Let me start off by saying that shopping for an engagement ring by no means is easy. You're looking for just the perfect ring and the perfect setting that gives you all the warm feels and that's at the right price range. Because buying an engagement ring is such a big deal you want to make sure that you're comfortable with the overall purchase and because it's not just any piece of jewelry, the experience in itself is a big deal! You hope to only do this once so it's got to be perfect, right?!
I originally had posted a review but had to revise it as it did not fully reflect our whole experience with Robert Palma Jewelry. So let's start with the pros....
We originally had planned on purchasing a diamond separately and then purchase our Verragio setting through Robert. There were only 2 authorized retailers in Oahu that carried Verragio settings, Robert and Ben Bridges at Ala Moana. Upon making an appointment with his office, we explained that we were going to purchase our diamond elsewhere and we just wanted him set it with the Verragio setting that we wanted. They asked us why not just purchase the diamond from them. We figured why not?! Let's see what they could find and we'll have our backup diamond ready just in case. My fiance gave Robert the specific criteria he wanted for the diamond. It took only a few days and Robert found the perfect diamond with everything we asked for and for a relatively good price.
Now comes the cons...
As I mentioned earlier, buying an engagement ring is a big deal and for hopeless, sentimental romantics like me, I focus on the overall experience and sometimes less on the actual material. My fiance was dead set on specific qualities and characteristics that he wanted for my diamond. All he asked me was what setting I wanted. My poor fiance literally spent days and nights researching and perusing through various sites to find the perfect diamond for me. Now herein lies the cons of our experience. Robert had originally presented us with another diamond prior to finding "the one". At the time, we thought ok this will do and told Robert to proceed with getting the diamond. As we mulled it over further over the next 3 days, my fiance didn't feel that it was the right one and informed Robert that he had changed his mind. Robert had explained that he had informed his cutter and that the cutter was going to hold it for us. We had not exchanged any monies nor was the diamond sent out. We were extremely apologetic for the change of heart but explained that this was a big purchase and we wanted to make sure we were completely satisfied. We understood Robert's standpoint but he didn't seem to fully understand ours. We know this because he inadvertently sent us an email that was intended to for his cutter and said that we, his customers, wasted his time because we didn't purchase the initial diamond he had presented us. While it was a nice diamond, it wasn't THE diamond and considering how much we were about to spend there was no way we were going to settle. This is where we were truly disappointed with Robert. During our many discussions with him, he would often tell us that doing this was passion and that it was all about making the customers happy. Looking back now, I wish those words held true as his reaction to our change of heart did not reflect his words. We thought whatever happened to making the customers happy?
After the inadvertent email incident, we made Robert aware that we saw his email and apologized to him for wasting his time. Again, we explained the reason behind it and offered our sincerest apologies. At this point, I personally was ready to move on. That incident alone left a bad taste in my mouth. But, against my better judgment, my fiance decided to give Robert another chance in hopes of finding me the perfect ring. The second diamond that Robert found was the one and while it was beautiful, it was still hard for me to forget and overlook what happened. What can I say? I know how to hold grudges!
In addition to our mishap with the diamond, I was disappointed to later find out that the setting I had purchased had been presented to me as a "newer" version when in reality it was not. This was confirmed after I had contacted Verragio headquarters myself.
I wish that my overall engagement experience had been better but unfortunately, it wasn't. If we had to do it over again, we would have just paid more money and purchased my ring at a brick and mortar store. At the end of the day, it's not just about the ring. It's the memories, the experience and meaning behind it. I got the meaning but the memories and experience will forever be tainted because of our decision to continue to go to Robert. My advice to anyone shopping for a ring is simply go with your gut. Whether it's Robert or any other jeweler, make sure you're comfortable and HAPPY with your purchase. It's a big purchase and you're never going to forget it! read more