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costco princess cut three stone or other vendor

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bethesdamom

Rough_Rock
Trade
Joined
May 13, 2010
Messages
16
MY husband is buying me a three stone ring after 25 years together. I am doing the shopping. After 25 years we know each other well enough that he is letting me do the research. The ring that caught my eye is this one:

costco 3 stone princess

Since it is a costco, I know it is a vs2 and color I or better. The center stone is around 1 carat and the sidestones are around .5. They are asking $6499 for it.

I am kind of shy. I have thought of screwing up my courage and visiting a local jeweler to see if he can match it. The idea of doing this scares me.

Do ya''ll think I should go with an online vendor like Good Old Gold or Blue Nile?
9.gif


917167.jpg
 
stock photo, so no way to say anything about the cut performance of the princess.
 
Congratulations on 25 years together!!! and how nice that you are getting such a lovely present :)

This video explains the importance of cut quality in princess cuts.

Personally I would go with Whiteflash or GOG because they provide more information about the diamonds, and carry top of the line princess cuts (I assume that''s what you are looking for?)
 
also its totally OK to be shy online :)
 
That ring does have a few good reviews and people seem to like it. Let me just say, I love Costco jewelry. But for an e-ring, especially a princess cut, I would only buy a ideal cut princess. A princess cut
can be pretty lifeless if the cut is bad. Whiteflash offers them and so does Brian Gavin diamond, and maybe a few others. That is a pretty standard trellis setting, so you can go on line and put together
your own ring. I would not buy one from Blue Nile because they can''t pull out a stone and tell you about it, unless it is their signature. Unlike whiteflash or Brian Gavin. They will personally look at the
stone and make sure it is eye clean to your standards. Plus, if you buy from Brian or whiteflash, they have great upgrade policies, that you won''t find at Costco.

If you can''t put together a comparable ring at either of those vendors or the price difference is HUGE, go for the costco ring. You can always take it back easily. But there is not much way to compare unless you
purchase and ideal cut stone and see the difference.

ooops-25th anniversary ring. Sorry, same still applies though. See what you can put together online. My first choice would be either of the two vendors, third choice Costco. Most local jewelers won''t be able
to match Costco prices, but that is not the most important thing. Cut is. Even if you got a slightly smaller version with a well cut stone, it would by far over shadow a poorly cut one.
 
You could put that ring together with Brian Gavin Diamonds for 6843. with G colored sidestones and I colored center. I didn''t see any princess signature cuts but Brian would make sure you had a well cut stone.
Plus, you pay no sales tax. That will save you a bit. This was their wire price but I think they also offer a pricescope discount. Ask Lesley.
 
Congratulations on your anniversary! Forgot to say that, I got caught up in the bling possiblities!
 
OK Folks. My husband went to the local Costco and purchased a three stone ring for me, instead of the one online. Truth be told, I really love it.

Rather than princess cut stones, it is 3 round brilliant cut diamonds. It is a .9 carat center with two .25 carat side stones. As you know, it is guaranteed to be VS2 or better clarity and I or better color, according to Costco.

I love the platinum setting. It is like a trellis, but the each limb of the trellis looks like a heart.

I have an appraisal appointment for Tuesday. If it doesn''t appraise to the price and specs promised, we will return the ring.

He spent $5000. I will post pics soon.
 
I forgot to add, It has a lot of fire in natural sunlight. It looks good in diffuse light, as well.

Thank you for the pointer to Brian Gavin. I love his settings. If I return this, I may still be shopping there.
 
congrats- I know many pp who were thrilled with Costco rings. Let us know how it appraises- no one I knew ever had theirs independently appraised. GL!
 


kebtop2.jpg
 
Here is the side view.

kebsideview.jpg
 
Date: 5/14/2010 8:03:49 PM
Author: bethesdamom
OK Folks. My husband went to the local Costco and purchased a three stone ring for me, instead of the one online. Truth be told, I really love it.

Rather than princess cut stones, it is 3 round brilliant cut diamonds. It is a .9 carat center with two .25 carat side stones. As you know, it is guaranteed to be VS2 or better clarity and I or better color, according to Costco.

I love the platinum setting. It is like a trellis, but the each limb of the trellis looks like a heart.

I have an appraisal appointment for Tuesday. If it doesn''t appraise to the price and specs promised, we will return the ring.

He spent $5000. I will post pics soon.
Click to expand...
but we are talking about two different animals here...IGI vs GIA/AGS report.
2.gif
i can guarantee your ring will appraise higher than what your husband paid,but the appraisal number (dollar amount) is worthless.
 
Date: 5/14/2010 9:06:38 PM
Author: Dancing Fire
Date: 5/14/2010 8:03:49 PM

Author: bethesdamom

OK Folks. My husband went to the local Costco and purchased a three stone ring for me, instead of the one online. Truth be told, I really love it.


Rather than princess cut stones, it is 3 round brilliant cut diamonds. It is a .9 carat center with two .25 carat side stones. As you know, it is guaranteed to be VS2 or better clarity and I or better color, according to Costco.



I love the platinum setting. It is like a trellis, but the each limb of the trellis looks like a heart.


I have an appraisal appointment for Tuesday. If it doesn''t appraise to the price and specs promised, we will return the ring.


He spent $5000. I will post pics soon.
Click to expand...
but we are talking about two different animals here...IGI vs GIA/AGS report.
2.gif
i can guarantee your ring will appraise higher than what your husband paid,but the appraisal number (dollar amount) is worthless.
Click to expand...



What is important , then?
 
i think what is important is that you like it :)
 
Congratulations, bethesdamom! That is a different ring than the one on their website. It is pretty. It will undoubtably appraise for more. If I were you I would try to find a vendor who sells ideal cut
stone and compare that way. Especially ideal stones with an AGS report. If it doesn''t matter to you and you just love it, that is great too. I have a couple bands from Costco and I use my idealscope on the
stones and they are actually great. But it is just not a guarantee.

The most important thing is that you love it. Your hubby was a doll to go and get it for you. Enjoy!
 
Date: 5/14/2010 10:19:17 PM
Author: luv2sparkle
Congratulations, bethesdamom! That is a different ring than the one on their website. It is pretty. It will undoubtably appraise for more. If I were you I would try to find a vendor who sells ideal cut
stone and compare that way. Especially ideal stones with an AGS report. If it doesn''t matter to you and you just love it, that is great too. I have a couple bands from Costco and I use my idealscope on the
stones and they are actually great. But it is just not a guarantee.

The most important thing is that you love it. Your hubby was a doll to go and get it for you. Enjoy!
Click to expand...
yep, and most people will be pleasently surprised by how competitive PS vendors are vs Costco.
1.gif
 
Date: 5/14/2010 9:46:32 PM
Author: bethesdamom

Date: 5/14/2010 9:06:38 PM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 5/14/2010 8:03:49 PM

Author: bethesdamom

OK Folks. My husband went to the local Costco and purchased a three stone ring for me, instead of the one online. Truth be told, I really love it.


Rather than princess cut stones, it is 3 round brilliant cut diamonds. It is a .9 carat center with two .25 carat side stones. As you know, it is guaranteed to be VS2 or better clarity and I or better color, according to Costco.



I love the platinum setting. It is like a trellis, but the each limb of the trellis looks like a heart.


I have an appraisal appointment for Tuesday. If it doesn''t appraise to the price and specs promised, we will return the ring.


He spent $5000. I will post pics soon.
Click to expand...
but we are talking about two different animals here...IGI vs GIA/AGS report.
2.gif
i can guarantee your ring will appraise higher than what your husband paid,but the appraisal number (dollar amount) is worthless.
Click to expand...
What is important , then?
Click to expand...
cut quality of the stones + a lab report from GIA or AGS.
 
Congratulations on 25 years.
 
I personally think Costco is overpriced for the quality. JMO. I also don''t like that they use IGI or some other bogus lab that gives "generous" gradings.
 
Date: 5/15/2010 12:37:00 AM
Author: tourmaline_lover
I personally think Costco is overpriced for the quality. JMO. I also don't like that they use IGI or some other bogus lab that gives 'generous' gradings.
Click to expand...
IMO,not overpriced but you get what you paid for. now here's the tricky part of their policy.they stated that their 1ct stone can be off by a few points in weight,but still label them as 1ct stones.
 
congrats on 25 years!!
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i''ve never bought any jewelry from costco but everytime i''m there i ALWAYS stop by their jewelry cases and stare at the diamonds.
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For the CostCo rings I''ve looked at, they have a GIA report number for the center stones and say "IGI Value: $ amount". I don''t know if that''s the case with all of their jewelry, but at least at my local Costco, there is a reference to the GIA report number and IGI just gives their valuation.

Usually on the website it will say:

"This item comes with a Summation Of Appraisal certificate from the International Gemological Institute (IGI). This is to certify that the item described above is genuine, and has been independently examined in the laboratories of IGI.

Also included with this diamond is a GIA (Gemological Institute of America), Gem Trade Laboratory, Diamond Grading Report. Gem Trade Laboratory is a division of GIA Enterprises, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the nonprofit Gemological Institute of America, Inc. This describes the characteristics of the diamond at the time of the examination based upon 10x magnification."

Did your ring come with a GIA grading report?
 
Date: 5/16/2010 4:18:24 PM
Author: Telethia
For the CostCo rings I've looked at, they have a GIA report number for the center stones and say 'IGI Value: $ amount'. I don't know if that's the case with all of their jewelry, but at least at my local Costco, there is a reference to the GIA report number and IGI just gives their valuation.

Usually on the website it will say:

'This item comes with a Summation Of Appraisal certificate from the International Gemological Institute (IGI). This is to certify that the item described above is genuine, and has been independently examined in the laboratories of IGI.

Also included with this diamond is a GIA (Gemological Institute of America), Gem Trade Laboratory, Diamond Grading Report. Gem Trade Laboratory is a division of GIA Enterprises, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the nonprofit Gemological Institute of America, Inc. This describes the characteristics of the diamond at the time of the examination based upon 10x magnification.'

Did your ring come with a GIA grading report?
Click to expand...
i don't think their < 1ct stones come with a GIA report.
 
No, the center stone is less than 1 carat. It did not come with a GIA report.

I had it appraised by an appraiser found on Pricescope, Yantz Bradbury Associates. Sharlene was marvelous!

The ring was valued at $7600. That is $2601 more than I paid. It is less than the imaginary figure on the Costco appraisal.

The center stone is remarkably clean and the flaws are all at the edges. Check out the specs:

centerstone.jpg
 
The side stones are nice, too.

sidestoneskeb.jpg
 
What do you guys think? I have been wearing it all day. It is extremely sparkly, but I have never had a larger diamond before.

I have been actively shopping the web and B&M and I cannot find a match for price.

I visited a big chain brick and mortar store that advertises endlessly on local radio. When I started asking pointed questions, using the knowledge I had gained here, he told me I couldn''t afford his store.

I really love the settings on Brian Gavin Diamond. Maybe someday......
 
Did you get the pav and crown angles?
 
I would get Lorelei''s opinion but it seems a little deep to me, which would cause it to have leakage. I am in no way an expert, but I would do a little research in the tutorials and see. I think the depth
should be more in line with 61% but all the other angles would need to be known.

I guess it matters how much you care. If you want the best cut stone you can find, with maximum amount of sparkle, I would probably return that one. But if you love it and think it is perfect for you, then
enjoy it and don''t look back. We are all quite taken with perfectly cut stones for maximum brillance here, but really the only thing that really matters is how you feel about it.
 
notice the word "ESTIMATED" weight .090ct?
20.gif
now you see what mean by my above post ? i''ll bet my underwear this stone weighs < .90ct
 
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