Help! Im Buying engagement ring tomorrow, is this a good deal?.

[salituro]

Hello, I am buying this 3 stone engagement ring tomorrow for 6900.00 Can someone pleaaaaassseee tell me if this is a good deal and whether you think it will be a nice ring or not?

Thanks!


Three Stone
Oval Brilliant Cut Diamond
Engagement Ring

3.53 Carat Total Weight


Center Diamond
Cut Oval Brilliant Cut
Carats 1.52 Carat
Clarity SI2
Color G - White
Measurements 9.43 x 6.18 x 3.94 mm
Depth 63.8%
Table 57%
Polish Very Good
Symmetry Good


Side Diamonds
Cut 2 Oval Brilliant Cut
Total Carat Weight 2.01 Carat
Color, Clarity G, SI2
Measurements 7.40 x 5.60 mm

Setting 14K White Gold, four prongs
Ring Size 6 1/4
Free Ring Sizing from size 4 to size 9
Accompanied by GHI certificate and appraisal $21,555

 

[reena]

hi and congrats!




i just checked the center stone's numbers against the cut grading chart for ovals at www.gemappraisers.com, and, although we are missing some info about the stone, at least the length-to-width ratio and the table and depth numbers look right on.




do you know whether the stones are eyeclean, being that they are SI2s?


are you planning to have an appraiser check out the ring?

 

[salituro]

Well, that is a good question. I am buying from a broker in NY. If I dont like, I can send back. I read that SI2 you cant see any inclusions with the eye. I will have to wait and see after I order it. I can return it within 10 days if I dont like it. Sounds like a cant miss. Any other comments?

Thanks so much.

 

[Todd07]

IMHO, I think you may be rushing this purchase abit.




If you do buy,


- understand their return policy. Most PS vendors give at least 10 business days.


- arrange for an independent appraisal within the return window.




Read up here:


Appraiser Essentials


Appraisers


do a forum search on appraisal

 

[Todd07]

You may get a great deal. However, I would not put much stock in a GHI certification - have it verified by appraisal.

See this diamond grading survey

GHI was not included but they appear most frequently on Ebay and not with the sellers here on PS.

 

[reena]

----------------
On 10/4/2004 7:35:11 PM salituro wrote:





I read that SI2 you cant see any inclusions with the eye. I will have to wait and see after I order it
----------------

Well, while that can be true, it is certainly not always true. You're really going to want to be sure. If this ring is priced very low compared to comparable rings you've seen (and I don't know anywhere near enough about oval pricing to tell you that for sure, but $7k does seem rather low to me for a 3.5 TCW ring) then it's quite possible that there are visible inclusions. Even if you can return the ring, why front all of that money and go to this hassle for something that may turn out to be not what you wanted? Try to find out as much about it as you can in advance. Also, you'll want to make sure that you can return the ring for a full refund, not just an exchange for another ring. Can you make the purchase contingent on appraisal? I'm not familiar with the certificate you mentioned, but you're really going to want to make sure that someone independent looks at the stone and verifies that it is really a G/SI2 (and not a J I1 or something).

Would you be willing to share the name of the vendor? It's possible that others here have had experience with him or her.

If it's the case you haven't really shopped around or done much research up to this point, then I'm really with Ricardo here--slow it down a bit and learn as much as you can before purchasing.

 

[hoorray]

Although I'm not an oval expert, I agree -- the price sounds low. That could be because there are visible inclusions, or it could be that the certed colors and/or clarity are overly generous and it might appraise out lower in one or both. It could also be that the cut of the stones are not great, etc.....

In other words, I agree with Reena. Find out as much as you can before you go to the trouble and expense of shipping and appraising, and protect yourself through the process if you move forward. many vendors will send you close up pics, and many will ship to an independent appraiser before you have to pay for it. If you accept it, then you pay for it and the appraiser releases it to you. This means you don't run the risk of having to fight to get a refund if you decide to return it.

Lastly, since it sounds as if the stones are already set, so the appraiser will have to estimate things like weight. It's not optimum, but it's doable, and might end up slightly different than what the cert says.

 

[salituro]

Thanks everyone. It does sound to good, but i might try it anyway. The name of the merchant is: Anyone ever deal with them?

Mor Golan

M.D.C DIAMONDS

580 FIFTH AVENUE

NEW YORK, NY 10036

 

[reena]

Well, check out THIS thread.

Based on those threads, I'd honestly be wary. Sorry to be a party pooper--but we see too many people posting here after the fact wishing that they'd done better reasearch/been more vigilant before buying. Good luck.

 

[noobie]

I agree with Reena and lop, it sounds too good to be true.

 

[pearcrazy]

$6900 for three diamonds totalling 3.5 carats seems a bit too cheap. I'd be wary of it. Also I find 100% feedback on any seller with as many sales as them suspicious. I saw a negative feedback disappear from them once. It could have been a mistake who knows- but it vanished.

 

[reena]

also, something important to realize is that when people comment that "the price seems too low", you should take that to mean that something is probably fishy, not that you're about to get the deal of the century! it seems that with diamonds, you really do end up getting what you pay for--especially when you buy through a retailer. (if you were buying this ring secondhand from an individual, that might be a different story, but that's not the case here.) at least that's been my observation.

 

[Jennifer5973]

Real risky.

 

[Diamondsbybree]

The certification alone should tell you to seriously reconsider before purchasing it. You could end up with alot of out of pocket money in shipping and restocking fees.
I really wouldn't do it. Take your time and shop around. If your in a hurry, check out the vendors here. There are some wonderful people that can help you find what your looking for.

Reena, you are on it~!~!~!

I looked for those previous threads and couldn't find them.... I think it is lack of sleep.

 

[reena]

just to demonstrate, THIS HERE link shows what a 1.5 carat G/SI2 center stone (GIA certified) would cost if you purchased it from one of the pricescope vendors, who are reliable and tend to have very competitve pricing. without screening at all for cut quality, the link shows a range for the center stone ALONE of $6000-$7600.

meanwhile you're being offered a center stone with those specs, AND two sidestones (at a full carat each!), AND the setting, for $6900. something just seems off to me.

edited to add: silly me, my link didn't work. but if you plug 1.45-1.55c, G, SI2, GIA cert into the pricescope search engine, you'll see what i mean.

 

[researcher]

I agree with everyone else--be very wary! I got a great deal through WF as opposed to the vendors I visited around me, but they have a great reputation and policies that made me feel comfortable. The company you're looking to do business with doesn't sound as good. The stone is not AGA, GIA, or even EGL certified, and it sounds as though they're giving you SUCH an amazing deal it can't be a deal at all. Also, keep in mind that "eye clean" means you can't see inclusions through the top of the stone when it's held about a foot away from your face.