Ring Shopping!

[AmberWaves]

Hey ladies! Well, my BF and i have agreed to go ring shopping in Downtown Los Angeles'' diamond district over Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend! We had to strike a deal that involved cheese sauce for his nachos (I homemade it), and no more mention of rings. Also, this morning, my bf asked me, "I wonder if we could get the ring separately, and then get the setting?" I just looked at him and said, "Honey, EVERYONE does it that way." I''m such a condescending hag.

I''ve gotten so spoiled here, with all the dealings with buying the stone yadda yadda... Ya know, now that I''m a part of this purchase (if you remember my "bad news" thread, I''m putting my own money into this as well), I feel so less anxious, because now I KNOW when it''s going to happen (mostly) so I''m not fretting about "Is it this weekend? Or Valentine''s Day?" or anything like that, because I KNOW it won''t be before we look at stones and stuff like that. We want to see what looks good on my hand. And I wanted to say to Albi- thanks A LOT.

Now that I saw that stunning cushion, I''m not too sure about the RB!! Dang! But now he''s much more excited about it, before the diamond district promise was given grudgingly (hello, I''ve been patiently waiting for 2 years, buddy, cut me some slack) but when I mentioned going to the L.A. Car show (we go every year), he was like, "honey, we won''t have time to do that this month" and I said (playing dumb, to see what he''d say), "Why? What else are we doing this month?" And he said, "I thought we were going downtown?" I had to laugh, and say I totally forgot. Yeah right.

Then he asked, "So, do you want anyone to come with us, because we have no idea what we''re doing." And I said (silly me), "What? Like the PS girls?!" All excited. I''m nutty. And he gave me the stink eye and said, "No... like your mom or something?" I totally didn''t even think about it. Because there are really no other people who would be as excited as I will be, more than you guys!!

He thinks I''m crazy. Me?

Like a fox.

Anyway... a question to all PSers who''ve been to the Diamond District in Downtown Los Angeles: what the hell do we do? Where do we go? Most importantly: Where do we park?

 

[E B]

Hello again!

My fiance and I went to the diamond district looking for a setting, and not too long in, we were two incredibly uncomfortable people wanting to leave ASAP. A word of warning...there's so much to see, you might be overwhelmed. Joey and I felt very uneasy about most of the people we spoke to, and decided after a while to head home. This was our experience, but I hope others had a better one!

Are you just going to the DD to look, or to buy? The vendors I spoke to had nice diamonds, but they were priced much higher than say, Whiteflash. The setting prices are reasonable, but it's really all about feeling good about whomever's making it for you/selling it to you.

ETA: Regarding parking, I believe we found an underground garage that was around $6.00 for however many hours (maybe it was just for an hour!

). We had to walk a little bit, but it wasn't horrible.

 

[Evie75]

Well first of all CONGRATS!! you are going to have a lot of fun!! and probably get very confused like i did LOL.. but stick to what you know you like and what you want to see first!! I did that and totally changed my mind lol.. it looks totally different on your figner and have your questions ready to at least sound like you know what you''re talking about LOL...some of the sales people can be really pushy and try to screw ya.

okay i dunno about the diamond district downtown LA but im sure its like the one here in Manhattan!! may i suggest stay away from the stores that have a bunch of booths in them!! i think they pretty much just want to sell you a diamond and really dont give a crap about you and what you want.. Try an upscale one JUST TO LOOK! because they are usually more helpful and seriousl and answer ALL your questions!! but yeah go to a whole bunch we did and had a great time learned A LOT and i know exactly what i want... he has his own jeweler too so he wont be gettng it at any of the places we went too.

Good luck have fun!!

 

[MissAva]

Date: 1/4/2006 12:47:59 PM
Author:AmberWaves

Hey ladies! Well, my BF and i have agreed to go ring shopping in Downtown Los Angeles'' diamond district over Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend! We had to strike a deal that involved cheese sauce for his nachos (I homemade it), and no more mention of rings. Also, this morning, my bf asked me, ''I wonder if we could get the ring separately, and then get the setting?'' I just looked at him and said, ''Honey, EVERYONE does it that way.'' I''m such a condescending hag.

I''ve gotten so spoiled here, with all the dealings with buying the stone yadda yadda... Ya know, now that I''m a part of this purchase (if you remember my ''bad news'' thread, I''m putting my own money into this as well), I feel so less anxious, because now I KNOW when it''s going to happen (mostly) so I''m not fretting about ''Is it this weekend? Or Valentine''s Day?'' or anything like that, because I KNOW it won''t be before we look at stones and stuff like that. We want to see what looks good on my hand. And I wanted to say to Albi- thanks A LOT.

Now that I saw that stunning cushion, I''m not too sure about the RB!! Dang! But now he''s much more excited about it, before the diamond district promise was given grudgingly (hello, I''ve been patiently waiting for 2 years, buddy, cut me some slack) but when I mentioned going to the L.A. Car show (we go every year), he was like, ''honey, we won''t have time to do that this month'' and I said (playing dumb, to see what he''d say), ''Why? What else are we doing this month?'' And he said, ''I thought we were going downtown?'' I had to laugh, and say I totally forgot. Yeah right.

Then he asked, ''So, do you want anyone to come with us, because we have no idea what we''re doing.'' And I said (silly me), ''What? Like the PS girls?!'' All excited. I''m nutty. And he gave me the stink eye and said, ''No... like your mom or something?'' I totally didn''t even think about it. Because there are really no other people who would be as excited as I will be, more than you guys!!

He thinks I''m crazy. Me?

Like a fox.

Anyway... a question to all PSers who''ve been to the Diamond District in Downtown Los Angeles: what the hell do we do? Where do we go? Most importantly: Where do we park?

Having never been to LA (outside of the airport) I am no help but that last line was just too funny! Way to keep a sense of humor!

 

[SoonIHope]

Date: 1/4/2006 12:47:59 PM
Author:AmberWaves
And I wanted to say to Albi- thanks A LOT.

Now that I saw that stunning cushion, I''m not too sure about the RB!! Dang!

hahaha, sorry Amber!!!

But you really SHOULD get a cushion!!!! I had never heard of or seen one before I started trying on rings, but the second I tried on my first one I was BLOOOWN AWAAAYYYY because it was so much more beautiful than anything else I had ever seen!!!!!!!

So at the very least, promise you''ll try some on before you decide!

But as for the majority of your post - so exciting!!!! I agree that it really is the Having a Plan part that makes you feel best! Like the month or so before I got engaged (hehe past tense! so weird!), I barely even thought about it, because I knew it would most likely happen the week we were upstate for Christmas. It''s just one of those things that''s soooo easy to freak out about when you don''t know what''s going on, but as soon as they give you a little concrete something, you can just relax and enjoy it! So YAYYY!!!! Take pics when you''re trying things on if they''ll let you!!!!!

 

[AmberWaves]

Ha ha ha, Matadora, I know. Honestly, finding parking in L.A. is a nightmare, though. Even our own street!! Cripes! Well, in answer to a few questions, we''re only going to LOOK, because I need to see what looks good on me, and all that. Also, I''m going to check the prices, try to see if they''re going to shaft me, like I think they will.

Listen to me, like I''m freakin'' Sherlock.

I''m looking at the sizes and shapes mostly. My BF will probably want to buy there, but I''m just thinking of checking it out. Poor guy, no matter what I tell him, he''ll still not understand about WF and the price difference. I''ll have to make him see the light. I''m afraid of getting acosted by people who want me to buy their things. I look arabic, so whenever I''m downtown, people think I can speak like, farsi and arabic or armenian and start yelling at me like I''m family. It''s cute. My best friend is armenian, so I picked up a lot of stuff from her family, so maybe i can finagle a deal.

.Just kidding... On an aside, what do ya''ll think of this ring?

 

[E B]

You'll encounter several booths in the DD where people don't speak much English...it's definitely an experience, to say the least.

I like that ring a lot! It looks like mine from the top, and I love the pave detailing and engraving on the sides. The only thing I'm not "feeling" is the prongs. They seem HUGE to me. I feel that they'd cover too much of the diamond. I might just feel this way because the picture is huge, though. I wonder if anyone on PS actually has that setting...maybe the prongs look normal when at actual size.

 

[AmberWaves]

Albi, I totally feel better now that we''ve got the plans down. I''m saving money as we speak (there goes another dollar!), and I''m also doing more research so I can find what I want most. I''m feeling so good, in charge almost. Now that he''s agreed to actually step foot in a jewelers! Yikes! Also, Albi, I love your band, how slim it is... does it slide around a lot? What is the mm width of the band itself? I''d like that for "research" purposes , not to thrust in the BF''s face...

 

[AmberWaves]

EBREE, I feel exactly the same way about the prongs, too chunky, it covers the stone a lot. From the side it''s not too bad, but straight on, it''s almost making it a bit of a bezel set!! (I exaggerate) I wonder about the engraving, will it scrape my skin?

 

[E B]

I don''t think the engraving would be a problem. If anything, the trouble would be the milgrain...but I have milgrain all around my ring, and I don''t feel it at all.

Date: 1/4/2006 1:50:55 PM
Author: AmberWaves
EBREE, I feel exactly the same way about the prongs, too chunky, it covers the stone a lot. From the side it''s not too bad, but straight on, it''s almost making it a bit of a bezel set!! (I exaggerate) I wonder about the engraving, will it scrape my skin?

 

[E B]

This setting (

) might be affordable if made with WG. It''s not a bad price for platinum and diamonds as it is, but you might be able to knock off a couple hundred easily.

http://www.thefacetscollection.com/item.cfm?item_id=2359

 

[AmberWaves]

I think I''d like WG more, it''s warmer, but I''m afraid of the damage I''d do to a white gold setting! I''m a bit clumsy..

I''m just so excited!! Looking at settings I know I''m going to get (I mean, something I''ve wanted for so long, that we''re finally buying!)!!! Yay! Yay!!! Sorry, I''m a dork..

 

[LAJennifer]

Mine looks like that, except mine is a 3 stone (also small prongs and no pave on the actual basket). Mine is white gold - I like that it stays shinier. Mine has pave, milgrain and engraving - it did itch for about 2 days or so. Totally used to it after that.

 

[AmberWaves]

LAJennifer, is there a picture of your ring posted somewhere? I''ve been thinking a lot about getting a ring with sidestones, or just diamonds along the band, before I was really focusing on a solitaire, with a possible surprise stone. I''m so confused.

I need to make up my mind, I just hate that I''m so wishy-washy!! Well, I guess I can really see what I like when we go, right?

 

[LAJennifer]

Amber, unfortunately I do not have a working digital camera at this time so there is no picture of my ring. Where in LA are you? We could get together sometime if you like - you could try it on, see how it feels, etc. Keep in mind I''m a size 3.5. We also went to the LA Jewelry district. We went without a plan, or specific vendors to go see (we took the metro from Hollywood - didn''t have to park). It was pretty chaotic and overwhelming - and most of the stuff sitting out in cases looked like junk. If you go, you might want to make a few appointments ahead of time with some vendors that got good reviews on here. Also, we went on a Saturday and a lot of the vendors on the upper floors were closed. However, we did find a wedding band for "him" for $260.

 

[AmberWaves]

Oh, LAJennifer- I totally didn''t even realize you were in L.A. My goodness, where is my mind? Also, I''d love to meet up sometime, but- I''m a 6.5! Like, twice the size of your little finger!

The more I think about it, the more I want to tell the BF to just go to Robbins Bros., since I really just want to try things on, and see things I think I might like- most people see to have had a poor experience at DD. Also- the metro, huh? Sounds like a better idea. When I served Jury Duty (two horrible days!), I learned all the ins and outs of downtown. Maybe I can ply him with mexican food at Olvera Street first, then spring the Robbins Bros. idea on him..

I''ve learned I must stay away from China Town, during Jury Duty, I took the Dart (some quick transportation thingy for a quarter- takes you all over) to china town (but I hate Chinese food!!), and had to get off on the last stop, and I got lost!! It was a hot day in April, and I had to walk back to the courthouse, because I''m a moron.

 

[E B]

Trying on different settings at Robbins Bros is a great idea. It''s where I went to soothe my ring fever. At some point, they''ll try to take you into a back room, where they show you a bunch of crappy diamonds. If you can''t avoid it (we couldn''t), just stick it out. It makes you appreciate places like Whiteflash about a thousand times more.

 

[AmberWaves]

Uh oh, the "back room", makes me think of Pulp Fiction... Yikes. Thanks for the heads up. My boyfriend doesn''t know it yet, but we''re getting our rings from WF. We''re just looking at other places. Don''t tell him that.

Anyway, gotta get home, I need to get ready for USC vs Texas!! (My boyfriend is making me Tivo it- he''s going to be coaching a game- booo.) Thanks for all your help everyone!!

 

[flopkins]

Amber- a friend of mine got her ring at a place called Oscar''s in LA DD. I don''t know if they have ideal cut diamonds, but her setting was gorgeous!!

I *think* I have heard the place mentioned around PS before too... maybe someone else can chime in.

 

[LAJennifer]

We had better luck at Robbins Bros than downtown (for the purpose of trying on settings). We kept from being dragged into the backroom by saying we were going to use an heirloom stone and were only interested in settings. Heh, heh, heh.

 

[caligal]

There are over 500 jewelry stores in the district – Many of which are crammed within a single unit/space and resemble small cosmetic counters within a department store. There are a few parking garages there- typical fees- around $10 to park. Robbins Bros is a good idea to start so you can get an idea of what you like on your finger (I did some mall shops myself just to make sure I liked rounds on my finger- and yep I do!). My advice: Do your homework. Know what you want before you go in, and then hunt for it. If not, they’ll eat you alive. They’re like used car salesmen – but greasier.

 

[Angel7]

Congrats and have fun!! Take pictures if you can!! Enjoy it!!

 

[AmberWaves]

Tracy, holy crap you scared the hell out of me! I''m afraid of the "sharks" in DD. The more I think about it, the more I''m liking Robbins Bros. for trying things on. I should still like the RB, put that cushion cut... Hm...

Thanks for the mention, Flopkins, too. I''ll look into it. We talked about our budget last night, and I''m starting to feel good, he said that at this point we''re going to definitely make our End of March deadline. I forget to remind him that it may take awhile for the ring to be set and all that. Whoops. I guess I kinda want to get him in a good mood.

I have to space our the conversations, though. Once he mentions the ring, I think of it as an invitation to talk about it all the time. Which bugs him. SO I''m just going to do my research, and get back to him when I know what''s what.

This is the fun part, right?

 

[caligal]

Sorry for scaring you! I''d rather you both have a good experience..... get your specs down of what you want- make sure you know good specs on both rounds and the cushions. Cause they are a bunch of dullards! Quote- How is the depth on the diamond? Them- quote: Oh it''s a good depth.

Yikes right? Did you two watch the game last night? Sad times in our house with SC losing!

 

[AmberWaves]

Tracy, I''m going to do all the research I can, the funny thing is, all of our "friends" (shut up, you guys are my friends!!) on here find me great stones in my budget, and I can never find them myself!! What the hell? I''m thinking I may have us go WF for everything, you can''t debate their skill, nor can you debate the prices!!

As for the SC game last night, MAN.

What happened to Reggie Bush, he just started off on the wrong foot, it seems. Not at all like his Heisman-winning previous moves, huh? And Vince Young? (I keep wanting to call him Vince Neil!) That guy is a rocket!! My boyfriend was DYING last night. His mom called at one point to tell us about a funeral we are going to tomorrow, and he was like, "Mom, I''m watching the game, ok? We''ll be there!" I was like, turn down the TV and freakin'' talk to the woman! He was so RUDE! But because we were watching his favorite sport, he was in such a good mood. Gotta love that.

 

[Kit]

Amber, so excited for you!

Yay yay yay!!!

Have the best time and report back immediately.

 

[snuga]

YAY Amber!! I''m so glad to hear that things are going well for you over there. If you can, take some pics, or at least let us know what you like/dislike after your ring shopping experience.

As a RB lover myself, I am a sucker for anything round, so of course I say go for it, but try on EVERYTHING before you decide.

I can totally relate to feeling like you love everything and don''t know what you really want. I went into jewelry stores wanting a RB solitaire and tried on three stone rings, pave bands, different shapes and sizes of stones.... EVERYTHING you could imagine and walked out totally sold on a RB solitaire.. For me, nothing really changed or caught my attention more than a RB solitaire, but you may love something you have never even considered before. Once you see what looks good on your hand and what you want in a ring, you will most likely find something you truly love.

Good luck and keep us posted!!

 

[E B]

So...were you able to make it over to Robbins Bros?

 

[AmberWaves]

Well, actually, we''re going to Robbins Bros. this coming Saturday (three day weekend!!). Also, we were watching Wedding Crashers, and of course there are a ton of different proposals and things like that, and my boyfriend said, "See? there have been like, three proposals, and none were with a ring!" I just gave him a glare and kept watching. Then, that night, I told him that if he wants to propose early, without the ring, that''s fine. We''ll get the ring in April, but he can propose earlier without it. Of course I told him this while he was falling into a Nyquil-aided sleep, so I may try to tell him again.

 

[anchor31]

Things seem to be going really well for you Amber! Hurray!!!