Daniel K Cushion Question

[shewantsbling]

I found a ring I am positive my girlfriend will want. She wants a cushion (1st) or asscher (2nd).

Anyway, I found a Daniel K Empress with a cushion at a local jewelers.

Center Stone: 1.32
G
VS2

1.2 carat pave diamonds
$27K list
$20K selling price

Apparently, they have a standard discount they apply to the (supposed) list price. Does anybody have any experience with this discounting at the stores that sell Daniel K? I''m curious if that $20K price sounds right for the ring above. I''m thinking of trying to negotiate less, but have no idea what is realistic for that ring. I''m sure you can tell from this, I''m no diamond expert.

FYI, we "happened" into the store after i had already been in there looking at the ring. I told the salesman if he saw me in there with a girl to play cool and act like he didn''t know me. Anyway, we were just browsing around looking at watches and she walked right up to the ring I had been looking at and asked to try it on. Apparently, she has trained me well to look for what she likes. She has no idea I''m thinking of buying a ring right now as i have been playing broke.

Thanks for any of your diamond wisdom.

Ben

 

[JulieN]

well, as long as you know that Daniel K carries a huge premium. as in, you can get something similar for almost half. this one?

 

[windowshopper]

that s a lot for a G vs2 1.32.................the mounting is probably about 6,000/7000 custom

 

[mrssalvo]

Daniel K carries a premium similar to Tiffany. His stuff is gorgeous and the workmanship is amazing. His stones are all ex/ex cut''s. It''s up to you and your girlfriend what is important and if it''s worth the price. I have yet to see a knock off look any where as good as the real thing. If you would be happy with something *close* or similar, custom is an option and there are other similar settings out there. If she loves the Daniel K and you can afford the pricetag, get the Real deal.. If you can find someone to discount it down to 20K, I''d take it. It''s a good price for a DK ring.

 

[Gypsy]

Evaluating the cost effectiveness of a Daniel K is going to be a bit hard as it does carry a large premium...but his stuff is just breathtaking and as you said... your lady is gong to adore it (she already does!). Yes, you can get something simliar made, but why-- it won't be the same? His quality is fanatastic and if you can get afford the price and you know she'll love it I think it's the right ring for you. CONGRATS! (and please, post pics... many, many pics). As for the price-- well the jeweler knows he's got you-- you loved it, she loved it... so the best thing you can do is ask Bill Pearlman (who also carries Daniel K) what he thinks about the price... he's a great guy and I'm sure he'd be happy to help. www.pearlmansjewelers.com

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 5/7/2006 1:01:17 AM
Author:shewantsbling
she walked right up to the ring I had been looking at and asked to try it on.

Ben,
If you get that ring you will have hoardes of Pricescope gals in a jealous frenzy!!! There are a lot of us on here who would KILL for a real Daniel K & many others who've tried to emulate those styles only to be semi-disappointed with the results.

If you can afford it & she loves it & you love it --- even the "go bigger stone, go custom" monster inside me has been silenced. JUST DO IT. I really don't think you'll be sorry. Especially for "novice" jewelry buyers who aren't used to custom projects & expectations & cushion selection GEEZ - it's a lot to learn.

Daniel K is flawless & magical & expensive & worth it. IMHO. Oh I just hope you get it and that we get many many pictures to drool over/throw shoes at our computer monitor at!!

 

[luvmyhubby]

Date: 5/7/2006 1:12:01 AM
Author: JulieN
well, as long as you know that Daniel K carries a huge premium. as in, you can get something similar for almost half. this one?

that is so gorgeous! that''s a square cushion, right? oh my god...beautiful.

 

[shewantsbling]

Wow, thanks for all the responses.

That picture sure looks like it. I looked at a Tiffany Legacy (I know) and this Daniel K is much better and a little less expensive. The Daniel K has a better side view than the Legacy.

They said they could order a custom one from Daniel K with a 1 ct stone for about $15K. I was hoping I could get them down to $17K on that ring they had in stock. We''ll see.

I''ll definitely post pics.

Ben

 

[MissAva]

Perhaps if you offered to pay cash at that moment it would help. Is the one in stock your GF''s size?

I have to say the Danial K rings are stunning!

 

[shewantsbling]

OK, i have some more dumb questions.

I located 2 more Daniel K Empress rings with cushion cuts. These are out of state.

1.38
F
SI1
1.07 Pave
$21,040 selling price

AND

1.00
F
VS2
1.07 Pave
$18,520 sellng price

Now, I can''t see these in person because they are far out of state. I have only seen pictures they emailed me. Assuming these are good quality Daniel K diamonds. Would it be better to have my original 1.32 G VS2 or this new 1.38 F SI1? I''m probably not considering the 1.00 as it looks quite a bit smaller than the 1.38 in the pictures. Also, the price difference on the two rings is a wash because i''ll have to pay state tax on the original cheaper one.

Thanks again for any help.

Ben

 

[mrssalvo]

Ben,
Is the F SI 1 eye clean? I''m assuming it probably is because Dk is very picky about his stones and will only use DK stone in the settings. If so, i go for the larger stone

a fellow pricescoper was able to try on two DK rings. the larger is a 1.55 cushion and the smaller is 1 carat.

 

[Kaleigh]

If the F SI1 is eye clean I''d go for that one. I wouldn''t think he''d use stones that aren''t eye clean but best to ask. I adore the Daniel K line!! Good luck!!

 

[Capitol Bill]

Date: 5/9/2006 11:33:45 PM
Author: mrssalvo
Ben,

Is the F SI 1 eye clean? I''m assuming it probably is because Dk is very picky about his stones and will only use DK stone in the settings. If so, i go for the larger stone

a fellow pricescoper was able to try on two DK rings. the larger is a 1.55 cushion and the smaller is 1 carat.


Hi mrssalvo!

Actually, it''s kind of the other way around. DK is "backed" in a BIG way by a major Belgium-based siteholder and manufacturer that supplies every stone for every DK piece. DK jewelry is more like a showcase for this manufacturer''s stones. I''ve found their asschers and cushions to be among the best and I''ve used them often.

Bill Scherlag

 

[mrssalvo]

Thanks Capitol Bill. Good to know about the stones, no wonder I love them

 

[ellewoods]

Mrs. Salvo:

I still swoon every time I see hand pics with Daniel K rings. Any news on your quest for a new ring? Last I remember, you were going to wait a bit for the ring you wanted. Is that still the plan, or did you buy one?

ShewantsBling: Have you checked out prices from Judith Arnell, I think she''s in Oregon? She has a website, and her store seems to be one of the major stores carrying Daniel K. And Pearlmans of course, which was already been mentioned.

When I first saw Daniel K rings I was at a jeweler in California, and one of the rings was around a 2 carat center stone (or a little larger) and it was marked $69,000! Yes, totally crazy. The store obviously had a huge markup -- or people actually pay those prices at that particular store. From all I''ve read about Daniel K rings, and from talking to different jewelers, etc. I think those prices sound pretty standard, but I wonder if you could get a better deal -- or a bigger center stone for around the same price. I was talking to someone on PS several months ago who was looking at Daniel K rings with center stones around 1.3-1.5 and he had been quoted prices around $20,000-$22,000.

 

[shewantsbling]

Here are pics of the 1.00 and the 1.38 rings that the jeweler emailed me.

I have called about 6 different stores that carry Daniel K. Only a couple of the stores that i called actually had any in stock and another store didn''t have any in stock but said they could get rings from Daniel K. That store quoted me out the same 3 exact rings that I have mentioned in this post that are in stock at other stores.

 

[cutey TT]

shewantsbling - If you can afford it, I would go for the 1.38 ct...as the side-by-side pic really shows the relative visual size difference. But I agree with the others that you probably want to ask the jeweler''s honest opinion on whether the SI1 is eye clean.

Also, I know you''ve called a bunch of places...but have you called Bill Pearlman? If he doesn''t have what you want, I''m sure he can call some in from the manufacturer...besides, he''s really great to work with.

 

[dragon]

I would *highly* recommend giving Bill Pearlman a call. He might also be able to give you some guidance in choosing between the stones.

 

[Mara]

hmmm i was just about to say that the 1.38 F SI sounds like the better deal for me...BUT then i saw that picture that you posted on the hands and up close...and i think that the 1c looks more lively than the 1.38 F SI. is it just me? it looks better in both pictures to me. i am typically a size girl but i don't know...i think the smaller one even looks better on the hand!

 

[MissAva]

I think the 1.38 looks spiffy in the photos, but I agree with the advice about contacting Bill Pearlman to see what he could do for you, after all it never hurts to double check!