Could someone verify this eBay settings vendor please?

[NexivRed]

I'd just like to know if anyone has ever done business with Changxingjewelrycn before. I have decided to set my spinel in rose gold after all (and a halo ring at that), and was looking at one of their settings: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281148478568&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123

I contacted them to ask about the setting size in relation to my gem size and if it'd fit and look good. They said it wouldn't really, but they'd make me one that'd fit the gem perfectly. I also asked if it were possible to do single prongs because I really don't like double prongs, especially on a smaller gem. They said that would be fine as well and the total cost plus setting the gem for me and shipping would be $330. This seems pretty reasonable. I asked how much it would cost to get the gem to them and they said $4 would get it to them in 7-10 days.

So I just want to know whether it's gonna be a good idea to hand my money and spinel over to them really

 

[chrono]

I have not dealt nor heard of this particular company, so I cannot vouch for their honesty or workmanship.
1. Make sure to check that it is needed 14K rose gold, not gold plated.
2. Make sure to check that the diamonds are indeed real diamonds.
3. You probably would want to upgrade the melees lest you end up with frozen spit quality melees.
4. You bear the risk of stone damage during the setting process and shipping loss. It is difficult to track gems once they leave the country of origin and sometimes your insurance ends there as well. Returns can also be problematic for the same reasons and some vendors will request that you not list it as a setting nor insure it. Due to tracking issues, there is the possibility that tracking says it was received but on their end, it was not received and I've seen this scenario described by another PSer.

I am sorry if it sounds very scary but those are the facts. By the same token, many have mailed their stones overseas without issues but I am unable to be mind clean about it personally. Most have their stones set in their respective countries and only purchase the settings from China.

 

[carmen1]

It looks like it could be the same seller as Jewelryhoo http://stores.ebay.com/JewelryHoo-Design-Jewelry-for-You? I've seen some recent settings from jewelryhoo posted on here that looked quite nice, but haven't purchased from them myself.

 

[ruby59]

$4 to send a stone to China? I wonder how secure that shipping would be.

They do have excellent feedback, however.

 

[chrono]

$4 to send a stone to China? I wonder how secure that shipping would be. They do have excellent feedback, however.

$4 shipping sounds like regular airmail with no tracking, no insurance and no receipt/signing of package.
eBay feedback can be manipulated. Buyers can be bribed or coerced into removing negative feedback. Sellers can have friends write stellar reviews. Toolhaus is probably a better avenue for verifying feedback.

 

[JewelFreak]

I'd be very very reluctant to send a stone to China for setting. It's just too risky for my taste at least. Not knowing the vendor, you can't tell if their bench people are skilled or not. If anything goes wrong during setting, you're stuck without a stone. You're much safer to have them send the setting to you & find a local jeweler to do it for you. At least then you have some control over who does the work.

There are also the shipping issues Chrono mentioned. Finding a reliable local bench is less trouble than dealing with whatever could happen, if indeed it did. A red flag (to me) is their apparently assuming you'd slap it in the regular mail for $4 -- does that mean they'd send it back the same way? Experience or judgment seems a little lacking here. They may be ok to buy the setting from, but not for anything else, imo.

--- Laurie

 

[chrono]

JF,
I'd like to do a virtual "like" on your post. You've explained it far more clearly that I could ever hope to try.

 

[JewelFreak]

, Chrono.

 

[NexivRed]

Thank you for the replies. My husband feels exactly the same way about sending the stone so I'm not going to go down that route. Just need to a.) do some digging on them to make sure of all the things you pointed out such as solid gold etc, and b.) a bit of research of a good jewellers near(ish) me where I can have it set. Will the jeweller be able to appraise the setting for me to check it against the listing? Because if I make sure I can abide by their returns policies then hopefully I won't end up a certain creek.

I've had a look through the approved eBay and Etsy vendors at other settings, but if you can recommend someone who's already a trusted vendor who may have or be able to make what I'm after then please do.
I know I want it to be rose gold with a halo, single shank and paving would be nice but not a deal breaker. For me one of the important parts is the profile of the ring, because I really don't like the settings that look like baskets. I like the halo to be sort of "floating", and I like it when the shank comes up to meet itself underneath.

Yes to profiles like in this link:
http://www.diamondsandrings.co.uk/designer-pear-shape-diamond-ring-halo.html

No to profiles like in this link:
http://www.goldvsdiamonds.com/rose-gold-halo-diamond-engagement-ring-1-carat-tw.html


Budget is no more than $400. Paving and halo can be any gemstones, and doesn't have to be white either.

 

[gemstone_newbie86]

Hello NexivRed,

I just recently got a settings from diamondmounts on ebay (http://stores.ebay.com/diamondmountsmorejewelryhere/) I asked for a certificate and the service was great. After I got the setting i went can got it appraised just to see the accuracy. The appraiser was impressed with the setting and the diamonds. According to the appraisal everything was accurate to what they advertised. Check them out to see if you find anything you like. With my experience with them I would recommend them.

 

[1001smiles]

Hello. Let me give another plug for jewelryhoo (it's one of their stores you linked to). I had them modify a mount for me two years ago and it came out very nicely. I had an asscher spinel and I picked a mount for a round stone. I think it's hard to make an asscher mount because of the depth, and I chickened out of sending my stone to China. So I sent them a photo of the top and side of my stone and clarly marked all dimentions on the photo (including depth). I also upgraded to VS diamonds. I thought the price was very reasonable and my stone fit perfectly and I was happy with the quality. My local jeweler set the stone with no issues.

Here's the old thread with the picture of the final ring (scroll to the bottom):
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-first-asscher-please-help-with-setting.167939/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-first-asscher-please-help-with-setting.167939/[/URL]

Good luck with your project, look forward to the pics

 

[NexivRed]

Hey Gemstone_newbie, I checked out their store and found three settings I liked (including one I REALLY liked but take a guess as to whether it's in my budget ), including a big surprise.... a split shank! I don't know whether it's cos it's pictured in rose gold (they say they'll do any ring in any metal), but it just really surprised me as I looked through the pictures how much I liked it and then when I got to the picture of it in profile I was like "oh yes!" It just seems quite fine, quite simple and quite classic but with a bit of a modern edge to it. For me, the profile look of a ring is what really gets me excited, and I also think my little stone shouldn't be overwhelmed with something too extravagant. I'd be setting the bar pretty high when it came to mounting my stones, at least aesthetically.

Here's the link to it, let me know what you think: http://www.ebay.com/itm/181195647935?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

This is the other that caught my eye and what I like about this one over the others like it is a.) it's squared off and I sort of sacrificed the shape of my gem for the colour. So this is a bonus to me as it balances out the oval-ness. I also don't dig the thicker oval halos when they're the proper oval shape. The one above has a very slim, delicate halo which is lovely. So this is the next one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/400551752052?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Same price, so between them it'd be a no brainer. But then there's this one which I was like over: http://www.ebay.com/itm/181197255818?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
And although I think the shape and the halo and the shanks and the profile are all to die for, I just don't think my spinel is the right gem to put in this mount. I think I may bookmark this setting for my future engagement ring (I have a cheap place holder currently after my original one got too big for me).


1001smiles, omg that ring of yours is STUNNING! Thank you so much for sharing that I just adore asscher cuts. They're so elegant but so strong if you know what I mean. Gonna have a gander over at jewelleryhoo as well as check out some more settings in the sister vendor's site. Cos before I was only checking rose gold settings but they'll do any setting in any material.

Thanks for the help guys! I'm getting close to getting my hands on the $$$ that's gonna pay for this and I'm really excited

 

[JewelFreak]

You're going about this so patiently & wisely, NexivRed! Best way to find what you love. I vote for the 1st setting you linked to. The other ones might overpower a small stone, imo. I also like its delicacy -- elegant & feminine, adding to the stone rather than competing with it.

When I look for settings, somehow I always end up with much simpler ones than I have in mind at the beginning because letting the colored stone be the star of the show is most important to me. I've never looked at a project & wished I'd done it differently. Looks like you're having fun with this search -- terrific!!

--- Laurie

 

[carmen1]

Just a warning - there was a very recent post about a setting from the ebay seller diamondmounts testing as moissanite rather than diamond here:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/buyer-beware-ebay-seller-fraud.192281/

I personally would stick with jewelryhoo or LOGR for ebay settings, rather than risk getting something other than diamonds in my setting. I've purchased several settings from LOGR and I have been happy with them all, even the ones that I didn't upgrade the diamonds.