I GOT IT!!! A Better deal at a local B&M dealer than through online vendors, thanks to Pricescope
Click to view full-size image.
Related topics
- Local Dealer vs Internet Vendors - who is the middle man?
- Gelin&Abaci - local vs online dealer
- Deal or no Deal Was Gonna Buy Local Now Considering Online
- 1.24C H VS2 for $6200 from local dealer?
- IJO diamonds - set at local dealer
- The local Diamond dealer
- No local Vatche dealer for maintenance
- Got my e-ring from a pricescope dealer :-(
- who is the best princess cut online dealer?
- Friend Recommended Out of State Diamond Dealer - Fair Deal?
Can''t wait for pictures 
|
|
|
|
Congratulations on finding the stone that was right for you. I love to hear about the buying process and the fact that you let your EYES do the choosing. I tend to get hung up on the numbers sometimes, and it''s nice to know that it is possible to find a beautiful stone regardless of whether the paper says ideal. What color is the stone?
|
|
|
|
|
Had I bought the stone alone, it would have cost me $10,000 even, which realistically, is still a very reasonable price for the stone... not frighteningly good, but good enough. Where I really saved money was in the setting. What I've come to realize is that since many online vendors are offering diamonds with very little markup, they've got to make their money from somewhere else... The settings. I've found that most of the settings offered through PS vedors are settings that I can buy locally for less than half the price. In my case for example, I'm getting a setting that James Allen sells for $1900 (Platinum Micropave Eternity) for $800. So add that to the $10K, and that leaves me at $10,800 total, for a ring with what would have easily cost me $12,500+. So I say the diamond cost me $8900 (when in fact it was $10k) to illustrate the following point... I think everyone online is too busy noticing what great deals they are getting on diamonds that they overlook the inflated 'full retail' prices that they're paying for the settings. What's worse is that nobody really argues or questions the price of the settings, just the diamonds. FYI - The James Allen setting I'm referring to just went up in price by $150 from a week ago. (http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones.asp?module=setting&cid=58&item=267) Not even diamonds have such strong price fluctuations. I'm not saying that it's overpriced, however the value of the setting is almost purely subjective. You're paying for a design, style, creative idea.. when your buying the setting. You're not just paying for the raw materials (.6tcw diamonds + whatever amount of 950 platinum is used). Think about how much the settings would cost if you were simply paying for the raw materials like you're doing with the diamonds?!?! |
|
|
|
|
Since settings can''t cast and assemble themselves, it''s virtually impossible to think about pricing that way. There is a LOT of work that goes into setting teeny tiny stones, etc. It''s no small feat, and yes, a lot of times labor is the major cost of a setting. Kinda like getting your car fixed. The parts can''t fix themselves... My custom setting cost a few thousand. Did the platinum and itty bitty diamonds cost that much? No. Interestingly, the price can go UP by using smaller diamonds, simply because it is more painstaking and labor intensive to set them. But until I master bench jewelry making, I gotta take what I can get.  I hear what you''re saying and all, but just wanted to make the point.
|
|
|
|
|
Yes, you bring up a good point but... I guess I strayed away from my original point and that is that there is a TREMENDOUS markup on the settings as compared to the actual diamonds themselves. Nearly everywhere I''ve gone to look at settings locally, the dealer will remove the setting from the glass counter, look at the price marked on the tag, and automatically take off like 50%... and that''s without even discussing buying a diamond from them. I can only imagine what the actual cost is if they''re dropping their price so quickly on it. Even if I hadn''t bought my diamond from the person I''m getting the ring from, they had already offered the setting alone to me for $800 when the price was marked $2100 on the tag. I used to work in the home electronics industry. I remember that sometimes we''d sell components for a very little markup, but then we''d sell the same customers all the fancy cables and accessories that were marked up like 300%. Heck, we''d get paid the most on the ''extended service warranties'' than any other part of the sale. |
|
|
|
|
I am guessing he had this mounting in stock, since the cost to make the setting, unless it is VERY light weight is now more than $800. Platinum is about 60% heavier than gold and harder to work with, requiring greater labor costs. I am pleased for you that you got a great deal, but it may not be repeatable. Wink |
|
|
|
|
I don''t disagree with you one bit. Designer settings can cost an absurd premium that is well above material and labor costs. Absolutely. I know bridal shops that do the same thing (won''t mention a name) - sell dresses at pretty decent prices but all the accessories are marked up 200-300%. Trying to make it up somewhere. I do hope you got a great deal (that the items live up to the expectation), because nothing beats that! |
|
|
|
|
See pictures of the ring here...
http://www.pricescope.com/forum/show-me-the-ring/finally-here-s-a-picture-t45052.html |