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Found a good deal, but apprehensive

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dwoodwo1

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 2, 2007
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Hey everyone,

this is my first post here but I have read up a bit. I am 21 and am close to graduation from college. I am wanting to propose to my gf of 4 years in the next month or so, and I have been shopping for engagement rings. My budget was ~$850, but I was just offered a diamond with specs:

1.43 ct(s)
Near Colorless (I)
Clarity: I(I)
Polish/Symmetry: Good/Good

for $1500

With my $850 budget I was looking at something that was about .5 ct and below, but now I am seriously considering getting some kind of personal loan for the difference that I can pay off when I start my career in July.

My question is: Is it a good idea to just buy a diamond off of someone I met in a forum? The guy has really good feedback at the forum where we met, but it still kind of worries me. My plan was to meet him at a diamond store for the transaction and have the rock verified on the spot. We are both in Atlanta. Anything else I should consider?

Also, before I was looking into buying the whole ring (rock and setting), but now that I may just be getting the diamond, what would be the best place to go and get just a 14k white gold setting for it? I was told that a good one could be had for ~$150, but that sounds low (id be fine with that though).

Thanks for any help you can give!
 
I would strongly warn you that something that seems to be too good to be true usually is. I would not buy and I clarity diamond for an engagement ring. It is far better to go ahead and buy her a fine quality smaller diamond now, and I''d recommend buying from a vendor like Good Old Gold or WhiteFlash who have excellent lifetime trade-up policies so that you can get her a larger diamond in the future if finances allow.
 
No, no, and no.

Don''t do it. I''ll give you just a few reasons why:

1. That is ALL the info you have??? First of all, an I1 COULD have nasty inclusions that block light, discolor the diamond, etc. Secondly, the most important C of all is CUT and you have no information on it.

2. It''s never a good idea to take out a loan for luxury items. If you really want to get her a bigger stone, buy from Whiteflash or GOG, or another vendor with an upgrade policy. That upgrade policy is your best friend as it will allow you to put the value of your diamond towards another bigger one in the future.

3. If you DO decide to go for it, meet at an independent appraiser to verify it is what he claims. A jewelry store won''t be able to tell you much at all and it will be the best $100 you''ll spend. ever.

But please don''t do this, unless it''s an ideal cut stone and the inclusions are minimal it probably won''t have a lot of sparkle to it. And a big old diamond that isn''t sparkly just looks like frozen spit.
 
Date: 5/2/2007 10:15:13 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I would strongly warn you that something that seems to be too good to be true usually is. I would not buy and I clarity diamond for an engagement ring. It is far better to go ahead and buy her a fine quality smaller diamond now, and I''d recommend buying from a vendor like Good Old Gold or WhiteFlash who have excellent lifetime trade-up policies so that you can get her a larger diamond in the future if finances allow.
Click to expand...

ditto diamondseeker. something does not add up to me either. for an e-ring go with a reputable vendor...
 
Thanks for the responses guys... all he did was provide a picture of the grade report (real?). I am definitely going to re-evaluate the thought - I cant really afford too much right now and it just seemed like a good deal. You are right though - probably too good to be true.
8.gif
 
No offense, but nothing about this deal seems to GOOD to be true. It doesn''t sound good at all to me!

She''ll be so much happier with a gorgeous ideal cut sparklier than anything .5 carat stone!
 
I''d kinda wonder if it''s *stolen*. And if it WAS - it can be seized I believe & you have no way to get the $$ back from the dude.

For reference ... 1.5 carat diamonds are usually 9-10K or MORE. You have to ask why this guy just wouldn''t PAWN it for that much dough ....
 
Date: 5/2/2007 10:28:30 PM
Author: decodelighted
I''d kinda wonder if it''s *stolen*. And if it WAS - it can be seized I believe & you have no way to get the $$ back from the dude.


For reference ... 1.5 carat diamonds are usually 9-10K or MORE. You have to ask why this guy just wouldn''t PAWN it for that much dough ....
Click to expand...


Deco is right, if it happened to be stolen the ring could be seized and you would get NOTHING. There are just too many odd things, and for something as important as an engagement ring I would not take the risk.
 
Yea after some consideration im not going to do it... seems like too big of a risk. I will just get what I can afford now and trade up in the future if need be. Thanks for knockin some sense into me!
 
Dont.Do.It! Get her a great quality smaller stone at a place with a solid upgrade policy.
 
I wanted to second everything that has already been said here- for an e-ring, I would definitely go with a reputable vendor.

But ALSO...don''t feel bad about a great stone under .5 ct! Very few women your age are expecting a huge ring. You''re young! Get her something beautiful and sparkly and save the big honkin'' rocks for when she gets older. I''m not much older than you, and my BF and I were very conscious of the "Liza Minelli factor" when we were picking out my e-ring. Besides- who wants a mortgage on their finger?!
 
deal seems too good to be true. i''d wait and buy better clarity also. she will understand.
 
so many people here have bought things that sounded too good to be true on ebay or some broker or whatever...so not worth it! Many of them come back here dissatisfied and found out they didn''t get what they paid for and can''t return the ring.

1.5 carats for $1500....definitely too good for be true!
 
mlopros (diamond delights) on ebay has several nice stones for your budget. in particular there is a 44 point emerald cut (ebay 110111334890) that is good.

go to jared's for a fresh setting.
 
ebay 170106269765 i have been eyeing this one for myself

ebay 160111569153 make her an offer of 600-700 see if she accepts. it doesn't get any better than this.

ebay 110122618680 if you can scrape up an extra 100 bucks this would be nice.

for a modest budget make sure she has "buy in" and helps pick it out. this will give her choice in the matter.
 
Hi dw,

I agree with the others. Stick with a company you can upgrade with. And get her a great cut. This is WF''s Expert Selection. They are a great value. This was the only stone they had in your size, but if you got a J, and/or SI1, you could squeeze a little more size out of it. They get new stones in every six weeks.

I don''t want to see you go into much debt. This would be 55.00 over your budget for the stone and ring.

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-1275.htm#


http://www.whiteflash.com/golden-wardrobe/Gold_Details.aspx?ItemCode=ST4PW&CategID=13
 
The option Ellen found for you, both stone and setting, would be fantastic!
 
Date: 5/3/2007 7:49:53 AM
Author: Ellen
Hi dw,

I agree with the others. Stick with a company you can upgrade with. And get her a great cut. This is WF''s Expert Selection. They are a great value. This was the only stone they had in your size, but if you got a J, and/or SI1, you could squeeze a little more size out of it. They get new stones in every six weeks.

I don''t want to see you go into much debt. This would be 55.00 over your budget for the stone and ring.

http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-1275.htm#


http://www.whiteflash.com/golden-wardrobe/Gold_Details.aspx?ItemCode=ST4PW&CategID=13
Click to expand...
yes but you can''t trade up "expert selection". at any point if you wish to upgrade, this could be made into a pendant.
 
I think you can trade up ES.........?
 
Date: 5/3/2007 3:54:47 PM
Author: JulieN
I think you can trade up ES.........?
Click to expand...

Julie is correct . . . you can trade up any in-house stones and all the ACA and the ES diamonds are inhouse . . .
 
I''m glad that you decided against the deal!!!! I would hate to see you get a lump of charcoal.
 
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