2 quick questions regarding ER buying process.

[sang]

Hello everyone - 2 quick questions for the experienced buyers out there. I''m looking to buy a diamond in preparation for a surprise proposal. I don''t know much about the girlfriend''s jewelery design preferences -- trust me, I''ve done enough research with the parents and girlfriends -- so I''m going to set it in a simple silver ring and then let her design the setting/ring around it afterwards.

Q1: Will a diamond dealer be turned off or less interested in doing business with me if I tell them that I''m just looking to buy *just* the diamond and that I''m NOT interested in a fancy setting? Is the setting/ring product where dealers make higher margins?

Q2: Have any other PS''ers had experience negotiating better prices from the vendors that are commonly recommended on PS.com? Or are the prices usually set in stone (no pun intended!)

Thanks in advance!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 9/8/2008 12:05:37 PM
Author:sang
Hello everyone - 2 quick questions for the experienced buyers out there. I'm looking to buy a diamond in preparation for a surprise proposal. I don't know much about the girlfriend's jewelery design preferences -- trust me, I've done enough research with the parents and girlfriends -- so I'm going to set it in a simple silver ring and then let her design the setting/ring around it afterwards.

Q1: Will a diamond dealer be turned off or less interested in doing business with me if I tell them that I'm just looking to buy *just* the diamond and that I'm NOT interested in a fancy setting? Is the setting/ring product where dealers make higher margins?

Q2: Have any other PS'ers had experience negotiating better prices from the vendors that are commonly recommended on PS.com? Or are the prices usually set in stone (no pun intended!)

Thanks in advance!

Hi Sang,

It is preferable to buy the diamond and setting from the same place, in this way the vendor often takes responsibility for the diamond should it break or get damaged ( this is rare) but needs consideration. However some do buy just the diamond and get it set elsewhere, I take it by a ' silver' ring you mean a white gold or platinum setting?

Online vendors are operating on slim margins anway, you can sometimes get a discount by paying by bank wire transfer. You can ask about any other discounts, but it will depend on the vendor, the bank wire payment might be the way to go.

 

[sang]

Hi Lorelei,

Thanks for your response! By "silver" ring, I mean the most inexpensive, simplest, silver colored ring...I intend this ring to be almost throw-away since the girlfriend will most likely want something custom designed. I just don''t know what she wants...but I want to preserve the surprise. Unless the vendor agrees to take the setting back and give me partial credit -- I''m assuming that I''ll have to spend 200-300 and write it off. I was concerned that the rign setting is a high margin product and that by mentioning that I just want a cheap, temp setting that they would be inclined to try to make more off of the diamond transaction or not pay as much time and attention. I am planning on paying by bank wire and cash...just wanted to know if the diamond market is like the auto market...where you''re ignorant not to haggle.

Thanks again!
Sang

 

[neatfreak]

If you deal with any of the reputable PS vendors they will be happy to sell you just the diamond in a temp setting. HOWEVER, if you think you might go back to them for the setting, it would be worth mentioning simply because if you buy the stone from the same vendor who sets it often their insurance will cover the stone during setting. Otherwise the stone often is set "at your own risk".

And there isn't really much negotiation room for the diamonds with the PS vendors as they already have their lowest prices posted, paying by bankwire and telling them you are a PS member will get you the best price possible.

 

[Kelli]

Did you mean spending 200-300 on the temp setting? For that amount you can get white gold, which, IMO is much better than silver. Designing a custom setting will take a while, and she''ll want to wear the ring the whole time. A simple white gold solitaire setting can be very inexpensive, but still have a nicer look to it than silver.

 

[sang]

Great info...thanks everyone! Am meeting with a few vendors next week will most likely post later with more questions about specific stones. Cheers.