I like browsing jewelry store windows as much as the next gal. I also appreciate wearing fine jewelry. My problem is I hate paying so much for something that (1) isn't very unique and (2) that I know is horribly over-priced.

That's why, when it comes time to BUY fine jewelry I by-pass the stores at the mall and seek out a gem shop. These are the guys who like to go out 'rock hunting' (yes, actually digging around in the dirt trying to find their own raw gem stones). You can find them in the phone book under 'gems', 'stones', and sometimes 'jewelry repair'. They often carry a line of metal detectors so sometimes you can find them that way.

A gem shop will often carry their own line of loose stones, including diamonds, at a fraction of the price of mall stores. And you can select any of thousands of setting to put your 'rock' into. You can select exactly the mounting you desire and make modifications to fashion the piece exactly the way you want. Your 'precious' doesn't even have to leave the store. Often the store owner will mount your gem stone right in the shop and right before your eyes!

A few years back I had a couple of rings I simply wasn't wearing. One ring was given to me by my parents and the mounting was always loose so I was afraid to wear it. Everytime I tried to get the stone tightened in the mounting, it couldn't be done properly for fear of breaking the stone. I also had another ring that had several small diamonds in it but I never liked the arrangement. The setting always seemed cheap and it didn't show off the diamonds well.

I took the rings to a gem shop and decided to have everything re-mounted. I purchased a Mexican opal from the gem shop and also purchased the proper mounting for it. I had the gem shop put the opal into the old ring that was given to me by my parents. I then took the stone from that ring and put it into a brand new ring - one that showed off the beauty of the stone much better. I also had the diamonds of the ring I disliked added to my wedding band. For $175, I ended up with THREE beautiful rings that I enjoy wearing.

I have bought all sorts of fine jewelry from gem shops - rings, necklaces and earrings. I highly recommend them.

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"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."

Thank you for posting this. I have three diamonds that I need to get re-set, one was my 'original' engagement diamond, one was my mom's engagement diamond, and one was my grandmother's engagement diamond. I would love to have the three of them re-set into a right hand ring. I'll have to keep this in mind. I love fine jewelry too. Someday I hope to save up for a white gold 2 carat tennis bracelet. Oh well, I can dream, can't I?

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