Dilemma... Buy from Cartier, or have it made by a reputable B&M

[indyguy]

Finally settled on the Cartier 1895 solitaire e-ring, [and a about a 1.2-1.4ct F VS1 round].

A reputable local shop can make it from photos, but after I price out buying the stone separately, or buying from the local shop, I''m finding that Cartier sells it with an equal or slighly better center stone for about the same, or only $900 more in terms of total cost. My question -- is there more retained value in getting it from a Cartier? Any tangible benefit to either? Any observations besides the fact that the local shop might not get it "just right"? My sincere thanks as I have to decide fast!

 

[shminbabe]

Gosh, for just $900 more you can get the Cartier? I think that''s what I would do. If you were talking a few thousand dollars'' difference that would sway my decision but for $900 I know I''d go for the Cartier.

 

[Kaleigh]

I''d go with the Cartier.. Custom inspired designs can have problems, so for $900 it''s money well spent!!! Make sure to come back with pics!!!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I''d definetly get the Cartier! The additional cost isn''t much at all (unless that $900 will make or break you

) and don''t you think there would be comfort in the fact that the design is absolutely perfect (not a near perfect replication)?

Please post pictures after you purchase the ring!

 

[glitterati]

Hands down go for Cartier!!! Your gal will most likely swoon over it too!!!

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

care to list any prices on the approx value of the diamond if you buy from Cartier?

Also, make sure you are careful in selecting which diamond from cartier. From some of my recent observations I was less than impressed with the cut of the cartier diamonds, and the cheap version of the IS I brought along backed up my dissapointment 100%. They have many beautiful diamonds, but they also have alot that would not quailify as excellent or ideal, yet push them all the same based on there Cartier name. So be cautious if you want top of the line quality to go along with the top of the line namebrand.

That being said, if the diamond is truly in good shape and of equal quality (especially if its better!) with an top of the line cut, then then def. get the Cartier!

 

[snlee]

Date: 8/24/2007 12:08:39 AM
Author: MC
I'd definetly get the Cartier! The additional cost isn't much at all (unless that $900 will make or break you

) and don't you think there would be comfort in the fact that the design is absolutely perfect (not a near perfect replication)?

Please post pictures after you purchase the ring!

Ditto!

 

[Kissmark]

For a 1.2 ct, F/VS1, $900 really isn''t that much extra markup (I''m guessing around 6 or 7% of total value?). I think Cartier ring would definitely make your girlfriend/Fiance happier. I am surprised that Cartier doesn''t have much higher markup than that? Maybe the other B&M stores that you looked at are not really cheap either?

 

[indyguy]

Cartier pricing is in the high ''teens. Rough numbers are 7k to make it (sidestone/platinum) and the balance on the cener stone. Give or take, it could probably be created for about 900 to 1500 less.

 

[havernell]

$7,000 sounds like A LOT for a platinum setting with a few small side stones... I''m pretty sure you could find someone else who could make the setting for a few thousand dollars less. Here''s a thread where someone had a reproduction of the 1895 Cartier made for under $1500:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/custom-e-ring-inspired-by-cartier.26253/ (scroll all the way down to see the photos of the final ring)

Good luck with the decision!

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

If you feel that the ring listed on that thread is close enough--which came out to be 1420 total--and to my eye seems to be, then you could easily get an incredible diamond like this 1.32ct F VS1 Ideal cut Hearts and Arrows from GOG

Diamond here

for under 12, the setting for under 1.5 and easily walk away witha diamond that will perform better than the Cartier version custom made for 13.5, which sounds like its probably saving a good 4.5k or more?

If you wanted to get a diamond that is probably just as beautiful you coudl always case aside the Hearts and Arrows requirement (which you would not be getting at Cartier anyway) open up your doors to all colorless VS quality diamonds with IDEAL cut (which from what I have seen is just as good and better than what you get at Cartier) and save 4.5K or more, and potentially put that money into a larger diamond? or do whatever else with it. That sounds like the best move to me if Cartier is asking for 18k or so for the ring?


Here is a slightly cheaper F VS2 1.3 with the same spread, also Hearts and Arrows

And an E VS2 Hearts and Arrows for about the same price, with an even larger spread at 1.36ct

having trouble finding good non hearts and arrows diamonds in that size range, but if you are interested I am sure everyone will help you hunt for a deal that will get you a gorgeous stone and ring for much less!

 

[door knob solitaire]

My observation on the remake of the 1895 Solitaire is never quite right. (I am sure that sounds offensive to those who have a version...to make this point it was necessary, I apologize now before the mudslide). A custom piece will have its unique attributes...but rarely can one be made EXACTLY like the original. Most solitaires are 4 prong. The elevation of the stone is always different depending on the carat weight...and if you squint real hard you can see the similar lines. Why get similar when you can get the REAL thing?

On a selfish note, I really want you to go custom...that Cartier Solitaire is what I want. I already have my stone...so I have to build a ring (cartier doesn't sell settings). And I need someone to go first and make the mistakes my custom request will probably encounter. I want the basket head...but no cathedral wings. 6 prong just as the site shows. Can't get any progress on my requests. But you could do the work for me??? Yes you'll save $900 clams...but your will be Spending hours looking over the cad image and adjusting it...waiting for the design to begin...then looking at the wax mock up and fearing everything is too thick...then staying up late at night...worrying about your decision. Yeah...I think you are up to it!

If you were my bestest friend forever...I would plead with you to go with the Cartier. Get what you want. Know what you are getting NOW. No surprises. I think since you are on PS, well you are my BFF...so INDYGUY...I plead with you...
GO CARTIER!!

DKS

PS. this advice is ofcourse only if the setting to you is the most important element. If the pros on the board tell you the diamond isn't a winner...well, then you should listen to that.

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

Date: 8/24/2007 3:26:30 AM
Author: door knob solitaire
My observation on the remake of the 1895 Solitaire is never quite right. (I am sure that sounds offensive to those who have a version...to make this point it was necessary, I apologize now before the mudslide). A custom piece will have its unique attributes...but rarely can one be made EXACTLY like the original. Most solitaires are 4 prong. The elevation of the stone is always different depending on the carat weight...and if you squint real hard you can see the similar lines. Why get similar when you can get the REAL thing?


On a selfish note, I really want you to go custom...that Cartier Solitaire is what I want. I already have my stone...so I have to build a ring (cartier doesn't sell settings). And I need someone to go first and make the mistakes my custom request will probably encounter. I want the basket head...but no cathedral wings. 6 prong just as the site shows. Can't get any progress on my requests. But you could do the work for me??? Yes you'll save $900 clams...but your will be Spending hours looking over the cad image and adjusting it...waiting for the design to begin...then looking at the wax mock up and fearing everything is too thick...then staying up late at night...worrying about your decision. Yeah...I think you are up to it!

If you were my bestest friend forever...I would plead with you to go with the Cartier. Get what you want. Know what you are getting NOW. No surprises. I think since you are on PS, well you are my BFF...so INDYGUY...I plead with you...

GO CARTIER!!

DKS


PS. this advice is ofcourse only if the setting to you is the most important element. If the pros on the board tell you the diamond isn't a winner...well, then you should listen to that.

so what do you say if the savings are more inline with 5,000 dollars instead of 900 dollars? although if that ring was in platinum, which I am beginning to doubt, the price of platinum has gone up since then so we might be talking about 3,000 dollar savings? but anyway, worth　finding out I think?

 

[egs1]

From our experience, don''t expect that the quality of a Cartier ring will always be perfect or that the diamond will be the best quality.

We bought a 1895 Solitare with a 1.20, F, VS1 diamond. When we picked it up it had a very noticeable dent in one of the prongs. The salesperson easily noticed it when we mentioned it and sent it to be ''polished''. The annoying thing was that the ring was returned to us as ''perfect'', however the polished area now had a noticeable dull gouge which could easily be seen to the naked eye from more than a foot.

The ring was then remade but was noticeably not symeterical after resizing. We decided to return the ring.

We still have not found a solitare that we like more that the 1895 design and we loved the diamond. The Cartier service was also impeccable (apart from returning us a faulty ring).

Although it may be, just don''t expect that the quality at Cartier will always be better than another store.

 

[mrssalvo]

if budget is not an issue, get the real deal. it''s one thing if you wanted special changes made to the setting etc. but going custom will not produce and exact replica of an original design. best to buy from the one''s who designed and perfected it.

 

[1895femme]

A few years ago my now husband and I were in your shoes. We fell in love with the Cartier 1895 solitaire setting, but continued to shop around in hope of finding an exact replica or another setting we liked as much. We checked out stores all around the Philadelphia area, the Poconos and NYC. We considered going custom, but we are both very picky and we realized that we probably wouldn''t get a replica that would meet our standards. To us, the setting was just as important as the diamond. We ended up going down in carat size and buying the ring of our dreams. I love the delicate lines, perfect proportions and how all of the metal is so neatly polished. Most of all, we love how it showcases the diamond. It is also very comfortable! I understand that most people wouldn''t care this much about these details and that some would rather have a larger stone. We love our ring and receive many compliments on it. If we had to do it all over again, we wouldn''t change a thing. Also, we too found that it wasn''t much more expensive than other than other jewelers. Good luck! Do what is best for you!

 

[door knob solitaire]

1895 Femme...would you post some images of your ring? Pretty please?

DKS