Alex D.
Yelp
I was looking for an engagement-style ring for my wife to celebrate our second year of marriage. Since we didn't really do a traditional engagement with a proper ring, I initially started searching for diamonds solitaires, the classic de-facto choice. After a few months of grueling online research and self-learning, and after seeing a few dozen stones from James Allen, Blue Nile and from local shops here on 47th street, I kept having this nagging feeling that something was missing from the big picture. Even though everything I saw was gorgeous and dazzling, I was somehow dissatisfied. Then I suddenly realized that diamonds are really not that special, they're quite common in fact and because prices are so artificially inflated although the inventory is huge, I decided to switch my strategy altogether and opt for a natural sapphire instead. Finding the right jeweler in NY can be a daunting task so once again I fell back to the internet and ultimately found Jupiter Gem in LA of all places. There was another online competitor local to NY, but I couldn't find anything I really liked on their website at the time and since I was looking for a very specific "padparadscha" sapphire, the options were slim.
From the first moment I contacted Jupiter Gem, I was amazed at their professional attitude and courtesy, and at how promptly they responded to all my questions and concerns whether by email or phone. Their inventory was quite impressive and I was a bit skeptical at spending a large sum of money over the internet without even seeing the actual product, but Elvira (their PR/CEO) was extremely helpful and patient. Not only did she send me lots of pictures and custom-made videos of the stones that I wanted to see (most of them within a few hours notice) but she also helped me narrow down my choices of stones by labeling and describing each one in particular. It was like having a personal shopping assistant with me at all times. At no point during all this back-and-forth did I feel pressured in making a decision or being steered towards purchasing a more expensive stone. As a matter of fact the top selection of stones she and Krishna, the owner, suggested were within 5k and 17K which is quite a large margin. What I also appreciated was their honesty at disclosing the small imperfections or inclusions that some stones might have. Elvira always pointed out flaws in the stones and let me decide by myself if I still wanted them or not.
After I chose the stone, we went through another long process of designing the ring. I provided them with a picture of a model I had in mind and they managed to create an exact replica of it. The ring was done in a few stages, one of them being a CAD model which they showed me in order to make sure that all my specifications were met rigorously. All in all it took about a week for the ring to be ready and it came out absolutely perfect. I could not have been happier. After finally receiving it, I gave it to my wife and I could see that she was completely mesmerized by it. In the first day we already got a few compliments from random people on the street and in a bar. For me the whole experience with Jupiter Gem was absolutely excellent. Highly recommended for an alternative choice to diamonds. They also stand by the quality of their craftsmanship and offer 6 months warranty on their work. A one time ring re-sizing is free.
