Help! Shown a diamond by at B&M w/ Same GIA cert as a stone on Abazias!!!

[golfchicknyc]

Hi all:

I am a total newbie (hence the previous blank post)to this site but have learned a tremendous amount and hope the PS community can help. my boyfriend knows nothing about diamonds so I have been looking for MONTHS for a stone for my engagement ring.

Literally just a few hours ago, i saw THE stone: a BEAUTIFUL Cushion, 2.03ct, SI2, K, color, 61% table, 64.4% depth at a B&M (not truly retail like a diamond broker guy that has a store front but also sells to the trade). he gave me a copy of the GIA cert. i just went back on to compare stones and stumbled upon a stone for sale THAT HAD THE EXACT SAME CERT. i triple checked the number. of course, the abazias stone was $600 cheaper. not a huge difference but $600 is $600!

i understand that these guys all get their inventory from the same general suppliers but how is this possible? if i tried to order the stone from Abazias would they just try to sell me another stone? OR is the B&M guys trying to sell me an inferior stone with a GIA Cert from another one??? obviously, if i were to buy anything with a cert i would get it appraised and confirm with the GIA that the stone matches the cert.

i have been researching forever and felt that i hve been shopping with the view of a very good consumer. but now, i am not so sure.

ANY HELP/INSIGHT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

 

[neatfreak]

Your jeweler likely doesn't own the stone, he just has it "on loan". Thus, someone can buy it from Abazias per se, and he would then ship it back to the supplier who then ships it to the customer.

Don't freak out, it is a totally normal occurrence.

 

[JulieN]

ask if they will price-match Abazias. never hurts to ask.

 

[golfchicknyc]

you''re right, i totally freaked out.

i really appreciate the quick feedbak. i feel a heck of a lot better. AND i will bring it up to the guy and ask him to match the price.

thiis also makes me feel better about Abazias as a vendor (i.e. they carry quality merchandise and they have the best pricing - at least in my experience)

i''ll let you know what he says. THANKS SO MUCH

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You''ll find the same stones listed at many of the virtual vendors. I would want to buy from a vendor with a trade-in policy even if it cost a little more.

 

[golfchicknyc]

trade-in? i guess that means I can trade-in the original purchase to the vendor for a bigger/different stone? hmmm. something to consider. I''ll look into it.
have you had experience with that?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

All I know is that we bought from Good Old Gold and WhiteFlash because they allow you the full amount you paid toward a future trade-in. At WF the new stone can cost any amount more and at GOG I think the new stone has to cost $500+ more. Both of them have access to most of the same suppliers lists, so you might want to consider asking them to price the same stone for you and ask if the stone would be acceptable to them for upgrade.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Just looked and indeed, WhiteFlash does have it listed. It is only $5978 (paid by wire), a few dollars more than Abazias. There is no question that I''d rather buy it from WF with the lifetime trade-in.

http://www.whiteflash.com/cushion/Cushion-cut-diamond-900624.htm

 

[golfchicknyc]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. i think i will do that. sorry to keep bombarding you but did you do your setting with whiteflash or GOG as well?

 

[Ellen]

Date: 4/28/2008 10:39:03 PM
Author: golfchicknyc
THANK YOU SO MUCH. i think i will do that. sorry to keep bombarding you but did you do your setting with whiteflash or GOG as well?

I''ll let ds answer about her setting(s).

But I wanted to chime in to say I purchased my upgrade from GOG, and I did get my D''Vatche setting through them too. They carry several designers, but, if you didn''t find anything you liked, they also do custome work if you wanted to go that route.

WF has some settings of their own, but also do a lot of custom work.

Here is a sample.

HTH!