut stone, I do think buying the setting and having the stone set in it later might be the most reasonable option for you, unless they can give you a guarantee that it will be be ready in time!

It just seems like you''re being pressured here -- for time and for money, and I never like that feeling myself!
 
The setting is from a chain store. We looked at many independent jewlers in the area, which we prefer, and none had anything like it. If anyone can find something like this I would like to see it. Shaws had a setting like it (mall store around us) but they wanted 4500. This one is from Kay''s (mall store), the ring is going to be her wedding band/e-ring. That''s why it''s so thick. It has three rows of diamonds on it. I will attach the file to this post, hopefully it works. I did worry about the insurance before the setting because I don''t want it damaged. I did think of the idea of having it set in a simple solitare setting for our trip, just to reduce the stress of having it back in time, and setting up insurance.

Ringwelike.jpeg
 
Thank you for posting the picture, wehberb!

So it's one wide ring, made to look like 3 separate rings -- right?

I have a feeling the PS army can find you a setting like that with no trouble at all, with less hassle, and with the ring made to fit your gf's finger and her stone.

There are some people on this site who do an awesome job of locating settings for great prices.

Are you working with someone at James Allen? Darin or one of the other reps? If you e-mail JA this photo, they will most likely be able to help you out, too.

If you don't get any responses to this thread, start a new thread with a title like "Need help finding a setting that looks like this one."
 
P.S. I can see why your gf likes the setting -- I''m having one similar to that made for me, except mine will be three separate rings!
 
Thanks for the help, she tried it on and we know the size. Those two I talked about were the only two settings I saw in my time shopping around at many venues. It would just seem silly to go ahead and pay more when I don''t have to. At first I was going to go with something from JA but she changed her mind after seeing this huge ring last time we went on vacation. Seems these are not very popular.
 
tap02150

Yes, the size is larger than life, but the ratio remains the same.
I just stepped back several paces from the computer (to "virtually" decrease the size of the image to my eyes) and I can still notice that the 1.50 is slightly rectangular.
Each to their own, but no more than about 1.025 L:W for me, unless there's something very special about the stone.

I don't like 1.04/1.05 L:W ratios in the same way as I don't like SI1/SI2 clarity, or H/I/J colour in platinum. It's on the borderline of being noticeable.
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Date: 8/18/2009 10:05:46 AM
Author: wehberb
Thanks for the help, she tried it on and we know the size. Those two I talked about were the only two settings I saw in my time shopping around at many venues. It would just seem silly to go ahead and pay more when I don't have to. At first I was going to go with something from JA but she changed her mind after seeing this huge ring last time we went on vacation. Seems these are not very popular.
Click to expand...

If the size of the ring fits her (those styles can be tricky to size!) and she likes it, and it will be easy for the store to change the head to accommodate your stone, then I think buying this ring on sale and waiting to have her stone set in it after her birthday (give her the diamond in a temporary setting) might be a good option for you.

However, just because I am always a little cautious when dealing with chain stores because I have found that their staff is not always as well trained as they should be, here are two more questions for you:

1) Have you looked at this ring outside of mall lighting? Sometimes the lights in the stores make the diamonds in their rings look way better than they do in normal lighting. Check to see if the stones turn dull and gray when you hold the ring under the jewelry case away from the bright lights. Also, check to see what color and clarity the stones in the setting are. We want to make sure you get what you pay for with this setting.

2) Are you paying sales tax on this ring? Online vendors do not charge sales tax (unless you live in the same state where their business is located). Adding sales tax to a sale of this high $$ amount can substantially increase the cost of buying from a store.

But, if she really loves the setting, and hasn't found anything she likes as much, that may outweigh any cost considerations!
 
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