Did we get a good deal on this diamond/setting?? HELP!

[shamrock1228]

I got engaged on Sunday and just went to the jeweler to pick up my EGL certificate. He had to order it and it just came in. I was under the impression that my stone was an ideal cut, but when we got the certificate today, it says that it's a very good cut. When I asked the jeweler about it, he said that the other stone that I was looking at was an ideal cut, but the one I chose was not...

When I was originally going thru the process of picking out my stone, I told the jeweler that I for sure wanted an ideal/excellent cut, and that cut was one "c" that I wasn't willing to sacrifice on. So I don't know if me thinking that we were purchasing an ideal cut was a miscommunication or what, but I'm almost positive that he told me it was an ideal cut when I looked at the stone initially.

I love my ring and the centerstone sparkles and is beautiful with no visible inclusions, but I'm upset, because I feel like we didn't really get what we paid for, though he said he gave us a great deal. I just want to make sure we aren't being ripped off. Here are the specs of my diamond:

EGL Certified
1.10 carats
Round Brilliant
6.50 -6.45 x 4.17mm

Cut Grade: Very Good
Total Depth: 64.4%
Table Width: 55%
Pavilion Depth: 44%
Girdle Thickness: Medium, Faceted

Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Culet: None

Clarity Grade: SI2
Graining: Nil
Color Grade: E
Fluorescence: Very Slight Blue

The setting (engagement ring and wedding band) is 18k white gold with .59 carats of round diamonds that are VS clarity and FG color.

We paid $6283 TOTAL including the 6% Michigan sales tax, but I did have a $1000 credit for trading in another diamond...So I guess you could say the purchase price was actually $7283.

So...Did we actually get a good deal, or did we get ripped off? Thanks for your help pricescopers!

 

[emeraldnewbie]

IMHO, yes, that's a rip off.

I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination, but what I DO know is there are no "deals" in diamonds. You get what you pay for. And unfortunately what you paid for was an EGL diamond that is quite unlikely to be the grades stated. I see that you already were warned about this, so is there a reason you went ahead with the EGL diamond anyway?

Can you return for a full refund? I am certain the wonderful members here at PS would be happy to give some suggestions for a new stone. They will come along shortly I'm sure.

 

[Gypsy]

I would say you paid what it's worth. You didn't get ripped off.

Diamond:
http://www.solomonbrothers.com/DiamondDetail.aspx?sku=5YF3464Y&affiliate=9318613A-AD0C-4530-A456-0409DFEFB8DE%20&utm_source=PriceScope 4,844 (pretty exact match, down to the Faint Florescence).

Setting:
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-engagement-ring-setting_11778 Similar amount of metal and diamonds 1,920 (not an exact match in terms of style, but close enough).

4,844
1,920
_____
6,764 and 6% tax brings you close to what you paid.

If you love it and it's beautiful to your eyes, then I think you should keep it.

 

[Dancing Fire]

the cut is too deep!. the diameter equal to a well cut 1ct stone.

 

[MsP]

IMHO, yes, that's a rip off.

I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination, but what I DO know is there are no "deals" in diamonds. You get what you pay for. And unfortunately what you paid for was an EGL diamond that is quite unlikely to be the grades stated. I see that you already were warned about this, so is there a reason you went ahead with the EGL diamond anyway?

Can you return for a full refund? I am certain the wonderful members here at PS would be happy to give some suggestions for a new stone. They will come along shortly I'm sure.

This is the real question. If you can't, stop fretting and just love your stone! Looks beautiful.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You'll have to be willing to pay more to get an excellent/ideal cut stone more than likely. The stone is too deep and faces up more like a 1.0. So it is really a matter of whether having a better cut stone is worth it to you. Of course, you could go down to 1 ct. in a GIA Excellent stone and a couple color grades lower than the EGL stone and have one the same size but better cut.

 

[madelise]

IMHO, yes, that's a rip off.

I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination, but what I DO know is there are no "deals" in diamonds. You get what you pay for. And unfortunately what you paid for was an EGL diamond that is quite unlikely to be the grades stated. I see that you already were warned about this, so is there a reason you went ahead with the EGL diamond anyway?

Can you return for a full refund? I am certain the wonderful members here at PS would be happy to give some suggestions for a new stone. They will come along shortly I'm sure.

This is the real question. If you can't, stop fretting and just love your stone! Looks beautiful.

Yes! If you can return it, do it ASAP, and don't get an EGL stone! If you're outside the return window, stop thinking about it

 

[madelise]

btw, congratulations on your engagement

 

[shamrock1228]

If I want to return it the diamond, I can.

I am fine with the way it looks, it sparkles, and I think it's beautiful. I was under the impression that it was an ideal cut, and wanted to make sure that we didn't pay too much for what we ended up with now that I realized it was only a very good cut. I guess that's the real question. I'm happy with the size and I don't want my fiance to spend any more money. If I should be getting money back from the jeweler because of this new found info, then I need to call him. If I paid about the right price, then I'm just going to leave it alone.

I ended up still going with the EGL stone because the GIA stones were so much more expensive. I'm not necessarily looking at this as an investment. It's more about the meaning behind it, and I obviously want it to be pretty and sparkly.

 

[shamrock1228]

Thank you

 

[bgray]

If I want to return it the diamond, I can.

I am fine with the way it looks, it sparkles, and I think it's beautiful. I was under the impression that it was an ideal cut, and wanted to make sure that we didn't pay too much for what we ended up with now that I realized it was only a very good cut. I guess that's the real question. I'm happy with the size and I don't want my fiance to spend any more money. If I should be getting money back from the jeweler because of this new found info, then I need to call him. If I paid about the right price, then I'm just going to leave it alone.

I ended up still going with the EGL stone because the GIA stones were so much more expensive. I'm not necessarily looking at this as an investment. It's more about the meaning behind it, and I obviously want it to be pretty and sparkly.

dont ask questions you dont want answers to. GIA stones are more expensive because they are usually better stones. EGL is a notoriously weak grading lab that inflates grades on stones and jewelers use that lab when they have lower spec stones and want a cheaper certificate. You overpaid because your stone probably has inflated color and clarity grades and it is deep--your stone is .10 over the carat mark but it looks like a 1 carat so the extra .10 is on the bottom so no you did not get a good deal. your jeweler will not give you money back because you bought a stone based on price. if you like it then keep it but you did ask "did we get a good deal......"

 

[TitanCi]

If I want to return it the diamond, I can.

I am fine with the way it looks, it sparkles, and I think it's beautiful. I was under the impression that it was an ideal cut, and wanted to make sure that we didn't pay too much for what we ended up with now that I realized it was only a very good cut. I guess that's the real question. I'm happy with the size and I don't want my fiance to spend any more money. If I should be getting money back from the jeweler because of this new found info, then I need to call him. If I paid about the right price, then I'm just going to leave it alone.

I ended up still going with the EGL stone because the GIA stones were so much more expensive. I'm not necessarily looking at this as an investment. It's more about the meaning behind it, and I obviously want it to be pretty and sparkly.

dont ask questions you dont want answers to. GIA stones are more expensive because they are usually better stones. EGL is a notoriously weak grading lab that inflates grades on stones and jewelers use that lab when they have lower spec stones and want a cheaper certificate. You overpaid because your stone probably has inflated color and clarity grades and it is deep--your stone is .10 over the carat mark but it looks like a 1 carat so the extra .10 is on the bottom so no you did not get a good deal. your jeweler will not give you money back because you bought a stone based on price. if you like it then keep it but you did ask "did we get a good deal......"

Hard reality. But bgray is right though...

For Gypsy to NOT ream you a new one says a lot... if she feels you did OK, then chances are just that: you did "OK"... not excellent, but OK. If he sold it to you as an ideal stone and it's not, then that's pretty shady/misleading. That alone would make me return it or not accept it on the spot. Then for him to say "oh that was the other one blah blah blah bullshit bullshit", and to blame you? Not cool.

 

[TitanCi]

When I asked the jeweler about it, he said that the other stone that I was looking at was an ideal cut, but the one I chose was not...


but I'm almost positive that he told me it was an ideal cut when I looked at the stone initially.

I think you got your answer right here. For you to know you're not gonna compromise on cut, why would you ever let yourself buy one that isn't ideal cut? You wouldn't. And you didn't. However, you were sold something that wasn't, and if he knowingly lied to you or whatever.. then... I think you know the answer.

 

[Gypsy]

For Gypsy to NOT ream you a new one says a lot... if she feels you did OK, then chances are just that: you did "OK"... not excellent, but OK.

My feeling is this.

He asked one question: Did he get a good deal price wise? Well, I checked the comps and he paid what he should have. Not more. And not less. AND SO I ANSWERED JUST THAT QUESTION. And since he seemed happy with it, I told him that if it was nice enough to his eyes, and he's happy, he can keep it knowing he didn't ripped off.

Now, is that the stone I would have picked for the budget? Absolutely not. For many reasons.

But I wasn't asked "What would you have bought with this budget and would you, in my place, return it." So I didn't answer that question. But for the record, I would not be happy with an EGL graded very good stone that is over deep, while paying retail for the same.

IF I were to buy an EGL round brilliant stone it would ONLY be with the following caveats: 1) it would have to score well with the HCA and 2) it would have to have a fantastic Idealscope and 3) it would have to be a great price.

That's JUST to buy it. After I buy it, in order to KEEP it it would be only with the following caveats: 1) it would have to independently appraise within 2 color grades on the GIA scales per a VERY good independent appraiser and the clarity would have to be correct, period.

FOR THE RECORD, what I would want you to do, it were MY ring:

Return that stone. I would tell the vendor you are ONLY interested in stones that meet the "ideal' standards. EGL USA (NY and LA okay) ONLY or GIA. And I would run ANY stones proposed through the HCA and I would learn how to use that tool. I would BUY ($25) an idealscope and learn to use it. And I would evaluate each stone I was considering with it. THEN, after I bought it, I would take it UNSET to an appraiser (a good independent one, not affiliated with this guy) and make sure the color is within an acceptable spitting distance of what EGL is claiming. If it is ONLY THEN would I concede to keep that diamond, and have it set.

Here's the thing. You can dress it all up in "it's the sentiment that counts" as much as you want. But THE COLD HARD FACT:

YOU PAID SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THAT THING!!! DON'T YOU WANT TO GET THE BEST ONE YOUR BUDGET CAN GET YOU? OR ARE YOU GOING To SETTLE FOR "GOOD ENOUGH"! ISN'T YOUR LADY WORTH THE EXTRA EFFORT TO GET THE BEST?

As for the vendor's ethics? I agree with Titan.

But no. I didn't say that initially. Because I wasn't asked for my 'complete, unsolicited opinion.' But in the interest of full disclosure, the foregoing is what I REALLY think, in its entirety and completely unvarnished.

 

[TitanCi]

^..hhaaaaaaaveeeeeeeeeeeee you met Gypsy, Shamrock?








But in all seriousness, you came to a diamond forum that puts above all else, cut quality. Just know we just want YOU to be happy and content with your purchase!

 

[MsP]

^..hhaaaaaaaveeeeeeeeeeeee you met Gypsy, Shamrock?








But in all seriousness, you came to a diamond forum that puts above all else, cut quality. Just know we just want YOU to be happy and content with your purchase!

 

[Dreamer_D]

The price is fair for what you got, even though it is not what you asked for or what you thought your bought

I don't like the switcheroo the jeweler pulled and would not want my money going to someone like that.

 

[Haven]

The price is fair for what you got, even though it is not what you asked for or what you thought your bought

I don't like the switcheroo the jeweler pulled and would not want my money going to someone like that.

Big ditto.
You're buying a modern RB, which is something you can find with any other jeweler, so if I were you I'd want to purchase from someone I felt I could trust.

 

[Polished]

Can you return for a full refund? I am certain the wonderful members here at PS would be happy to give some suggestions for a new stone.

I'm with this. If you seek help here, you will get the very best for your budget and a ring that you can take forward, into the future with pleasure and peace of mind.

 

[0-0-0]

I would definitely run from any vendor who pulls switcheroos.

 

[junebug17]

The price is fair for what you got, even though it is not what you asked for or what you thought your bought

I don't like the switcheroo the jeweler pulled and would not want my money going to someone like that.

Yeah, that's the thing that really bothers me too. I'd be tempted to return it just on principal, if for no other reason.