asking jeweler to supply own stone?

[TimUaD]

Well im new to all this and I have a couple questions... it looks like there is a lot of good info in the board.

I am in the market for engagement rings. I think I have what she wants pretty much ironed out (platinum, emerald cut, thin band with sapphires on the side). We have been to a local jeweler, who think will do a good job designing the ring (trying to get a one of a kind thing here). Problem is, I am pretty sure I can get a much better deal on the stone online. I have priced 1.2ct H color, VG cut, VS1 clarity, good table/depth % for around $4500 - $5000... but the jeweler is pricing his at more like $6k-$8k.

Obviously, he is not in business to give things away, but if I can get a much better ring for my budget (around $7k), I can''t help but try. My question is: Is it insulting/uncommon to ask the jeweler to let you buy the stone elsewhere? I don’t want to offend the guy, and I think he has caught on to what I was thinking... he mentioned something about online diamond dealers, and how you are paying for the personalization, confidence of a brick and mortar, etc. He has already ordered a couple stones for me to see, and I hate asking him to cut out part of his piece of pie... but If I get it from him I will probably have to reduce down to around a .9-1.0ct stone... and I hate to do that if I don’t have to.

One more quickie... I have been told table and depth of 59% to 69% are right for an emerald cut... is this about right?
Thanks in advance for your help/advice.

 

[neatfreak]

It''s a part of the business...I think it''s worth it to do your research, see what you can get for your $ elsewhere, and then bring it back and ask him to match it. See what he can do, there''s no harm in that. Then you can make your decision.

Unfortunately I think a lot of jewelers get VERY overprotective when you buy from online vs. buying from a B&M store. But sometimes it''s the best option.

 

[Kelli]

I''m pretty sure numbers don''t help as much with emerald cuts. A great advantage to buying online is you can get ASET and idealscope pictures of different diamonds, even from different vendors, and there are plenty of cut experts to tell you whether or not they are great cuts. Not to mention the price thing! My jeweler wasn''t thrilled when I bought online either, but it is our money and we do want to get the best we can buy. If they are not willing to match the prices, then what can they expect from us? He should still be making some money if he is designing the ring for you, so it''s not like you''re really hurting him. You could have the setting made elsewhere too, so he should appreciate your business anyway!

 

[TimUaD]

Thanks for the replys...

Is it possible for jewelers to match internet prices? He acted like they were impossible to touch.

Date: 10/15/2008 1:42:31 PM
Author: Kelli
if he is designing the ring for you, so it''s not like you''re really hurting him. You could have the setting made elsewhere too, so he should appreciate your business anyway!

I may not have been totally clear... he is ordering the setting from whitehouse brothers, but will modify it and set the stone in it.

 

[CharmyPoo]

If he has a stone you like, ask him if he can meet a comperable internet stone''s price. If he can''t, I would just go with an Internet vendor.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 10/15/2008 1:49:37 PM
Author: TimUaD
Thanks for the replys...


Is it possible for jewelers to match internet prices? He acted like they were impossible to touch.

Date: 10/15/2008 1:42:31 PM

Author: Kelli

if he is designing the ring for you, so it''s not like you''re really hurting him. You could have the setting made elsewhere too, so he should appreciate your business anyway!

I may not have been totally clear... he is ordering the setting from whitehouse brothers, but will modify it and set the stone in it.

A jeweler can choose to match whatever price they want. They DO have more overhead than an internet vendor usually, but at the same time there are places like Winfields and Good Old Gold that have fabulous prices AND B&M stores, so the two aren''t mutually exclusive...

 

[TimUaD]

Thanks guys... well probobly galls (I am used to my classic boat restoration forum

)... yall are giving me the push I needed to hold out for an internet level price.

I must have missed this line before:

Date: 10/15/2008 1:42:31 PM
Author: Kelli
A great advantage to buying online is you can get ASET and idealscope pictures of different diamonds, even from different vendors, and there are plenty of cut experts to tell you whether or not they are great cuts.

I only found one online dealer (James Allen I think), that shows actual pictures... Is there a place where you can find pictures of any stone? Some of them looked much more hazey than some, and I couldnt find a quatifyiable reason why on the spec sheets.

 

[Kelli]

Date: 10/15/2008 1:49:37 PM
Author: TimUaD
Thanks for the replys...

Is it possible for jewelers to match internet prices? He acted like they were impossible to touch.

Date: 10/15/2008 1:42:31 PM
Author: Kelli
if he is designing the ring for you, so it''s not like you''re really hurting him. You could have the setting made elsewhere too, so he should appreciate your business anyway!

I may not have been totally clear... he is ordering the setting from whitehouse brothers, but will modify it and set the stone in it.

Well if he is at least modifying it, I''m sure he''ll be charging you something. I felt guilty too, but not so guilty that I was about to hand him an extra few grand! It''s either a smaller diamond, giving away thousands of dollars (which for me was NOT an option), or buying online. Seems like a no-brainer to me!

 

[Kelli]

James Allen''s pictures are not the best really, the hazey look is just the photo. Some online dealers will provide you with ASET and idealscope images, which tell you a lot more about the cut. I THINK you usually have to request them, but in an emerald cut, it''s really worth doing, since you can''t just go by the numbers.

 

[Kelli]

If you look in RESOURCES at the top of the page, you''ll find many more online vendors. I haven''t bought an emerald cut, so I don''t know if there''s a specific dealer to recommend for them. Try Whiteflash.com and GoodOldGold.com, but there are more than that too. Maybe someone who has already gotten a great emerald cut will chime in.

 

[TimUaD]

Date: 10/15/2008 2:08:08 PM
Author: Kelli
If you look in RESOURCES at the top of the page, you''ll find many more online vendors.

you mentioned whiteflash and goodoldgold... are these the prefered vendors? I am assuming that if they made your list, they are all worth looking into.

Do all vendors have access to the same stones, or will each vendor have its own set of difference stones? Is any one, considered to have hte best prices?

Thanks

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 10/15/2008 2:18:02 PM
Author: TimUaD

Date: 10/15/2008 2:08:08 PM

Author: Kelli

If you look in RESOURCES at the top of the page, you''ll find many more online vendors.

you mentioned whiteflash and goodoldgold... are these the prefered vendors? I am assuming that if they made your list, they are all worth looking into.


Do all vendors have access to the same stones, or will each vendor have its own set of difference stones? Is any one, considered to have hte best prices?


Thanks

WF and GOG are two awesome vendors for sure. Wink at Winfields and Mark at Engagement Rings Direct are two more I would call, but their websites aren''t as great as WF and GOG.

Each internet vendor will have some of the same stones, but many also have their own stones too, so it''s worth inquiring at multiple vendors IMO.

All the ones mentioned have good prices, GOG''s are usually a bit higher but at the same time they provide MANY more images and pictures, which are essential when buying fancy cut stones online.

 

[Kelli]

Date: 10/15/2008 2:20:44 PM
Author: neatfreak

Date: 10/15/2008 2:18:02 PM
Author: TimUaD

Date: 10/15/2008 2:08:08 PM

Author: Kelli

If you look in RESOURCES at the top of the page, you''ll find many more online vendors.

you mentioned whiteflash and goodoldgold... are these the prefered vendors? I am assuming that if they made your list, they are all worth looking into.


Do all vendors have access to the same stones, or will each vendor have its own set of difference stones? Is any one, considered to have hte best prices?


Thanks

WF and GOG are two awesome vendors for sure. Wink at Winfields and Mark at Engagement Rings Direct are two more I would call, but their websites aren''t as great as WF and GOG.

Each internet vendor will have some of the same stones, but many also have their own stones too, so it''s worth inquiring at multiple vendors IMO.

All the ones mentioned have good prices, GOG''s are usually a bit higher but at the same time they provide MANY more images and pictures, which are essential when buying fancy cut stones online.

Ditto! I wasn''t sure of the names of the others!