Would you order a diamond & setting together and have it set?

[jewelgal]

I was thinking of getting a setting AND the diamond and having the rep choose the stone for me, with my criteria. I wouldn''t be able to see it in person because I don''t want to fly there. The reason I am considering this is because I want the stone to fit perfectly in the setting.

OR
Should I buy a diamond in person here in NYC and then ship it off the setting place?

Also, if I did this latter option, how do I make sure my stone is not switched?
Do ALL diamonds nowadays have a # engraved? BUT once it''s set and I receive it SET in a ring,
would I be able to see and check that it''s my stone? (see the #?)

Help!

 

[yssie]

If getting both stone and setting from a single vendor is a viable option for you, I would definitely recommend it.


That way you wouldn't have to worry about shipping to and fro, insuring the loose stone, etc. You'll save a bit of money here, too. Most importantly, though, if something happens to your stone during setting, you won't have to deal with two vendors pointing fingers at each other.


If your diamond has an engraving you can ask to have it set so that the engraving is visible in the setting, if your setting allows for that (ie. not a bezel, prongs spaced far enough apart, etc). Sometimes vendors will set stones in a preferred arrow configuration, and this may result in a less pleasing aesthetic, though. I can see the engraving on my centre stone easily enough with a 10x loupe and the right light direction (2ct, sl-thick girdle). My sides are 0.3ct each with med girdles and I don't have a prayer of finding the inscriptions on either. Sometimes if I squint really hard at the side of my 0.43ct stud I think I see something, but I never know for sure; I couldn't find the inscription on my old 1ct with a med. girdle.


Really, though, unless you have an IF or a VVS1 or something, the best way to ID your stone is with the inclusion plot - there's no way anyone can change or erase that!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

yssie''s advice is great. Also, if you purchase from a well respected pricescope vendor like whiteflash, james allen, brian gavin diamonds, id jewelry etc. you can read countless positive experiences of other people on pricescope which might put your mind more at ease.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 12/23/2009 8:05:06 PM
Author: yssie
If getting both stone and setting from a single vendor is a viable option for you, I would definitely recommend it.


That way you wouldn''t have to worry about shipping to and fro, insuring the loose stone, etc. You''ll save a bit of money here, too. Most importantly, though, if something happens to your stone during setting, you won''t have to deal with two vendors pointing fingers at each other.


If your diamond has an engraving you can ask to have it set so that the engraving is visible in the setting, if your setting allows for that (ie. not a bezel, prongs spaced far enough apart, etc). Sometimes vendors will set stones in a preferred arrow configuration, and this may result in a less pleasing aesthetic, though. I can see the engraving on my centre stone easily enough with a 10x loupe and the right light direction (2ct, sl-thick girdle). My sides are 0.3ct each with med girdles and I don''t have a prayer of finding the inscriptions on either. Sometimes if I squint really hard at the side of my 0.43ct stud I think I see something, but I never know for sure; I couldn''t find the inscription on my old 1ct with a med. girdle.


Really, though, unless you have an IF or a VVS1 or something, the best way to ID your stone is with the inclusion plot - there''s no way anyone can change or erase that!

True dat!

 

[BAM54321]

I would second yssie and add that if you happen to chose a designer setting, have the vendor arrange to have the designer set the stone. You mentioned that you wouldn''t be able to ''see it in person.'' I do hope that you do not mean buying completely blind. Although they may match your criteria (which is a pretty ambigious term), you could still request a number of images (10x mag/ASET/IS etc...) to confirm that you are on the same page in terms of criteria, and that the stone will perform to your satisfaction.

 

[outatouch0]

Date: 12/23/2009 7:02:28 PM
Author:jewelgal
I was thinking of getting a setting AND the diamond and having the rep choose the stone for me, with my criteria. I wouldn''t be able to see it in person because I don''t want to fly there. The reason I am considering this is because I want the stone to fit perfectly in the setting.

OR
Should I buy a diamond in person here in NYC and then ship it off the setting place?

Also, if I did this latter option, how do I make sure my stone is not switched?
Do ALL diamonds nowadays have a # engraved? BUT once it''s set and I receive it SET in a ring,
would I be able to see and check that it''s my stone? (see the #?)

Help!

The answers to these questions are the same - IT DEPENDS... There really isn''t enough information to go on to give a solid answer without A LOT of qualifiers added.
GENERALLY it works out best, or at least more convienient, to have the same vendor for the setting and ring. But, we are usually talking about known quantities, ie PriceScope vendors. If this "rep" you speak of knows ring settings but isn''t strong on diamonds... For all we know with this limited info you could be getting your ring from e-bay. This knowlege changes the advice dramatically

OR
Depends upon where in NYC you are talking about. A PS vendor? The NY diamond district?

Please please tell us more - we love to help

 

[jewelgal]

Ok, so I guess I will find a diamond first and then I''ll figure out how to ship it to the store.
How do you insure a diamond thru shipping? UPS? Post Office? Signature?