I had inquired at a jeweler for an engagement ring before getting cold feet and wanting something more personable. I found in J first a mini-educational seminar on diamond grading, which manifested when I examined the diamond with him under the microscope before making my final decision on the stone. I then had a band made custom just the way I wanted it. The preview wax model pictures I saw a week before the final product arrived were low-quality and hard to see, but the final product was anything but! It is a beautiful ring that my future wife loves, as well as me. Also, the ring came in three days after he said he'd hoped the ring would come in, but in the end it didn't matter much. My proposal was a great success, much in part because of J. Yontef. Don't just go into a jewelry store, become a part of the process.
Pros: Custom-made, educational experience, one on one time
Cons: He's only one man, so communication wasn't always fast
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