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Wife's Birthday Help! Necklace or Bracelet?

smartdriver

smartdriver

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 4, 2012
Messages
57
Good Morning,

:confused: It's that time again and totally procrastinating! The special day is Nov 1st and I didn't do my research for a bracelet or necklace, I may have to go to the local shop to find something, unless I can get it online before the date. I believe a necklace is more appropriate for my wife since she's careless and may damage or lose/break her bracelet. Should I be looking for Gold or Platinum since platinum is at a low low price. :dance: All recommendations are appreciated!

I'm looking to spend about $1000-1500 on something special for my wife. I was originally on PS researching for a ring 3 years ago and made a purchase from Brain Gavin Diamonds. Hope I can get some insight on what the Pros can recommend to a fellow procrastinator :whistle:

Side question: :?:
my wife's engagement ring is size 5.5 and now because of 1 child and another on the way, it doesn't fit and is now a size 6. She had a promise ring re-sized at a local place for $10 but they didn't say it wasn't going to come out exactly the same as original, was very disappointed. She wants to re-size her engagement ring to wear, but we understand she may lose weight after the child and then have to re-size down again.

We asked the local big name places and was quoted $70 to get a re-size. What a price range to get a ring re-size? Any recommendations on stores for re-sizing, located around Los Angeles, CA?

Thank you, thank you in advance.
 
Here is a blue topaz and white gold heart necklace by Kiki McDonough. Kiki is special because of the brand's long association with the British royal family, in particular Prince William's wife who wears a lot of Kiki pieces. But Neiman Marcus in the States also stocks her items. Kiki jewelry is overpriced but very exclusive. There is just one small store in a fashionable part of London. I have four items and I feel like a princess myself when I wear them!

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Kiki-McDonough-Grace-18k-White-Gold-Blue-Topaz-Heart-Pendant-Necklace/prod161810033_cat46520802__/p.prod?icid=&searchType=EndecaDrivenCat&rte=%252Fcategory.service%253FitemId%253Dcat46520802%2526pageSize%253D30%2526No%253D30%2526refinements%253D&eItemId=prod161810033&cmCat=product

I attach a better photo of the blue topaz heart that I found on Instagram, and next to it is the white topaz version, also available on the Neiman site.

By the way, if you like the Kiki things you can order direct from the website, www.kiki.co.uk You get 20% off the price as the sales tax is taken off when you input your address, and the shipping costs 40 pounds but the package will be on your doorstep so fast you won't believe it. I ordered one item from her site during a sale and I think it showed up 36 hours later - from the UK to the US! Be aware that FedEx will send you an invoice for approx 7% of the total value, which is the customs fees. But since you already get 20% off, it's not so bad.

An iconic Kiki item is the pear drop earrings because Kate Middleton, Prince William's wife, wears them so much. They are $740 on the Neiman's site (but until Oct 30 they have $100 off). On the Kiki site, you can get them in white gold. You could order the blue topaz heart necklace and the pear drop earrings for 1075 British pounds, which is $1650. Perhaps a little more than you wanted to pay, but it would certainly be a special set fit for a princess!

blue_topaz_heart.jpg

pear_drops.jpg
 
I also think this bee necklace is very special. It's approx $1535 once you take off the tax. I have this necklace and it's exquisite, beautifully made. http://kiki.co.uk/index.php/collections/eve/eve-large-single-citrine-bee-necklace.html

Here's my thread containing the bee and Kiki pear drop earrings. [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/royal-jewels-from-berrys-jewellers-uk.210628/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/royal-jewels-from-berrys-jewellers-uk.210628/[/URL]

(Buying from Berry's in the UK is a little cheaper than buying from Kiki but you don't have time for the ten days of shipping.)
 
Thank you Jambalaya! So excited about the Kiki collection you just showed me and the background you provided is most excellent! I'm searching the sites you provided right now! I have some wiggle room on price, I'm so appreciative.
 
There is much more choice on the Kiki website and getting the sales tax off is great. As you said, time is of the essence and the Kiki shipping is the speed of light!

Princess Diana adopted Kiki thirty years ago, then the Duchess of York (Fergie) wore the items back then, too, and now Kate and her sister wear them a lot. Kiki is a real London society jeweler - when you look at her webpage and there's a launch party, all the guests are Lady this and Lord that. Kiki a very tony brand, and like I said it may be expensive, but all of my Kiki items are exquisitely made.

Their newest stone is lavender amethyst -that's the pink stone you'll see on the website. I think that stone set in yellow gold is so, so pretty. But I don't know your wife's coloring.
 
smartdriver|1445888625|3942306 said:
Thank you Jambalaya! So excited about the Kiki collection you just showed me and the background you provided is most excellent! I'm searching the sites you provided right now! I have some wiggle room on price, I'm so appreciative.
Click to expand...

I noticed that many of the items are heart shapes - make sure she likes heart shapes if that's what you decide on. Not everyone likes heart-shaped jewelry (including myself), so I just wanted to offer my .02 cents. Best of luck on your choice - I'm sure that you'll choose something lovely for her =)
 
Good point, Momhappy.

The blue topaz necklace also comes in a round shape, and also in many other colors in the round. Look under "Grace" in "Collections" on the website and you'll see all the same things in round. Here's the link. http://kiki.co.uk/index.php/collections/grace.html

I attach another pic from Instagram and you can see on the bottom left a Grace pendant in round instead of heart. I'm not sure if this is the lavender amethyst or the purple amethyst, but I think it's the lavender.

There are also lots of pear shapes, and flower shapes.

kiki_round.jpg
 
 
Thanks momhappy! Yes I was looking at the other recommended items and was looking at the flower shape, but that's a bigger stone. Okay I just re-evaluate my budget and I should spend closer to $1000 since I need to save up for a diamond upgrade.
 
^^^Very pretty, jambalaya and I hope that my post didn't imply that heart-shaped jewelry is a bad thing - it's just sort of one of those shapes that women seem to like or not like.
 
momhappy|1445890621|3942315 said:
^^^Very pretty, jambalaya and I hope that my post didn't imply that heart-shaped jewelry is a bad thing - it's just sort of one of those shapes that women seem to like or not like.
Click to expand...


Not at all! And I agree.
 
The other company which has overnight shipping is Blue Nile. Here's a selection of necklaces that I think are particularly nice (you asked for necklaces) but they have a wide range of things, so you could also look for earrings. These are all within your budget - the first few are more like $1200 but BN has a permanent 10% off discount code. It changes though, so you just have to Google to get it.

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-pendant-cross_3461?elem=img&track=product
http://www.bluenile.com/south-sea-pearl-diamond-pendant-18k-white-gold_50526?elem=img&track=product
http://www.bluenile.com/onyx-diamond-neckalce-18k-white-gold_50137?elem=img&track=product
http://www.bluenile.com/tahitian-pearl-diamond-necklace_50525?elem=img&track=product

bn_cross.jpg

bn_pearl.jpg

bn_onyx.jpg

bn_tahitian.jpg
 
I've just realized that the BN links aren't working. It was the same a few weeks ago. Oh well, if you go to www.bluenile.com and filter for all necklaces $1200 and under, they will come up. I'll stop posting the links since they won't work.

Anyway, BN has the fast shipping that you need and a wide choice. Lots of colors and designs represented here - I've posted a selection of the ones I think are nice. The good thing is that she can easily return it if she doesn't like it.
 
And to end...

bn_ruby.jpg

bn_heart.jpg
 
I don't know if your wife likes pearls, but Pearl Paradise is a tried-and-true pearl vendor. Many people on here including me have bought from them and love their products. Fair prices and great customer service. www.pearlparadise.com
 
 
Honestly, I'd get the best "solitaire" diamond necklace you can find. A single diamond suspended from a chain is a classic look that won't go out of style. It's a necklace that she'll be able to wear every day, with almost anything. The problem is your timeframe, but if you go to Whiteflash and get an ACA or White Flash select diamond put in one of their pendant settings, or to Brian Gavin Design and get a BG "select" or "blue" diamond, you won't go wrong. (Brian Gavin's "Barbara" pendant setting is a big favorite here, but most of the settings either of these vendors sell will be lovely.)

Alternately, call first thing in the morning and see if either of these vendors have a Diamonds by the Yard necklace ready to ship. She can wear it as is now, and somewhere down the line you can either alter it to incorporate a larger center stone, or she can layer it with a solitaire pendant. Get the .75 ctw if you can: http://www.whiteflash.com/diamond-pendants/whiteflash-by-the-yard-diamond-necklace-449.htm

or

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond-pendants/diamonds-by-the-yard-18k-white-gold-5385w18
 
The diamond by the yard necklaces above are beautiful and they go with absolutely everything. A friend's husband bought one for his wife two years ago. I don't think I have seen her not wearing the necklace.
 
VRBeauty|1445928959|3942461 said:
Honestly, I'd get the best "solitaire" diamond necklace you can find. A single diamond suspended from a chain is a classic look that won't go out of style. It's a necklace that she'll be able to wear every day, with almost anything. The problem is your timeframe, but if you go to Whiteflash and get an ACA or White Flash select diamond put in one of their pendant settings, or to Brian Gavin Design and get a BG "select" or "blue" diamond, you won't go wrong. (Brian Gavin's "Barbara" pendant setting is a big favorite here, but most of the settings either of these vendors sell will be lovely.)

Alternately, call first thing in the morning and see if either of these vendors have a Diamonds by the Yard necklace ready to ship. She can wear it as is now, and somewhere down the line you can either alter it to incorporate a larger center stone, or she can layer it with a solitaire pendant. Get the .75 ctw if you can: http://www.whiteflash.com/diamond-pendants/whiteflash-by-the-yard-diamond-necklace-449.htm

or

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond-pendants/diamonds-by-the-yard-18k-white-gold-5385w18
Click to expand...

COMPLETELY AGREE. CLASSIC THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME AND WILL GO WITH EVERYTHING. Excellent suggestion.
 
I also ditto diamonds by the yard a classic look many people can wear day in, day out.

I saw this on bluenile. Not for everyone, but very pretty. And they have a 1/3 carat diamond solitaire necklace in platinum as well in your price point. I would look at what kind of other jewelry she has to try to find something she likes style wise.

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-necklace-18k-white-gold_50831?elem=img&track=product

oops link not working. It's called Rose Cut Diamond Cluster Necklace in 18k White Gold (1/2 ct. tw.)
 
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