vinjewels
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2011
- Messages
- 563
Just a warning...this story has been in the making since December 2010, so it may be long. Also, I am going to absolutely GUSH over a vendor and how much they have been a part of this process. So if you are drama or mush-sensitive-----skip to the photos! 
The loss of my Grandmother's wedding ring is a totally different story in itself. Short story, I left it where someone could take it and we think that is what happened. Either way, the loss created a lot of heartache that, in the end re-created my relationship with my Dad. I anticipated him to go thru the roof upon hearing I lost the ring. Instead, he reminded me that it was just a material item, and that it wasn't worth what I had put myself through looking for it. (This is a major development given our past). My mother also put it correctly by telling me, "Baby, your true diamond walks through your front door after work everyday." SO TRUE! Anyway, it was a testament to what really matters.
That being said, it doesn't say that I am not a crazy, mental, basket case, micromanager when it came to finding a replacement for such an important piece. Hey, nobody is perfect....
I found a diamond I loved for a great price on Ebay. It belonged to a couple who had no children and it had been passed to a niece that decided to sell. The diamond dates back to a family that came to the US in the late 1800s from Russia and settled in Hells Kitchen, NY. One of their sons, Sammy, inherited the diamond in the 30s and, I was told, he was never without it. He met a wonderful lady who was a dancer trying to break into Broadway and they were married and lived in NY. I was told they were adventurous and extensive travelers. "If this diamond could talk, they stories it would tell..." the niece told me.
Anyway, a local jeweler I was working with at the time advised me not to buy something off of Ebay and let him source one, but I did anyway
It just spoke to me and that was that! When I brought it to him he said I had bought a lemon. I freaked out and made an appointment with an appraiser- getting a quote from him before hauling my two young children an hour away for $95. I got there, he did an appraisal and said I was given the wrong price. He ended up charging me $165. Grrrr....
I went on to try to reset it, bought some french cuts went thru some tough lessons about what I do and don't like in settings. In the end, I decided to sell the diamond because it seemed easier to shop with cash in hand rather than settle for something just because of the price. I just could not find what worked!
I went to another reputable estate jeweler in Ft. Worth who took a look and said my EGL J VS1 (probably about an L GIA) stone was probably a P/Q and that he'd pay me $4,000 for it as a favor if I spent double that in his store. Luckily, Erica from JbEG had worked with me in the past and had seen the diamond in person. She had seen a post I made about selling it and knew what I was walking in to. She called me after I emailed her his opinion. I am not a pretty crier! I sobbed on the phone and she assured me he was full of it and offered to have it certed and sell it as a consignment if that was what I really wanted to do.
Without divulging too much, the past experience with my not knowing what I wanted and attempting a custom piece with JbEG, she and Grace should have RUN the other way, not offer to help.
It went up for sale on their site. That week, some interesting things started to happen. I had to drive to Arlington to pick up a gift and stopped in a gold and diamond secondhand store to window shop. The first ring they brought out from the back was a beautiful antique piece holding a diamond the exact (to the tenth of a MM) size as the one I was selling. Erica emailed me back and forth for most of that day giving advice on price, what to look for and the possibility of being able to set whichever stone I wanted to keep in this setting! She spent all this time knowing that I could decide to pull my diamond, sell the new one on my own and walk again. She didn't even mention it and gave her time and advice graciously!
I am a believer in signs (finding my diamond's twin was the first one)...that week my son kept telling me about a new student in his preschool class, Sammy (we call the first diamond the "sammy diamond." I usually have to remind him to be friendly b/c he and his bff are so into each other, I want him to have other friends. Well, Nathaniel just took to Sammy and for a solid week kept asking if he could come over....Not Samuel, Sam...Sammy.
Anyway, I decided to keep my beautiful Sammy diamond and it is set in a setting that seems custom made for it!! It was a tough one, but I felt like it was passed to me and my family with its old owner's blessing. Also, how rare to know the origin of such an old piece??!
This is where I want to gush on JbEG. I love that they, unlike the others I came across, are honest, love what they do and truly are committed to making sure such an important process ends in a good experience. Fortunately, this makes them EXCELLENT at what they do. Unfortunately, their intent on guaranteeing that everything has been done to have 100% satisfaction often can expose them to a lot of drama. Despite it, they do an awesome job and do it happily and graciously!
So far, they have spent time trying to help me set my diamond (in the beginning), certify, list and market my diamonds. When I found the other, Erica and Grace graciously offered to give me their opinion and list the one I chose to sell. They also took my ring and had the stones swapped and shipped it to me today. Up to this point, they have spent A LOT of energy giving exemplary service and have not profited one single cent....yet!
These ladies have been advocates, sounding boards and, at certain times, given me the reality check I desperately needed.
Upon opening the package containing the finished ring, I saw that Grace mailed and packaged my ring as if I were the most important customer in the world. The eloquently written note and cleaner were such small gestures, but are such a testament that they love being a part of happy endings and take a lot of pride in that role. It isn't ONLY about the money. Its about the feeling you get opening up something that will become a cherished heirloom....
NOW the pics!!!! Thanks for all of the positive feedback and help with the decision making process! It was extremely helpful!
The loss of my Grandmother's wedding ring is a totally different story in itself. Short story, I left it where someone could take it and we think that is what happened. Either way, the loss created a lot of heartache that, in the end re-created my relationship with my Dad. I anticipated him to go thru the roof upon hearing I lost the ring. Instead, he reminded me that it was just a material item, and that it wasn't worth what I had put myself through looking for it. (This is a major development given our past). My mother also put it correctly by telling me, "Baby, your true diamond walks through your front door after work everyday." SO TRUE! Anyway, it was a testament to what really matters.
That being said, it doesn't say that I am not a crazy, mental, basket case, micromanager when it came to finding a replacement for such an important piece. Hey, nobody is perfect....
I found a diamond I loved for a great price on Ebay. It belonged to a couple who had no children and it had been passed to a niece that decided to sell. The diamond dates back to a family that came to the US in the late 1800s from Russia and settled in Hells Kitchen, NY. One of their sons, Sammy, inherited the diamond in the 30s and, I was told, he was never without it. He met a wonderful lady who was a dancer trying to break into Broadway and they were married and lived in NY. I was told they were adventurous and extensive travelers. "If this diamond could talk, they stories it would tell..." the niece told me.
Anyway, a local jeweler I was working with at the time advised me not to buy something off of Ebay and let him source one, but I did anyway
It just spoke to me and that was that! When I brought it to him he said I had bought a lemon. I freaked out and made an appointment with an appraiser- getting a quote from him before hauling my two young children an hour away for $95. I got there, he did an appraisal and said I was given the wrong price. He ended up charging me $165. Grrrr....I went on to try to reset it, bought some french cuts went thru some tough lessons about what I do and don't like in settings. In the end, I decided to sell the diamond because it seemed easier to shop with cash in hand rather than settle for something just because of the price. I just could not find what worked!
I went to another reputable estate jeweler in Ft. Worth who took a look and said my EGL J VS1 (probably about an L GIA) stone was probably a P/Q and that he'd pay me $4,000 for it as a favor if I spent double that in his store. Luckily, Erica from JbEG had worked with me in the past and had seen the diamond in person. She had seen a post I made about selling it and knew what I was walking in to. She called me after I emailed her his opinion. I am not a pretty crier! I sobbed on the phone and she assured me he was full of it and offered to have it certed and sell it as a consignment if that was what I really wanted to do.
Without divulging too much, the past experience with my not knowing what I wanted and attempting a custom piece with JbEG, she and Grace should have RUN the other way, not offer to help.
It went up for sale on their site. That week, some interesting things started to happen. I had to drive to Arlington to pick up a gift and stopped in a gold and diamond secondhand store to window shop. The first ring they brought out from the back was a beautiful antique piece holding a diamond the exact (to the tenth of a MM) size as the one I was selling. Erica emailed me back and forth for most of that day giving advice on price, what to look for and the possibility of being able to set whichever stone I wanted to keep in this setting! She spent all this time knowing that I could decide to pull my diamond, sell the new one on my own and walk again. She didn't even mention it and gave her time and advice graciously!
I am a believer in signs (finding my diamond's twin was the first one)...that week my son kept telling me about a new student in his preschool class, Sammy (we call the first diamond the "sammy diamond." I usually have to remind him to be friendly b/c he and his bff are so into each other, I want him to have other friends. Well, Nathaniel just took to Sammy and for a solid week kept asking if he could come over....Not Samuel, Sam...Sammy.
Anyway, I decided to keep my beautiful Sammy diamond and it is set in a setting that seems custom made for it!! It was a tough one, but I felt like it was passed to me and my family with its old owner's blessing. Also, how rare to know the origin of such an old piece??!
This is where I want to gush on JbEG. I love that they, unlike the others I came across, are honest, love what they do and truly are committed to making sure such an important process ends in a good experience. Fortunately, this makes them EXCELLENT at what they do. Unfortunately, their intent on guaranteeing that everything has been done to have 100% satisfaction often can expose them to a lot of drama. Despite it, they do an awesome job and do it happily and graciously!
So far, they have spent time trying to help me set my diamond (in the beginning), certify, list and market my diamonds. When I found the other, Erica and Grace graciously offered to give me their opinion and list the one I chose to sell. They also took my ring and had the stones swapped and shipped it to me today. Up to this point, they have spent A LOT of energy giving exemplary service and have not profited one single cent....yet!
These ladies have been advocates, sounding boards and, at certain times, given me the reality check I desperately needed.Upon opening the package containing the finished ring, I saw that Grace mailed and packaged my ring as if I were the most important customer in the world. The eloquently written note and cleaner were such small gestures, but are such a testament that they love being a part of happy endings and take a lot of pride in that role. It isn't ONLY about the money. Its about the feeling you get opening up something that will become a cherished heirloom....
NOW the pics!!!! Thanks for all of the positive feedback and help with the decision making process! It was extremely helpful!
Such a beautiful diamond.
If you ever go in there, tell him Julie sent you 
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