Looking to buy soon...another newbie with questions

[Charliekwin]

Hello everyone!

I am yet another longtime-lurker who''s posting to find some advice. I''ve found my girl and I''m looking to pull the trigger on a ring soon.

To start with, the minimum requirements:
- Princess cut (at least 1ct, probably something like a G / VS2)
- Channel setting
- I''d like to stay in the neighborhood of ~$7k -- give or take a bit if necessary

I''ve looked around and haven''t found anything that''s caught my eye quite like the X-prong settings has, so I think that''s gonna be it. I''ve found a few variations on it. Two from Vatche and one from Whiteflash:
- http://www.dvatche.com/large_rings/539.htm
- http://www.dvatche.com/large_rings/240.htm
- http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/X-Prong-Princess-Channel_780.htm


I''d like to know what you all think is the best way of acquiring such a ring? I could easily pick up the setting and a stone like this one from Whiteflash (who I''ve read great things about here) for just about $7,000 and have it shipped to California without ever leaving my seat and save several hundred on sales tax to boot.

I''ll be visiting some friend-recommended jewelers in the Los Angeles area this weekend, as well as the Robbin''s Brothers (they have Vatche settings) and the Jewelry Exchange (supposedly a good source for stones) to look around and see what I find....are there any specific questions I should be asking or anything to be looking for in particular? Any other places I should be looking? Other settings that I might like based upon the styles above? Am I at least in the ballpark with my pricing for what I want?

So many questions!!

Thanks for any answers

 

[Shay37]

Date: 3/9/2006 2:50:19 PM
Author:Charliekwin

Hello everyone!

I am yet another longtime-lurker who''s posting to find some advice. I''ve found my girl and I''m looking to pull the trigger on a ring soon.

To start with, the minimum requirements:
- Princess cut (at least 1ct, probably something like a G / VS2)
- Channel setting
- I''d like to stay in the neighborhood of ~$7k -- give or take a bit if necessary


I''ve looked around and haven''t found anything that''s caught my eye quite like the X-prong settings has, so I think that''s gonna be it. I''ve found a few variations on it. Two from Vatche and one from Whiteflash:
- http://www.dvatche.com/large_rings/539.htm
- http://www.dvatche.com/large_rings/240.htm
- http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/X-Prong-Princess-Channel_780.htm



I''d like to know what you all think is the best way of acquiring such a ring? I could easily pick up the setting and a stone like this one from Whiteflash (who I''ve read great things about here) for just about $7,000 and have it shipped to California without ever leaving my seat and save several hundred on sales tax to boot.

I''ll be visiting some friend-recommended jewelers in the Los Angeles area this weekend, as well as the Robbin''s Brothers (they have Vatche settings) and the Jewelry Exchange (supposedly a good source for stones) to look around and see what I find....are there any specific questions I should be asking or anything to be looking for in particular? Any other places I should be looking? Other settings that I might like based upon the styles above? Am I at least in the ballpark with my pricing for what I want?

So many questions!!

Thanks for any answers

At the risk of sounding like a Nike ad: Just do it. That princess stone is to DIE for!!! As far as settings, the #2 from Vatche you posted or the #3 from WF. If you buy the princess you linked just get the #3 from WF. Done, done. Hth

shay

 

[tulip928]

The Royal X looks lovely with the princess and side stones

 

[sanfranciscoellen]

Oh, you''ve done your homework well!

If I were you, I''d go Whiteflash. Great stone and setting. Done!

 

[Sundial]

Wow I''d jump on that princess cut stone and the setting from Whiteflash! I''ve never bought from them myself, but I wouldn''t hesitate to do so based on recommendations on this forum. However it certainly doesn''t hurt to look around at brick and mortar jewelry stores too, to make sure this is the kind of ring you really want to get. I would want to know as much about the cut of the diamonds you see as possible.

 

[Charliekwin]

Thanks for the comments guys. I''m glad to know that all the homework I''ve done has been worthwhile -- I''d hate to think I''ve missed something important.

I''m leaning towards the Whiteflash stone and setting at this point, though much will depend on the price of that Vatche Royal X and what I might happen to find this weekend.