Need new wedding band (and to put engagement diamond into a new setting)

[Anonymous]

I lost my wedding band. It was a really inexpensive ring (maybe $50!) that we bought as a temporary ring a week before our wedding because we were so overwhelmed with other wedding planning at the time and always meant to replace with a nicer ring. So, while I'm sad for sentimental reasons, I figure it's time to get a new wedding ring and put the engagement diamond into a new setting.

I went to Tiffany's and like the Etoile and channel set bands rings there a lot (they are modern and simple), but they will not use my existing diamond in one of their settings. I have to use the same diamond from my engagement ring (as it was his great-grandmother's and passed down) so I am looking for a jeweler who can put this diamond into a new setting, along with a new wedding band. Any suggestions for a great jeweler?

[Anonymous]

Shah and Shah downtown on 17th and K. They do beautiful work, will design for you and are just great to work with.

[Anonymous]

Pampillonia in Friendship Heights does beautiful work! http://pampillonia.com/

[Anonymous]

Will Tiffany's let you buy the ring without a center diamond, so you can have another jeweler put the stone in for you?

I'm sure they'll give you their nonsense about they can't guarantee the ring that way, blah, blah, blah (they are so ridiculous - they're selling a brand rather than being jewelers), but if you push, will they let you pay money for their product?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will Tiffany's let you buy the ring without a center diamond, so you can have another jeweler put the stone in for you?

I'm sure they'll give you their nonsense about they can't guarantee the ring that way, blah, blah, blah (they are so ridiculous - they're selling a brand rather than being jewelers), but if you push, will they let you pay money for their product?

NP here. Tiffany absolutely won't do it, even if you push, for exactly the same reasons you state.

OP, if you aren't opposed to an online jeweler, there are some great ones out there that have settings similar to Tiffany. For a repository of diamond knowledge, go to www.pricescope.com. Two popular vendors are www.briangavindiamonds.com and www.whiteflash.com. I believe they make similar settings, though you'll have to double check if you can purchase their settings without buying a stone. I'm pretty sure for Brian Gavin that you can and less sure about Whiteflash.