A few Noob questions...

[Diggs]

Long time reader, new poster. Great site you have here.
Need a little help from some fellow PS''ers.

Wanted to purchase Ering for sometime, but GF is not very happy with purchasing diamond on internet (Sorry vendors!! I tried on several occasions!!). No big deal, but local jewelry stores are EXPENSIVE for the same thing! So my question is this... Is it safe to assume that a local jeweler can price match a vendor on here assuming that vendor has a B&M store? I know that GOG has a store in NY, so I would assume local jeweler could price match them? Are there any other vendors on here with B&M stores?

I can gather what diamonds should cost, but what about the setting? GF wants 0.7-0.85 carat diamond, prefers white gold (14k or 18k, which is better?), wants 6 prongs and the band to be slightly thicker than a Tiffany style knife edge. She picked one out at one of the local jewelers but I forgot to ask how much it was (doh!) What determines the price of the band besides metal type and whether it was custom made or not? What would a band with the above characteristics usually cost? I''d hate to haggle down the diamond to a reasonable cost only to get reamed on the band because I don''t know what they should cost.

A few more tidibits. Why would a certified GIA gemologist (at local B&M) tell me that cut is not important? I understand the 3 other C''s count more towards the price of the diamond, but isn''t cut what makes a diamond sparkle? Thought that was odd.

Where do I get it appraised when all is said and done? This site states there isn''t an appraiser within 300 miles of where I live. Any other sites that list appraisers?

Thanks in advance for your help. I''m sure I''ll have more questions down the road.

 

[JulieN]

cut is the hardest C to explain. makes 40-50% of the price of the stone.

where are you?

 

[Gypsy]

What state/city are you located in. Maybe there is a vendor near you we could direct you to.

 

[Diggs]

Kansas City

 

[Modified Brilliant]

Date: 8/2/2007 6:57:32 PM
Author:Diggs
Long time reader, new poster. Great site you have here.
Need a little help from some fellow PS'ers.

Wanted to purchase Ering for sometime, but GF is not very happy with purchasing diamond on internet (Sorry vendors!! I tried on several occasions!!). No big deal, but local jewelry stores are EXPENSIVE for the same thing! So my question is this... Is it safe to assume that a local jeweler can price match a vendor on here assuming that vendor has a B&M store? I know that GOG has a store in NY, so I would assume local jeweler could price match them? Are there any other vendors on here with B&M stores?

I can gather what diamonds should cost, but what about the setting? GF wants 0.7-0.85 carat diamond, prefers white gold (14k or 18k, which is better?), wants 6 prongs and the band to be slightly thicker than a Tiffany style knife edge. She picked one out at one of the local jewelers but I forgot to ask how much it was (doh!) What determines the price of the band besides metal type and whether it was custom made or not? What would a band with the above characteristics usually cost? I'd hate to haggle down the diamond to a reasonable cost only to get reamed on the band because I don't know what they should cost.

A few more tidibits. Why would a certified GIA gemologist (at local B&M) tell me that cut is not important? I understand the 3 other C's count more towards the price of the diamond, but isn't cut what makes a diamond sparkle? Thought that was odd.

Where do I get it appraised when all is said and done? This site states there isn't an appraiser within 300 miles of where I live. Any other sites that list appraisers?

Thanks in advance for your help. I'm sure I'll have more questions down the road.

Welcome Diggs

A very odd statement to make and totally untrue. If you check your local yellow pages, you might find an "independent"gemologist/ appraiser or
check the listings at www.NAJAappraisers.com or www.ags.org for an appraiser closest to you....not all are listed here on pricescope.

Jeff Averbook, G.G. (since 1986) Graduate Gemologist/Appraiser
serving the greater Boston area and surrounding states
www.metrojewelryappraisers.com

 

[Diggs]

Date: 8/2/2007 10:26:31 PM
Author: Modified Brilliant

Date: 8/2/2007 6:57:32 PM

Author:Diggs

Long time reader, new poster. Great site you have here.

Need a little help from some fellow PS''ers.


Wanted to purchase Ering for sometime, but GF is not very happy with purchasing diamond on internet (Sorry vendors!! I tried on several occasions!!). No big deal, but local jewelry stores are EXPENSIVE for the same thing! So my question is this... Is it safe to assume that a local jeweler can price match a vendor on here assuming that vendor has a B&M store? I know that GOG has a store in NY, so I would assume local jeweler could price match them? Are there any other vendors on here with B&M stores?


I can gather what diamonds should cost, but what about the setting? GF wants 0.7-0.85 carat diamond, prefers white gold (14k or 18k, which is better?), wants 6 prongs and the band to be slightly thicker than a Tiffany style knife edge. She picked one out at one of the local jewelers but I forgot to ask how much it was (doh!) What determines the price of the band besides metal type and whether it was custom made or not? What would a band with the above characteristics usually cost? I''d hate to haggle down the diamond to a reasonable cost only to get reamed on the band because I don''t know what they should cost.


A few more tidibits. Why would a certified GIA gemologist (at local B&M) tell me that cut is not important? I understand the 3 other C''s count more towards the price of the diamond, but isn''t cut what makes a diamond sparkle? Thought that was odd.


Where do I get it appraised when all is said and done? This site states there isn''t an appraiser within 300 miles of where I live. Any other sites that list appraisers?


Thanks in advance for your help. I''m sure I''ll have more questions down the road.

Welcome Diggs

A very odd statement to make and totally untrue. If you check your local yellow pages, you might find an ''independent''gemologist/ appraiser or

check the listings at www.NAJAappraisers.com or www.ags.org for an appraiser closest to you....not all are listed here on pricescope.


Jeff Averbook, G.G. (since 1986) Graduate Gemologist/Appraiser

serving the greater Boston area and surrounding states

www.metrojewelryappraisers.com

Jeff,

Thank you for the websites. Found a few in the KC area. One less thing I have to figure out.

 

[:)]

Diggs, that GIA comment is weird (and wrong!). YOu can also mail your stone to an appraiser if you cannot find one nearby. My stone went cross country from Los Angeles to Richard Sherwood in Sarasota (great guy!). The size stone you are looking at you can send USPS fully insured for the cost of the stone for a nominal fee (send it registered mail insured for the purchase price). USPS is extremely secure and safe - the Hope Diamond was even shipped that way! If you need extra insurance you can work with the appraiser - some appraisers can let you use their billing information to fed ex it with insurance for the full amount if over the USPS limit. (you cannot fed ex with the insurance on a diamond unless you are a business)

You can ask for b&ms nearby to match internet pricing - a lot of stores won''t (of course they will tell you that the internet has poor quality and that is why the prices or less, or that the internet companies pay less for a ''virtual stock'', etc, etc. and that will be the reasoning for why they cannot match it) The b&ms will have a higher overhead to maintain a storefront, but some are internet saavy and willing to meet an internet price

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 8/2/2007 6:57:32 PM
Author:Diggs

A few more tidibits. Why would a certified GIA gemologist (at local B&M) tell me that cut is not important? I understand the 3 other C''s count more towards the price of the diamond, but isn''t cut what makes a diamond sparkle? Thought that was odd.

The comment has been made once here before...

Where do I get it appraised when all is said and done? This site states there isn''t an appraiser within 300 miles of where I live. Any other sites that list appraisers?

Though it looks like Jeff''s given you good advice about appraisers, he''s among several appraisers who post to this board, that could also be available to you, depending on what you''re looking for, even at a distance. For example, if you want a judgement about light performance, and how well a diamond performs with respect to this...I wouldn''t be shy about asking a local guy how they can help you evaluate that.

 

[Hest88]

Date: 8/2/2007 6:57:32 PM
Author:Diggs

Is it safe to assume that a local jeweler can price match a vendor on here assuming that vendor has a B&M store?

Depends on the vendor and how nice you are about asking. Also, I actually never expect a B&M vendor to equal the price, but you can show them the price, make it clear you know they may not be able to match it, but ask if they think they could get in the ballpark. Some vendors can indeed match while others can get close, depending on how much they can afford to come down.

GF wants 0.7-0.85 carat diamond, prefers white gold (14k or 18k, which is better?)

I think something as important as a wedding ring should be 18K. Preferably, you should also seek out a palladium alloy, which won''t need to be rhodium-plated.

Why would a certified GIA gemologist (at local B&M) tell me that cut is not important?

Because he''s an idiot? Because he''s too lazy to explain it to a consumer? Because he wants to be able to sell a stone as quickly as possible and cut details would muddle everything?