Just bought mom some earrings

[kenny]

Bluenile
Platinum 4-prong basket screw-back

Sizes: 0.342 and 0.348 ct
Diamonds are both:
Cut Grade: AGS Ideal 0
Polish: Ideal
Symmertry: Ideal
Proportions: Ideal
Color: I
Clarity: VS2

Numbers:
0.342 ct stone:
62
55
33.8
40.9
HCA:
X
X
X
VG
1.1 TIC

0.348 ct. stone:
62.2
55
34
40.9
HCA:
X
X
X
VG
1.3 TIC
Each stone was $577, mounts $250.
Total $1404.

This was an impulse buy.
I didn't have time to shop around.
It is a rush order that will just make it here by mother's day.

But it sure was nice to have this website.
The Holloway Cut Analyzer showed a big difference in stones of the same price.
Go firgure.

Nice practice for my 1ct purchase.
Now that I know about Eightstar I really want to see those stones.
Who sells them in Los Angeles?

 

[kenny]

I thought this would be helpful to some:

This morning I did some more snooping.
Bluenile has what they call their Signature Ideal diamond.
Their best.
I did not even look at those last night.
I selected the next step down, ideal.

I erased the Bluenile cookies in my computer and did a new search for the earrings with Signature Ideal stones.
It found 4 pair of matched stones priced from $1828 to $1959 for the pair.
I plugged all the numbers into HCA.

The BN Signature Ideal HCA numbers varied from 1.6 to 2.9.
These "better" stones all got worse HCA scores than the Ideals I bought last night for $1154, which were rated 1.1 and 1.3 TIC.

I wonder if BN is going to start rating their diamonds with the understanding that more customers are coming to PS and using the HCA.

Or are the more knowledgable buyers only a tiny percentage?

Also, they say their policy is to never ship diamonds to independent appraisers first.
They sell them and ship them to the customer only.
Then you have 30 days to inspect.

I asked, what if honest human error results in a swap at BN?
How can I prove I didn't swap it if you insisist on shipping it to me?
They just said, "Well we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
I thought this is not satisfactory.


They also said what if the appraiser did the swap.
Sending to a 3rd party only complicates it.
At some point you have to trust someone.


Any opinions on this?

 

[bluedawg]

Date: 5/3/2005 2

0:40 AM
Author:kenny
.
Now that I know about Eightstar I really want to see those stones.
Who sells them in Los Angeles?

If you go to http://www.eightstar.com/HowTo/index.htm they will contact you with local dealers. I think the Eightstar company is located in California anyway. Richard was very quick to respond to emails and very friendly. Unfortunately, the nearest 8* dealer to me was 8 hours and one state away. I would love to see an 8* in person!

Good luck with your search. And you are so nice to get your mom diamonds for Mother''s Day!