Diamond price advice please

[skin27]

Hello. The fiancee and I are looking together for her ring and I was wondering if anyone could please help me out with some advice.

We are currently in southern France and been to a jewellers here who has given us a quote for a diamond ring that he would make for us. It is a solitaire on a white gold ring, details I have of the diamond are 0.43 ct, round brilliant cut, he said its E or F colour and was on one of the higher levels of clarity, but sorry can''t remember exactly. We saw the diamond and it looks pretty stunning and he could put it in the setting she likes. The total price he quoted, would be (converted into pounds/dollars) approx. £1600 / $2400.

I would really appreciate if anyone can give us any opinions on that. The thing is, we will be going to London for a few days soon and I have heard a lot about buying diamonds there in Hatton Gardens, so don''t know if its worth waiting to look there if we might get a better deal?

The french jeweller also said if we went for a similar quality diamond but a 0.30ct (ish), which he could order, would cost us about £1300 / $2000.

Thanks for any opinions/tips/info...

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/15/2008 10:41:48 AM
Author:skin27

Hello. The fiancee and I are looking together for her ring and I was wondering if anyone could please help me out with some advice.

We are currently in southern France and been to a jewellers here who has given us a quote for a diamond ring that he would make for us. It is a solitaire on a white gold ring, details I have of the diamond are 0.43 ct, round brilliant cut, he said its E or F colour and was on one of the higher levels of clarity, but sorry can't remember exactly. We saw the diamond and it looks pretty stunning and he could put it in the setting she likes. The total price he quoted, would be (converted into pounds/dollars) approx. £1600 / $2400.

I would really appreciate if anyone can give us any opinions on that. The thing is, we will be going to London for a few days soon and I have heard a lot about buying diamonds there in Hatton Gardens, so don't know if its worth waiting to look there if we might get a better deal?

The french jeweller also said if we went for a similar quality diamond but a 0.30ct (ish), which he could order, would cost us about £1300 / $2000.

Thanks for any opinions/tips/info...

Welcome!

Firstly does this diamond have a grading report such as GIA, AGS, EGL etc? That is important to know.

If you are going to look in London, contact Dr Indira Marchant at www.bestdiamonds.co.uk , she is in the London area. She is also a super lady and an expert who is passionate about cut quality so I am sure she might be able to help you. I would also avoid Hatton Garden unless you have a solid recommendation for that area as it can be a bit of a minefield if you are new to buying diamonds.

You would need to make an appointment with her, here are her contact details.

[email protected]
You can reach me on 0208 868 5210 or 0777 038 1882.

In the UK, we are based in the city area of London (see map below) where we meet clients BY APPOINTMENT ONLY:

Our address is:

The Royal Exchange
2 Royal Exchange
London
EC3V 3DG


Near exit 4 of Bank tube station. When coming out of exit 4, go up the steps of the Royal Exchange building and head for the doors to the right of the building as that is the entrance to no. 2.

Otherwise if you want to stick with the diamond in France, let us know if it has a grading report and what type, plus the proportions of the stone which will be on the report then we can go from there.

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

Hi Lorelei,

I must correct you in a detail. Indira''s office is not in Hatton Garden. Hatton Garden generally has a less-than-good reputation for quality.

Indira works from the Royal Exchange.

Do not worry, Garry Holloway apparently made the same mistake a few days ago, and even called Indira a ''he''.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/15/2008 11:34:53 AM
Author: Paul-Antwerp
Hi Lorelei,

I must correct you in a detail. Indira''s office is not in Hatton Garden. Hatton Garden generally has a less-than-good reputation for quality.

Indira works from the Royal Exchange.

Do not worry, Garry Holloway apparently made the same mistake a few days ago, and even called Indira a ''he''.

Thanks Paul for the correction! Good thing you said otherwise I would have continued to post the wrong info - thanks!

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 12/15/2008 11:34:53 AM
Author: Paul-Antwerp
I must correct you in a detail. Indira''s office is not in Hatton Garden. Hatton Garden generally has a less-than-good reputation for quality.

I hope skin27 read this.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/15/2008 11:56:35 AM
Author: Stone-cold11

Date: 12/15/2008 11:34:53 AM
Author: Paul-Antwerp
I must correct you in a detail. Indira''s office is not in Hatton Garden. Hatton Garden generally has a less-than-good reputation for quality.

I hope skin27 read this.

I am sure he will.

 

[skin27]

Hello again, thank you very much for the replies. Although we really wanted the ring for christmas we''ve decided that as we will be in London just after, its worth waiting and checking out our options there.

We went back to the french jeweller and he showed us a couple more great-looking stones. However when I asked about GIA grading report etc he said these stones don''t have them but for an increase in price it would be possible. He said he issues his own certificates for insurance purposes etc.

Do you think, even with a limited budget that its always worth having the GIA or similiar grading report?

He showed us another stone, this time round cut, 0.38 ct, D colour, VS2. price converted to dollars with the ring would be $2350. sorry don''t have further info aboiut the cut etc. but if anyone can give an opinion on the price, with my limited details, would be appreciated. it does seem a lot when I compare with stones found using the pricescope search tool and can''t help thinking we''ll have more choice of stones/pric in London.

We''ll see anyway. thanks a lot.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/22/2008 6:09:27 AM
Author: skin27
Hello again, thank you very much for the replies. Although we really wanted the ring for christmas we've decided that as we will be in London just after, its worth waiting and checking out our options there.

We went back to the french jeweller and he showed us a couple more great-looking stones. However when I asked about GIA grading report etc he said these stones don't have them but for an increase in price it would be possible. He said he issues his own certificates for insurance purposes etc.

Do you think, even with a limited budget that its always worth having the GIA or similiar grading report?

He showed us another stone, this time round cut, 0.38 ct, D colour, VS2. price converted to dollars with the ring would be $2350. sorry don't have further info aboiut the cut etc. but if anyone can give an opinion on the price, with my limited details, would be appreciated. it does seem a lot when I compare with stones found using the pricescope search tool and can't help thinking we'll have more choice of stones/pric in London.

We'll see anyway. thanks a lot.

Without a reliable grading report such as GIA or AGS, really you have no way of knowing what you are actually buying. It is up to your comfort level of course, but personally I would not buy a diamond for an engagement ring without one.

The price is too high for the diamond you were quoted, similar are $700+ online for D VS2 for the diamond with a GIA report, even with an expensive setting it is still too high IMO for an ungraded diamond especially.