The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Actually, you'll get the best results if you go against your gut on this one. Maybe avoid the especially disreputable looking non-chain store in the mall, but definitely find a local independent jeweller to do the work for you. I wouldn't recommend ever getting work done at one of the big-box places like Kay's or Jared's or People's; you'll pay more than you should, and the quality of the work will probably be pretty low. To put it in terms more familiar to the average PAer, going into Kay's get a ring repaired or altered is like taking your computer to the Best Buy Geek Squad to get a virus removed and a new video card installed. The job will get done, probably, but you would be much better off finding a reputable little local place.
Unfortunately, it's hard to use the internet to find a good local place. In my hometown, there's a fantastic jeweller downtown - a bit pricier than some, and his designs aren't really my style, but he does high-quality work. His website, however, is less than useless, and it's impossible to find via Google unless you already know his full name. So, how do I know about him? He's where my grandmother gets all of her stuff.
Talk to your friends and relatives, especially older ones (since they tend to have more money to spend on good jewellery). Ask them for recommendations for local independent jewellers. When you get a few names, go check them out. Explain that you're in the market for a custom setting, and ask to see samples of their work - not just through the glass, actually pick them up and look at them. Get a feel for their natural style; if your girl likes clean, modern settings, and everything in that jeweller's store is ridiculously ornate with little carved curlicues around the settings, thank the jeweller for their time and walk on. A good jeweller should be able to work within any style, but if you're looking to spend $1000 on a setting, you want to find somebody who specializes in what you want.
Once you find somebody who seems to make the sort of stuff your girl would want on her finger for the rest of her life, get more specific. Ask about cost, ask about timelines, figure out if they already have a setting that's perfect for you or if you'll need one customized. Tell them you want the original setting returned. (Or, if your budget will stretch a bit, ask about getting some cheaper, non-diamond stones set in it, then give it to your girl just as a neat old ring with sentimental value).
ceresWhen the last moon is cast over the last star of morningAnd the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, ModeratorMod Emeritus
Do not give her the ring on any holiday, or on her birthday.
Yes, I am a pessimistic person.
The diamonds already belong to her because she inherited them from her grandmother, so there's really no possible way this would be an issue. Unless he were to get pissy and decide he wants the setting back.
ceres on
And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
Do not give her the ring on any holiday, or on her birthday.
Yes, I am a pessimistic person.
That whole thing is a total myth anyway. It totally depends on individual state's common law, and no judge is going to take holidays into account when the actual purpose of the ring is obvious.
I was almost in the same situation as you. Her parents have a lot of loose stones, and let us pick out any one we wanted. Then, it was just a decision of where to go. We went to a local business that has several stores, and were very dissapointed. We told them our limit, and they kept trying to sell stuff that was at least double our limit, telling us to get one of their credit cards and "just charge it". No thanks lady.
And then, we went to Jared's. We just went in to look, realizing we probably couldnt afford any of it. The salesman asked us if it was our first time, and when we said yes, took us to a little office, where he explained "the Four C's". He even told us which "C's" we could sacrifice quality on (and lower the price) and still have everything look great. When we got out to the floor he was trying to figure out our price limit, but I was embarrassed to even mention it. When he finally got it out of me, he was extremely helpful, and showed us a pretty good range of bands that fit in our budget perfectly. We bought one, and my now wife has been extremely happy with it.
Besides the helpfulness and selection I've mentioned, there are two other reasons to go to Jared's. One, if you want to charge some of the price (which I did), it is extremely easy to qualify. I forget the specifics, but the salesman explained how Jared's own the bank that gives the loan? I can't remember how it worked exactly, but me, having very little credit history, was able to get a very good line of credit. That being said, of course don't charge anymore than you have to. Secondly, at least at the store I went to, they do all their jewelry work in-house, behind clear glass so you can watch. I love that more than anything, because it just makes me feel better that my purchase isn't getting shipped around to who knows where. Also, if anything DID/DOES go wrong, everything can be taken care of on site. It was extremely cool getting to watch the guy actually set all the stones in the ring.
That turned out to be a much longer post than I had planned, but I would obviously recommed at least going and talking to the people at Jared's. My wife also bought my wedding ring there, and again, had no problems whatsoever.
Do not give her the ring on any holiday, or on her birthday.
Yes, I am a pessimistic person.
That whole thing is a total myth anyway. It totally depends on individual state's common law, and no judge is going to take holidays into account when the actual purpose of the ring is obvious.
What are you talking about? I don't understand your crazy customs
Do not give her the ring on any holiday, or on her birthday.
Yes, I am a pessimistic person.
That whole thing is a total myth anyway. It totally depends on individual state's common law, and no judge is going to take holidays into account when the actual purpose of the ring is obvious.
What are you talking about? I don't understand your crazy customs
He's implying that if you give the ring on a holiday, it's considered a gift, so if you break off the engagement she doesn't have to return the ring.
But whether the ring is considered a conditional gift or and unconditional gift has nothing to do with holidays and everything to do with how your state or country's common law treats conditional gifts. No judge in his right mind would say, "If you gave her this ring on any day but Christmas, it would have been a conditional gift, but instead it's a Christmas/Valentine's/Arbor Day present." That's just not how it works. If the intent of the ring is clearly an engagement ring, it doesn't matter when you give it to her. And it's usually easy to prove that the recipient understood the purpose of the gift because she tells everyone she knows about it.
What's much more important is the question of WHY the engagement ended, and who's fault it was. Some courts will take that into account, some won't.
while it may be a non issue, there are several fit types,
comfort fit is one of them, which is contoured on the inside
Halfround
Flat.
these describe the inside dimater/edge of the ring. it looks like the ring in the cad drawing is flat. do you know if thats what she likes? i couldn't stand the feel of a flat and i think went with the comfort fit. though this may be a non issue since women rings are so thin
Overall it's a nice looking setting. I'm not a fan of the small bezel set stones set into the prong setting of the main stone, and I wonder if they wouldn't take away from the appearance when viewing from the top (from which perspective it will be viewed the vast majority of the time).
Posts
Unfortunately, it's hard to use the internet to find a good local place. In my hometown, there's a fantastic jeweller downtown - a bit pricier than some, and his designs aren't really my style, but he does high-quality work. His website, however, is less than useless, and it's impossible to find via Google unless you already know his full name. So, how do I know about him? He's where my grandmother gets all of her stuff.
Talk to your friends and relatives, especially older ones (since they tend to have more money to spend on good jewellery). Ask them for recommendations for local independent jewellers. When you get a few names, go check them out. Explain that you're in the market for a custom setting, and ask to see samples of their work - not just through the glass, actually pick them up and look at them. Get a feel for their natural style; if your girl likes clean, modern settings, and everything in that jeweller's store is ridiculously ornate with little carved curlicues around the settings, thank the jeweller for their time and walk on. A good jeweller should be able to work within any style, but if you're looking to spend $1000 on a setting, you want to find somebody who specializes in what you want.
Once you find somebody who seems to make the sort of stuff your girl would want on her finger for the rest of her life, get more specific. Ask about cost, ask about timelines, figure out if they already have a setting that's perfect for you or if you'll need one customized. Tell them you want the original setting returned. (Or, if your budget will stretch a bit, ask about getting some cheaper, non-diamond stones set in it, then give it to your girl just as a neat old ring with sentimental value).
Good luck!
Yes, I am a pessimistic person.
Currently painting: Slowly [flickr]
Currently painting: Slowly [flickr]
That whole thing is a total myth anyway. It totally depends on individual state's common law, and no judge is going to take holidays into account when the actual purpose of the ring is obvious.
And then, we went to Jared's. We just went in to look, realizing we probably couldnt afford any of it. The salesman asked us if it was our first time, and when we said yes, took us to a little office, where he explained "the Four C's". He even told us which "C's" we could sacrifice quality on (and lower the price) and still have everything look great. When we got out to the floor he was trying to figure out our price limit, but I was embarrassed to even mention it. When he finally got it out of me, he was extremely helpful, and showed us a pretty good range of bands that fit in our budget perfectly. We bought one, and my now wife has been extremely happy with it.
Besides the helpfulness and selection I've mentioned, there are two other reasons to go to Jared's. One, if you want to charge some of the price (which I did), it is extremely easy to qualify. I forget the specifics, but the salesman explained how Jared's own the bank that gives the loan? I can't remember how it worked exactly, but me, having very little credit history, was able to get a very good line of credit. That being said, of course don't charge anymore than you have to. Secondly, at least at the store I went to, they do all their jewelry work in-house, behind clear glass so you can watch. I love that more than anything, because it just makes me feel better that my purchase isn't getting shipped around to who knows where. Also, if anything DID/DOES go wrong, everything can be taken care of on site. It was extremely cool getting to watch the guy actually set all the stones in the ring.
That turned out to be a much longer post than I had planned, but I would obviously recommed at least going and talking to the people at Jared's. My wife also bought my wedding ring there, and again, had no problems whatsoever.
What are you talking about? I don't understand your crazy customs
He's implying that if you give the ring on a holiday, it's considered a gift, so if you break off the engagement she doesn't have to return the ring.
But whether the ring is considered a conditional gift or and unconditional gift has nothing to do with holidays and everything to do with how your state or country's common law treats conditional gifts. No judge in his right mind would say, "If you gave her this ring on any day but Christmas, it would have been a conditional gift, but instead it's a Christmas/Valentine's/Arbor Day present." That's just not how it works. If the intent of the ring is clearly an engagement ring, it doesn't matter when you give it to her. And it's usually easy to prove that the recipient understood the purpose of the gift because she tells everyone she knows about it.
What's much more important is the question of WHY the engagement ended, and who's fault it was. Some courts will take that into account, some won't.
The triangles on the sides definitely need to be rounded, like you said.
comfort fit is one of them, which is contoured on the inside
Halfround
Flat.
these describe the inside dimater/edge of the ring. it looks like the ring in the cad drawing is flat. do you know if thats what she likes? i couldn't stand the feel of a flat and i think went with the comfort fit. though this may be a non issue since women rings are so thin