How important is it to see a ring in person?

[RedG44]

I''m a first time poster, but I''ve been lurking for the past couple months while I prepare to buy an engagement ring. My problem is that my girlfriend has very particular tastes (full bezels with thin bands) that diminish my selection quite a bit. I''ve found a few rings that I like online (and some in stores), but I can''t shake the nagging feeling that they won''t look as good in person, or at least not enough to justify dropping several thousand dollars "just to check."

I have other options, but I really want to get the perfect ring, and it seems like leaving the Internet out of the equation is only limiting my options. Am I right to be concerned? If nothing else, the proportions of the ring have a lot to do with carat weight, so the generic picture isn''t necessarily representative.

Alternatively, if anyone has any personal example pictures of the Whiteflash "Halo Bezel" style setting, it would help a lot just for reference.

Thanks!

 

[LostSapphire]

I would venture a guess and say if your GF has particular tastes, it would be best to try some on if you can. Then maybe if you get a really good idea in your head (and hers!) of what the 2 of you really LOVE, you can have WF craft a ring for you.

LS

 

[LGK]

Has she tried one on? Or does she just like the look of them in pics?

I found it to be very, VERY important to try things on in person; things I was soooo sure I loved in pics looked terrible on. So, I would say it is a good idea to at least find something very similar for her to try on.

Good luck!

 

[Diamond*Dana]

I definitely think that it is important for her to at least try something similar on as the others have said. My friend loves my halo and the way it looks on my hand, but she hates the way it looks on her.

 

[RedG44]

Yeah, we went out to a few jewelers and tried on a bunch of different rings so that I could get a feel for her tastes without her knowing exactly what she''d be getting. In fact, from pictures, she didn''t think she''d like halos because they were too gaudy, but in person, she really liked a few of them. That''s why I know the style is probably good, but I have trouble trusting just the picture. Again, proportion matters a lot, and I don''t know what size the center stone is in the picture, etc.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I would have no issues ordering a ring from WhiteFlash sight unseen. But I certainly would not do it from just anywhere.

 

[Upgradable]

I just reset my diamond into a Beverley K setting from Pearlman''s Jewelers. Pearlman''s sent me out a "loaner" version of the setting I was interested in. I was able to put it on my finger and wear it around for a day to see if it really was what I wanted. That cinched the deal for me! Pearlman''s carries a wide variety of designers, and their customer service is #1 in my eyes! Check them out and see if they can help you.

 

[bnovak]

Being my third post, it probably doesn''t matter, but....

If this is your first ring that you''ve purchased, I think the more important question is are you buying a ring, or are you buying a stone?

I''m not going to say that there aren''t good diamonds online (or bad diamonds in a store for that matter) but I think there is a level of importance to see the stone outside of the setting. I also don''t want to say that there are un-reputable online sources, but I think for possibly your most important purchase, it''s something to do in person at a reputable jewler.

this is for your engagement ring, and this is a STONE, not a RING, that you have to be proud to have on your wife''s hand. Now, I''m not a jewler, nor do I work in gem sales, but I''d say go to a bunch of different stores and ask to see raw diamonds. Look at them under natural light, and think about the setting that they would go in. An old trick is to take a packet of sugar, pour it on white paper, and put the stone on top. this will show the shape, as well as any inclusions. not many jewlers will let you do this one, but put it in a glass of water, and that will bring out the characteristics even more.

Does your Fiance have a setting or cut in mind? What is she expecting? This will determine what shape stone you are looking for.

Again, I''m not knocking any of the online dealers but....I''ve seen plenty of my friends finance''s show up and go "ooooh look at my ring" yeah, it''s big, but hell from across the table I can see the cloud and inclusions. that doesn''t project well.

If you take a stone in your hands and under a loop, you can see the inclusions. If you understand the settings, you can get a larger stone with better color, even if it has inclusions, for less money. If it''s vertical inclusion, and you know what the setting is, you can match the seeting and have the jewler put the inclusion BEHIND a prong. It''s not visible from the top or side, and only can be seen if the stone is removed from the setting. Make sense?

If you do want to buy online, I''d say buy the stone that fits your budget and then have it set. This is a very important purchase to make and YOU have to enjoy it as well. Be careful though - buying stones can get addicting!

Just my $.02

 

[RedG44]

Date: 10/13/2008 8:44:56 PM
Author: bnovak
Being my third post, it probably doesn''t matter, but....


If this is your first ring that you''ve purchased, I think the more important question is are you buying a ring, or are you buying a stone?

Depends. Right now I''m planning on buying the setting and stone separately, but I''m keeping my eyes open just in case the right stone and setting are already put together.

I''m not going to say that there aren''t good diamonds online (or bad diamonds in a store for that matter) but I think there is a level of importance to see the stone outside of the setting. I also don''t want to say that there are un-reputable online sources, but I think for possibly your most important purchase, it''s something to do in person at a reputable jewler.

I''m not buying anything without a certificate, since I recognize my eyes (and tools) are limited compared to those of professionals. That levels the playing field quite a bit between brick-and-mortar stores and the internet. Which is not to say I''m against looking in stores, but it''s far more convenient to see price points online.

this is for your engagement ring, and this is a STONE, not a RING, that you have to be proud to have on your wife''s hand. Now, I''m not a jewler, nor do I work in gem sales, but I''d say go to a bunch of different stores and ask to see raw diamonds. Look at them under natural light, and think about the setting that they would go in. An old trick is to take a packet of sugar, pour it on white paper, and put the stone on top. this will show the shape, as well as any inclusions. not many jewlers will let you do this one, but put it in a glass of water, and that will bring out the characteristics even more.

Actually, this is a question about a SETTING, primarily. I guess I wasn''t clear in my phrasing. I''m far less concerned with seeing the diamond in person, for the above stated reason. (Though I have seen enough in person to know what the differences in grades signify).

Does your Fiance have a setting or cut in mind? What is she expecting? This will determine what shape stone you are looking for.

Full bezel setting with a thin band.
I''m looking at round stones.

Again, I''m not knocking any of the online dealers but....I''ve seen plenty of my friends finance''s show up and go ''ooooh look at my ring'' yeah, it''s big, but hell from across the table I can see the cloud and inclusions. that doesn''t project well.

If you take a stone in your hands and under a loop, you can see the inclusions. If you understand the settings, you can get a larger stone with better color, even if it has inclusions, for less money. If it''s vertical inclusion, and you know what the setting is, you can match the seeting and have the jewler put the inclusion BEHIND a prong. It''s not visible from the top or side, and only can be seen if the stone is removed from the setting. Make sense?

It would make sense if I were talking about prong settings. I''m not concerned with inclusions you need a loupe to see. My priorities are Cut, Carats, Color, and Clarity, in that order. I want an ideal cut stone, as large as I can get it, no worse than H color, and no worse than S1 clarity (but aiming for a VS1 or VS2).

Thanks for your input. I''m sorry if I wasn''t clear that this was a question about settings (why I posted in this forum rather than one of the stone forums), but I still appreciate the time and thought you put into your response.

 

[Maisie]

Here is a link to Shay's Whiteflash prong set bezel.. its the same ring just with prongs and not a bezel.... Shay WF Halo

Halfway down this page you can see pictures of the bezel setting when Mara and Aldj went to visit Whiteflash... Bezel and Prong settings

I hope that helps

 

[RedG44]

Thanks so much

Also thanks to everyone else who helped. I didn''t mean to snub your (also very helpful) posts by only responding directly to bnovak.