Mara
Super_Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2002
- Messages
- 31,003
I got the email today letting me know that Greg's wedding ring was completed and on it's way to us! It should arrive tomorrow. In the meantime, here is some eye candy taken by the company, Absolute Titanium, and a quick review of the process and their services.
I first heard of AT online here on the forum when someone said they got a custom tension set ring from them. I had been wanting to do a custom tension set ring for Greg for the wedding with a small ACA stone...but had not really found a company I felt comfortable with in terms of setting our own stone. Of course there was no way I was just buying a pre-set ring or something that they would select for me, I'm a diamond freak, remember?!
We had tried on some Spectore rings in a local store and Greg loved one in particular but they would not take responsibility for setting our stone AND they also would not work directly with the public consumer, so we'd have to work through the local jeweler and I was not 100% comfortable with the thought of not having direct contact with the actual company and instead relying on a middleman.
So when I heard about AT on the forum, I messaged the poster (don't recall who..its been so long!) and he gave me a great review of the company and his process. So I got in contact with AT about 6-7 months ago in preparation for figuring out what to do around this time. I worked with Mia who was very responsive to emails, and answered all my questions (which as most of you know can be many and very detailed!). I decided to use them and let her know I'd be back in touch when we were closer to the date.
At this point I started looking at WhiteFlash's ACA selection over a period of a few months...trying to find a stone that worked for me. Since this was the first superideal stone we were buying, I wanted it to be the absolute top notch in terms of pictures, numbers, reports etc...because I figured...I had the time...so why would I need to settle for anything? I could take my time and really find something that would make us both ecstatic. The best thing is that the pricing model for the smaller ACA's does not change too much from one size or color to the next, so it's not like with a 1c stone where E to G makes $1000 difference. With smaller stones like the ones we were looking at..the difference was maybe $200. I'd set a healthy budget for the stone and wanted to get something as big as possible for my gold and diamond-loving New Jersey-born fiance.
He had been coveting my ring for a while and wanted his own diamond.
Eventually I selected a beautiful .38 F VS2 ACA H&A from WhiteFlash with absolutely stellar numbers, a 1 EX EX EX EX on the HCA and an eye-popping IdealScope image, and Lesley had it shipped over in time for Valentine's Day. I presented it to Greg for fun and we played around with it using the H&A viewer and IdealScope. We were both very impressed, the stone was absolutely beautiful. Still the most beautiful stone I have seen.
I got back in touch with Mia and started making arrangements to send over the diamond for them to create the ring. I was kind of a laggart at this point...held onto the loose stone longer than I should have, and her estimated time frame for having the ring done (due to my tardiness) was the week of April 18-25. It was later than I hoped since we only had 2 weeks from that point until we left and what if something was wrong or delayed, etc. I stressed that I needed it sooner if possible and shipped over the diamond per their instructions.
It arrived safely the next day via FedEx (I decided not to get the lagging Registered Mail option which could take up to a week to arrive since we were already delayed..so I was taking a chance sending it un-insured with FE!) which was a relief. In the meantime, I was paying for the ring which was actually somewhat of a tedious procedure. I guess in the past I have been spoiled with WhiteFlash...since they know me already...I didn't have to jump through any rigorous hoops to prove that I was who I said I was. AT didn't give me that luxury. I had to fill out a few forms, sign a bunch of stuff and then fax over everything along with copies of my drivers license and credit card front and back...I felt like I was giving my firstborn.
I was actually somewhat disappointed with this part of the process, being an eCommerce person I love to do things online and this was a hugely offline part of the process done via fax. I gave one of the guys over at AT an earful a few times about their luddite processes (why not have online checkout?!) esp when Mia gave me a song and dance about how they have teenagers buying with their parents cards so they have to make sure it's a legit order. Sorry...but at this point I was thinking..hmmm if I was a teenager playing with mom's card..would I have gotten in touch 7 months early and shipped you a $1k diamond? Uhh okay whatever. I just followed the tedious process to pay and finally a day later it was done. AT was actually quite patient with me, which I appreciate.
So at this point I got a call from their designer, Maria, who went over some of the details in regards to depth, width, shine...how I wanted the diamond set..the special groove we wanted added, etc. She was very very patient and explanatory on the phone with me which really set me at ease. I am not a trusting person when it comes to custom after the previous experience with our engagement ring (e.g. came back too fat, too high etc). But she seemed pretty knowledgeable, so I felt at ease.
From this point on I didn't hear too much, they told me they'd be in touch as the ring progressed to let me know when it got close. I heard from Mia about 2 weeks ago saying that the ring should be done in the next week. Wow, about 2 weeks early! At this point I had to go to Vegas so I was out of touch with them for another week. Last Thurs I emailed but with no response. This week a few emails went back and forth with Mia and their response time was slower than usual (she said they were very busy with people being off for vacations etc)...and I couldn't seem to get a really clear answer on when it was going to be done. Instead it was vague such as 'I will email you as soon as the ring reaches my desk' (What does that mean?). It would have been more clear if she had told me WHEN it would be done and when it would ship but I didn't get much info. However, I knew it would be very soon..I'm just splitting hairs since I was getting anxious.
So this morning, I get an email saying it's shipping and a great little picture! The ring looks excellent...Greg loves the picture, and it will arrive tomorrow for pickup at FedEx. Overall, super happy with the entire process and Absolute Titanium...I love that they custom make every ring to fit the stone that you give them as opposed to trying to force a stone into a setting already made...we were not familiar with how other tension companies work but it was just good to know that our ring was going to be custom regardless. Their prices were a little more steep than other titanium companies (e.g. the similar ring from Spectore without stone would have been something like $300 less) but for the peace of mind and the detailed process, the money was well worth it.
I will post more information tomorrow after the ring arrives and hopefully also get some more pictures. Enjoy!
Details:
6.5mm titanium & 14k yellow gold mens wedding ring set with a .38c F VS2 ACA H&A diamond (with a 4.75mm diameter).
I first heard of AT online here on the forum when someone said they got a custom tension set ring from them. I had been wanting to do a custom tension set ring for Greg for the wedding with a small ACA stone...but had not really found a company I felt comfortable with in terms of setting our own stone. Of course there was no way I was just buying a pre-set ring or something that they would select for me, I'm a diamond freak, remember?!
We had tried on some Spectore rings in a local store and Greg loved one in particular but they would not take responsibility for setting our stone AND they also would not work directly with the public consumer, so we'd have to work through the local jeweler and I was not 100% comfortable with the thought of not having direct contact with the actual company and instead relying on a middleman.
So when I heard about AT on the forum, I messaged the poster (don't recall who..its been so long!) and he gave me a great review of the company and his process. So I got in contact with AT about 6-7 months ago in preparation for figuring out what to do around this time. I worked with Mia who was very responsive to emails, and answered all my questions (which as most of you know can be many and very detailed!). I decided to use them and let her know I'd be back in touch when we were closer to the date.
At this point I started looking at WhiteFlash's ACA selection over a period of a few months...trying to find a stone that worked for me. Since this was the first superideal stone we were buying, I wanted it to be the absolute top notch in terms of pictures, numbers, reports etc...because I figured...I had the time...so why would I need to settle for anything? I could take my time and really find something that would make us both ecstatic. The best thing is that the pricing model for the smaller ACA's does not change too much from one size or color to the next, so it's not like with a 1c stone where E to G makes $1000 difference. With smaller stones like the ones we were looking at..the difference was maybe $200. I'd set a healthy budget for the stone and wanted to get something as big as possible for my gold and diamond-loving New Jersey-born fiance.
Eventually I selected a beautiful .38 F VS2 ACA H&A from WhiteFlash with absolutely stellar numbers, a 1 EX EX EX EX on the HCA and an eye-popping IdealScope image, and Lesley had it shipped over in time for Valentine's Day. I presented it to Greg for fun and we played around with it using the H&A viewer and IdealScope. We were both very impressed, the stone was absolutely beautiful. Still the most beautiful stone I have seen.
I got back in touch with Mia and started making arrangements to send over the diamond for them to create the ring. I was kind of a laggart at this point...held onto the loose stone longer than I should have, and her estimated time frame for having the ring done (due to my tardiness) was the week of April 18-25. It was later than I hoped since we only had 2 weeks from that point until we left and what if something was wrong or delayed, etc. I stressed that I needed it sooner if possible and shipped over the diamond per their instructions.
It arrived safely the next day via FedEx (I decided not to get the lagging Registered Mail option which could take up to a week to arrive since we were already delayed..so I was taking a chance sending it un-insured with FE!) which was a relief. In the meantime, I was paying for the ring which was actually somewhat of a tedious procedure. I guess in the past I have been spoiled with WhiteFlash...since they know me already...I didn't have to jump through any rigorous hoops to prove that I was who I said I was. AT didn't give me that luxury. I had to fill out a few forms, sign a bunch of stuff and then fax over everything along with copies of my drivers license and credit card front and back...I felt like I was giving my firstborn.
I was actually somewhat disappointed with this part of the process, being an eCommerce person I love to do things online and this was a hugely offline part of the process done via fax. I gave one of the guys over at AT an earful a few times about their luddite processes (why not have online checkout?!) esp when Mia gave me a song and dance about how they have teenagers buying with their parents cards so they have to make sure it's a legit order. Sorry...but at this point I was thinking..hmmm if I was a teenager playing with mom's card..would I have gotten in touch 7 months early and shipped you a $1k diamond? Uhh okay whatever. I just followed the tedious process to pay and finally a day later it was done. AT was actually quite patient with me, which I appreciate.
So at this point I got a call from their designer, Maria, who went over some of the details in regards to depth, width, shine...how I wanted the diamond set..the special groove we wanted added, etc. She was very very patient and explanatory on the phone with me which really set me at ease. I am not a trusting person when it comes to custom after the previous experience with our engagement ring (e.g. came back too fat, too high etc). But she seemed pretty knowledgeable, so I felt at ease.
From this point on I didn't hear too much, they told me they'd be in touch as the ring progressed to let me know when it got close. I heard from Mia about 2 weeks ago saying that the ring should be done in the next week. Wow, about 2 weeks early! At this point I had to go to Vegas so I was out of touch with them for another week. Last Thurs I emailed but with no response. This week a few emails went back and forth with Mia and their response time was slower than usual (she said they were very busy with people being off for vacations etc)...and I couldn't seem to get a really clear answer on when it was going to be done. Instead it was vague such as 'I will email you as soon as the ring reaches my desk' (What does that mean?). It would have been more clear if she had told me WHEN it would be done and when it would ship but I didn't get much info. However, I knew it would be very soon..I'm just splitting hairs since I was getting anxious.
So this morning, I get an email saying it's shipping and a great little picture! The ring looks excellent...Greg loves the picture, and it will arrive tomorrow for pickup at FedEx. Overall, super happy with the entire process and Absolute Titanium...I love that they custom make every ring to fit the stone that you give them as opposed to trying to force a stone into a setting already made...we were not familiar with how other tension companies work but it was just good to know that our ring was going to be custom regardless. Their prices were a little more steep than other titanium companies (e.g. the similar ring from Spectore without stone would have been something like $300 less) but for the peace of mind and the detailed process, the money was well worth it.
I will post more information tomorrow after the ring arrives and hopefully also get some more pictures. Enjoy!
Details:
6.5mm titanium & 14k yellow gold mens wedding ring set with a .38c F VS2 ACA H&A diamond (with a 4.75mm diameter).
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