disparity in prices, help

[bookworm240]

Last summer (‘0 I bought a wedding band at my trusted local jeweler. I was search something on internet and found a similar ring at almost a third of the price I paid. The rings are not exactly the same as you will see from the stats below, but I am wondering if my ring is really wroth a $1,000 + more than the one of internet.

Here are the Stats – Internet Ring http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://www.mdcdiamonds.com/images/ProductImages/WBPGENS802-2.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.mdcdiamonds.com/WedAnRingsRe.cfm%3FCat%3DWDWR%26Collection%3DRound&usg=__5zDIvJA3LsKyWo6XY4OOqOnmttU=&h=521&w=521&sz=66&hl=en&start=49&um=1&tbnid=FqiuM6TcEFYNEM:&tbnh=131&tbnw=131&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwedding%2Bbands%2Broses%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D36%26um%3D1

Stock Number: WB47WG
Metal: 14 Karat White Gold
Width: Approx. 2.2 mm
Available in sizes: 5-9 Setting type:
Common prong setting
Side Stones: Round Blue Sapphires Number of side stones:
4 Side stone color: Medium Blue
Side stone clarity: Eye Clean
Number of diamonds: 3
Minimum carat total weight: 0.15
Average color: G-H
Average clarity: VS


My ring – (from my appraisal)
14 carat white gold diamond wedding band alternating pattern
Shared prong setting with 3 round full cut diamonds
Approximate total diamond weight .30/100 carats
All diamonds are “f-G” color
SI clarity.
All diamonds are brilliant, well made, and well matched.
Shared prong set with 4 round faceted genuine blue sapphires approx. total gem weight .49/100 carats.
Good deep blue color.

What do you think? Did I overpay? Was I taken? Must I hold my head in shame? Could I go to the jeweler to and show him the info and explain that while I know he has a business to run and a living to make, I come to his store because I trust him and the great customer service, etc. I would like to continue doing business with this store, but can only do it if I feel, that I as a customer am valued and respected.

 

[chrono]

It all depends on the workmanship (fine details, finish & polish), quality and cut of the diamonds, colour and quality of the sapphires, and more. There are too many variables to consider. No one can make any determination without seeing your ring and the one you linked to. I am sorry for not being able to help you beyond this.

 

[bookworm240]

Chrono - Thank you for letting me know what more info is needed.

Here is a link to the thread I had when I bought my ring https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/what-i-did-with-my-rock.92455/


And here is a link for the internet ring http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://www.mdcdiamonds.com/images/ProductImages/WBPGENS802-2.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.mdcdiamonds.com/WedAnRingsRe.cfm%3FCat%3DWDWR%26Collection%3DRound&usg=__5zDIvJA3LsKyWo6XY4OOqOnmttU=&h=521&w=521&sz=66&hl=en&start=49&um=1&tbnid=FqiuM6TcEFYNEM:&tbnh=131&tbnw=131&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwedding%2Bbands%2Broses%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D36%26um%3D1

If there is no way, based on the info I shared with you, to determine if I was over charged, would it be best to a) let it go and just enjoy my ring or b) speak to my jeweler and have him explain it to me.....mostly am seeking peace of mind and to determine if I should continue doing business with him.

 

[Pandora II]

Okay...

Your ring has:

0.30ct of diamonds versus 0.15ct of diamonds and yours are higher colour and matched (this is significant)
Sapphires of known quality and colour versus whatever this vendor has chosen to use (which don't look that hot in their photo).

You don't mention if the ring was made for you or if it was a stock piece that your jeweller held. If he did any extra work other than just putting it in a box and selling it to you, you need to factor that in.

You are always going to pay more on the whole for a ring from a B&M than from an Internet vendor - the B&M is likely to have higher overheads and is having to sit on stock rather than holding a virtual inventory.

In return for this, you get to see the ring IRL before you buy and can judge the quality and how it sits with your e-ring etc.

It comes down to what is important to you.

For myself, I would never buy something important like a wedding-band with coloured stones that was a stock piece on a website. I would want to be sure that either I or an Internet vendor that I trusted had seen the sapphires in person and knew that they were up to my criteria and if necessary I would go custom to get the right stones.

It seems to me that you were happy with your ring, you were happy paying the price and now that you have seen a similar one on-line you feel less happy.

If you did overpay, I think it's in a pretty minor way and certainly not worth being annoyed with your jeweller over. He could easily say that you are not comparing apples with apples....

Very different if you had bought a diamond for $10k and the jeweller had told you that he was cutting the price so far he was making no margin especially for you and then you found the exact same diamond for sale online for $6k. At that point I'd say that he was taking the mick, but it seems from what you said that he had a ring for sale that cost X, you then found a similar ring that cost X - $1000, the jeweller has done nothing wrong at all IMHO.

 

[bookworm240]

((((((hug))))

Pandora II -Thanks so much for the thoughtful reply. I feel soooooo much better. I do love the ring and your comments about seeing something in person really made sense. I did love my ring before and I feel free to love it again. I just needed to hear some unbiased perspective about it.

((((Hug))))

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 3/30/2009 1:21:00 PM
Author: bookworm240
((((((hug))))

Pandora II -Thanks so much for the thoughtful reply. I feel soooooo much better. I do love the ring and your comments about seeing something in person really made sense. I did love my ring before and I feel free to love it again. I just needed to hear some unbiased perspective about it.

((((Hug))))

Happy to help - enjoy your beautiful ring, the sapphires are a great colour!

 

[chrono]

No need for me to say anything else as Pandora has all the bases covered. For a special ring, I would not a stock ring. Just as I like to choose my own gemstones, I would want something better quality (stones and workmanship).