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 Did I make the right choice?

P:  4/25/2008 8:25:32 AM  
KismetSky
KismetSky

Rough Rock
Total Posts: 5
Last Post: 4/25/2008
Member Since: 4/22/2008
 
I recently had a post about how I bought a .92 J VVS2 Ideal RB from Blue Nile and I was going to compare it to a stone that I had one hold in a local store.  The local stone is a Lazare .948 J VVS2 RB.  I brought the my 'internet' (their words) stone in and the first thing they did was plop them both into their ISee2 machine.  The Lazare scored an 8.5 (rated 9.1 on previous documents) while my Blue Nile stone rated 9.5!  The salesman's jaw dropped at that point.  He then redid the Lazare stone and came back with an 8.7.  The Lazare lacked symmetry compared to the Blue Nile stone. We checked out the hearts and arrows on both stones and while with the Lazare you had to hold your head in one position for all hearts to appear (and even then they were a little tricky to see), the Blue Nile stone has extremely strong and pronounced hearts and arrows.  Putting them side by side in a white 'boat' folded card, the Lazare was definitely on the higher end (less color) of the J range.

The Lazare (store) stone had measurements of:  6.33 - 6.42 x 3.86 mm
The Blue Nile stone had measurements of:  6.21 - 6.23 x 3.87 mm

In person with the stones side by side, the Lazare's larger size was readily apparent.  I probably spent a good hour and a half just comparing the two stones.  Now here's the fun part.  The manager came out and asked me straight up, which one would I be picking out based on what I've looked at.  Of course I said my (Blue Nile) stone.  It's 1877 dollars less than their original price for the Lazare!

Now I had already decided on buying the setting from them.  The setting was 1300 - platinum band with 4 sidestones on each side, TW .25 carats.  Total cost of my stone set in their ring would be $5212.

Apparently she was desparate to keep my business, because she came back with a price of 4700 for the stone and 1000 for the setting, total of $5700 for the ring if I bought the Lazare.

Cue another hour of thinking and examining the two stones side by side.  I had to weigh the pros and cons here.

Lazare:
Pros - signature stone, holds its value, slightly larger technically, looks larger, slightly less color, local store bought (free appraisals, free cleanings, customer service, lifetime warranty, upgrade policy)
Cons - Have to return a cherry stone from Blue Nile, return/shipping hassle, lower Isee2 score

Blue Nile:
Pros - higher ISee2 score, $488 cheaper, no return/shipping hassle
Cons - no warranty should it be chipped/scratched while setting (requires insurance claim), lack up local store benefits

I LOVE the stone I bought online, but here's a great deal on a Lazare that looks much larger than the carat different shows.  They're both incredibly brilliant stones.

So what did I do in the end?  I bought the store's Lazare stone and setting for $5700.  She's going to love it.  She'll love it even more when I tell her what I went through to get it and the (what I consider) amazing discount I received.

The ring should be available Wednesday; I'll have to take some pictures to show everyone.  I can't wait!

Original post at: http://www.pricescope.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=83695
Posted:  4/25/2008 8:25:32 AM

 There are 1 replies to this message.  There are 1 replies on this page.

P: 4/25/2008 8:44:07 AM
Ellen
Ellen

Ideal Rock
Total Posts: 22,894
Last Post: 11/6/2009
Member Since: 1/13/2006
 
Congrats on your purchase, can't wait to see pics!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It is also important for the State to inculcate in its subjects an aversion to any 'conspiracy theory of history' for a search for 'conspiracies' means a search for motives and an attribution of responsibility for historical misdeeds."

-Murray N. Rothbard, in The Anatomy of the State



John Swinton [1829-1901] Chief Editorial Writer of the New York Times (Considered "the Dean of his Profession" by his peers), when asked to toast an 'Independent Press' in a gathering at the National Press Club, circa 1880

"There is no such thing in America as an independent press unless it is in the country towns. You know it, and I know it. There is not one of you who dare express an honest opinion. If you express it you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid... for keeping my honest opinions out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for doing similar things....

The business of the New York journalist is to distort the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of Mammon, and sell his country and race for his daily bread, or for what is about the same thing, his salary. You know this, and I know it and what foolery to be toasting an 'independent press.' We are tools, and the vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are jumping-jacks. They pull the strings and we dance. Our time, our talents, our lives, our possibilities, all are the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes."

Posted:  4/25/2008 8:44:07 AM

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