What should Kmom do? Some guidance please.....

[Kamuelamom]

Hi everyone,

Kmom has not been (too) naughty, and really needs (OK, OK, wants

) a new sparkly. I had a couple items I'd looked at from private sellers which did not pan out. Not meant to be I guess. I scoped out a pair of O/P colored I2 earrings for $350 (or was it $250

) from the mall and don't think I'm going there. Lo & behold, this popped up for sale by a member on DT (I go there to scout the For sale or trade thread since I'm no longer a member) and am contemplating buying it. I told the buyer I'm interested but I'm scared to spend the money without any paperwork.

1. Should I be worried that it could turn out to be not what it's said to be? I have no doubts about the seller herself, but since she acquired it from ebay I am leary.

2. Not knowing beans about OECs, does this look worth it? I'd set it into a pendant. Since learning some about diamonds, I've dreamed of owning an old cut stone, either an OEC or an OMC. Heck, I don't even know the difference.

The seller is asking $400 and though I offered her less than she's asking, she seems willing to sell it.

Here's the original auction from ebay.

Please tell me, what do you all think? All you experts on old cuts, please help me.

I've been nice. I promise.

 

[belle]

why is she selling it? she must have decided very quickly that she didn''t like it, the auction only ended 6 days ago.

 

[pearcrazy]

Let me preface this by saying I know absolutely NOTHING about OEC diamonds. What strikes me from the picture is that the diamond looks small for a .50 and from the side view it looks to be a deep cut.

 

[Kamuelamom]

Thanks for your input Belle and Pearcrazy. Both issues you have raised have indeed crossed my mind.

I thought it looked a little deep too, and I did indeed wonder

why she is turning it around so soon. Couldn''t be the sparkle since she said it sparkles just fine.

 

[Diamond Angel]

i have learned that usually if something does not feel right...don''t do it.

 

[Kamuelamom]

Well said, Diamond Angel.

I thought you were the same Diamond Angel we had here long ago. I just checked your profile. Never mind.

 

[strmrdr]

pass
too many bad vibes.

 

[perry]

Kmom:

I know the problem with working with a small budget; and I understand that you need to have a reasonably good new sparkley thing... This is your second attempt at it (that I can remember), and there do not seem to be any reall deals out there - if you want a good looking diamond.

So here is my thoughts: Why don''t you contact someone from one of the respected businesses here (Robin at NiceIce comes to mind) and explain your wants and your buget range and ask what can be done.... What they can offer may not be a super great diamond (the focus of this forum), but may be a fairly good diamond - that will beat any of the items that look like deals elsewhere. They also occaionaly have items that they have taken in trade.

One of the interesting thing I learned about NiceIce today: They have normal fluoresent lighting in their store so that people can see what the diamonds look like in normal lighting. They do have a few "spotlights" that they can turn on to show people the effect of what happens to a poor diamond in "special store" lighting (like at the malls and their competitors).

Hope this helps.

Perry

 

[Kamuelamom]

Date: 12/16/2004 9:34

4 PM
Author: strmrdr
pass
too many bad vibes.

Gotta love ya strm. Love that direct approach.

Perry you speak with a voice of reason. Are you Bagpuss in disguise?

J/K. You''re right, it''s my second time I''ve asked for help on the forum about this. What you don''t know is that I also had another potential (or was it two?) come my way, only for the seller(s) to back out in the end. Can''t even remember already.

If it''s not meant to be I really could benefit by not spending the money. It''s not a rush thing but if I see something I like that comes my way I''ll take a closer look. That''s all that''s going on here. But like Storm and Belle have said, doesn''t seem right with this one either.

I''m going to walk away from it.

Thanks guys.

 

[perry]

KMom:

No, but perhaps I''d like to meet Bagpus...

Have a great holiday.

Perry

 

[strmrdr]

Now for the less direct approach.
Have you looked into colored gemstones?
For your budget you could get a ton higher bling level in colored stones.
Like em sparky - well cut zircon
Like em dark blue - sapphire
Like em red - ruby
From there the options are near endless :}

imho a well cut light blue zircon has the best sizzle to cost factor of anything availalbe.

 

[Kamuelamom]

Storm I know you are a colored stone nut. Frankly I like all the colors and that's my problem de jour. LOL.

I've dreamed of owning an old cut stone. I'm not closed to ANY options. Keep those suggestions coming. And since I'm easy too

, how bout some pics to go with your suggestions?

Me likey sparkle of any kind.

P.S. No offense to any sim lovers here, but "zircron" sounds soooooo sim like. Is that a real stone or a sim cuz......I'm not into sims of any kind at all. Again, no offense. I plead ignorance.

 

[Jennifer5973]

Hi, Kmom! I can understand you--I am intrigued by OMCs and OECs and would someday to have one, like from Fay Cullen or something. They are just so interesting--and beautiful.

I have been burned so many times by eBay and others (I must be too naive) so I am always afraid.... But there is always that hope of finiding the deal of the century....

Have you checked out Fay Cullen? What about other ebay auctions for vintage jewelry--there are some reputable people selling vintage with physical locations and a decent profile--and if you pay with a credit card, you''re always protected. What does this DT lady say about returning it if you''re not happy? Does she use PayPal where you''re protected?

Hang in there and keep plugging. I know it''s out there!

 

[Kamuelamom]

I let her know by email that I was no longer going to pursue the stone. Without any further reply from her, I learned that she sold the stone to her jeweler.

Thanks Jflo, something''s out there for Kmom. I''ve been a real nice girl, afterall.

 

[strmrdr]

I dont know how i missed your reply zircon is a very real gemstone.

http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/zircon/zircon.htm

some blues:
http://www.ajsgems.com/ZBL/ZBL-1-3.99.htm

some yellow and golds:

http://www.ajsgems.com/ZHN/ZHN.htm

 

[Kamuelamom]

Storm, thanks for the inservice on zircron. Those blue ones look yummy and I was excited to learn that they are the December birthstone since I have 2 boys born in December.

This has always been an extra challenging month for me because of that.

Anyway, the yellows are nice too. Looks like a nice substitute to my yellow or "warm" fix that I''ve been having lately. Pinks are nice too. Teal? Orange?

Thanks again.

 

[strmrdr]

The best type of oranges available:

http://www.ajsgems.com/GSP/GSP-1-1.99.htm

second best:
http://www.ajsgems.com/SOR/SOR.htm

pinks:
http://www.ajsgems.com/SPK/SPK-1-1.99.htm

http://www.ajsgems.com/TPK/TPK.htm

teal:
blue zircon or
montana sapphire
http://stores.ebay.com/BIG-SKY-GEMS

other:
http://www.ajsgems.com/TPK/TPK.htm