Help With Stud Upgrade

[Trudii]

Hi all!

3 years ago I purchased a set of round diamond studs - standard white gold setting, 1.4 ctw. They were appraised as G-H color and SI1-SI2 clarity but did not come with a certificate. I paid $4500, of course the jeweler told me to insure for $6,000. I have no illusion that either number is right.

I now have another $6,000 cash and would like to get to 2 ctw. I honestly do not want to do this again, I think if I get a nice 2 ctw that should be my limit.

I've been back to the original place I bought my earrings. They will give me 100% credit on what I paid. They had a pair of 2.05 ctw G-H SI3 which I could not see any visible inclusions (but I am always a little nervous in the store when talking about this much money). The upgrade would be $6500 and I could definitely come up with that extra.

I also went to a local "Gold & Diamond" place. They offered me $1000 trade in for my current earrings. (I hope that is low ball, I didn't try to negotiate, was just looking). She told me she had 2 ctw studs on order, but recommended H-J color and said even SI are too nice for earrings. Their non certified stones were running in the $7000 for 2 ctw.

So here are my questions:
1. Are diamonds like cars? Do I just assume when I leave the showroom that they're worth half of what I paid? Or can I actually manage a purchase where they retain their value?

2. Am I crazy to look at nicer or even certified diamonds for earrings (realizing that I may not get the size I want)? Am I just wasting money or will they retain their value better?

3. Is it worth it to have non-certified diamonds sent to be certified? Would a good jeweler send them to be certified if you are willing to pay for it? Would a good jeweler stand behind their appraisal and if a certification comes back vastly different work with you? Is it reasonable to try to negotiate something like that as part of purchase?

This is a crazy ton of money I'm going to have in these things (~$10K is what I will have spent, even if they're not worth that), but I wear no other jewelry so this is my splurge. I would love to get a "deal" but I'd settle for just not feeling ripped off.

 

[heididdl]

trudi I have just completed this nightmare.

I had studs that I was told was 1.90 G/H color si1.....quality...after having ten different jewelers look at them the most I was offered was $3,000 toward a trade in. they werent as good as I was told

I didn't want to go back to where I got them as I would just end up using the $3,000 for rade in and another $7,000 cash.

I ended up getting 2.40 EGL International stones for $3,000 trade in and $7,000) for F/G S1I quality stones.

HERE IS THE DEAL

If you are going to go back where you go your original stones for the full value plus your $6,000 GET GIA CERTIFIED IDEAL CUT STONES ONLY.....I AM REPEATING MYSELF ONLY GET AGS/OR GIA CERTIFIED STONES

If there is anyway you can cash out the original stones and us a price scope vendor that is the best way to go. PS have gotten amazing studs here through the vendors they work with you show you ideal scope and or videos of the stone.

I really didn't have a choice I had to give my studs (not certified ) in to get the new ones. I think with your earring and $6,000 you will be able to get very close to 2.00 tcw.

Use this forum though to help you select the stones. If you show us the GIA certificate and ideal scope of the stones we can help you determine the perfect studs.

Ideal cut is the best way to go. The color g-J (even K) and EYE CLEAN si1 or s12 is hardly noticable with IDEAL CUT stones

here are the stats for ideal cut.
TABLE 54-58
Dept 60-62.3
crown angle 34-35 15.3%
crwn `4.2 % girls thin to medium

does this all make a difference YES IT DOES. I am happy with my earrings as I never thought I could get 2.40 stones that are ideal cut that are eye clean. The PS warned me the EGL is not reliable....I wanted the size and cut which I got the color is more likely j-k and si2 -sk3 but on my ears you can't seee

Sorry for long story but I freaked out for months until I decided don't go through what I did and stay with GIA graded stones

 

[Trudii]

First, those earrings are beautiful.

THANK YOU! Yes, I'm yelling. I know that there are no guarantees in life, but I'd rather have a certificate for my $10K as well as the earrings. I hate jewelry stores, they seem so quick to dismiss everything I say as silly.

Forgive me for being completely new, but are any of the dealers here likely to trade in my current earrings or do I need to get a list of all the pawn shops in my area? If yes, how in the world do you trust someone enough to send them earrings?

 

[heididdl]

I think I have to defer you to more seasoned PS ......I did however go to the pricescope forum sell your jewelery and asked them to buy my studs. It started getting complicated. also even with the store that took my stones he told me straight out that he wouldn't be able to sell them as they weren't very well cut et al. I was heart broken as I trusted the guy I bought them from and was annoyed that I didn't have GIA certifications with them. That being said i wasn't about to take the time (a couple of weeks) or money (couple hundred dollars) to have the old ones certified.

So I traded them in . ARe you in the NY area as Good old Gold and James Allen and others might take them but it would definetely be a phone call. DO NOT take to pawn broker as I don't think that you'd be more but less for them.

I went to like four different jewelers to get offers to buy them so that I knew what I could get as trade in when I went to negotiate my deal with the jeweler I bought my studs from.

He and I both knew that EGL International could be 4-6 grades lower than the certificate. I did take them to another appraiser before I bought them and he said the specs were accurate and that they were ideal cut....and I can only see the inclusions with 20x loups so I am totally (not totally I still feel I should have gotten GIA stones.)

also just because they are GIA doesn't mean that they are ideal or eye clean you have to look at each stone individually. But do you homework $10,000 is alot of money and my Husband doesn't want to hear that I still have remorse that I didn't get GIA stones but I love my earrings and PS said they are gorgous they just hope i didn't spend too much $$$$ for what I got.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

A lot of us have been down this road buying uncertified stones and almost ALWAYS the buyer is the one who gets the bad deal. I sold my original studs at a loss and started over with ideal cut AGS (or GIA) certified stones. You can get excellent cut I SI1's at a carat each for about $10k for the pair. Just sell your current ones however you can and start over. If this is your final pair, you don't need to worry about the trade-in policy. If it is not your final pair, then I'd go with WhiteFlash or Good Old Gold as they have better trade-in policies.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/?CaratFrom=1.00&CaratTo=1.06&Color=I&Clarity=SI1&Cut=Ideal,Excellent&PriceFrom=400&PriceTo=999000&Sort=Carat%20asc,%20DefaultOrder&ps=15

Or you can go to .90 each and pay $8k total.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/?CaratFrom=0.90&CaratTo=0.96&Color=I&Clarity=SI1&Cut=Ideal,Excellent&PriceFrom=400&PriceTo=999000&Sort=Carat%20asc,%20DefaultOrder&ps=15


If you decide to go in this direction, we can help you choose the two best stones.

 

[heididdl]

By the way diamondseeker is the one who helped me with my studs....she gave me great advice to go with on line vendors and only certified stones. (only I was scared and didn't listen lol )

Again if you can get all cash together PS vendors is the way to go.....you have a healthy budget. This should be a fun process.....and if you go to the show me the bling folder that diamondseeker started you can see all the different studs that are owned by PS and they will give you insight into setting and vendors used.

 

[Trudii]

A lot of us have been down this road buying uncertified stones and almost ALWAYS the buyer is the one who gets the bad deal. I sold my original studs at a loss and started over with ideal cut AGS (or GIA) certified stones. You can get excellent cut I SI1's at a carat each for about $10k for the pair. Just sell your current ones however you can and start over. If this is your final pair, you don't need to worry about the trade-in policy. If it is not your final pair, then I'd go with WhiteFlash or Good Old Gold as they have better trade-in policies.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/?CaratFrom=1.00&CaratTo=1.06&Color=I&Clarity=SI1&Cut=Ideal,Excellent&PriceFrom=400&PriceTo=999000&Sort=Carat%20asc,%20DefaultOrder&ps=15

Or you can go to .90 each and pay $8k total.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/?CaratFrom=0.90&CaratTo=0.96&Color=I&Clarity=SI1&Cut=Ideal,Excellent&PriceFrom=400&PriceTo=999000&Sort=Carat%20asc,%20DefaultOrder&ps=15


If you decide to go in this direction, we can help you choose the two best stones.

I guess it will come down to how much I can get for the earrings I have now - $6K cash + ?. If I don't get to a full 1 ct per ear, I fear I'll be back at this in a year or two. So I guess that will dictate which place I buy from.

 

[heididdl]

I so understand going from .90 or .95 over one carat each is a price jump. So again if you want the full carat. You will have to work your current jeweler with the trade in.......He will probably have to bring stones in . Ask him about rapnet. (this is listing stores buy from) maybe you can look with him. Again though I'd call GOG in NY and see if he would do trade in

0.9-0.99 Carat Sizes Average Price Per Carat For a Round Diamond
FL IF VVS1 VVS2 VS1 VS2 SI1 SI2 SI3 I1 I2 I3
D 14864 13450 10924 9027 7234 6533 5722 4772 2676 3191
E 10687 9810 8159 6788 6093 5458 4702 2223 2525 1690
F 9437 8979 7443 6259 5897 5350 4448 2697 2927 1369 1166
G 7245 8114 7570 6292 5797 5494 4849 4216 2721 2548 1492
H 6827 6289 5813 5297 4954 4610 3974 2621 2308 1451
I 5651 5316 4948 4507 4291 4074 3590 2255 2421 1221 928
J 4879 4437 4173 3921 3772 3654 3124 2075 2401 1509
K 3287 3357 3255 2942 3008 2690 2428 1677 1829 1697
L 2517 2643 2888 2612 2657 2364 2100 2288 1593 1429
M 2993 2402 2546 2349 2179 2070 1734 1445 933
N 2636 2343 2071 1960 1830 1563
O 2209 2100 1982 1860 2030 1789 1268
AverageLowest
1-1.49 Carat Sizes Average Price Per Carat For a Round Diamond
FL IF VVS1 VVS2 VS1 VS2 SI1 SI2 SI3 I1 I2 I3
D 26700 21715 15878 13305 11318 9600 6749 5358 3308 3273
E 19389 14952 13496 11052 9557 8428 6491 5464 3102 2934 1913
F 14664 13033 11426 9701 9112 7793 6452 5254 2938 2969 1746
G 11141 10303 9921 8927 7877 7149 6043 5087 2924 3188 1694 1307
H 10029 8653 8441 7585 6918 6551 5775 4943 2993 3028 1844 912
I 7040 6833 6304 5851 5638 5308 4571 2708 2853 1625 1890
J 5686 5956 5876 5689 5381 4995 4514 4144 2608 2414 1558 992
K 5082 4964 4845 4717 4601 4238 3733 3445 2425 2243 1220 966
L 4273 3990 3866 3800 3434 3210 2876 1743 2057 1200 1049
M 3789 3407 3069 2989 2802 2601 2316 1634 1858 1127
N 3534 3040 3007 3004 2531 2258 2263 1978 1142 254
O 3304 2953 2400 2607 2400 2502 2082 1678

 

[Trudii]

Sorry, didn't mean to be obtuse. What I mean is that if I cannot swing a full 2 ctw this time (which is fine) then I need to go somewhere with a good upgrade policy. If I can manage the full 2 ctw, then the upgrade policy is moot, I'm done.

 

[heididdl]

So go with diamondseekers recommendation she has been through the upgrade process with on line vendors!!!! Whiteflash or GOG........I also think that GOG would take your stones (but you'd have to call)

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Heidi did end up with nice stones, so sometimes you just have to do what seems best at the time!

I doubt GOG would buy the earrings outright, but they might take them on consignment. But as Heidi said, do call and ask! They are in NY, so it is easier for them to call in stones for you, so that is who I'd use. They have this stone, and they could find a match for you (or source two new stones, for that matter).

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10679/

 

[Trudii]

Any other hints or tricks to selling what I have? Although I've sold everything from a 1966 Mustang (in individual pieces no less) to my mom's friends Barbie collection, I'm not sure about selling on eBay, even if I did a local pickup. If not pawn shops, then jewelry stores? I guess I'd be content with getting half of what I paid. Is that even realistic? This is frustrating as heck.

 

[heididdl]

You can try

Diamondbistro
Ruby Lane
Etsy
Here on PS cafe preloved PS jewelry

Ebay is hard although there are PS who have had great luck....

Consignment or trade in would be best....Make the phone call to GOG and just ask its just a phone call find out what he thinks you should do.

With out a certificate it will be hard to sell but if priced right someone might scoop them up.

 

[Trudii]

I did write to GOG last evening and they just wrote me back. They are willing to look at the earrings and see if they're interested. So far so good.

Now the real question comes down to spend my budget and upgrade again or just raid the piggy bank for what I really want and be done with it. Is anyone ever really done though? Hmm...

 

[Trudii]

I think the earrings I have are cursed. UPS could not deliver to GOG because I paid to ship overnight and GOG opens after the overnight timeline. So UPS told me that they will attempt to deliver 2 more times, always before GOG opens, and then send them back to me. I even talked to a supervisor and the answer was "please resend it 2 day next time and we will deliver after they open." So that is more lost money on these stupid things. Not GOG's fault at all. Should just be happy when they finally get back to me.

 

[heididdl]

Ugh I hate when things like this happen when you are excited about a project. The answer to your last post raid piggy bank I started with 1.60 total to 1.90 total to 2.05 total to 2.41

the first three were not certified and I would have saved money in the long run if I just did it twice.....original to 2.41 maybe if I had done that I would have gotten gia stones for the price I paid for the EGL international ones that are probably graded 4-8 grades lower than GIA

 

[Trudii]

OK, after "discussing" the problem with another UPS rep, they redelivered yesterday. GOG was busy yesterday but gave me an estimate that I think was fair - better than what I was offered locally at least.

I went a little over budget ($1K) but not all the way. The jump between 1.8 and 2.0 was just too much. But if I get a bonus next year I know where part of it will go instead of the savings account!

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10679/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11088/

Hopefully everyone here will approve... Since I know I ultimately want 2 ctw I decided to just have them reuse my existing basket settings this time.

It has been a rough year. This will be a nice treat.

 

[heididdl]

No words 1.80 is so close...I had 1.80 befoore my 2.41 but they were poorly cut. I would have stayed with them if they were as nice as the ones your getting