My SI and I are now set on the oval shape (thanks to everyone''s opinions!) and now it is down to finding and making a purchase... I am inclined to lean towards a B&M I have come to know - NOT a chain - and not near the mall etc... Internet presence, but mostly deal one on one and I have come to trust his opinion on most things - he has a fantastic reputation, and the more I work with him, the more I know why...
That said, he ordered in and had me come down to show me 4 ovals... we looked them over pretty thoroughly in his microscope, he pointed out everything he saw etc etc... all VERY above board, very helpful and informative... he had previously told me he had a favorite among the group from when he looked them over and a close second choice among the stones he had brought in, but didn''t tell me which... When all was set and done, I preferred the same two - independent of knowing his choices...
as discussion proceeded, he had someone come to his door and he had to excuse himself for a few minutes, as I was sitting there, he had shown me his "invoice" as he called it for the stones - which indicated some info I would like commentary on from each of you...
in a nutshell the two stones are ovals, the first is 1.26ct E color vs2 VG polish, Good symmetry, 64.4% depth and 56% table 8.49mmx5.98mmx3.85deep... GIA certed...
the second (his choice of the two due to the better clarity) 1.28ct, F color, VS1, VG polish, Good symmetry, 64.1 depth, and 60% table, 8.23x6.05 x 3.88 deep also GIA certed...
Now the real issue - one of the columns on his invoice said "price below rappaport" - both being "-28.8%" +/- if I recall... price column on the invoice indicated $6203 for stone #1 above and $6485 for stone #2 above... his words to me were "I mark stones up a flat 15% from whatever I pay for them" ... his price to me on the two stones then is $7298 and $7630 respectively...
As I am price comparing here on the web, I feel like that is quite high for stones which ON PAPER seem comparable... do a pricescope search and you''ll see what I mean...
given what I am finding here, I feel like if I spend in the 7250 range for the stone, I feel like I should then be in the 1.4+ct range size with similar other quality factors... I would like your opinions before I talk to him about my "issues"...
PLEASE comment - not just on prices, but also on what you experts know of rap and the markup etc...
Thanks as always!!!!!!!!!!!
That said, he ordered in and had me come down to show me 4 ovals... we looked them over pretty thoroughly in his microscope, he pointed out everything he saw etc etc... all VERY above board, very helpful and informative... he had previously told me he had a favorite among the group from when he looked them over and a close second choice among the stones he had brought in, but didn''t tell me which... When all was set and done, I preferred the same two - independent of knowing his choices...
as discussion proceeded, he had someone come to his door and he had to excuse himself for a few minutes, as I was sitting there, he had shown me his "invoice" as he called it for the stones - which indicated some info I would like commentary on from each of you...
in a nutshell the two stones are ovals, the first is 1.26ct E color vs2 VG polish, Good symmetry, 64.4% depth and 56% table 8.49mmx5.98mmx3.85deep... GIA certed...
the second (his choice of the two due to the better clarity) 1.28ct, F color, VS1, VG polish, Good symmetry, 64.1 depth, and 60% table, 8.23x6.05 x 3.88 deep also GIA certed...
Now the real issue - one of the columns on his invoice said "price below rappaport" - both being "-28.8%" +/- if I recall... price column on the invoice indicated $6203 for stone #1 above and $6485 for stone #2 above... his words to me were "I mark stones up a flat 15% from whatever I pay for them" ... his price to me on the two stones then is $7298 and $7630 respectively...
As I am price comparing here on the web, I feel like that is quite high for stones which ON PAPER seem comparable... do a pricescope search and you''ll see what I mean...
given what I am finding here, I feel like if I spend in the 7250 range for the stone, I feel like I should then be in the 1.4+ct range size with similar other quality factors... I would like your opinions before I talk to him about my "issues"...
PLEASE comment - not just on prices, but also on what you experts know of rap and the markup etc...
Thanks as always!!!!!!!!!!!
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