^^too gaudy for me too. And Steph.

10/9/2008 10:19:24 PM

haha cute.. Good luck!

10/10/2008 12:25:54 AM

this is another one from joint venture not as pretty as my favorite favorite one i posted a few pages ago but the yellow diamond is kinda unique/pretty

10/10/2008 11:19:21 AM

an asher cut tacori, nice choice miss christine. My personal favorite

10/10/2008 1:49:24 PM

Uh

It's not a tacori

10/10/2008 1:51:00 PM

ha, i actually wondered that for a second. It didn't look exactly how i remembered them too but i just figured it been a few years sense i actually looked at one

10/10/2008 1:56:00 PM

so i went and looked at their website bc i clearly didn't know wtf i was talking about and ran across a ring i thought was unique and beautiful

10/10/2008 2:18:03 PM

I think I must just not like ring photography or something. Because all these rings look big and gaudy to me. Maybe if I saw them on a model hand I would think differently.

10/11/2008 2:24:49 AM

i think some of them have a little too much going on maybe

10/11/2008 2:29:07 AM

Quote :

"but the yellow diamond is kinda unique/pretty"

riiiight.

10/11/2008 3:33:27 AM

lol

10/11/2008 3:44:18 AM

Quote :

"I think I must just not like ring photography or something. Because all these rings look big and gaudy to me. Maybe if I saw them on a model hand I would think differently."

That's probably my biggest gripe...I like relatively simple...because sometimes less is more.

So what are good choices for local jewelers of the brick-and-mortar storefront variety? I like to scrutinize in person, even if it sometimes costs more.

10/15/2008 4:11:09 PM

I saw the engraved Novell ring from pgs 8 & 9 in person this past weekend, and it was A LOT heavier than I would have expected. Also, the pictures make it much more attractive. I thought it was beautiful up close, but fairly subdued from even a small distance.

Has anyone on here gone custom or gotten a ring engraved with your own design? Were you satisfied with the ending product? In your opinion, was it worth the extra $$ in the end?

10/15/2008 7:48:26 PM

^^Try Jolly's in North Hills

10/15/2008 8:23:42 PM

Quote :

"Has anyone on here gone custom or gotten a ring engraved with your own design? Were you satisfied with the ending product? In your opinion, was it worth the extra $$ in the end?"

if you look at page 7, spöokyjon had one custom made

10/15/2008 9:14:31 PM

ah-- I didn't go back that far earlier today, but that is definitely one of my favorites in this thread. I guess it's just the right thing for some people.

[Edited on October 15, 2008 at 9:40 PM. Reason : btw, thanks SF!]

10/15/2008 9:39:41 PM

^^ Yeah that one was kick ass.

One of my friends had his ring custom made and it was really nice. But he also got it done in Seoul for dirt cheap so I don't think cost was much of an issue

10/16/2008 2:33:45 AM

NEVER go to Jolly's!

oh yeah and like omar's rings
needles -the sapphires are wonderful on that ring

[Edited on October 17, 2008 at 1:20 AM. Reason : rings]

10/17/2008 1:16:32 AM

^Jolly's is one of the most respected jewelers in the area. it is family owned, and they stand by their work. I'm friends with one of the family members, and I know they would not stand for substandard service or quality.

10/17/2008 8:50:08 AM

Quote :

"NEVER go to Jolly's!"

whyfo dat be cracka?

10/17/2008 10:26:03 AM

wolfpackgrrr, at first i thought all engagement rings were gaudy, but once you start seeing them in person and figure out what looks good for your hand, you figure out what is "you" and what really depicts the love it represents.

i like very simple jewelry, but i also wanted a ring that meant something and was pretty- not just a giant rock after trying on a ton of rings that were "nice" i found mine. the symbolism of the x's and o's, the flowers, the blue signifying fidelity and a happy marraige, etc-- i knew it was something i would enjoy for life and it means more to me (and my fiancee, he loves it) than "just a ring."

[Edited on October 17, 2008 at 4:54 PM. Reason : ]

10/17/2008 4:53:22 PM

http://www.jollys.com/

10/17/2008 7:43:33 PM

i got mine at jollys

10/17/2008 8:16:41 PM

Quote :

"Jolly's is one of the most respected jewelers in the area. it is family owned, and they stand by their work. I'm friends with one of the family members, and I know they would not stand for substandard service or quality."

Family Owned & Highly reputable Jewelers in the area:

Jolly's
Fink's
Bailey's
Hayden & Co.
Johnson's
J.M. Edwards

(anyone is welcome to add to that list, but they're the major ones)

You may also visit AGS, to Find a store that is reputable if you live out of state through:
http://www.americangemsociety.org/member-search-jeweler.php





[Edited on October 19, 2008 at 6:20 PM. Reason : ]

10/19/2008 6:18:28 PM

finks has the hottest employees...i suggest them

10/19/2008 6:21:59 PM

Actually it was started by what is now the Bailey's family.
You overpay at Jolly's and after knowing several people that have worked for them and other stories from other companies(I am in the jewelry business and am a graduate gemologist) I cannot honestly reccoment them. sorry.

But I Highly reccoment Baileys and thier son Trey and his wife was in Carlsbad. CA in GIA when I was there and they are very informed and knowledgable about stones.

Hayden & co. is very nice if you can afford it.
Charles Frank Goldsmith is good for rare stones and custom work
I can think of more when I have time.

10/20/2008 3:28:56 PM

my brother just bought this one for his fiance

10/20/2008 3:44:10 PM

Topazery has new rings up!

10/20/2008 4:21:18 PM

Also, I love http://www.ringenvy.com/

Partially for ideas, and partially because of how ridiculous/ugly some of the rings are, and how so many ugly rings (but with many carats!) are the most 'envied'

[Edited on October 20, 2008 at 5:06 PM. Reason : lkj]

10/20/2008 5:06:28 PM

this 13.39ct fancy intense blue went for 8.7 mill.
it makes my tummy go funny. I love type IIb blues sigh.......

anyways what do ya get me? I already bought a 4.7ct that I sold and own lots of diamonds.
yes. I have a rock problem.

10/21/2008 12:03:02 AM

We'll get you someone you love so much, that you'd take a 0.15ct, N color, I2 clarity set in 10ky.... and be thrilled. How's that?!

10/21/2008 12:39:41 AM

^^Link please

10/21/2008 8:57:02 AM

while my fiance and i were out looking for a ring, i tried on a yellow diamond...but what i really want to try on one day is a brown diamond

example...



[Edited on October 21, 2008 at 9:09 AM. Reason : ]

10/21/2008 9:08:05 AM

Quote :

"You overpay at Jolly's and after knowing several people that have worked for them and other stories from other companies(I am in the jewelry business and am a graduate gemologist) I cannot honestly reccoment them. sorry."

This is incorrect. the quality you get at Jolly's is one of the best in raleigh. they back up their work, and will correct any problems that arise. It is a good family owned store.

10/21/2008 9:22:00 AM

I don't like the major jewelers for some reason. I guess it just doesn't seem as special if it comes from the Walmart of jewelers, you know?

I like smaller places.

10/21/2008 9:40:41 AM

the diamonds come from the same place - why's that?

10/21/2008 10:07:13 AM

They come from a mine of course, they were thrust up from deeper layers in the earth's crust during geological events. Certain companies have a good hold on diamond mining unfortunately, but you can still go to the little guy for your jewelery.

You don't want a generic piece from a "Walmart jeweler" anyway, you want something that is special.

10/21/2008 10:28:28 AM

clearly you don't know how most women are - they just want a (diamond) ring - any (diamond) ring

10/21/2008 10:29:47 AM

You must not know the kind of women I know then. Mine would be pissed if I got some generic diamond jewelery, that's for sure.

10/21/2008 10:33:15 AM

Quote :

"This is incorrect. the quality you get at Jolly's is one of the best in raleigh. they back up their work, and will correct any problems that arise. It is a good family owned store. "

I totally agree that they have great quality. Thier quality is extremely high, and thier work never shoddy and always backed up and corrected. The store is also family owned. < although I have heard more than once from that Frank "jolly" Ragsdale is not a Jolly, but won it from his ex-wife in a divorce settlement.

my main issue with them is that everyone that I know that has worked there says they were treated badly. They also complained about the lack of knowledgable staff. <- wich is actually common in alot of high end places, which really cracks me up.

so I don't have it out for Jolly's or anything. I just can't reccomend them. they have never done anything unethical, but they haven't done anthing spectacular either. k. oh and it's expensive as hell

10/21/2008 5:52:58 PM

^^ who wants to marry that kind of woman anyways?

10/21/2008 6:24:27 PM

ohhh brown diamond. yummy. I loved colored diamonds. a special little something for y'all.
http://www.fancydiamonds.net

I don't think that a guy who knew me, meuch less loved me would get me a little rock with bad clarity. a brownish, yellowish no prob. but little and bad clarity -probs

10/21/2008 6:29:26 PM

hey - I don't want to put this in classifieds b/c the idiots will destroy it. But I realize a lot of people who are looking at this might be looking/researching a ring. A buddy of mine had a very short engagement and has a ring available at a huge discount. Some people are funny about the ring being "someone elses" and I can understand if its 10 years old, but this was worn for a matter of weeks and is in brand new condition. He bought it for $16,000 from a very reputable local place, I saw him write the check, and of course would show proof of that and the appraisal. He's trying to sell it for $7k. It's a tacori and absolutely perfect. If someone is honestly interested and in the ring market for something that price, I'd be happy to send some pictures and exchange the number so you can talk. PM me

If anyone has any questions about high end rings, I'd be happy to pass the questions along.

10/24/2008 9:11:11 PM

Quote :

"You must not know the kind of women I know then. Mine would be pissed if I got some generic diamond jewelery, that's for sure."

I dunno about all that. Mine balked at me spending as much as I have budgeted. She told me she'd be happy with whatever I got her. But she's gonna get more than what she says she expects. I think she's secretly pretty thrilled.

I have money in hand. Ready to buy. I just gotta find the perfect ring at a good price; my budget isn't as much as I want it to be, but them's the breaks, what with recently moving and paying off accrued debts (some of which were incurred during the first marriage, separation, and divorce).

lots of folks have mentioned Blue Nile, but they don't quite have what I'm looking for. BTW, that's changed from the previous and now there are other options, including a vintage style pave ring.

Any other ideas as far as online places go?

10/25/2008 12:13:25 AM

^I wouldn't go to any place online other than blue nile or http://www.uniondiamond.com/?aid=dh. You just can't trust anything else, even ice.com has lower quality diamonds. I plan on buying my ring at blue nile, or at the very least the diamond. Its the best bang for the buck and the only place that offers returns. The mark ups at brick and mortar stores are absolutely ridiculous for what you can get at blue nile. There's a reason its consistently rated the best.

10/25/2008 10:24:42 AM

^^I've been hearing ads lately for a new place in off glenwood outside of Crabtree called Diamonds Direct. Might check that out.

10/25/2008 11:31:53 AM

Quote :

"You just can't trust anything else"

10/25/2008 5:22:19 PM

^ why the sad face? not saying you can't buy and get a great diamond online....its just those two are tested over and over and over and recommended by forbes, etc. If you got a great diamond online, please share....its just those are two are constantly tested

10/25/2008 8:50:02 PM

That isn't a sad face.

10/25/2008 8:58:01 PM

I didn't know BlueNile.com updated their site! I'm all set but my brother's working on getting engaged. It seems a lot easier to search for diamonds even though the basic criteria are the same.

11/1/2008 8:21:00 PM