Bought Ring Before Finding PS...Questions

[sonnyjane]

Hi, I just found Pricescope a week or two ago and this is my first post. My fiance (just gonna go ahead and call him that even though the ring isn''t on my finger yet) is in Iraq, and since he had no clue about the process, he told me to just go ahead and pick out the ring and that he would pay for it while overseas and give it to me when he gets home. I finally selected a ring and we have it on layaway until he gets home. He''s been making monthly payments and is about halfway done. Since it is not completely paid off, and now that I have found you guys, I still have some wiggle room if I want to make changes. I don''t even believe the stone is mounted yet, since they won''t do that until it is more than 50% paid for, so now would be the time to make changes.

The ring is a three stone ring, with two .35ct very light blue sapphires and a 1.01 ct RB, H color, SI1 center diamond. I have seen it under the loupe and it looks very clean, just some inclusions toward the outside but nothing in the center of the stone. The stone was $4,740, which I have done some research on and seems to be an okay price. The thing is, I got the ring from Shane Co, which I have read mixed reviews about on this board, but I have no problem with their service whatsoever, and they have been extremely helpful dealing with us and our circumstances with him being in Iraq. My particular stone isn''t GIA certified, and I don''t know the cut. I asked, and got the answer "it''s a very nice cut", which thanks to PS I now know is a BS answer I haven''t found any other company, B&M or online, that had the light blue sapphires that I wanted, and I spoke with several custom jewelers that told me they did not have the light colored sapphires either, so the setting is for sure what I want, I''m just wondering if I should change the center stone and get one that is GIA certified. Shane Co does offer certified stones from what I understand, mine just isn''t one of them. Is it very important? I also wonder if I should go bigger, but I looked at bigger stones with less clarity and even though it may have just been my critical eye, I felt like they didn''t look as good, and jumping down in color didn''t seem to greatly affect price as much as cutting clarity would have, so I think I might stick with this size/price range of stone.

I appreciate your advice! I''m posting the company''s picture, and then a VERY blurry camera phone shot. I plan on "visiting" it soon once it''s mounted and when I have good pictures I can post them in the other forums.

 

[sonnyjane]

The blurry pictures...

 

[sonnyjane]

Ring

 

[sonnyjane]

One more...

 

[cara]

There is nothing inherently wrong with buying an uncerted stone, but there are reasons to pay more for a certed stone. One, the same stone is worth more when accompanied by a cert, if you were ever to try to sell it. More importantly, you can have more confidence in the grading on a cert as it is the opinion of an independent lab and not the company selling you the stone.

I personally would switch to a stone with a cert, but my primary motivations would be 1) to get the best cut stone possible from Shane, by running numbers from the cert into the cut advisor and 2) to have extra confidence that Shane was not, uh, fudging the grading of the stone. The piece of mind of having an independent lab grading would be worth it to me. I also can see the inclusions in my SI stone and would not drop clarity further. So I would probably go with the best cut ~1ct I/SI stone I could find. Some would go to J to keep it as big as possible, that is a personal choice.

ETA: Oh, now I see the blurry pictures! Very nice! I like the light saphs and it does sparkle! (But was that your stone in the ring or a sample ring?) Last question, do you like the sparkle/cut on your layaway stone or do you think you can do better? If you like the cut, maybe that's all that you should worry about!

 

[sonnyjane]

Thanks Cara,

The stone in the picture is my stone. I will call tomorrow and see if they have stones that are certified that are a similar price. I will say that I like the way it looks, but this is not only my first diamond purchase, but is also my first jewelry purchase, so I'm not really sure what it should look like? I have one pair of .25ct each diamond studs that my poor boyfriend bought me that would have a clarity worse than I2 if there is such a thing, other than that I don't own or wear jewelry.

 

[swingirl]

I am confused. Did you say the stone was on lay-away and wouldn''t be set until it was 50% paid for?

What is the ring in the photo of your hand. Is that from the showcase? Or is that your actual ring with your chosen diamond?

 

[decodelighted]

First of all ... I love the ring on your hand ... very nice scale & finger coverage & it looks great with the plain band! Though the pix isn't in *focus*

the stone seems lively from what I can tell ...

Here's the thing ... switching to a certed stone might give you peace of mind that you're getting exactly what you *think* you're getting. But it doesn't necessarily mean a more beautiful stone than one you've already picked with your eyes. BECAUSE you're a newbie -- here's what i think you should do. Go back to Jared & say you've been reading about certified stones & want to see some. Ask to see a few (GIA excellent or AGS ideal I guess) the same size/color etc as your current stone. THEN ask them to bring out "your" stone & see what you think of the comparison. If its OBVIOUS then maybe you can swap (& pay more prolly) ... if its SUBTLE then maybe you should stick with what your EYES loved initially ... as a super subtle dif wouldn't prolly be worth the exchange & $$ & hassle & explanation to your FI etc.

People around here really get obsessed about #s sometimes ... its helpful to a point ... but not the be all & end all in my opinion.

Nice choice overall -- really unique with the lighter sapphires!

PS: & I thank your future FI for serving our country. though I'm iffy on the folks who got us there, I 100% support the brave guys & gals getting us out of it.

(And, of course, the supportive loved ones at home).

 

[sonnyjane]

Swingrl, in the picture the stone is loose, just sitting in the setting

 

[sonnyjane]

Date: 7/13/2008 11:53:36 PM
Author: decodelighted



PS: & I thank your future FI for serving our country. though I''m iffy on the folks who got us there, I 100% support the brave guys & gals getting us out of it.

(And, of course, the supportive loved ones at home).

I feel the same way and I''ll use a stronger term than "iffy"

 

[rcrosier]

I would definately not go up in size. If you are really want a well cut and certified stone, the value that you paid for your stone ~$4K will go up by about $1500-2000. To increase the size to 1.25 carats and the cut grade would easily double the price of what you already have. Have you seen the stone in person? If it looks good to you (assuming that you have shopped around and looked at many diamonds), you might be inclined to trust it. If you are just judgeing by pictures, I would get a new stone that has a certification mainly because I don''t like to gamble. Never delt with ShaneCo before personally, but if they have a return policy, you could get the ring then have it appraised by an experienced* jeweler that you trust. Have him approximate the cut/clarity/color for you then go from there. If its not good, return it and get a new centerstone...

 

[sonnyjane]

Date: 7/14/2008 12:11:33 AM
Author: rcrosier
I would definately not go up in size. If you are really want a well cut and certified stone, the value that you paid for your stone ~$4K will go up by about $1500-2000. To increase the size to 1.25 carats and the cut grade would easily double the price of what you already have. Have you seen the stone in person? If it looks good to you (assuming that you have shopped around and looked at many diamonds), you might be inclined to trust it. If you are just judgeing by pictures, I would get a new stone that has a certification mainly because I don''t like to gamble. Never delt with ShaneCo before personally, but if they have a return policy, you could get the ring then have it appraised by an experienced* jeweler that you trust. Have him approximate the cut/clarity/color for you then go from there. If its not good, return it and get a new centerstone...

Thanks,

I have looked at it under a loupe on two separate occasions actually, and looked at quite a few stones of varying color/clarity/size and this was the best blend of everything. ShaneCo really does have a good return policy... 60 days no questions asked, plus the trade in for upgrades is never less than what you paid, but could be more if the value goes up, and you don''t have to spend a minimum amount on the new stone, etc. If you''re saying it will be a difference of 1-2K just to have the peace of mind that it is certified, I don''t know that I find that as important. I''m assuming that for insurance purposes, all I need is the store''s appraisal, not a GIA certificate?

 

[JerseyGrl81]

Beautiful ring and setting you picked! I am wondering if ShaneCo will let you just buy the setting from them? Then you can look online to purchase your diamond? Just throwing the idea out there.

 

[ahappygirl]

Great suggestion, Jerseygrl81!

The setting is beautiful, and I love the light sparkly sapphires as well. I''m not in the camp that says the stone HAS to be GIA or AGS cert''d, but you do want to love it AND get the most value for your money. A cert from well respected GIA or AGS will tell you what you are getting so that you can figure out objectively if you getting what you are paying for and are invalueable for insurance purposes - often more than an appraisal, IMHO. PS is awesome for diamond/ gem education! (as well as other things

)

Giant thanks to your boyfriend for his service and sacrifice. Hugs to you!

 

[bku82]

I just recently canceled a layaway at Shane Co this weekend, here''s why:
Shane was actually the first place I went to look for an e-ring since they have such a great return policy and upgrade program. After a couple days of looking at diamonds, I eventually found a 1ct RB VS2 F for $7000 with an IGI cert and put my initial deposit down to put it on hold. Then, I found PS and my perspective on diamonds changed. I realized the cut was the most important aspect of a great looking diamond and that simply inspecting a diamond through a loupe (like at Shane) was not enough. I went back a couple weeks later and asked about the cut and got the same, wrong, answer. If you look at all the online sites that are recommended on PS, all of them have some sort of cut information. I also visited another jeweler in the area (also had a great trade up policy) and he showed me some diamonds under a Symmetriscope to check the quality of the cut, something that wasn''t done at Shane. I think it is important to check the cut since every diamond looks great under those lights, a great cut will look sparkle in low lighting as well.

Long story short, I really do think that the Shane employees are there to help you find a great diamond, I just don''t think they know what that is...

And regarding the cert question, the diamond I looked at was a VS2. I was still able to see mineral spots without a 10x loupe, meaning, this should have been graded an SI1. So if there isn''t a reputable cert, ie. GIA AGS, you might be paying more than you should. It''ll pay off to do some more shopping online and at other B&Ms.

 

[vespergirl]

I think it''s a gorgeous ring that looks great on your hand - if you love it, keep it. My stone is an EGL cert, which most people at PS don''t like, but after comparing it to GIA stones under an Idealscope & finding that it was just as nice, we went for it. It''s always important to but the DIAMOND that you love, not the PAPER.

 

[swingirl]

Of course, if you love the ring and stone keep it. But I think you could find a 1 ct with an excellent cut and certified for the same price. Finding the exact setting may be more difficult because every vendor comes up with their own settings that sell well for them. Here are a few examples of stones and you could call the vendors to get an idea of the cost of a setting with sapphires. Your setting is very pretty and the light blue is so pretty.

It never hurts to shop around and get prices. It might confirm that what you have picked out is the best choice.

1.02 ct I SI1

1.02 H SI2

1.17 H SI2

 

[RxTechRN2b]

Loving those light blues against the icy white diamonds, and my favorite 3-stone rings are combos of diamond/gemstones! Looks flattering to your hand as well -- you''ve got nice long slender digits!

You''re getting mixed responses to your question, which is expected. Here''s what I would do -- check and see what the price difference would be for a certified stone of the same size and stats. If possible, compare your stone in person with a certified as well as excellent cut diamond, and see if there is a significant difference in beauty/sparkliness. Then decide what you want to do.

If that is not possible, at least go see some certified diamonds with excellent cuts. And of course, the one you have on layaway is already the best pick from what you''ve seen, you could just keep it and be happy!

 

[DMBsGirl]

those light blue sapphires are goegeous!!! as far as the diamond, the main reason for a cert is so you know what you''re getting and whether or not you''re overpaying. if you like the diamond and are ok with the price then go for it. however, if you will always be wondering about the true quality of your stone then maybe it would be a good idea to take a look at certed stones.

 

[K9]

I think it''s really easy when on this forum to overthink - to a degree. Having said that, your engagement ring may very well be the largest stone you end up with (at least generally I think this is true) and you''re going to want the best stone within your budget.

Since you had the luxury of stumbling across this site before being 100% committed to a stone, I really think you owe it to yourself to do some shopping around for great cut diamonds with online vendors and compare. If you''re in love with the setting, you may want to do what JerseyGirl suggested and try to buy only the setting and get the diamond elsewhere. The setting is LOVELY and looks really nice on your hands.

ShaneCo experience aside, they''re not an awful place, but there are better places to buy your diamonds (personal opinion here).

Anyway... the short of it is that you should indeed do a little bit of shopping around and price checking from online vendors. This should help put your mind at ease - whatever you decide in the end has to be YOUR decision and look lovely to YOU. That''s all that really matters.

 

[sonnyjane]

Thank you all for your responses. I called today and they do have GIA certified stones available at ShaneCo. I would really like to stick with them because of their warranty and trade in policies, and in general I prefer a B&M, just old-fashioned that way I think I''ll go in this weekend and compare the GIA stones to my stone (I haven''t seen it in two weeks and I already need to visit it lol). They also mentioned that for $150 they will give me a GIA certification for any stone that you wish, so if I don''t find another that I like, they will just send my stone to be inspected/certified (if I''m understanding them correctly).

 

[kcoursolle]

If you are going to look at new stones, I suggest buying an ideal scope and bringing it with you to make sure the stone you pick out is well cut. The beginners scope is only $25: https://www.pricescope.com/idealscope_indx.asp

 

[bagelboy]

Shane Co. sells GIA certed diamonds. I believe they call them the Shane Co Classic. When they bring out your diamond, look at the outside of that little folded paper wrapper. Sometimes you will see MK 0, or MK 1 or MK 2. That stands for make 0 or make 1 etc. Then compare your diamond against the Classic and see which one sparkles more. Try looking at both diamonds while holding a book over the diamonds to block out the ceiling lights. Well cut diamonds need less light to sparkle. And an idealscope would really help you decide. Shane Co is neither the worst place nor the best place to buy diamonds. Years ago there were six stores, now I believe there are around 60 stores. So he must be doing something right. I don''t shop there now as my wife is a Whiteflash fan!!!

 

[ydiamonds]

If you see a stone online with the #''s and cert that you like, you can see if Shane can bring it in for you. The price will likely be higher than the online price, but maybe you can negotiate a small markup. If Shane can''t get the stone, at least you''ll have a price comparison of what an ideal cut stone will cost. Doesn''t hurt to ask. If this doesn''t work and their price on an ideal cut stone is too high for your budget, and you''ve seen how your stone compares to a well-cut stone, then you can decide if you want to go down in size for a better cut stone.

 

[marcy]

Date: 7/15/2008 2:44:37 AM
Author: bagelboy
Shane Co. sells GIA certed diamonds. I believe they call them the Shane Co Classic. When they bring out your diamond, look at the outside of that little folded paper wrapper. Sometimes you will see MK 0, or MK 1 or MK 2. That stands for make 0 or make 1 etc. Then compare your diamond against the Classic and see which one sparkles more. Try looking at both diamonds while holding a book over the diamonds to block out the ceiling lights. Well cut diamonds need less light to sparkle. And an idealscope would really help you decide. Shane Co is neither the worst place nor the best place to buy diamonds. Years ago there were six stores, now I believe there are around 60 stores. So he must be doing something right. I don''t shop there now as my wife is a Whiteflash fan!!!

The M0 ... codes was what I was going to tell you too. I have a Shane Classic and it is AGS0. I agree with many, if you love the stone I would keep it. I love your ring. The sapphires look great with your diamond. I''ve been a customer at Shane Co for about 10 years and cannot complain about their service or return policies.

 

[D2B]

Ditto to everything decodelighted said.

I dont know how to quote

, but her advice was excellent and spot on.

At the end of the day if you love it that is all that matters

congratulations btw it looks beautiful

d2b

 

[marcy]

Date: 7/29/2008 1:21:51 AM
Author: marcyc

Date: 7/15/2008 2:44:37 AM
Author: bagelboy
Shane Co. sells GIA certed diamonds. I believe they call them the Shane Co Classic. When they bring out your diamond, look at the outside of that little folded paper wrapper. Sometimes you will see MK 0, or MK 1 or MK 2. That stands for make 0 or make 1 etc. Then compare your diamond against the Classic and see which one sparkles more. Try looking at both diamonds while holding a book over the diamonds to block out the ceiling lights. Well cut diamonds need less light to sparkle. And an idealscope would really help you decide. Shane Co is neither the worst place nor the best place to buy diamonds. Years ago there were six stores, now I believe there are around 60 stores. So he must be doing something right. I don''t shop there now as my wife is a Whiteflash fan!!!

The M0 ... codes was what I was going to tell you too. I have a Shane Classic and it is AGS0. I agree with many, if you love the stone I would keep it. I love your ring. The sapphires look great with your diamond. I''ve been a customer at Shane Co for about 10 years and cannot complain about their service or return policies.

For some reason I can''t edit but I meant to add their upgrade policies are great.