To be perfectly frank, I am an incredibly selective and particular person-especially when it comes to important purchases or decisions. When my (now) fiance and I were discussing getting engaged, we entered into this purchase with a joint and open discussion on the integral details (i.e. budget, etc.). In my initial searches, I went to high-end stores around NoVA, department stores, reputable online retailers, retailers that my personal network had success in., etc. After looking at about 10-15 different retailers and conducting consultations-at times, with retailers on the opposite coast-we settled on White & Ivory. The decision maker moments occurred during my interactions with Alina.
I outreached to Alina on a pure whim after work and from the outset, Alina was incredibly open and willing to hear my feedback, experiences and thoughts on the engagement ring process. She was patient in answering questions and she was very forthright in her responses. This led to a subsequent appointment where my fiance and I got to meet her in person and talk more about the design elements I wanted. As a self proclaimed Type A individual, I appreciated how Alina wrote down everything I said I wanted and even made note to follow up with me on those items after the fact. She also was very keen to point out when something wouldn't work and provide a reasonable explanation (let's be real, we all need to hear it sometimes!). The experience was wonderful, insightful and truthfully, honest-all of which was genuinely appreciated by us. Alina, along with her mom and cousin, are all incredibly professional and most importantly, personable. They don't make you feel obligated to go with their suggestions and you genuinely feel that they are on the same page with you-I loved the way they explained that they would not sell a piece of jewelry they personally would not wear themselves.
On an administrative level, I love how they provide you with a free appraisal and a connection for a jewelry insurance provider. I went with Jewelers Mutual as my preferred provider but I was impressed that I did not have to seek an appraisal under separate cover. The service is truly wonderful at this spot and I honestly could not recommend it more. When it came down to my final decision on who would be commissioned to make my ring, my fiance and I opted to go with a spot that was local, easily accessible as well as capable of delivering high quality service and products-all of which describe White & Ivory. As an FYI, my second choice was a jeweler out in CA-and it's safe to say that I had ruled out all other options in VA by that time.
We could not be more happy with Alina and White & Ivory-needless to say, we are looking forward to commissioning/designing our wedding bands with them too. As a serious dog lover too....being able to see their security pup, Popcorn, is always a joy and he probably deserves some commission reward for his part in sealing the deal as well :) Take it from someone super picky....if you are frustrated with the process or are having a hard time finding the perfect ring, look no further than White & Ivory :) They will make your dream ring come true and be there through every step of the way.