How much IS the Cartier premium?

[MSUSpartan]

Hey guys, first time posting but definitely have done a lot of browsing here. Lots of great information! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and it has definitely prepped my upcoming engagement ring purchase.

I really want to get my GF a Cartier ring even though I know I''ll be paying for the name. Their settings really are something else though!

I''m wondering what the Cartier premium would be one a 1CT ring would be. I''m ok with a lower grade stone to get my GF her dream ring. I''m sure the worst 1CT diamond at Cartier will still look great in the setting on her finger...

The reason I''m asking is that I found the following link at eBay. With the specs of the diamond assuming Excellent cut, I''m getting a price of around $11,500 on Blue Nile. How in the world did Cartier give a valuation of the ring at $32,100? Is the Cartier premium really that much? Please advise, thanks so much in advance!

http://cgi.ebay.com/CARTIER-PLAT-1-50ct-I-VS1-ROUND-DIAMOND-SOLITAIRE-RING_W0QQitemZ300381346178QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDiamond_Solitaire_Rings?hash=item45f01f9982#ht_943wt_1167

 

[stone-cold11]

It is a valuation by Cartier, typically blows up the retail price to make you think you have gotten a good deal. The proportion of that stone is way too bad.

 

[diagem]

Date: 1/24/2010 1:09:52 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
It is a valuation by Cartier, typically blows up the retail price to make you think you have gotten a good deal. The proportion of that stone is way too bad.

Ex-Ex-Vg = way too bad???

 

[stone-cold11]

CA 35.5 PA 41.6 = good? How?

 

[diagem]

Date: 1/24/2010 1:40:23 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
CA 35.5 PA 41.6 = good? How?

IMO..., much closer to good than bad...

 

[Gleam]

Date: 1/24/2010 1:09:52 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
It is a valuation by Cartier, typically blows up the retail price to make you think you have gotten a good deal. The proportion of that stone is way too bad.

Cartier sells stones that are less than ideal?

Do HW, Bvlgari and Tiffany as well?

 

[diagem]

Date: 1/24/2010 2:08:16 PM
Author: Gleam

Date: 1/24/2010 1:09:52 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
It is a valuation by Cartier, typically blows up the retail price to make you think you have gotten a good deal. The proportion of that stone is way too bad.

Cartier sells stones that are less than ideal?

Do HW, Bvlgari and Tiffany as well?

Dont think they sell AGS graded stones..., so they dont sell "Ideal" at all....

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 1/24/2010 1:44:23 PM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 1/24/2010 1:40:23 PM

Author: Stone-cold11

CA 35.5 PA 41.6 = good? How?

IMO..., much closer to good than bad...

Considering how big a range a stone can be cut, I guess that is true. There are definitely ways to cut it worse than this.

 

[diagem]

Date: 1/24/2010 2:21:29 PM
Author: Stone-cold11

Date: 1/24/2010 1:44:23 PM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 1/24/2010 1:40:23 PM

Author: Stone-cold11

CA 35.5 PA 41.6 = good? How?

IMO..., much closer to good than bad...

Considering how big a range a stone can be cut, I guess that is true. There are definitely ways to cut it worse than this.

Exactly..., and we need to remember to keep things in correct perspectives...
I would give Cartier, Bvlgari & Tiffany some credit for knowing how to pick their gems...

 

[denverappraiser]

We, of course, haven’t seen the actual document being discussed but the Cartier ‘appraisal’ is likely to be an estimation of what Cartier would expect to charge in one of their stores at retail for a new and genuine Cartier piece like the one being described.

Blue Nile doesn’t sell that. Neither is it what's being sold on ebay.

It’s correct that similar things are available for less money from BN and many other sources, including used but otherwise genuine goods fro other vendors, but this is answering a different question from the one that the appraiser addressed. Is Cartier a cheap place to by stuff? In a word, no, but it's the only place where you can buy new Cartier goods and few of their customers shop there under the expectation that they'll be comparatively inexpensive.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[Dreamer_D]

The only real way to know what the premium is would be to go to a Cartier store and see what it costs there, and then compare it to what you could get at a reputable vendor who can make you a good replica of their setting.

 

[Dreamer_D]

That particular setting is pretty basic. I would trust many PS vendors to make something almost the same.

 

[LabRatPhD]

I thought Cartier only carried stones from D-H in color for engagement rings?

Do they now carry I colored stones?

 

[megeve]

Date: 1/24/2010 4:12:19 PM
Author: LabRatPhD
I thought Cartier only carried stones from D-H in color for engagement rings?

Do they now carry I colored stones?

Exactly my thoughts Lab! However, I was told by a SA in cartier that the lowest they carry is G!

 

[MSUSpartan]

An update:

Spoke to a sales associate on the phone over the past couple of days... the premium is definitely high. For a 1CT stone I''d guess it is around $6K over market value... and she wouldn''t budge on the price.

I''ve still decided to go with it, given it''s my girlfriend''s dream ring. It''s not going to be the best cut diamond out there, but it''s going to be top 5%. However, to my GF I''m sure it''ll be the best ring out there

They''ve found a loose stone in their inventory for me that works for my budget and they''ll create the ring for her. Ready in about a week or two! I live in NYC and their workshop is at the Fifth Ave location so it''s not that long of a wait.