Buying Engagement Ring From Independent Jeweler

[RingShopper1]

Hi! First time posting here, and a first time diamond buyer. I've been doing some research and searching for an engagement ring, and went to a few chain stores at the mall (Ben Bridge, Zales, Kays, etc). I also have a independent jewelry designer who I've worked with, and was thinking of getting the ring through her. I just wanted to make sure the prices are reasonable.

She works with a site holder, so it seems like it would cut out a few middlemen, and her diamonds are GIA certified, so I don't feel like I'm getting ripped off. But just in case, I wanted to check if her prices are good or just normal (or perhaps even over priced).

.72 ct. I VS-2 - $3750
.75 ct I SI-1 $3650
.72 ct I SI-2 $3350
.80 ct I SI-1 $4000

All of them are ideally cut and round brilliant.

She can also make a setting that I really like from a store for $1500 (the store was selling it for $2200 but had a 35% discount if I purchase before a certain date)... the setting has a bunch of loose stones on it.

Let's say I go with the .75 ct and the total comes out to $5100. Is that a reasonable price for what I am getting on paper? I was at another store (the one with the setting that I liked) with EGL cert that gave me a $6500 price for a similar quality diamond/same setting, though they gave me a $3000 trade in value for a ring that my friend didn't want... whereas this lady is giving me $1000. This other store told me that I am getting a 3/4 caret, HVS2, Excellent/ideal (hearts and arrows) cut. I've read that EGL certs are a bit wonky, but is it really worth the price difference?

Any comments are very much appreciated - thank you!

 

[JulieN]

You can use the PS price search.

Seems pretty expensive. http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2953077.htm?source=pricescope

 

[AprilBaby]

That WF diamond is top of the line cut,. AGS report, better clarity. You are not sure about your cut but your price is higher. Is it a good deal? No.

 

[JulieN]

Here is another primo one: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.71-carat-i-color-vvs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-248668

The price quoted for the I SI2 is too much.

Or if you want more size: http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.82-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-278736

 

[Dancing Fire]

She works with a site holder, so it seems like it would cut out a few middlemen,

.72 ct. I VS-2 - $3750
.75 ct I SI-1 $3650
.72 ct I SI-2 $3350
.80 ct I SI-1 $4000

She is B. S. ing you. Here's a H color H&A cut for less $$$..

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.710-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-c-104067690044

 

[Dancing Fire]

You can use the PS price search.

Seems pretty expensive. http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2953077.htm?source=pricescope

nice stone!

 

[RingShopper1]

This is great, thank you so much for the replies! After I read it and found out that there is a price finder, I spent the entire day looking at different stones and I think you guys are right, the prices are definitely a lot higher than I thought they would be. I will now be buying my diamond online, and the setting from a store and having them mount it. Thanks a lot for the help in this!

 

[AprilBaby]

Come back when you choose your stones!

 

[heididdl]

This is great, thank you so much for the replies! After I read it and found out that there is a price finder, I spent the entire day looking at different stones and I think you guys are right, the prices are definitely a lot higher than I thought they would be. I will now be buying my diamond online, and the setting from a store and having them mount it. Thanks a lot for the help in this!

You should consider doing the entire ring where you get the stone..

 

[RingShopper1]

Good call! I just asked JA and they said I could mail in the setting... so I think I will do that. I realllly liked the one I saw at a local store, so I think I'll get that from the store and send it in and have JA do the whole thing. I'm waiting for the idealscope and comments on three diamonds I picked, so I'll definitely come back and ask for more advice in a few days! This forum has been incredibly helpful, and has already saved me close to 25% . Thank you all!

 

[WinkHPD]

If the store is offering 35% discount on the mounting it is likely a stock piece and many people can get it for you, very possibly JA. Why not send them a picture and ask if they can source the ring for you at the right price? Many retail jewelers still mark it up to mark it down.

Another comment on the original diamond offers. GIA papers do not grade to Ideal cut, their highest cut grade is Excellent. When ever somoeone says Ideally cut with a GIA paper it makes me CAUTIOUS. Turns out you were right to be cautious.

Wink

 

[RingShopper1]

Great idea. I talked with JA and they are going to give me a quote on the ring. This is going to be much easier, since I don't have to buy the ring and then ship it in. If I do it all through JA, I have the peace of mind that anything that goes wrong on their end will be fixed, since there is no third party now. They will also do a free resizing if the ring doesn't fit, whereas before, they might not be willing to because it is a ring sent from the outside. I hope the quote I get will be reasonable, since the independent jeweler quoted it to me at $1500 (a bit more expensive than 35% off 2250 that the local mall-store gave me).

Going through this all for the first time has made me wonder why not everyone buys at JA. Their customer service is great - I love the fact that you can just chat with them 24/7. So glad I found this forum and was recommended there!

 

[WinkHPD]

<snip>

Going through this all for the first time has made me wonder why not everyone buys at JA. <Snip>

Well, that would be because there are several great vendors here at Pricescope and each of us has different strengths sand specialties. Baskin and Robbins make 31 flavors and there are more than that here. For some the JA diamond and ring is perfect, for others they want something different and they will search for it until they find it.

I am glad this went together so quick and easy for you, but as a vendor, I gotta say I am real glad that not everybody buys at JA!

Wink