Old_Fossil
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2024
- Messages
- 72
TLDR - After 30+ years of marriage, finally able to purchase the wedding set she deserves for Christmas. Timing of my learning of PS and my purchase out of sync. Realized I could have purchased a much better stone. Returned ring for stone exchange/upgrade. At the same time, returned JA earrings for credit toward upgraded ring stone. Less than agile business processes at JA meant having to wait until recently to get the ring. The extra time researching and learning allowed me to buy a pair of ACA studs and a RHR from WF. Win-Win.
Great support from the PS team here to help me determine it was worth moving forward with this stone. Note on the JA IS images that there is some strong backlighting. This brought areas of concern for two reasons - one, was it strong backlighting or leakage under the table? This stone has the 35/40.8 combo where, according to the PS recommended proportions chart, the lowers should be 80, and my GIA report showed 75. Based on the distance of the hearts from their respective Vs, it was estimated the lowers to be closer to 77, which was acceptable.
While waiting for the ring to arrive, I purchased an Ideal Scope and an ASET scope, and practiced looking at what right looked like with the pair of 3 ct tw ACA studs I had purchased in the meantime. I then realized how difficult it is to take quality pictures using these scopes. Any slight camera or scope angle deviation or lighting intensity change brought significant changes in image results. You could make the ACA studs look fantastic or leaky with those subtle changes.
As such, I offer these initial images to share with the PSers here who were so helpful during the process:
Original JA IS image
My amateur IS images of actual stone (mounted)
JA absolutely would not provide ASET imagery after multiple requests - my amateur ASET images below (strong backlighting, but working on it):
Here are some of my pics of the ring (had both soldered together):
I have compared this ring in all lighting conditions against the ACA studs, and can see no noticeable difference in light performance. I have payed very close attention under the table, and both exhibit the same performance. I have asked friends and family to look at them side by side and asked which one was brighter/sparklier/more fiery, and across the board the answer was they look the same. On some level there may be a difference, but I haven't seen it yet. However, I can immediately see the difference when compared to some of our older stones - like night and day different. We live and learn.
Knowing now about the easy button with WF, BGD, and WF, I think I got lucky finding this particular stone, and we could not be happier - however - would have to think about going with JA again though, knowing what I know now. Surface level customer service is good, but specific requests for new IS or ASET images met with a resounding no. No deep expertise at first level of customer service, although everyone was very pleasant and professional. She loves the setting with matching rings, and upon very close inspection, setting quality appears very high. Her friends continue to go on and on about the sparkle, fire, and color - literally flashes from across the room. I was primarily concerned about light performance - and this one is a winner. Far longer wait than necessary, four months is absurd. But outside of their stove-piped business units, JA was good to work with and delivered a stunner.
I will work on taking better pictures, as these don't do the ring justice. Thanks to all here who unselfishly provided their expertise and back and forth dialog during this process.
Great support from the PS team here to help me determine it was worth moving forward with this stone. Note on the JA IS images that there is some strong backlighting. This brought areas of concern for two reasons - one, was it strong backlighting or leakage under the table? This stone has the 35/40.8 combo where, according to the PS recommended proportions chart, the lowers should be 80, and my GIA report showed 75. Based on the distance of the hearts from their respective Vs, it was estimated the lowers to be closer to 77, which was acceptable.
While waiting for the ring to arrive, I purchased an Ideal Scope and an ASET scope, and practiced looking at what right looked like with the pair of 3 ct tw ACA studs I had purchased in the meantime. I then realized how difficult it is to take quality pictures using these scopes. Any slight camera or scope angle deviation or lighting intensity change brought significant changes in image results. You could make the ACA studs look fantastic or leaky with those subtle changes.
As such, I offer these initial images to share with the PSers here who were so helpful during the process:
Original JA IS image
My amateur IS images of actual stone (mounted)
JA absolutely would not provide ASET imagery after multiple requests - my amateur ASET images below (strong backlighting, but working on it):
Here are some of my pics of the ring (had both soldered together):
I have compared this ring in all lighting conditions against the ACA studs, and can see no noticeable difference in light performance. I have payed very close attention under the table, and both exhibit the same performance. I have asked friends and family to look at them side by side and asked which one was brighter/sparklier/more fiery, and across the board the answer was they look the same. On some level there may be a difference, but I haven't seen it yet. However, I can immediately see the difference when compared to some of our older stones - like night and day different. We live and learn.
Knowing now about the easy button with WF, BGD, and WF, I think I got lucky finding this particular stone, and we could not be happier - however - would have to think about going with JA again though, knowing what I know now. Surface level customer service is good, but specific requests for new IS or ASET images met with a resounding no. No deep expertise at first level of customer service, although everyone was very pleasant and professional. She loves the setting with matching rings, and upon very close inspection, setting quality appears very high. Her friends continue to go on and on about the sparkle, fire, and color - literally flashes from across the room. I was primarily concerned about light performance - and this one is a winner. Far longer wait than necessary, four months is absurd. But outside of their stove-piped business units, JA was good to work with and delivered a stunner.
I will work on taking better pictures, as these don't do the ring justice. Thanks to all here who unselfishly provided their expertise and back and forth dialog during this process.
Last edited:
Wow!
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