Post # 1
Member
496 posts
Helper bee
OK, not really, but it’s been a hell of a ride. I need to vent to someone!
- The first two times we were due to go ring shopping, my SO had to cancel due to work.
- Then we went to the diamond district, and everything was just too blingy for our tastes, and the vendors seemed fairly sleazy too (and told us a bunch of BS about moissanite being “brittle” and not lasting when I raised that as an option). My fingers are quite small (4.5) so thick rings just overpower them. I found one ring I liked, but SO wasn’t feeling it so we left.
- Then I went on holiday and found something I liked there. I asked the store to email me the price/details for different stone sizes and metals so I could talk it over with my SO and they said they would get back to me in a few days. A month later, nothing. Email them to find out if they lost my quote docket, nothing. Email them again, nothing. Decide I’m sure as hell not going to trust my engagement ring to these people and move on.
- Start researching custom jewelers. Eventually find one with great reviews in the “budget” section, so book an appointment. Explain all of our needs to her, we’re feeling great. Then she drops the news that she won’t get out of bed for less than $3500 for a setting, all stones aside. OK, we move on.
- Look at Etsy, find a couple of designs I like. Start emailing people about the ring trying to find out whether they can work in palladium or palladium white gold since I don’t want rhodium plating and I’m allergic to nickel. First person tries to pull some crap on me and pretend that nobody does this, before finally agreeing to work with the metal for an extra cost. Not sure I want my ring being made by somebody who has never worked with the metal. Move on.
- Second Etsy person is great for two messages, seriously considering this one! Then suddenly, nothing for three weeks after I mention I don’t have a standard ring size (4.5). OK…
- Fall in love with another ring, SO hates it. We’re eloping in two months, I don’t have a ring yet and the search is starting to DRIVE ME CRAZY! It has literally been six months of this crap!
So in conclusion, if you know any vendors that work in palladium or palladium white gold, have rings with 2mm-ish bands, and aren’t too expensive (don’t want to spend more than $2500 for a ring, including a 1ct moissanite), I will love you forever if you can refer me to them! 
Post # 3
Member
1481 posts
Bumble bee
If you’re okay with ordering online…What about MoissaniteCo.com? They work in palladium (and moissanite obviously lol), are reasonably priced, and have good reviews. My ring is from them but I haven’t received it yet to give you my own opinion.
I believe it takes like 2-3 weeks for them to make the ring and then send it out OR you can look in their sale section and get it within a week because all they have to do is resize it.
Post # 4
Member
496 posts
Helper bee
@FutureMrsJohnson_: Thanks for the suggestion! I actually have gone to their site, but didn’t end up liking any of their thinner bands (I really don’t like the Tiffany claw).
After having another look, something like this could maybe work.
Post # 5
Member
1481 posts
Bumble bee
@Arrowchan: Oooh that’s really pretty! I love the six prongs! So you’re going for a solitaire then?
Post # 6
Member
198 posts
Blushing bee
I like that trellis solitaire. Mind you, if it’s becoming too much of a stress to find something within the timeframe, I’d suggest getting a cheapie silver (or whatever metal that works for you) band, elope (and have fun!), and then do the ring search post-elopement with much more time on your hand (no pun intended 🙂
Post # 7
Member
2299 posts
Buzzing bee
you could try sundarigems on etsy – a few bees have rings from her and they are beautiful! very dainty, and she uses diamonds, sapphires and moissanites for center stones.
Post # 8
Member
3452 posts
Sugar bee
I really recommend contacting Schubach’s. http://shopping.schubachstore.com/ You can call or email them. You can see their work on FB and YouTube.
Post # 9
Member
1770 posts
Buzzing bee
@Arrowchan: argh, so sorry you’re going through this. I think anytime you are looking outside the box (ie special metal paladium vs gold or diamond sim vs diamond) from a private jeweler, it may be an issue, especially if you can’t drop mega bucks.I’m sure there are exceptions but finding those exceptional jewelers would be challenging.
Think you got some good advice above. You may also want to look at weddingbee classified, diamond bistro, ebay has tons of moissanite rings, jtv.com has some too. From what I’ve seen you can get alot of bang for your buck at these sites.
Good luck!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-CT-MOISSANITE-6-PRONG-SOLITAIRE-PALLADIUM-RING-/130557449112?pt=CZ_Engagement_Rings_US&hash=item1e65d49398
One above is 1 carat (d.e.w.) moissanite in paladiumw/ cc card, new for $700
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-50CT-MOISSANITE-ENGAGEMENT-RING-14K-YELLOW-WHITE-GOLD-/281073696538?pt=CZ_Engagement_Rings_US&hash=item41714c3f1a
This one is 1.5 (d.e.w.)moissy in gold for $750 or best offer. Tons like this out there! Would be $15,000 for a high quality diamond…
Post # 10
Member
496 posts
Helper bee
@FutureMrsJohnson_: I’m actually kind of dithering about it now – there have been several styles I’ve liked. First I liked a 3 stone – SO didn’t like the idea, so that was out.
This is the ring I feel in love with on holiday where the people blew me off:
Haven’t been able to find anything similar. :/ This is a ring my SO was thinking of getting me that I also love, but he was out of town and left the shop due to indecisiveness, and we haven’t been able to find it since:
This is another ring I really like on Etsy, but the seller hasn’t got back to me in 3 weeks:
Another one I liked from Etsy, where the seller usually didn’t work in the materials I like. Not sure if I’d get the engraving or not, and I don’t like the double prong but otherwise it’s pretty close to what I like:
So yeah…I’m just feeling kind of sad about all the rings I’ve loved and lost right now!
Post # 11
Member
496 posts
Helper bee
@bluespinach: Thanks! If I go that way, I might just do a plain band and use it as a wedding ring and get the “engagement” ring later. 🙂 I would really, really love to have my engagement ring before we announce, but I’m sure I’ll live either way!
Post # 12
Member
1163 posts
Bumble bee
I second PP’s suggestions not to rush. It took me nearly a solid year to decide on a setting, but I’m glad we didn’t rush because I have never seen another ring I like better than mine. (:
PM me if you want details on my setting. It’s platinum. We ordered it online from a private jeweler and had the moissanite set locally. Originally this setting came with little surprise diamonds on each side, where the sort of pentagon shape is now, but I had it customised to remove the diamonds. ETA in real life the prongs are very slender and dainty.
@Arrowchan:
Post # 13
Member
496 posts
Helper bee
@valintine: That looks gorgeous, thank you, I might send you a PM soon!
Post # 14
Member
496 posts
Helper bee
@peonyinlove: They look great, thank you for the recommendation!
Post # 15
Member
496 posts
Helper bee
@gemgirl6: Thanks so much!
Haha, just broke down in tears to my boyfriend about this – seeing all those rings in a row kind of destroyed me. He’s going to try to track down the ring he saw on holiday again, or maybe we’ll get something else made.
I’ve been waiting nine years for a ring, so this continued dragged-out saga is starting to really upset me. First world problems though, I know!
Post # 16
Member
6360 posts
Bee Keeper
@Arrowchan: A bee posted that final etsy ring you posted above, (or a very, very similar one) on weddingbee recently, but it was about how a large corner of the moissanite had chipped right off.
I know you think the brittleness comments about moissanite you heard from ppl at the Diamond District are not true, but I’m not so sure myself…I suspect it really is brittle (not necessarily the mineral but the final version as a diamond sim). In any case, that setting seems to be particularly risky.
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