Hi Jan,

Just wanted to thank you for all of the help that you provided. The ring look’s wonderful and she said yes! Thanks again and Happy New Years!

Thanks,

Todd

Thank you again for the amazing work on the custom engagement ring and
the great price!! I love seeing how God guided every detail. In fact, I
just noticed that there are 12 leaves just like the 12 tribes of Israel
and the center stone representing God. Way cool!

Thanks!!
-Shawn Newell

Thanks again for all your help and a good bargain

All the Best
Travis

Crystal

Regards,
Ramsey

Thanks again!!!

FP

f

I am an engineer type and play the numbers game despite all that I’ve read about how undesirable that is when it comes to diamonds. I do understand that the diamond purchasing experience isn’t about numbers but rather is likened to a puzzle: Get as many pieces to the puzzle as you can to get a complete picture.

I searched and read many articles, opinions, and tech stuff on diamonds that I could find on the internet. I finally settled on the following specs based on all that I had read:

——–
Cut: Round Brilliant, Ideal Cut, Hearts and Arrows
(non branded)
Clarity: VS1 or VS2
Carat: 1.18 ct
Total Depth: Less than 61%
Crown Angle: Between 32 to 35 Deg
Pavillion Angle: Between 40 to 41.5 Deg
Table: 53% to 60%
Culet: NONE
Polish: Excellent, Ideal
Symmetry: Excellent, Ideal
Fluorescence: NONE
Girdle: thin-medium
Grading Report: GIA Ex, Ex; or AGS000
B-scope (if available): Brilliance, Fire, Scintillation: VH – VH – VH
Isee2 Rating (if available): Better than 9.3

Diamond set in a setting similar a Tiffany Ring Classic Diamond Engagement Ring (6 prongs).

Metal of setting is Platinum 950.

Setting to have tapered point prongs and, when the diamond is set, to have the ‘North’ and ‘South’ prongs between arrows.

Simple wedding band in 2.5 mm Pt 950.
——–

To start my first search, I went to brick and mortar places, also Tiffany’s and places that sell Hearts on Fire and Isee2 diamonds. I really wanted the Hearts on Fire Diamond because I was dazzled by their WOW! commercials on TV, but they were TOOOOO expensive.

In finally settled on Diamond Brokers of Florida because:

1.) Excellent customer service record
2.) They had access an ISee2 machine, a Brilliance Scope, and Hearts and Arrows viewer
3.) They had access to non-branded AGS000 diamonds
4.) Price

I e-mailed Jan the specs and told her that I would be making her work hard for the money. She e-mailed me info on a 1.179 ct since it would be close to 1.8, but no dice.

You see, I wanted 1.18 to represent:

1 God
1 The two shall become one flesh
8 A new beginning

And the solitaire to represent a more simple life without busyness.

I’m a numbers guy and wanted to stay with the numbers I spec’d. This of course made Jan’s job much tougher.

In the end, she found a 1.181 ct/G/VS1 with the other specs I wanted!! Everything looked good on paper! The Isee2 rating was 9.6. The Brilliance Scope showed triple VH. The Hearts and Arrows were acceptable. The photos looked awesome.

Now for the moment of truth. I took the plunge and had the diamond shipped to an appraiser local to me. I discovered, unfortunately, that more and more appraisers were not accepting diamonds to be shipped to their location, but I happened to find one after going through 3 different appraisers.

The diamond arrived fast. When I went to the appraiser, we opened the box together. My jaw hit the floor! The diamond obviously looked good on paper but in real life, it was out-of-this-world awesome!

After the 1st appraisal, I shipped it back to DBOF for setting. I was quite nervous about shipping it back because a hurricane was barrelling down on Florida at the time. I put down 20% to hold the diamond. That was a piece of cake since all I did was make a deposit directly to a local B of A branch.

After everything arrived safely at DBOF, they started work on getting the stone in the setting. I wired the remaining balance to them a few days later. My credit union charged $25 for this service. I was a bit nervous about wiring such a huge sum of money but in the end, my fear was for nothing.

After several days, the ring was ready. Brad did the setting and did the engraving I wanted. Jan told me that the engagement ring would be in a nice cherry wood box.

The ring and wedding band arrived at my appraiser. We opened the box together. OMG!! It was beautiful! I knew that my dear fiancee (now my wife) would be blown away.

You see, months earlier I asked her what she would like. She told me that she loved *me* and that anything I got her would be fine. I said, “How about a simulant, moissanite, or CZ?” She said that she didn’t care, but asked me not to tell her. I got her a real diamond because I wanted her to know what a gem she is to me.

During the 2nd inspection / appraisal, I started getting into it. I wanted to be able to see the AGS serial number on the girdle, locate the inclusions, and see the hearts and arrows pattern for myself. That was an education in itself but I highly recommend buyers learn this.

When looking through the Hearts and Arrows viewer, I could see that the “north” and “south” prongs were dead on between the arrows. I could also see that Brad set the stone so that the serial number was not hidden behind any of the prongs, just like I wanted. The appraiser said, “Yeah. That guy really did an awesome job setting that stone.”

The appraisal was done. The appraiser agreed with the AGS report. I quickly got insurance for it through Jewelers Mutual.

WHEW!

Well, I proposed to my fiancee on Mount Helix in San Diego, CA:

http://www.mthelixpark.org/directions.html

We drove up there and I was SOOOO nervous. Not that she would say, “no,” but how I was going to do it.

We’re both dancers, so after we prayed, I asked her, “Do you think it would be sacrilegious if we danced before our King?” She said, “No.”

We danced Hustle. There’s this pattern that I did with her where I would end up on my knee. At that point I stopped the pattern. She had a puzzled look on her face at which point I asked her to marry me. She said, “Yes!”

She wanted to get my wedding band local, but I recommended DBOF. I wanted a simple 4mm Palladium band which she got from DBOF.

6 weeks later, we got married in Dana Point, CA.

Thanks Jan and Brad for a great diamond purchasing experience!

Thank you guys so much for all your hard work and help. I cried a little when I first opened the package on Friday….the ring is absolutely stunning. I was trying to put together a ring that had the Antique Cushion/Vintage/Family Heirloom that she could pass down in our family. I think that Jan and team helped me execute that flawlessly.
2.01 VS1 H Modified Cushion Cut

I would like to thank you again for all your time, patience and help while I was trying to find a new setting for my engagement ring. My new ring is absolutely beautiful and even my husband says it is the most beautiful ring he has ever seen.  Pictures just do not do it justice-you just can’t capture all that sparkle on film.  As I told you before, working with you was like working with a good friend-someone I could completely trust and who truly cared that I would be completely happy with my choice.

Please also thank your husband Brad and your daughter as well.  That was so nice how Brad stepped out that day from his work to make sure I saw the new settings that had just come in.  And your daughter is just as kind and helpful as her mom.

You have a lovely store with such a large selection of jewelry.  That also made it easier for me, as I was able to see and try on such a wide array settings.  Your prices are also some of the most competitive in the area.  Both of these things were important to me, but it was the thoughtful, caring treatment I received (and am still receiving) that will certainly bring me back to your store in the future.

One extremely satisfied customer!

Bernadette Gernand