Help my resolve remain intact

[purduephotog]

Afternoon all- long time no post ;P

So I''m ready to shell out the cash for a rather nicely cut 90 point FIC diamond from a popular online vendor for $3800, which is a bit small facing compared to what it should be, when I have the following conversation with a good friend from college:

Heather: "Pete''s Uncle lives near you and owns a diamond place"
Me: "really?"

I''m sure you can see where this goes. Talk to him on the phone, and the short... he has an 89 point stone that drops 1 clarity (vs2 to SI1) and shaves nearly 800$ off the price.

And that includes the cheap white gold mount I want since, as many might know, I want to create a vatche style truffle with paired sapphires.

This online vendor wants an additional 150$ for said ''throw-away'' mount (to me at least).

That said, can anyone offer advice for either shoring up my resolve or tossing what Ive already invested?(30$ ship, 150$ appraisal).

After all I regularly make decisions to terminate projects so that good money isn''t tossed after bad.

(and then again there''s this 1.2 carat EGL stone thats the same price...)

 

[chrono]

Hi all! I'm back after a week long vacation and am ready to stir up trouble.

Perduephotog, do you know all the details of this 0.89 stone? Is it comparable to your FIC? I do know there is quite a price drop going from a vs2 to a si1 as the diamond gets up to the 0.7 range and up, so the $800 number isn't unheard of. What about his return policies if the stone doesn't check out?

 

[Jennifer5973]

I also wouldn't rule out an EGL stone--like any other diamond, you'd need to do your homework, run the numbers, get an appraisal, but it could be just as good as any GIA or AGS stone... And you'd save some money.

 

[valeria101]

You will have both diamonds at hand - the one from here and the one in the shop... Is it so? I would just let the two talk their way into your shopping list

 

[purduephotog]

Well, I will have both in hand IF I go ahead and wire the money out. I'm hesitating to od that, because (for obvious reasons) once money is out of pocket it becomes a fight to get it back.

Not that I'm expecting a fight mind you. Sorta like the bankcard / creditcard. In one they tap the funds first.

Sigh I wish this was easier. Pete's uncle is a good salesman... making me doubt the stuff I read. and 800$ is the price of a new 135mm f2.0L lense...

 

[aljdewey]

I'd say that it's hard to know if both diamonds are comparable. If they are, then of course it's worth it to drop a clarity grade (provided there's no visual difference to the unaided eye) and save the $800. No brainer.

However, you don't know if these are both comparable cuts, and that's a huge thing.

I wouldn't buy Pete's uncle's diamond without having it appraised. I'd try to negotiate with Pete's uncle this way: "I've already found a diamond that I KNOW suits my needs, and I've invested $180 in appraising/shipping that diamond. I'm willing to consider your diamond if you're amenable to having it appraised prior to purchase by my appraiser (who did the other stone). I'll split the cost of the appraisal/shipping with you up front, and if the appraisal grades the diamond equal or higher to the EGL report, I'll purchase the diamond from you. If it grades weaker than the EGL report, I'll decline purchase."

If it appraises well, then you've saved $800 less your half of the appraisal/shipping costs. If it doesn't appraise as well, you're out about $90 (your half of shipping appraisal), but that $90 keeps you from making a bigger mistake.

 

[valeria101]

There are a few things going here... there is no need to spend more than you wnat on a diamond - there are plenty cheaper and many other things are more fum

Now, you can see the piece in the shop right? And decide if it is ok... or just order another piece with a suitable price tag from whichever seller you would rather deal with! Right ?

From what I see, whatever slight details you were considereing (FIC only ?!!) cannot be all that important to you if another stone with no pedigree and lower clarity became a good contender overnight

 

[quaeritur]

----------------
On 8/12/2004 4:41:40 PM purduephotog wrote:

Well, I will have both in hand IF I go ahead and wire the money out. I'm hesitating to od that, because (for obvious reasons) once money is out of pocket it becomes a fight to get it back.

Not that I'm expecting a fight mind you. Sorta like the bankcard / creditcard. In one they tap the funds first.

Sigh I wish this was easier. Pete's uncle is a good salesman... making me doubt the stuff I read. and 800$ is the price of a new 135mm f2.0L lense...----------------

Mmmmmmmmm.... drooling over the 135mm L series.....