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[sammyj]

i_heart_cushions...i think i read somewhere that you''re in Toronto and that you''ve already found your ring? If so, I have some questions!

 

[i_heart_cushions]

Hi Sammyj!

Yes - I am from Toronto...I hope I can be of some help to you.

Although I have "found my ring" so to speak, I don''t exactly know where or when my BF will be getting it. I have a feeling you might have a Toronto-specific-vendor question in mind, in which case, unfortunately, I may not be too much help...


But let me start from the beginning: It started off with me liking RB soliatires. We went to Tiffany''s, Birks, Spence, European Jewelers, and Omni. However, after seeing the Tiffany Novo, I started leaning towards a cushion cut. I was picky with the width of the band, and the size of the pave diamonds, and making sure the rails aren''t too thick, etc. He gave me the option right there in the Tiffany''s store of getting the Tiffany Novo that I tried on for ~0.61 carats, or a "no-name" for a 1+ carat size. I opted for the bigger diamond

. So we found a place at Sherway Gardens called Exclusive Diamonds that sold Ritani styles. I tried it on and fell in love! They were also able to make a Ritani replica for a fraction of the cost (as I''m sure most places do).

So he went back to the stores to start his search over. He didn''t want to just "settle" for the first one we saw that we liked. He wanted to do a little more research and shopping...this was the part I wasn''t really involved in. I know he went online to search for the diamond, and I do know he went to Spence, but he didn''t have much luck with them. Cushions (or at least the type that I want) are hard to find up here . And MUCH more expensive than if you were to buy it online or in the U.S. I think he said that a .91 G VS1cushion was over $8k for the diamond alone (which was just about the entire price of the Tiffany Novo I tried on for about .61 carats). Omni didn''t have any cushions.

He have a feeling he''ll opt to get the diamond & setting online at Engagement Rings Direct or James Allen (both have similar Ritani style settings I like). Even with the exchange rate and the import tax, it would be less expensive to buy fro mthem because you can get a bigger diamond for less than you would if you were to buy it in Canada.

Aside from this, I don''t know anything else. Sorry! I only know he sent an email out to Mark @ Engagement Rings Direct. The rest we want to be a surprise.

However - when I do get that ring (and I''m hoping it is soon) - I will be sure to tell you whatever I know from him!

Let me know if you had another question in mind. Hope I was able to help you somewhat....

 

[sammyj]

thanks for the great summary of your engagement ring process!...and i didn''t even have to ask!

your bf sounds a lot like mine. he wants me to be part of the entire process up until the part where he gets to select and purchase the ring and setting. we''ve been to tiffany, birks, knar and raffi and we have an appointment with jeffrey allan (he''s on queen street right by nathan phillips square) on saturday. we are also planning on going to engage diamonds (north end...on steeles, i think) and speak with martin at usacerted diamonds. it took me awhile to convince my bf to explore buying diamonds online but he''s finally getting used to it.

and your ring tastes sound a lot like mine! i love the pave band as well and i am super picky as to the width of the band as well as the how the pave stones are set. we all want our diamonds to pop and sparkle as much as they can, right? my dream ring is actually the daniel k rosebud but with an RB...October2008 (i think that''s her PS name) has a similar ring.

in terms of some of the places you checked out, how was european jewellers and exclusive diamonds? i was actually checking out the rings in european jewellers at square one today during my lunch..haha. were they pretty pricey? did they have a lot of selections in terms of settings with pave bands? i''ve found that i can''t even seem to find something that has any of the features of the daniel k rosebud!

thanks again for responding. i just wanted to hear from another canadian about their diamond search since buying from us vendors online isn''t the easiest way for us!

 

[i_heart_cushions]

Hey SammyJ! No problem!

It''s nice to see another Canadian with simiar tastes

European Jewellers diamond prices were pretty good... definitely much better than Spence. However, at the time, i was focused on solitaires, so I didn''t really pay much attention to the pave settings. And as for Exclusive Diamonds, I wasn''t paying attention to price (I was focused soley on settings) - but my BF said that it is a bit more expensive than Exclusive Diamonds.

I''m sitting next to my BF right now, and he wants me to tell you that the only place where he was able to find GIA stones was at Spence (he said European Jewellers only had AGL - or at least that was all they showed).

If you have any more questions, let me know! It IS super hard for us, eh? Americans don''t know how easy they have it in terms of diamond availability, selection, quality AND prices!!!!

Now I feel invested in your story - so I''ll be sure to keep track of your diamond shopping process too

All the best!

 

[sammyj]

Date: 11/11/2008 7:12:51 PM
Author: i_heart_cushions
Hey SammyJ! No problem!

It''s nice to see another Canadian with simiar tastes

European Jewellers diamond prices were pretty good... definitely much better than Spence. However, at the time, i was focused on solitaires, so I didn''t really pay much attention to the pave settings. And as for Exclusive Diamonds, I wasn''t paying attention to price (I was focused soley on settings) - but my BF said that it is a bit more expensive than Exclusive Diamonds.

I''m sitting next to my BF right now, and he wants me to tell you that the only place where he was able to find GIA stones was at Spence (he said European Jewellers only had AGL - or at least that was all they showed).

If you have any more questions, let me know! It IS super hard for us, eh? Americans don''t know how easy they have it in terms of diamond availability, selection, quality AND prices!!!!

Now I feel invested in your story - so I''ll be sure to keep track of your diamond shopping process too

All the best!

Has your BF been perusing on PS too?? I just introduced my BF to the cut advisor yesterday and he had tons of fun punching the numbers in to get an HCA score! Guys are funny...

I''ve never been in Spence...I''ve just been on their website...and I hear they have a huuuuge markup. I actually did a search on PS yesterday about Gemscan diamonds and how valid they were compared to GIA. I couldn''t really tell what the consensus was, but I guess since GIA is so well known everyone thinks it''s safer to stick with GIA. Did you find anything out about Gemscan?

Americans do have it easy...hahaha. We calculated the taxes and shipping costs and we didn''t find the savings to be worth the convenience of buying through a local jeweller.

I''m looking forward to when you find out the final decisions your BF made for your ring! (give him a nudge for me!) I think we''re in the same boat where we get to put forth as much input as we can and then all of a sudden we''re totally cut off from the process!!! Then we''re just made to wait until the big ta-da proposal!

I''ll let you know what happens after our appointments this weekend!

 

[i_heart_cushions]

Date: 11/11/2008 8:47:34 PM
Author: sammyj

Has your BF been perusing on PS too?? I just introduced my BF to the cut advisor yesterday and he had tons of fun punching the numbers in to get an HCA score! Guys are funny...

I''ve never been in Spence...I''ve just been on their website...and I hear they have a huuuuge markup. I actually did a search on PS yesterday about Gemscan diamonds and how valid they were compared to GIA. I couldn''t really tell what the consensus was, but I guess since GIA is so well known everyone thinks it''s safer to stick with GIA. Did you find anything out about Gemscan?

Americans do have it easy...hahaha. We calculated the taxes and shipping costs and we didn''t find the savings to be worth the convenience of buying through a local jeweller.

I''m looking forward to when you find out the final decisions your BF made for your ring! (give him a nudge for me!) I think we''re in the same boat where we get to put forth as much input as we can and then all of a sudden we''re totally cut off from the process!!! Then we''re just made to wait until the big ta-da proposal!

I''ll let you know what happens after our appointments this weekend!

Haha - are you kidding me? He actually found this site and introduced it to me. Weird, right? It''s where he gets his info! But he doesn''t have an account - and he''s not as avid PS''er as I am....

He is so relieved that I go on this religiously every night....otherwise, he wouldn''t have as much time as he does now to watch his TV shows and Xbox *shaking heads*. Boys.

Your BF sounds so cute - all excited about the cut advisor.

And yes, I don''t think that with the RB that you guys want, you would get all that much in savings to buy online. I''m pretty sure the cost savings is more for a cushion. I don''t know much about Gemscan diamonds...neither does the BF...sorry. And yes, Spence is definitely marked up (but much less than a
Birks or Tiffany''s). I would opt not to buy from them if you can. I think with the route you are taking, you will definitely find a beaufiul diamond at a local jeweller.


Can''t wait to hear what you guys find out from your appointment!

 

[i_heart_cushions]

Date: 11/11/2008 8:47:34 PM
Author: sammyj

European Jewellers diamond prices were pretty good... definitely much better than Spence. However, at the time, i was focused on solitaires, so I didn''t really pay much attention to the pave settings. And as for Exclusive Diamonds, I wasn''t paying attention to price (I was focused soley on settings) - but my BF said that it is a bit more expensive than Exclusive Diamonds.

Oops - Just realized my error.

I meant to say "exclusive diamonds is more expensive than european jewellers".

 

[sammyj]

I just wanted to let you know that while I''m on PS my BF is watching hockey. haha. Thank goodness he''s not a video game fanatic but there was a point where he was playing Metal Gears on PS3 religiously...and now he''s telling me of other games that he''s interested in getting because he just saw a commercial on tv. so silly....