I am a guy...Help me with Engagement ring.

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#46
OMG!!! Hello!!! Yes, local to STL :-) I am SOOOO jealous you get to go to GOG!!
I was actually just on pricescope looking into selling a diamond and once I started thinking about the consignment route and wondering about jewelers here, I thought of you. I NEVER would have guessed you'd be on this forum! Although I don't know why not. GREAT place to be.
So do you know any jewelers in STL that do consignment? And better yet, which jewelers do you like best here?
Have a great time in NYC!!!
 
#47
Yay! I have been on here for a while, I only really lurk on PS now. I love it over here. Though it's dangerous.

So far I am not really impressed with any local ones. I have gone to John at Rock Hill for Plat work, mostly to repair what Vincent's and Genovese did to my (now stolen) original wedding set. He's good but he doesn't just do what you ask. He has his own (usually incorrect) opinions that he likes to share.

Simon's in Clayton has nice stuff but I have never had work done there. My parents like the Diamond Shop but I was not impressed and didn't feel like they valued cut there like they should. Kodner is pretty neat too, but never purchased from him. A few friends of mine have. He is into the IdealScope as well.

The only one I have been pleased with and have gone back to more than once is Summa in Kirkwood. Jim Summa is the local Infinity dealer also. He's really a great guy and does really great work. He's an incredible bench guy who also is excited and knows tons about diamonds.

The only local shop i know of that has done consignment or resale of estate pieces is Rock Hill (Manchester between McKnight and Brentwood--next to Trainwreck).

I am so excited to go to GOG. Jon's been pretty awesome to work with.
 
#48
The people at McGinty in the CWE are all very nice. I have my heart on a certain ring, but I've seen some of the owner's custom work and it is amazing. His wife has the most jaw dropping ring I've seen in St. Louis.

I've noticed that custom rings from local jewelers are very popular in STL. In Chicago, designer diamonds are king.
 
#49
I have only been in there once, and while I saw lots of pretty things, whoever I spoke with there (who was very nice) had zero knowledge about quality diamonds, and it turned me off.

Yea custom seems to be a huge thing here, I like custom work if it's done well, but so far all of my local experiences with such things have been HORRIBLE. But I do know a lot of girls who think Tiffany is the way to go. I am hoping to give Jim Summa a shot with a custom job in the near future. If I have any money for it that is.

I asked Jim (summa) about that shop in Kirkwood...Mavrik...and he said that they are really good, especially for detail and pave work. I have seen some spectacular rings come out of there, but I am not impressed by many of his loose stones.
 
#50
The owner of Mavrik once sat down at our table at Lucas Park and after a minute, started talking about rings and engagements. Very aggressive.

I also don't really believe in diamonds for Israel, so we will not be going to Mavrik.
 
#51
Yes he IS aggressive. Very. And drives like crap. He nearly took my front end off in downtown K-wood trying to beat me across the traintracks. I would have just let him had he not been a jerk.

I have not been in Curt Parker for a LONG time but I thought they were nice to work with also.

Neustadters (sp) moved from Ronnie's to Manchester at Ballas but I heard that when Mr. N retired before the move they lost all their big designers in that retirement, because the designers weren't impressed with the daughter taking over. My friend Lori just was up there a couple weeks ago looking at some earrings and said it looked like they were not going to be open much longer just because they had nothing in stock, nothing in the cases and nowhere to order some of their former stock from. She didn't have a good feeling about it being around much longer.

I am also friends with a Saettle, my aunt and uncle really like them. I didn't think their bench jewelers were very good though, and I know for fact they send all platinum work (other than basic polishing) to John at Rock Hill.

I really miss Hamilton. I know the original owner of Hamilton is now over at Saettle (bob beumer) but I would like to know where his bench went. They did nice work.
 
#52
I know Bob Beumer too! I went to highschool with his children and got to know him through sporting evens. My first e-ring came from him and boy did he give me a steal. So he is at Saettle now? I thought he closed Hamilton because of health issues? I think his daughter Becky was in the jewelery industry as well? Hmm..well I think I'll have to go to Saettle and say hi...maybe find out where his bench went.
My second ring came from Adlers, and they have been better than most for repairs and small work. I've never had them do custom work. My wedding bands came from Lordos, but other than the great price I was unimpressed. My husbands ring came from Vincents. Wow..I've gotten around..lol. I know a lot of people out in west county like John Anthony off Clayton (I'm not sure if it's Ballwin or Chesterfield there). I've had him do a few small things for me in the past, but he seems sorta dry and his son who works there is so cute I can't concentrate on anything else..lol.By far the worst experience I've had was at Novak Jewelers. I had to have my ring cut off this summer (which my husband did with a power tool..long story) and I took it there to have fixed. BIG mistake. The repair job is horrible.
So I guess I'll go check out Seattle. Or possibly Summa.
Thanks!

And by the way Ame, I caught up on reading about your stolen ring!!!! Holy cow, and after following you on PS for so long I know what a horrible heartbreak that must have been for you! I'm glad you got it replaced, and I hope your husband came around to the new ring.
 
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#53
He's getting there, I think when we get up there and finalize the stone (I am not in love with this one yet) we will both be ok with it. As much as I am upset about that original stone, the ering as a whole was laden with such drama (Vincent's is to blame there--worst bench ever, and the biggest liars and gameplayers I have ever met) that I wanted rid of it so bad. We were going to buy a whole new setting altogether but then the ring was taken from me. I want that stone back so bad. The wedding ring isn't my original, if you recall my whole WF drama. But it was perfect. lol Oh well.

I know Danielle Adler as well. I actually know her and Angie Saettle from the same group of folks. Funny. I hope Bob will share where his bench went. He is a really nice guy. He did retire for health reasons, and he really seemed like he was in dire pain the day I saw him at Saettles (my friend's got their rings from him at Hamiltons). He kept needing to sit. So when I heard he was working again I was surprised! He's very active with that Concordia church in Kirkwood. And that's where my friend goes.

My mom's brother and his family like Michael Herr but they were RUDE to me so I wrote them right off. They did a great job on my cousin's ring and my aunt's ring but I don't like being told that I need my husband's permission or involvement to be helped by them. Clarkson was just not very good. Not terrible but not really good. And they were not very interested in people knowing what they wanted stone-wise, they wanted to sell what they had, despite the fact it wasn't great.

Vinciguerra supposedly does good custom work but they were really expensive for what they did. And their melee wasn't that good.

I feel like I have gotten around too. I really have though, and I don't play around. I tell them up front what I expect.

To get that repair redone see what Jim at Summa says and then John at Rock Hill
 
#57
I'm back!!! Friday is usually the day that i can wake up early and get online to look for rings and check in here.....then delete my history and still get work done during the day/
Anyway: I have done more online research, and hit some Brick and Mortar places.......Went to a local well respected store and was really annoyed by the sales witch...I walked in, told her what I was looking for AND how much I wanted to spend. I was honest and told her that I was investigating my options and had not really looked at that many rings in person, etc......but I'd love to see what they had to offer in my price range. She proceeded to show me 5 rings that were at least $3,000 over what I wanted to spend. She babbled on and on about "financing" and 1/2 on a credit card...blah. I was so over her....I was nice, but walked out of that place feeling like WTF? is that ladies deal? oh well.......next-
Tiffany....I guess I don't spend nearly enough time at the mall......I had no idea that they would not be open at 9AM.......maybe I should shop more at the mall then Home Depot? Home Depot opens at 6AM.....I like getting stuff sorted out early in the day so I can proceed forward.....but Wed. I drank coffee with some old guys that were hanging out at the mall while their wives "window shopped" oh well.....
I went into Tiffany....well after being vetted by the security guard....and told them I was looking for an E-ring. I went and waited for a salesperson to assist me. Luck of the draw....the woman that came over was super cool......I explained, she listened, agreed, and showed me options.....honestly they all look beautiful, and they all look the same to me......Nice, but impossible for me to tell any visible difference. Aside from Carat....anything in the 1-ct range looked like a monster to me!!!! not a bad thing, as they are over budget.
I am contacting the saleswoman today, and she is going to order (from other stores or the main vault or wherever they stockpile that stuff) in 5 of the best rings available in the $4300 - $5000 range. When they get here I am going to do a blind test (no prices) and pick out the one I like best....seems fair to me.
I am 98% certain that I will buy a ring from a salesperson that I liked, understood me, and did not think I was crazy to not want to spend more than I wanted to spend. I also like the fact that the future wife (if this all works out) can go there and get it cleaned and stuff.......Seems easy. All the rings they sell are 6....then sent to re-size....so that solves a major issue as well...no matter what they need to re-size it.
I also looked at the wedding bands, and they had a really cool one for her that has multiple small diamonds around the band....so if she needs more bling......
I really gave it a ton of thought, and came to the conclusion that I actually do not have a ton of interest in learning about diamonds and getting the best deal, etc......so, I am fully OK with Tiffany........and I understand the pros and cons of that choice. In the future, I may look online to buy diamonds......second wife will get an online ring:D....JUST KIDDING....I am only getting married one time, and only asking one girl to marry me....If she says no then I can think about a life alone with dogs, beer and toilet seats that don't get lifted by me.....Kidding again.....I hope she says yes, I am excited, and I'll let you know what the deal is with the ring.....and after that, what she says.....
Thanks Again......you all rule!!!
 
#58
^^ Excellent service is often more valuable than anything else, so I totally "get" your decision! Keep us updated and I'm sure ANY ring you pick from Tiffany is going to be a STUNNER.
 
#60
Randomguy why don't you bring your fiancee to Tiffanys when they have received their 5best rings so she can decide which cut/ style she prefers? It's a lot of money to be paying without her input.
 
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