good price for this kind of ring?

[Black Jade]

I don''t have pictures, sorry.

The ring costs $1000. It is an Art Deco platinum ring with a .25 F color SI2 diamond. the diamond is old mine cut. It looked as if it had a lot of sparkle under the store lights--in fact it sparkled as much as my ideal cut AGSO. I think I saw the inclusion in the diamond, once I louped the ring but can''t see anythingl with just my eyes. There is a lot of beautiful filigree and milgrain and the ring is in great shape, an original from the 1920''s. it is being sold as an estate ring in a very reputable jewelry store in this are where the owner is a GIA trained gemologist.

I fell in love with this ring today and put it on hold. It can be on hold for up to a week. the thing is, I have been looking for a ring to replace one my grandmother had that I LOVED and which was lost from the family for good 22 years ago. My grandma''s ring was bigger than this one, but a very similar style. It was White Gold. I have looked at all kinds of websites and now I have found this one in person and I don''t want to make a silly purchase because I have been looking so long (about 10 years) and am overexcited.

I had decided to have one made, even bought a diamond and talked to a jeweler, and then decided to return the diamond because I thought I''d rather have a true old cut. I also didn''t really wnat a replica, they don''t seem the same.

I would appreciate advice. I know that detailed advice is impossible without a picture and without any other specs, but this is all I have. The ring is like many art deco rings in that the diamond is set low and in a milgrained bezel and you can only see how it looks face up.

I''m thinking that the detailed filigree work alone is worth the price, but I wonder if anyone had advice on what such a ring usually costs.
thanks.
P.S. the ring would have a thirty day return period.

 

[Stone Hunter]

I do not know if that is a good price. I would probably buy it and have it appraised. That way you''d know if it was really plat and if the diamond was old etc.

But if you LOVE it none of that may matter.

 

[Black Jade]

Date: 5/5/2009 12:05:41 PM
Author: Stone Hunter
I do not know if that is a good price. I would probably buy it and have it appraised. That way you''d know if it was really plat and if the diamond was old etc.

But if you LOVE it none of that may matter.

Thanks for your reply.
I love it but I do want it to be authentically old and I don''t want to get cheated. So I''m thinking your advice is good. There is a 30 day return period.
I have been looking at the places suggested on this forum for buying original art deco rings, places like oldworlddiamonds.com, jewelsbyerica grace, iwannabuyawatch.com, and it seems that if this is authentic, the price is good. rings with diamonds on the smaller side from this period (and some of the diamonds get a lot smaller than .25 in these antique rings) seem to run $600-$800 when they are done in WG filigree, and this is platinum. Also, this diamond is supposed to be an F color, which is high color for an antique ring. At least that''s my impression.
It''s hard to tell though, that was why I wanted some advice perhaps from someone who had previously bought such a ring.
I have wanted a real antique, not a repro made from a mold and not an antique-inspired, you know, with a lot of pave instead of actual filigree. Though I was just about ready to compromise and do one of the two things just mentioned when I ran into this little ring.

 

[Rockit]

Black Jade, I know how you feel about replacing a sentimental piece; I''ve been searching the internet for many years hoping to find "twins" for two of my Great Grandmother''s diamond rings that were stolen from me many, many years ago.

As you said, it is impossible to know if the ring you''ve found is a good deal or not without examining the ring. And, I agree, if it is done with perfection and skill, the filigree and milgrain of the ring can command a good price on its own. So, I say, if you "fell in love" with it, and it is being sold by a reputable jeweler, then, why not go for it... even if you pay a little more than what you MIGHT be able to get it for in another time or place, is it not worth it to you? I''m afraid that this may be more about emotion than diamond and metal specs, but, even so, the $1000 does not sound unreasonable. I think it really comes down to the metal work and rarity of the ring.

To me, the price you mention for the ring does not sound "silly" at all. However, to be sure, use the HOLD time that you have to research estate jewelers on the internet. Check-out vendors with a lot of inventory, where there is a CHANCE you might see something similar (langantiques.com comes to mind as a place to start).

And, of course, you can always make your jeweler an offer...

As a footnote, once online I did find a ring that was similar to one of my Great Grandmother''s rings. It was a little different, but, close. And, it was not too expensive. At the time, I decided that it would be easy to find a better match, maybe even better quality ring of the same style, so I passed on the ring. That was several years ago, and, I''ve never seen another like it. Now, I''m sorry I did not purchase the ring!

 

[DiamondFlame]

Best if you could examine it under normal daylight since store lights can even make tweezers sparkle...
If you still like its performance under diffused daylight, $1000 seems a very reasonable price for an vintage piece.