(DIAM 103) Tennis Bracelet Raw Materials

[marbran]

I have a tennis bracelet with 38 .1 ct diamonds (3.8 TDW) that needs a new setting for the gems. Reading other threads here, the concensus seems to be that diamond purchases are not for investment but for joy over the years. In other words, "you'll never get what you paid for it".

I am trying to decide what I should do with the jewelry and would like any opinion. The way I see it, these are my choices:

1) Sell as is (worn out), and accept the loss
2) Redesign the diamonds into something unique, that could recapture some of the original value
3) Reset the diamonds, and give as a gift

I have traditionally focused on gold bullion (coins, ingots, etc.) as my "treasure" investment, but diamonds don't seem to fall into the same category. After all, I can sell my gold at market spot price, but not diamonds. Even though diamonds are more expensive on the jewelry market!

I've considered unmounting the 38 stones and adding them to my "treasure chest", but reading these threads it seems the diamonds may already be de-valued. I have seen similar 3.8 TDW bracelets sell for $3000-6000, and I know that's the sellers mark-up. But I did find a site that sells .1ct diamonds at $60-80 each, raw, giving a base value of my bracelet at 50% of that list of $1120 to $1520 just for the diamonds. The gold would join the scrap I have.

In short, in your opinions, what would you do; what are your experiences; should I just keep the diamonds?

When Mervis charges $10K for a bracelet with less TDW than I have, it makes me wonder how the diamond industry works. Like I said, I tend to trade in bullion which has a very exact price; form adds value usually.

Thanks guys and gals!

-S

 

[niceice]

Why not get a new bracelet blank and have the diamonds re-set? It's unlikely that you will recoup the amount you spent for the original bracelet so this is a good option or have a custom piece designed as you mentioned...

 

[Griffin]

You could indeed have a jeweler order just a set of plain tennis bracelet castings and re-set the stones into them. This would restore the bracelet at a fraction of the cost of it new. These are readily available and very inexpensive.
If you do not want the tennis bracelet style, there are many other pre-manufactured options for jewelry using 10 pt. stones, or you could go the custom route as well. With that many stones you could make several different pieces!

Diamonds indeed have a retail markup, unlike a commodity like gold. I would definitely hold on to them and create something new, as opposed to trying to sell the damaged bracelet.

 

[marbran]

Thanks! I guess I'll start researching settings then. Can anyone recommend a good custom goldsmith, if I choose to do something unique?

 

[Griffin]

You would have to tell us what part of the country you are in to find someone near you.

There is a thread about designers going on right now you could look into if you didn't care about distance.

 

[Mara]

Definitely keep the stones and reset them! The setting can be as inexpensive or as elaborate as you want. Or you could even have some set into a bracelet and some into a necklace, or a necklace and earrings, etc. Lots of options.




For ideas on some cool pieces, I love checking out Tiffany's website, they have alot of jewelry and you can decide to have something partially replicated, or it may inspire you into thinking of a new design of your own!

Also www.tradeshop.com has online design galleries of all the stuff they have created, so you can see what other people's ideas have blossomed into. Fun stuff. Good luck!