Diamond Ring At a Discount?

[jmdgls]

I''ve read a lot of the advice people have been giving about buying rings from Zales or Jared. I was looking for a diamond ring for my girlfriend for our 1-yr. Zales had a ring which was on sale bc it was previously owned.

My girlfriend loved it. I was skeptical. It was marked originally at $1100, but marked down 70% bc it was preowned. They also didnt have the cert. They say it''s 1/2ct. (1/4 + 2 1/8s), ~H and ~SI1. I went to Jared and looked at a few of there loose diamonds to get an idea of what the different colors and clarities look like.

I also went to a local independent store, but the nearest thing i could find was $500 for a ring w. 5 diamonds and a total carat weight of .25, I, SI2, w. GIA cert.


Bc the Zales ring was preowned, they would only hold it for a week without requiring a charge. In the end, I got the ring and put it on my amex. If in the next 30days i find out this is a bad decision, I''ll take it back. And if Zales screws with me during about their 30day return policy, my credt card has extra money back guarantee for problems.

Anyways, I wanted to post a pic of it on here and get everyone''s feedback. Yes, it''s from Zales, but i think the color and clarity are decent enough (not based on their rating, but on my perception), in addition to the price discount, to warrant the purchase.

Any thoughts?

(Not sure why the pic isnt showing up in preview, but if you cant see it, it''s right here

 

[neatfreak]

What is really important is if SHE loves it. Usually rings at Zales, etc. aren't nearly as pretty as they could be because the cut of the diamonds isn't great. So that doesn't mean that they aren't nice, but often they are overpriced and COULD be a lot nicer. They often also sell diamonds that they claim are a certain color or clarity when in reality they aren't nearly as "high" as they claim.

It's much more important for something like an engagement ring. I say just keep this ring for what it is, a fun ring, and don't worry about it!

 

[jayreneepea]

It looks pretty nice for $500. When it''s time for "the" ring please come back and let the experts find you a well cut stone with a grading report from a reputable lab, sound good?

What shape are the stones?? Don''t the corners looked clipped?

 

[bee*]

Looks good and as neatfreak said, the most important thing is that your gf loves it. It definitely looks good for the price you got it for.

 

[arjunajane]

Hello,
I agree I think it looks pretty nice, especially for only $500

Plus, if ur girl loves it, bonus.
May I ask, you said you have since "found out this was the wrong decision" to purchase the ring and have decided to return it. What exactly was it that made you decide this? Was it a lesser colour/clarity than you were told?
just curious

ETA: Oh yeah, and can confirm what cut these are?? At first I thought they were round, but they definately seem to have cut corners..

still look nice though.

 

[cutes814]

the ring was originally $1100, but marked down 70%, so that makes the ring $330 right? or was it marked down to 70%, meaning it was 30% off making the ring $770?

i''m a little confused.

but whatever the price may be, i say if she loves it, then it''s a good deal. the price doesn''t seem that bad.


but when you''re ready to buy the proposal ring, please do come back and let us help you choose a knockout stone with a great price tag along it. please don''t buy your proposal ring from zales or jared''s. you can buy so much more diamond and a much better performing diamond with the money.

 

[krisvrn]

It''s a good ring for that price. $1100 - 70% = $330 plus tax, right ? so for that price, looks to me and as long as your gf likes it, then that is all that matters.

 

[lisa1.01fvs1]

I wouldn''t kick the ring out of bed for eating crackers.....

Very pretty.

 

[surfgirl]

Date: 2/23/2008 4:48:09 PM
Author:jmdgls
I was skeptical. It was marked originally at $1100, but marked down 70% bc it was preowned. They also didnt have the cert. They say it''s 1/2ct. (1/4 + 2 1/8s), ~H and ~SI1.

Any thoughts?

Yes, you should be skeptical...my thoughts are GO GET IT APPRAISED by an independent appraiser. Because there is probably something not quite right with that scenario. If those stones were what they say they are, they would not sell that ring for $330. Diamonds aren''t like used cars or used clothing. If there''s nothing wrong with a ring/stone, it''s usually sold for close to what it''s market value is worth. To sell that ring for so little makes me very suspicious.

OTOH, you already gave it to your GF, yes, because you said she loved it. If you''ve already given it to her, then let it go because you''re not going to take it away from her because it gets a lower grading from an appraiser, right?

Next time please remember that there really are no "deals"...in every diamond transaction, IMO, somebody''s making money. Otherwise they wouldn''t be selling.

 

[Diamond*Dana]

I agree with Surfgirl, that looks like a very nice ring for $330 if it was originally $1100. If it is checked out and is exactly what it was sold as, then yes...you probably got a good deal, but I would get it appraised within the 30 days.

 

[slmulkey]

Looks pretty to me and for $330 I wouldn''t sweat it. I wouldn''t be shocked if it was off by a grade in color and/or clarity, and not a great cut, but for the price it seems like a good deal.

 

[LegacyGirl]

Yeah it doesn''t look bad for $330

 

[Dee*Jay]

Are those round stones? The "top" and "bottom" of the center stone in particular look flattened out to me.

 

[hairgirl95]

They almost look like asscher shaped stones with the facets of a round brilliant. Anyone else seeing this too?? I do like the look of the ring though. Glad your GF loves it!!