Help with trade in I didn’t ask about

[msop04]

Do you trust these people? I only ask because you are talking NON-CERTIFIED stones that are SI2 clarity to top it off. Most SI2's are not eye clean, and need to be fully vetted to ensure they are acceptable.

Also to even have a shot at giving you any sort of advise, we need the crown & pavilion angles along with the table size of each stone.

I do know that looking at depths only, stone A @ 58% is cut too shallow. Not knowing the angles of stones B & C make it difficult to say much more about them but the depths look okay. I would say that if you have an F now, then you may not be happy with an H color (stone B) depending how color sensitive you are.

OP, is the stone just not GIA certified or NOT CERTIFIED at all... there's a difference there.

Okay, this confuses me. It was my understanding that DD carries GIA certified stones for the vast majority of there inventory, which they own (with a few AGS and EGL mixed in to the bunch). I do know that the non-GIA (EGL) certs are given a hefty discount... but I have never heard of DD selling non-certified stones... this is concerning.

I have been with DD since 2011, when I made my first diamond purchase (GIA 2.01 ct I/SI2), and have upgraded twice with them with my most current upgrade in 2016.

 

[msop04]

@Jessabeka... I just called my rep from Diamonds Direct and asked him about this (possibly) new policy regarding upgrades at 50% toward a new stone. He checked with this manager, then checked with the VP... both stated the upgrade policy is 110% of what you paid toward the purchase of a new stone costing at least $1 more. Both said they had not heard of any changes whatsoever. You may want to verify with your rep...

 

[sledge]

@Jessabeka... I just called my rep from Diamonds Direct and asked him about this (possibly) new policy regarding upgrades at 50% toward a new stone. He checked with this manager, then checked with the VP... both stated the upgrade policy is 110% of what you paid toward the purchase of a new stone costing at least $1 more. Both said they had not heard of any changes whatsoever. You may want to verify with your rep...

That is a great upgrade program @msop04.

I listen to the radio quite a bit and DD just started advertising heavily in this area. Or maybe they advertised before and I didn't notice. Usually their commercials are cheesy and makes me laugh which is I remembered them, so apparently they are effective too.

Just my 2 cents but this whole "limited time upgrade until it drops to 50%" sounds like sleazy salesman 101 tactics. Easily fixed -- see video instructions below.

 

[msop04]

That is a great upgrade program @msop04.

I listen to the radio quite a bit and DD just started advertising heavily in this area. Or maybe they advertised before and I didn't notice. Usually their commercials are cheesy and makes me laugh which is I remembered them, so apparently they are effective too.

Just my 2 cents but this whole "limited time upgrade until it drops to 50%" sounds like sleazy salesman 101 tactics. Easily fixed -- see video instructions below.

According to DD, they are not changing the upgrade program, so unless they actually do so (which I'm told they are not), calling them "sleazy" is unfair.

ETA: ...however, their commercials can be cheesy.

 

[sledge]

According to DD, they are not changing the upgrade program, so unless they actually do so (which I'm told they are not), calling them "sleazy" is unfair.

ETA: ...however, their commercials can be cheesy.

Agree 110%!

To clarify, I absolutely did NOT mean to imply DD was sleazy. I was trying to point out the sales guy could be using sleazeball tactics to push a sale/upgrade, probably unknown to the company. Sadly, I've seen this happen a lot.

LOL, the commercials are cheesy, but in a funny sort of way too.

 

[Jessabeka]

OP, is the stone just not GIA certified or NOT CERTIFIED at all... there's a difference there.

Okay, this confuses me. It was my understanding that DD carries GIA certified stones for the vast majority of there inventory, which they own (with a few AGS and EGL mixed in to the bunch). I do know that the non-GIA (EGL) certs are given a hefty discount... but I have never heard of DD selling non-certified stones... this is concerning.

I have been with DD since 2011, when I made my first diamond purchase (GIA 2.01 ct I/SI2), and have upgraded twice with them with my most current upgrade in 2016.

No DD is not who I was referring to...I have been talking with 3 different vendors and the private jeweler was the one selling non-certified diamonds. I've decided to nix that route.

 

[Jessabeka]

@Jessabeka... I just called my rep from Diamonds Direct and asked him about this (possibly) new policy regarding upgrades at 50% toward a new stone. He checked with this manager, then checked with the VP... both stated the upgrade policy is 110% of what you paid toward the purchase of a new stone costing at least $1 more. Both said they had not heard of any changes whatsoever. You may want to verify with your rep...

Sorry for the confusion, I was not referring to DD with the 50% upgrade policy...I have been talking with 3 different vendors and the vendor I was referring to with the 50% policy was the one my husband purchased my original ring from (NOT DD).

 

[msop04]

Agree 110%!

To clarify, I absolutely did NOT mean to imply DD was sleazy. I was trying to point out the sales guy could be using sleazeball tactics to push a sale/upgrade, probably unknown to the company. Sadly, I've seen this happen a lot.

LOL, the commercials are cheesy, but in a funny sort of way too.

Understood... when I spoke with the VP, he immediately asked who said this and at what location. Sounds like someone may need to be reprimanded.

 

[msop04]

No DD is not who I was referring to...I have been talking with 3 different vendors and the private jeweler was the one selling non-certified diamonds. I've decided to nix that route.

WHEW!!! I'm so glad, as I have always had superb experiences with DD. Thanks for clearing that up, OP!!

 

[msop04]

Agree 110%!

To clarify, I absolutely did NOT mean to imply DD was sleazy. I was trying to point out the sales guy could be using sleazeball tactics to push a sale/upgrade, probably unknown to the company. Sadly, I've seen this happen a lot.

LOL, the commercials are cheesy, but in a funny sort of way too.

Crisis averted!! Looks the uncerted stone and 50% policy was from another local vendor and not DD.

 

[sledge]

Hey @Jessabeka, I have to admit I am so confused, lol.

If you don't mind sharing and clarifying -- who did you buy the ring from? How much? And what sort of upgrade policy do they have? You mention you keep talking to various jewelers about pricing and give us the "trade difference" amounts. What kind of values are they giving you for trade-in?

While this probably seem nosey to you, I am doing so to understand how we may be able to use those dollars to our advantage to find you a great stone.

Edited to Add:
If I am piecing it together correctly, it sounds like you are only getting 50% of the original price back from your original dealer, so I am not sure what incentive you have to keep doing business there unless he has access to superb product and/or treats you guys like kings & queens. If this is an acceptable trade-in value, then you can probably sell on the open market and get at least 50%. Maybe a little more if you are lucky. Then you could take those dollars and spend ANYWHERE you wanted and not be tied to him.

 

[Jessabeka]

Hey @Jessabeka, I have to admit I am so confused, lol.

If you don't mind sharing and clarifying -- who did you buy the ring from? How much? And what sort of upgrade policy do they have? You mention you keep talking to various jewelers about pricing and give us the "trade difference" amounts. What kind of values are they giving you for trade-in?

While this probably seem nosey to you, I am doing so to understand how we may be able to use those dollars to our advantage to find you a great stone.

Edited to Add:
If I am piecing it together correctly, it sounds like you are only getting 50% of the original price back from your original dealer, so I am not sure what incentive you have to keep doing business there unless he has access to superb product and/or treats you guys like kings & queens. If this is an acceptable trade-in value, then you can probably sell on the open market and get at least 50%. Maybe a little more if you are lucky. Then you could take those dollars and spend ANYWHERE you wanted and not be tied to him.

The original dealer is a small 3-store chain in central PA called Mountz Jewelers. They are the ones who will start with the 50% policy next year...for now, they would give me back the full price of my stone ($5300 purchased in 2007) and will upgrade to anything above that price. However, I live in TX now and not so keen about buying a diamond from them without seeing it first. They gave me a list of options for my size parameters, but they didn't seem that great...the Hearts on Fire "J" colors and the Forevermark 1.1ct H color. The price difference I would end up paying would be in the low $3000's. That price is at the top of my budget and would hope to get better then "J". I have been emailing with an aquaintence who works at DD but haven't been able to actually go to the store yet to get my stone evaluated for trade in...waiting until school starts so I don't have to bring my little kiddos with me and I can actually concentrate! :roll

 

[sledge]

Ah, okay. Makes more sense now. Thank you.

I saw your post about the the Hearts on Fire and Forevermark but saw it late last night and forgot about it until now. I am sorry. I will go back and take a look and try to offer some comments for you.

In regards to your current dilemma, if you are in the Houston area then WF and BGD are there and can probably show you some stones in-person and also confirm if they will accept a trade-in, and at what value, so you have some more options.

I gave you some options before from WF. Assuming you can get good value out of your current stone, the $8,000 or so invested would land you in a super ideal stone which I think would make you very happy. But I know it's easy to say and hard to navigate when dealing with a trade/sell of existing stone.

 

[Jessabeka]

Ah, okay. Makes more sense now. Thank you.

I saw your post about the the Hearts on Fire and Forevermark but saw it late last night and forgot about it until now. I am sorry. I will go back and take a look and try to offer some comments for you.

In regards to your current dilemma, if you are in the Houston area then WF and BGD are there and can probably show you some stones in-person and also confirm if they will accept a trade-in, and at what value, so you have some more options.

I gave you some options before from WF. Assuming you can get good value out of your current stone, the $8,000 or so invested would land you in a super ideal stone which I think would make you very happy. But I know it's easy to say and hard to navigate when dealing with a trade/sell of existing stone.

Unfortunately I’m quite far from the Houston area, and does white flash even take trade-ins that were not purchased from them? I would be open to doing a trade in with them since I have you guys to help me interpret all the specs

 

[Jessabeka]

Unfortunately I’m quite far from the Houston area, and does white flash even take trade-ins that were not purchased from them? I would be open to doing a trade in with them since I have you guys to help me interpret all the specs

I’m thinking DD is the way to go since I have one local and they do take trade-ins... hoping they will give me a good value for my current stone and I’ll be able to afford what I’m looking for from them!

 

[Dancing Fire]

The thing is, none of them are certified AT ALL. He said they are "graded by GIA standards" (by whom?).

What do you guys think about these? Thanks!

Mickey Mouse. How fast can you run???

 

[Jessabeka]

Mickey Mouse. How fast can you run???

this is obviously my first diamond buying experience