Help! Do I go through on this??? Diamond and Vera Wang setting

[kelbelle134]

The story:

Background: I have been looking to purchase the diamond from a ps retailer (wf or erd) because the cut of the diamond is VERY important to me. We were looking ultimately for a 1.25 (G-I) and eyeclean SI(1-2) We also found a beautiful setting from tacori that I love that we were looking at and so before going through with it, we started to do a little more research and I found this:

After looking through the gorgeous settings you ladies own, I came across the vera wang micropave setting and thought it was just beautiful! Well as you may know the whole line was discontinued, and I happened to find one still out there-- Across the country.

But: Here''s the deal.. the store has the ring with a 1ct set already. Now I know this is a bit smaller, but we might be able to sell the diamond and set our own later. I know that seems silly, but this is a really good deal and I don''t know if I want to pass it up.

The diamond is a GIA cert (dated dec 12, 2005-:worries RB 1.06ct H VS2 with measurements--6.57-6.62-4.06. THe Depth is 61.6 and the table is 57. Polish/sym is Ex/V Good with no florescence.

Picture of the report is below:

We are getting the ring with platinum micopave setting for 5610+shipping+sizing. What do you think? I am concerned because I know nothing else about the diamond but it seems it is a great deal. I will have a 30 day return window.

Here are the pictures of the cert and the ring..

 

[kelbelle134]

another

 

[kelbelle134]

here is the ring- sorry its blurry!

 

[purrfectpear]

No, unless you plan to keep the diamond for a reset into a pendant or something later.

You will take a bath trying to resell a diamond.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

KelBelle~

It''s a beautiful ring! But I agree with Purrf . . . you will almost certainly lose a lot of money if you try to resell that diamond.

If you''re already going to work with WF or ERD to source the stone for you, why not have them custom-make a similar ring? They could probably do it for around the same price as the Vera Wang ring (maybe even a little less).

 

[mercoledi]

I would pass, it isn''t the stone that you want and the VW settings are out of production, I believe because they had too many issues with durability.

Hold out for your dream stone with a forever-quality setting.

 

[kelbelle134]

Thanks so much for your opinions! It means a lot to get advice!

So for 5610, you think I could get a similar stone and a setting in plat? That seems like its an unreal price to me.

Ahh.. so many questions!

Anyone have any opinions on the stone?

 

[neatfreak]

There is a reason the settings were discontinued...it won''t last a lifetime for sure and will need to be babied...I''d pass and get what you really want.

 

[kelbelle134]

bump

 

[cara]

Yeah I don't think that you will be able to find an ideal cut 1 ct H VS2 in a well-made beautiful plat micropave setting for $5600 from someone else.

But for this ring, you don't know the cut and the manufacturer is out of business. The VW settings had durability problems.

How would you feel if the stone was only good cut not ideal? What about if a stone or two falls out and you have to repair it? What if the setting only lasts a few years and you have to get something more durable?

If you are OK with these outcomes then go ahead and buy it and keep it insured - and with a 30 day return policy you can take it to an appraiser for their opinion on the cut and setting durability. Don't buy it planning to sell the center stone and buy an ideal cut one with the proceeds - you will erase any 'deal' factor by the hit you take on reselling the stone. Maybe you might consider putting the existing stone in a pendent and buying wf/erd stone for the ring - but with this setting I think less resetting is better and if you have the money for that, you might as well get what you want in the first place instead the hassle.

Sorry to be a downer - it is a lovely lovely ring!

Who's the person with the tagline:
A deal is only a deal if you get what you want?

We need her to post

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 8/28/2008 5:38:13 PM
Author: cara
Yeah I don''t think that you will be able to find an ideal cut 1 ct H VS2 in a well-made beautiful plat micropave setting for $5600 from someone else.

But for this ring, you don''t know the cut and the manufacturer is out of business. The VW settings had durability problems.

How would you feel if the stone was only good cut not ideal? What about if a stone or two falls out and you have to repair it? What if the setting only lasts a few years and you have to get something more durable?

If you are OK with these outcomes then go ahead and buy it and keep it insured - and with a 30 day return policy you can take it to an appraiser for their opinion on the cut and setting durability. Don''t buy it planning to sell the center stone and buy an ideal cut one with the proceeds - you will erase any ''deal'' factor by the hit you take on reselling the stone. Maybe you might consider putting the existing stone in a pendent and buying wf/erd stone for the ring - but with this setting I think less resetting is better and if you have the money for that, you might as well get what you want in the first place instead of going for this deal.

Who''s the person with the tagline:
A deal is only a deal if you get what you want?

We need her to post

It''s mrssalvo. I agree with you, I''d be worried about the cut, and the durability of the setting.

 

[cara]

So the center stone scores a 4.6 on the HCA - "good" cut. A GIA excellent cut, but not AGS ideal or your typical PS ideal, but ideal isn't everything. If you want a 1 ct in a pretty ring for $5k and aren't particularly concerned about the ring lasting forever, this is for you. Otherwise keep looking!

 

[kelbelle134]

Date: 8/28/2008 6:21:31 PM
Author: cara
So the center stone scores a 4.6 on the HCA - ''good'' cut. A GIA excellent cut, but not AGS ideal or your typical PS ideal, but ideal isn''t everything. If you want a 1 ct in a pretty ring for $5k and aren''t particularly concerned about the ring lasting forever, this is for you. Otherwise keep looking!

thank you so much for checking the HCA on the diamond! That really helps me! Thanks for the comments!

 

[jstarfireb]

Date: 8/28/2008 6:21:31 PM
Author: cara
So the center stone scores a 4.6 on the HCA - ''good'' cut. A GIA excellent cut, but not AGS ideal or your typical PS ideal, but ideal isn''t everything. If you want a 1 ct in a pretty ring for $5k and aren''t particularly concerned about the ring lasting forever, this is for you. Otherwise keep looking!

Where did you find the crown and pavilion info to put into HCA? I was looking all over for that!

 

[kelbelle134]

how do you compute the HCA without the angles? as they aren''t listed on the gia (dec 2005) report

 

[cara]

But if you go online to GIA and enter the cert number from your photo above under confirm report, they have the angles on file and have now given it a cut grade! Handy!

ETA: I have a stone that scores a 5.5 on the HCA. Its pretty and I can even see the arrows on some occasions, its only that I am now a ps-psycho that makes some part of me want something more ideal cut. But I have grown sappy about the one I have and that makes me content until it makes sense for my hubby and I to throw more money at carbon crystals. IF you want ideal cut, I recommend starting out with one rather than trying to trade for one later!

 

[kelbelle134]

thanks so much! You all are such experts! I actually just called and got off the phone with the store, she found another piece of paper

that had some information on it:
Crown: 34
Height 14.5
Pavillion 41.4
Depth 44
Starlength 55
lower half 85

I have no idea what those number mean, but someone can clue me in?

Date: 8/28/2008 7:16:19 PM
Author: cara
But if you go online to GIA and enter the cert number from your photo above under confirm report, they have the angles on file and have now given it a cut grade! Handy!

ETA: I have a stone that scores a 5.5 on the HCA. Its pretty and I can even see the arrows on some occasions, its only that I am now a ps-psycho that makes some part of me want something more ideal cut. But I have grown sappy about the one I have and that makes me content until it makes sense to thrown more money at carbon crystals. IF you want ideal cut, I recommend starting out with one rather than trying to trade for one later!

 

[cara]

Read a little bit about the HCA cut grade above under knowledge. The HCA is a weeder tool and diamonds with scores under 2 are more likely to have superior cuts than those over 2. This diamond scores a 4.6 with "good"s on most cut parameters.

It is not what a PSer would call an ideal cut. But it is a GIA excellent - which is a quite broad basket so to speak. It is not an AGS ideal. It is not likely to be a horrible stone, at VS2 it is probably eyeclean, and the H color is fine for most people.

Good luck!

 

[kelbelle134]

thanks so much cara!! I have learned alot so far, and you all are so great! Thanks for helping me with the decision.

I think unless we get the price down significantly we will pass. I know the setting itself needs to be babied and I think I would be fine with that- I just love the delicate pave band, but the diamond itself isn''t what we are looking for! So that said, we will see what I or my fiance can negotiate and then if nothing seems to be budging, we will look into going custom with the setting.

The price in feb was 5500 for the setting +1ct H VS(1-2). Think that because that was the clearance price then, they should be able to go down a little further now. We will see! Maybe they can split the setting/diamond up! crosses fingers!