buying a ring setting in the Dia. Dis. in NY
- Thread starter gail013
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I went to Norman Landsberg at 66 West 47th Street. I brought in a diamond and two rubies and he had them set in a beautiful hand made three stone platinum setting. He sent it out, I am sure, but his price was exactly half of what my local jeweler, who sold my husband the rubies, wanted. He had it ready in two days and it looks just like the Tiffany three stone ring I wanted copied. I did have to leave the stones, a 1.5 diamond and two .85 Burmese rubies, with him but I have dealt with him before and think he is reliable. I don't know if he will sell you just the setting but you can try him. I am sure the setting was not custom made but the stones fit perfectly and I have had no problems with it .
If you can find a Pricescope vendor who will do it, you might do better but I got exactly what I wanted and was happy with the deal.
If you can find a Pricescope vendor who will do it, you might do better but I got exactly what I wanted and was happy with the deal.
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Prices in diamond districts will be highly competitive. The ersonality of the seller must mesh with your won. If you get a pressured feeling, just leave. If you are comfortable, let them show you examples and what they can do. If nothing else, learn what the process is all about BEFORE you make a decision.
At the moment when you pick up the finished ring inspect it VERY CAREFULLY. Be sure the stones are tight, undamaged and that the surface features do not have deep dings or highly visible scratches. Damage uncovered after you walk out the door will be much more of a problem than any you uncover BEFORE you take delivery. Look for the inclusions in your main diamond so you have identified it positively before you leave. Enjoy the experience. Don''t make it a rush pick up and a run for a taxi. This sort of impulsive behavior can lead to problems that oterhwise could have been solved.
At the moment when you pick up the finished ring inspect it VERY CAREFULLY. Be sure the stones are tight, undamaged and that the surface features do not have deep dings or highly visible scratches. Damage uncovered after you walk out the door will be much more of a problem than any you uncover BEFORE you take delivery. Look for the inclusions in your main diamond so you have identified it positively before you leave. Enjoy the experience. Don''t make it a rush pick up and a run for a taxi. This sort of impulsive behavior can lead to problems that oterhwise could have been solved.
Thank you for your replies. I guess after all I have read previously, I would not leave my diamond with anyone there. I would just purchase the setting, but I can see how that could be problematic, and I would want a return policy of 30 days or something. Does that make sense? I would have our local jeweler actually set it.
CrownJewel
Brilliant_Rock
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I agree with oldminer that you should take your time and RUN if you feel pressured at all by the jeweler. It is very hard for me to say this, but my FI and I were anxious to make a purchase and stay within his budget. I also had a very specific style that I wanted. We were recommended to a diamond dealer on 47th street by a family friend who works in the diamond district selling watches. We were told that she recommended many other people to this dealer, D, and they were all very happy.
We also went to see another recommended dealer, Ira, in the diamond district. Fantastic guy, calm, professional...just great. I wish we went with him. The setting he would make for us was out of our budget. $1200 for a white gold pave setting (custom made). Ira warned us against getting cast settings, saying the detail wouldn''t be as nice.
D would sell us a beautiful white gold pave cast setting for $700. D had a beautiful stone in FI''s budget which I liked, so we went with him, as uncomfortable as I was with D (I felt so pressured by him and his assistant A, and they said they had never heard of "crown height"). FI did not get anything in writing, figuring we could trust him because a family friend recommended him. His assistant, A, said she would make sure the ring came out beautifully, and if there was anything wrong with it, she would give the jeweler hell. FI picked it up, looked at it and trusted A that the ring came out perfectly. Of course I don''t have the heart to tell FI all the details that my eye picks up on, everyday. He bought this ring to make me happy and he asks me often if I love it. I love that he bought it for me, and I do love the ring, it''s just that I''m ridiculously particular about details, balance and perfection. The prongs are uneven and although my FI can''t see it, I can see it every time I look at it. The milgrain is warped and uneven. The pave stones are not set evenly. If I look at its profile, the head is askew. I''ve made the decision not to do anything about it, because I would never complain about any present that someone gives to me. If I were the one buying the ring for someone else (and this is not to put down my FI, jewelry buying is just not one of his many strengths!!
), I would cause a giant ruckus.
So to summarize, I do advocate buying from a dealer in the diamond district, but be careful and run if you don''t feel comfortable. Get everything in writing, no ifs ands or buts. Look at lots of stones (which is the one thing we did right). Ask to see the handiwork of the jeweler and make sure the details are even.
Apparently, D and A said to FI, "let us know when you''re looking for wedding bands." I thought to myself, "HA! We made one mistake already, never again." I''m going to convince FI to go to Ira for anything in the future. I wish you luck gail!! Be patient and I''m sure you''ll find a stunner!
We also went to see another recommended dealer, Ira, in the diamond district. Fantastic guy, calm, professional...just great. I wish we went with him. The setting he would make for us was out of our budget. $1200 for a white gold pave setting (custom made). Ira warned us against getting cast settings, saying the detail wouldn''t be as nice.
D would sell us a beautiful white gold pave cast setting for $700. D had a beautiful stone in FI''s budget which I liked, so we went with him, as uncomfortable as I was with D (I felt so pressured by him and his assistant A, and they said they had never heard of "crown height"). FI did not get anything in writing, figuring we could trust him because a family friend recommended him. His assistant, A, said she would make sure the ring came out beautifully, and if there was anything wrong with it, she would give the jeweler hell. FI picked it up, looked at it and trusted A that the ring came out perfectly. Of course I don''t have the heart to tell FI all the details that my eye picks up on, everyday. He bought this ring to make me happy and he asks me often if I love it. I love that he bought it for me, and I do love the ring, it''s just that I''m ridiculously particular about details, balance and perfection. The prongs are uneven and although my FI can''t see it, I can see it every time I look at it. The milgrain is warped and uneven. The pave stones are not set evenly. If I look at its profile, the head is askew. I''ve made the decision not to do anything about it, because I would never complain about any present that someone gives to me. If I were the one buying the ring for someone else (and this is not to put down my FI, jewelry buying is just not one of his many strengths!!
So to summarize, I do advocate buying from a dealer in the diamond district, but be careful and run if you don''t feel comfortable. Get everything in writing, no ifs ands or buts. Look at lots of stones (which is the one thing we did right). Ask to see the handiwork of the jeweler and make sure the details are even.
Apparently, D and A said to FI, "let us know when you''re looking for wedding bands." I thought to myself, "HA! We made one mistake already, never again." I''m going to convince FI to go to Ira for anything in the future. I wish you luck gail!! Be patient and I''m sure you''ll find a stunner!
CrownJewel
Brilliant_Rock
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bigtown, we dealt with a diamond dealer (he''s not the jeweler. he just has all his rings set by that jeweler. unfortunately I don''t know the name of their jeweler). Also, these aren''t stores...I was told that they only have private clients, so you can only meet with them (both dealer and jeweler) if you have a mutual contact (a lot of good that did for us!)
By the way, if you''re getting it custom made, you probably won''t have that problem. Ours was already a rough cast, and I think that''s why we had quality problems.
I feel funny giving out the name of the dealer, even though I pretty much hate them and wouldn''t want anyone else to go to them. But trust me, if you met them, you''d know who I''m talking about. Their office is not nice at all and smells of cigarette smoke. As long as you don''t feel pressured by whomever you''re buying from, you''re fine. D and A didn''t give us time to think about anything. It was like this:
Me: oh this one is pretty (2nd setting they showed me)
A: ok, order this in a size 4.5. Good, let''s go.
Me: wait, that''s it? You''re ordering it now?
A: yes, what? (gives me a look, like what''s the hold up?) trust me, you will love it.
It''s partially my fault for not dragging my FI out of the office right then and there. If you don''t like the dealer/jeweler enough to go back to them again and again, then don''t give them a single cent.
By the way, if you''re getting it custom made, you probably won''t have that problem. Ours was already a rough cast, and I think that''s why we had quality problems.
I feel funny giving out the name of the dealer, even though I pretty much hate them and wouldn''t want anyone else to go to them. But trust me, if you met them, you''d know who I''m talking about. Their office is not nice at all and smells of cigarette smoke. As long as you don''t feel pressured by whomever you''re buying from, you''re fine. D and A didn''t give us time to think about anything. It was like this:
Me: oh this one is pretty (2nd setting they showed me)
A: ok, order this in a size 4.5. Good, let''s go.
Me: wait, that''s it? You''re ordering it now?
A: yes, what? (gives me a look, like what''s the hold up?) trust me, you will love it.
It''s partially my fault for not dragging my FI out of the office right then and there. If you don''t like the dealer/jeweler enough to go back to them again and again, then don''t give them a single cent.
starryeyed
Ideal_Rock
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Hi Gail.
You may want to check out The Facets Collection: www.thefacetscollection.com. They have a nice selection of semi-mounts and are great to deal with - honest, no pressure and easy-going. Their quality is EXCELLENT and their prices are very competitive. They have a booth at 15 W. 47th St and offices across the street. I have bought many things from them and have never been disappointed. I have dealt with "David".
Good luck!
You may want to check out The Facets Collection: www.thefacetscollection.com. They have a nice selection of semi-mounts and are great to deal with - honest, no pressure and easy-going. Their quality is EXCELLENT and their prices are very competitive. They have a booth at 15 W. 47th St and offices across the street. I have bought many things from them and have never been disappointed. I have dealt with "David".
Good luck!
Thank you all for you replies. Crown Jewel I am so sorry to hear what happened to you. Some of those reasons are why I left our first jeweler-it makes me so angry to think some sellers get away with that hard sell stuff and general lack of care. The stories on this thread are enough to keep me away from the DD, except the few that have been reccomended.
Since I posted this message, I met with our local jewelers and their own designer. Becuase I have been unable to find anything I love, I thought I would give it a try, and see what we could come up with. But I wasn''t all that optomistic it would work. However, I left the store feeling pretty good about what we decided to do. There were three people helping me-my salesperson, one of the owners and the designer. They asked me what I didn''t like and why, as well as what I did. I really felt like they cared alot.
The really funny thing is, last night I was in line at TJ Maxx waiting to retun somethings, and a woman in front of me had the most gorgeous ring on and it was truly the first thing I have seen that made me think wow! I complimented her on it and she told me she had designed it herself with RF Moeller in Mpls-which is MY JEWELER! WHat kind of coincidence is that? She told me she was thrilled with them and couldn''t be any happier. If anyone in this area is looking for someone good, I can say that so far they have really treated us well.
I will have my wax done in a week, so I guess we''ll find out how I like the design.
Since I posted this message, I met with our local jewelers and their own designer. Becuase I have been unable to find anything I love, I thought I would give it a try, and see what we could come up with. But I wasn''t all that optomistic it would work. However, I left the store feeling pretty good about what we decided to do. There were three people helping me-my salesperson, one of the owners and the designer. They asked me what I didn''t like and why, as well as what I did. I really felt like they cared alot.
The really funny thing is, last night I was in line at TJ Maxx waiting to retun somethings, and a woman in front of me had the most gorgeous ring on and it was truly the first thing I have seen that made me think wow! I complimented her on it and she told me she had designed it herself with RF Moeller in Mpls-which is MY JEWELER! WHat kind of coincidence is that? She told me she was thrilled with them and couldn''t be any happier. If anyone in this area is looking for someone good, I can say that so far they have really treated us well.
I will have my wax done in a week, so I guess we''ll find out how I like the design.
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