diamond_rookie
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2002
- Messages
- 6
Hi, I just had my first shopping experience for a diamond and would like your opinion on this.
After reading the tutorial and browsing through the comments on the panel, I was given the impression that an Eightstar diamond is a very well cut diamond. The company uses a firescope to cut the diamond to get the maximum brilliance. What’s important to me is the cut and brilliance, and without ever laying eyes on an Eightstar diamond, it sounds like the right diamond for me.
Therefore, I recently went to an Eightstar merchant, a small private own shop, to check the Eightstar diamond out. The merchant was only able to show me a one-carat Eightstar diamond and its Eightstar certificate. The diamond itself was quite nice, but not the size I wanted. Since I have petite fingers and wear a ring size 3.75, I wanted a diamond that’s proportional to my fingers. I was looking for a 25 or 30 point diamond. The merchant made an appointment for me to come back two days later to look at a 30 point, VVS2, G Eightstar diamond, costing $1900. During this time, I asked if he will be able to get the certificate with all the crucial information on it. He replied, “Yes.”
I came back two days later and was shown the 30 point diamond. It was indeed beautiful and has lots of fire and brilliance. The merchant showed it to me in different light setting and it shone like crazy! Afterwards, he glanced at a sheet of paper that I had carried in and asked, “Taking notes?” I replied, “I wanted to get the depth %, table %, and some information on the diamond.” At this point, he crossed his hands and flatly said, “No. I know what you’re doing.” I was somewhat taken aback. After composing myself, I said, “I just wanted to make an informed decision. I thought you said two days earlier that you’ll be able to get a copy of the diamond’s certificate.” All he said in return is “ I don’t have it.”
I then asked about his return policy, which of course was a no return policy. I immediately respond, “If I was to purchase this diamond, I want to send it to an independent appraiser to make sure the diamond is performing well.” He then asked, “Why do you want to take it to an appraiser? Most of those guys out there don’t even know what they are doing.” I simply said, “But they are independent, and they don’t sell jewelry…If I was going to get the diamond appraised, I was going to get it appraised out of state anyway. “ I insisted that there are reputable appraisers out there. Annoyed, he said, “Name me some.” I quickly replied, “Dave Atlas and Bill Liebernum (Lieberum). Do you know them?”
He flatly said, “No.”
*Sigh* I know I’m not going anywhere with this merchant, but I was persistent and said, “The last time I was here, we talked about ring setting and the ring style that’s suitable for my style is a Tiffany style; I’d like to ask you a couple of questions regarding it.” Again, that annoying “No.” “What do you mean?” I asked. “I’m not going to do it,” he said. (The merchant is also a goldsmith, and he only does custom work. The first day I was at his shop, he took the time to tell me that the process and craftsmanship behind a piece of jewelry determines the durability, etc.) Again surprised, I then said, “I just wanted to know how much you would charge for the 18k gold ring setting with platinum prongs.” He retorted, “Why do you want to know?” I replied, “Because I have a price range, I want to stay within it. It will help me determine whether I just want the loose diamond only or both—the diamond and the ring setting.” He said,”$3000.” ---I assumed that’s the ring setting and diamond.
Afterwards, he got up and showed me the diamond again in the different corners of his shop. “There it is.” He then sat down and cross his hands over his chest. Take it or leave it. Feeling somewhat frustrated at his demeanor, I took his cue to leave. I thrusted my hands forward to shake his hand and said, “Thank you for your time. If I ever need an Eightstar diamond, I know where to go…” With that, I left.
In retrospect, I don’t think I did anything wrong. I followed the diamond tutorial guidelines. Maybe I did ask a lot of questions, and he didn’t like that. Well, I’m still interested in an Eightstar diamond, and he’s the only vendor here in Austin, Texas who sells it. I'm willing to buy out of state if an Eightstar is still the one for me.
Please give me your honest opinions on this. For a 30 point Eightstar diamond with VVS2 and G specifications (I don’t have any info on the crown, table, etc.), is $1900 reasonable? I know there’s a premium for getting an Eightstar diamond, but is that price reasonable or overpriced? Also, for any Eightstar diamond, should I still get an independent appraiser for it? (Or the Eightstar diamond is so reputable that I don’t need an independent appraiser? I’m concerned about weak cleavage, enhancement, etc.) Since the Eightstar diamond will return the maximum brillance due to cut, should I go down a couple of notches on the clarity (to a SI) and color (to a J)? Also, are there any recommended Eightstar vendors who would provide better customer service out there?
I look forward to your comments and suggestions.
After reading the tutorial and browsing through the comments on the panel, I was given the impression that an Eightstar diamond is a very well cut diamond. The company uses a firescope to cut the diamond to get the maximum brilliance. What’s important to me is the cut and brilliance, and without ever laying eyes on an Eightstar diamond, it sounds like the right diamond for me.
Therefore, I recently went to an Eightstar merchant, a small private own shop, to check the Eightstar diamond out. The merchant was only able to show me a one-carat Eightstar diamond and its Eightstar certificate. The diamond itself was quite nice, but not the size I wanted. Since I have petite fingers and wear a ring size 3.75, I wanted a diamond that’s proportional to my fingers. I was looking for a 25 or 30 point diamond. The merchant made an appointment for me to come back two days later to look at a 30 point, VVS2, G Eightstar diamond, costing $1900. During this time, I asked if he will be able to get the certificate with all the crucial information on it. He replied, “Yes.”
I came back two days later and was shown the 30 point diamond. It was indeed beautiful and has lots of fire and brilliance. The merchant showed it to me in different light setting and it shone like crazy! Afterwards, he glanced at a sheet of paper that I had carried in and asked, “Taking notes?” I replied, “I wanted to get the depth %, table %, and some information on the diamond.” At this point, he crossed his hands and flatly said, “No. I know what you’re doing.” I was somewhat taken aback. After composing myself, I said, “I just wanted to make an informed decision. I thought you said two days earlier that you’ll be able to get a copy of the diamond’s certificate.” All he said in return is “ I don’t have it.”
I then asked about his return policy, which of course was a no return policy. I immediately respond, “If I was to purchase this diamond, I want to send it to an independent appraiser to make sure the diamond is performing well.” He then asked, “Why do you want to take it to an appraiser? Most of those guys out there don’t even know what they are doing.” I simply said, “But they are independent, and they don’t sell jewelry…If I was going to get the diamond appraised, I was going to get it appraised out of state anyway. “ I insisted that there are reputable appraisers out there. Annoyed, he said, “Name me some.” I quickly replied, “Dave Atlas and Bill Liebernum (Lieberum). Do you know them?”
He flatly said, “No.”
*Sigh* I know I’m not going anywhere with this merchant, but I was persistent and said, “The last time I was here, we talked about ring setting and the ring style that’s suitable for my style is a Tiffany style; I’d like to ask you a couple of questions regarding it.” Again, that annoying “No.” “What do you mean?” I asked. “I’m not going to do it,” he said. (The merchant is also a goldsmith, and he only does custom work. The first day I was at his shop, he took the time to tell me that the process and craftsmanship behind a piece of jewelry determines the durability, etc.) Again surprised, I then said, “I just wanted to know how much you would charge for the 18k gold ring setting with platinum prongs.” He retorted, “Why do you want to know?” I replied, “Because I have a price range, I want to stay within it. It will help me determine whether I just want the loose diamond only or both—the diamond and the ring setting.” He said,”$3000.” ---I assumed that’s the ring setting and diamond.
Afterwards, he got up and showed me the diamond again in the different corners of his shop. “There it is.” He then sat down and cross his hands over his chest. Take it or leave it. Feeling somewhat frustrated at his demeanor, I took his cue to leave. I thrusted my hands forward to shake his hand and said, “Thank you for your time. If I ever need an Eightstar diamond, I know where to go…” With that, I left.
In retrospect, I don’t think I did anything wrong. I followed the diamond tutorial guidelines. Maybe I did ask a lot of questions, and he didn’t like that. Well, I’m still interested in an Eightstar diamond, and he’s the only vendor here in Austin, Texas who sells it. I'm willing to buy out of state if an Eightstar is still the one for me.
Please give me your honest opinions on this. For a 30 point Eightstar diamond with VVS2 and G specifications (I don’t have any info on the crown, table, etc.), is $1900 reasonable? I know there’s a premium for getting an Eightstar diamond, but is that price reasonable or overpriced? Also, for any Eightstar diamond, should I still get an independent appraiser for it? (Or the Eightstar diamond is so reputable that I don’t need an independent appraiser? I’m concerned about weak cleavage, enhancement, etc.) Since the Eightstar diamond will return the maximum brillance due to cut, should I go down a couple of notches on the clarity (to a SI) and color (to a J)? Also, are there any recommended Eightstar vendors who would provide better customer service out there?
I look forward to your comments and suggestions.