- Joined
- Dec 14, 2017
- Messages
- 576
This story may run long….read at your leisure.
This past Saturday I took a ring I had managed to bend (it made me ill when it happened) to the pawnshop where I make regular visits because they have jewelers there that are top-notch. When I got there, there was only one young man waiting on customers at the jewelry counter. I didn’t see the usual personnel there anywhere and it wasn’t busy, so while he waited on another customer down for Cruising the Coast, a yearly event in south Mississippi, I browsed the jewelry trays.
Big mistake….(not really)
I spotted a pretty ring that I had seen before. Two diamonds with a pear shaped sapphire. They had taken it out of the case before for me to check. It wasn’t a big ring but it was unusual and sapphire is my birthstone so I asked the young man to let me see it again. Then, I did something I try to never do…I asked him if I could borrow his loupe. I may be wrong, but in my mind I feel as if when you loupe a piece of jewelry you may be thinking of buying then that makes you look a little more “expert” than the usual customer and then the store may not be so willing to work with you on the price. That’s just me though….call it how you see it…but I am so GLAD I asked him for his loupe.
So, I look at the diamonds first….whoa…..old mine cuts! Clear as day!!! And sparkly as all get-out! I looked at the tag….$349.95 with a “vintage” notation. I really wanted that ring at that point but then I looked inside the band and I actually almost hyperventilated right there, in the middle of the store. Inside the band was writing in script. On one side of the band it was engraved “1888” and on the other side another date engraved was “1898.” Now, I had watched the young (I have children older than him) man waiting on me have to go to his manager to ask about the best price on a lovely vintage/antique coral ring and a pair of gold hoop earrings the lady before me purchased. I asked him what his best price was….he hesitated. Then I got really bold….I asked him who he was checking best prices with because I was going with him. So, we strolled down to the other end of the counter where some more young men are talking and dealing with folks buying firearms. He told one of the men, the manager who also happened to be his brother, that I wanted to know what their best price for the ring. I started out by telling him what a great customer I am….that I buy ALL my jewelry there (not a lie at all) and that my husband has purchased firearms there and how we always tell people how great they are with prices and customer service. In the meantime, he was weighing the ring and looking at it. Then I used my super-secret weapon question that I only use in dire bargaining emergencies. That clinched it. It made all the guys standing there laugh....so I knew it had him right where I wanted him. I would have paid full price for it, but he quoted me a price of $290.00 (out the door, taxes included) and I hollered “DEAL!” I know they got a kick out of this gray haired middle aged lady being so intense but y’all can imagine how much I wanted that ring!!
I have looked the ring over and studied the diamonds. Even the little diamonds on the sides are sparkly. I just love it. For now, it’s my new favorite. It fits my middle finger and that’s not usually where I wear my rings but for now, I am. I really don’t want to size it and risk messing up the dates inscribed. What do you think they mean? Any ideas? I’d love to hear your theories.
So, here are the pictures in different lights. I didn’t know old mine cuts could sparkle like that….but they do. Thank you for taking the time to ready my story and really, you should have been there to see me work on my art of the deal!
Loretta
This past Saturday I took a ring I had managed to bend (it made me ill when it happened) to the pawnshop where I make regular visits because they have jewelers there that are top-notch. When I got there, there was only one young man waiting on customers at the jewelry counter. I didn’t see the usual personnel there anywhere and it wasn’t busy, so while he waited on another customer down for Cruising the Coast, a yearly event in south Mississippi, I browsed the jewelry trays.
Big mistake….(not really)
I spotted a pretty ring that I had seen before. Two diamonds with a pear shaped sapphire. They had taken it out of the case before for me to check. It wasn’t a big ring but it was unusual and sapphire is my birthstone so I asked the young man to let me see it again. Then, I did something I try to never do…I asked him if I could borrow his loupe. I may be wrong, but in my mind I feel as if when you loupe a piece of jewelry you may be thinking of buying then that makes you look a little more “expert” than the usual customer and then the store may not be so willing to work with you on the price. That’s just me though….call it how you see it…but I am so GLAD I asked him for his loupe.
So, I look at the diamonds first….whoa…..old mine cuts! Clear as day!!! And sparkly as all get-out! I looked at the tag….$349.95 with a “vintage” notation. I really wanted that ring at that point but then I looked inside the band and I actually almost hyperventilated right there, in the middle of the store. Inside the band was writing in script. On one side of the band it was engraved “1888” and on the other side another date engraved was “1898.” Now, I had watched the young (I have children older than him) man waiting on me have to go to his manager to ask about the best price on a lovely vintage/antique coral ring and a pair of gold hoop earrings the lady before me purchased. I asked him what his best price was….he hesitated. Then I got really bold….I asked him who he was checking best prices with because I was going with him. So, we strolled down to the other end of the counter where some more young men are talking and dealing with folks buying firearms. He told one of the men, the manager who also happened to be his brother, that I wanted to know what their best price for the ring. I started out by telling him what a great customer I am….that I buy ALL my jewelry there (not a lie at all) and that my husband has purchased firearms there and how we always tell people how great they are with prices and customer service. In the meantime, he was weighing the ring and looking at it. Then I used my super-secret weapon question that I only use in dire bargaining emergencies. That clinched it. It made all the guys standing there laugh....so I knew it had him right where I wanted him. I would have paid full price for it, but he quoted me a price of $290.00 (out the door, taxes included) and I hollered “DEAL!” I know they got a kick out of this gray haired middle aged lady being so intense but y’all can imagine how much I wanted that ring!!
I have looked the ring over and studied the diamonds. Even the little diamonds on the sides are sparkly. I just love it. For now, it’s my new favorite. It fits my middle finger and that’s not usually where I wear my rings but for now, I am. I really don’t want to size it and risk messing up the dates inscribed. What do you think they mean? Any ideas? I’d love to hear your theories.
So, here are the pictures in different lights. I didn’t know old mine cuts could sparkle like that….but they do. Thank you for taking the time to ready my story and really, you should have been there to see me work on my art of the deal!
Loretta
Congrats!
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