UPDATE: How would you feel about this jeweler:

***UPDATE: So, it's been awhile now. We passed by this guy's shop again (he never did call me back by the way). He set most of the pendant with diamonds, but not the whole thing. It really does look great though. He also set an onyx in the center. But, he hasn't been able to sell it. So, he's going to come down to $375. One of his diamonds has to be replaced because it's poor quality. Then, he's going to remove the onyx and set my diamond in it. We're also going to get a better chain (I'm giving him back another chain that he gave us when DH purchased the heart from him).

I'm so excited!!!



For our 1st anniversary, DH bought me a diamond heart pendant from a jeweler in one of those 'diamond exchange' shops. It's 14K white gold, on a chain, 85 points of diamonds (in maybe 15 stones). price was $450 (tagged at $1,000)

We were really happy with that.

So, I have my mom's e-ring that I want to have set in a pendant. It's a carat, oval shaped stone- EXCELLENT quality. I brought it to the guy and even he said that it's a very valuable stone. (I had questioned it's value because it's not a desirable cut).

Anyway, he didn't have anything in stock, but said he'd bring some things in a week later for me to look at. I told him we wanted to spend around $200.

so, he called me yesterday and said he found a pendant that the stone could fit in.

I go in and it's a lovely pendant, but he'd want $585 for the extra diamonds.

I was like 'WHOA! NO! I told you $200. The most I could do is $300.'

He said a couple times that it's a very valuable diamond and should go in a very nice pendant. While I agree, my budget cannot exceed $300. He said he understood, but figured he'd give this one a try since it's a nice pendant and it's hard to find pendants for oval, 1 carat diamonds.

He said he'd look for a few more things and call again when he gets something.

I'm just feeling weird about him now...

I wouldn't like that. That is like when you go to try on wedding dresses and tell the people you want to spend less then 1,000 and they bring out dresses that cost 3,000 and up!
I would probably give him another chance and see what he shows you in your price range.
I guess you can't really blame the guy for trying! If he thought it was something you would really fall in love with and spend the extra money on i would have showed it to you also.

I would have the stone appraised to see what it is really worth. If it is so valuable, I would wait, and save up, to have it set in something that would be comparable to the stone's quality.

But- I can see why you feel that this jeweler is a little sketch. I had a similar type of sitch with a framing place-- I have this poster that I love-- but it is probably only worth like 20 or 30 bucks-- and I took it to have it reframed and the framing basically cost me like 200 and the framer was resistant since he did not think it was worth it to spend 200 bucks to frame something not really worth any money- but I wanted it in a nice frame, so that was that- so, he may be protecting you- and the value of the stone- but, maybe it is his approach that is rubbing you the wrong way-- the fact that there's 'nothing out there' according to him- I wouldn't like it either.

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Posted by randella

I would have the stone appraised to see what it is really worth. If it is so valuable, I would wait, and save up, to have it set in something that would be comparable to the stone's quality.

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It was already appraised by another jeweler. this guy just confirmed that the other appraisal was accurate.

My thing is that I've had the stone for almost 2 years and it just sits in a box because I already have my own e-ring. So, I kind of just want to put it in something, just so I can start wearing it. Then, maybe down the line, get something nicer.

I can understand how you feel-- but I really would save so you don't need to have it re-set down the road. But that's just my opinion.

Think about it-- you put 10 or 20 bucks away each week-- you won't even notice-- in no time you'll have a couple extra hundred bucks..

I understand how you would be feeling like that but if it is a good quality you shouldnt have it set in something just to have it set. See what he offers you that is in your price range. Keep in mind alot of jewelers will not set beautiful stones in crappy jewelry...if he couldnt find something in your price range that was good quality he probably looked for the next best thing in a higher price range.

Is this just for the setting? If so, he seems like he has a store and buys his settings elsewhere, as opposed to a jeweler that makes molds and/or settings (hence his 'it's hard to come by nice settings' comment). Also, you say the center stone (oval) is of 'excellent' quality...what's that mean? Is it D-F color and VS1 or less? If so, then the side stones (I'm assuming there are side stones because you wrote the 'setting with diamonds') need to be of equal quality (not exactly the same as the center, but in the same range so that the color will be uniform and the eye won't pick up yellow hints or visible inclusions). All in all, $585 for a setting, mounting and side stones is NOT steep at all...but it depends on the metal, quality of stones and workmanship. Plus, if he's getting his setting from a third party he needs to build up the price a bit to account for that.
Hope I'm making sense, feel free to FM me in case I don't.

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Posted by SomethingBlu

Also, you say the center stone (oval) is of 'excellent' quality...what's that mean? Is it D-F color and VS1 or less?

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yup, it's a 1.07 carat, VS2, F, and it's cut perfectly for an oval.

I know the diamonds need to be good, but I think the issue is that he picked a pendant that's just too big. It was about an inch around, so to fill all of that space up with diamonds was . I'm thinking if he had the same thing, but smaller, we'd be in good shape.

I'll give him another chance and see what he has next weekend.