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texasrocks1

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 8, 2006
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I have recently been looking at engagement rings at jewerly stores. Also, I have never bought a diamond in my life and, I have no clue what I am doing. The only thing I want out of the engagement ring is that I need it to be an investment. What companys do you guys suggest for me:

I want a high quality investment:

3.5 - 4.5 carat weght
I need a platnium setting with diamonds down the side
Round
I need the wedding band to sit flush (whatever that means) and to have litte diamonds around it
Budget is $50,000

Will you guys please help me in finding the best investment and my future fiance the perfect ring?
 
Welcome Texasrocks
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First off, you must know that diamonds are a very poor investment if you are looking for a financial gain down the road. They are very difficult sell and you''d most likely get about 1/3 of what you paid reselling. Now, if you looking for a spectacular ring that will last a lifetime, that''s not a problem. Flush means that the engagement ring and wedding band can sit next to each other without a gap between the rings. You have an amazing budget and should be able to find just about whatever you want. Do you have any pictures of the setting your after?
 
Date: 6/8/2006 11:03:47 PM
Author:texasrocks1
I have recently been looking at engagement rings at jewerly stores. Also, I have never bought a diamond in my life and, I have no clue what I am doing. The only thing I want out of the engagement ring is that I need it to be an investment. What companys do you guys suggest for me:

I want a high quality investment:

3.5 - 4.5 carat weght
I need a platnium setting with diamonds down the side
Round
I need the wedding band to sit flush (whatever that means) and to have litte diamonds around it
Budget is $50,000

Will you guys please help me in finding the best investment and my future fiance the perfect ring?
Click to expand...
Diamonds are not a good investment first of all. But that aside you have an awesome budget, one that most only dream about. What shape are you looking for?? The ering and wedding band to sit flush just means they sit next to each other with no gaps. Can you give us some hints as to what style settings you are looking for?? Diamonds down the side can mean many things, are you thinking rounds?? ETC... Give us more details and we will be more than happy to help you with this.
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Oh and welcome to PS, where are my manners???
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you can use the ''pricescope your diamond'' search at the top of the page to find some potential diamonds. you best bet is to find something ''in house'' (meaning a vendor actually has the diamond on hand). you can also search by ''cut quality'' so you can see at a glance what the top stones are.

welcome and best of luck!
 
Don''t think my budget is awesome because I have been saving for 2 years for this.(He, He
emsmile.gif
). Some of the settings come from these companies:

http://www.bluenile.com/product_details.asp?oid=6185&page=1&show_all_pages=1&filter_id=1&col=2&row=1&pos=2&set_shape=

http://www.whiteflash.com/jewelry_gallery/solitaire%20with%20side%20stones/i_DSCN9944.jpg.aspx

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-matching-bands.asp?module=setting&cid=59&item=277&name=1908

I just need help choosing a round diamond
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.
Rember I need 3.5 to 4.50 in carat weight
 
Are you meaning by investment that you plan to later sell this diamond? If so, I'd probably recommend that you buy some real estate instead.
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If what you are meaning is that you prefer a very high quality stone, then we most certainly can help you! But even with $50,000, which is a very generous amount, you may not get into the 4 carat territory unless you go down in color or clarity. Here are a couple of examples of great stones just to give you an idea:

3.61 G VS1 $88,993. http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-2416696.htm#

2.62 G VS1 $44,453. http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/1999/

I'd suggest starting by reading the diamond tutorial on this site and here:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/4Cs/

Then you can maybe develop some preferences for color and clarity. Everyone here would encourage you to get an excellent cut as that will have the most impact on the diamond's beauty. I'm sure you'll get plenty of help!

Edited to add: Precision Set makes some fine quality flush fit settings with diamond bands:

http://www.precisionset.com/lineIndex.php?line_id=1
 
Thank all of you for your insight. I will review them and get back with you guys tomorrow.

Thank you so much PS
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The closer you can buy to wholesale, the better "investment" your diamond will be. Not a "pure" investment like stocks or bonds, but a "luxury investment" which retains a decent proportion of its value better than most, and sometimes even rendering you a profit provided enough time has passed for wholesale appreciation to overtake your purchase price.

If you ever want to resell, you can usually realize wholesale if you have a jeweler sell it for you on consignment. If you liquidate for cash, you usually will realize anywhere from 50% to 75% of wholesale, with a fine stone such as you're considering usually realizing 60% to 70% of wholesale from a savvy dealer.

Good auction houses will usually get you from wholesale to wholesale minus 20%.

If you resale to the public (with patience), you could probably realize wholesale to wholesale plus 5% to 10%.

Fine large stones usually fare better on the resale market than smaller stones, realizing a greater price with more liquidity. The reason is because they are more rare, and the clientele who can afford such stones are usually liquid and appreciative of a good "deal".

In order to buy close to wholesale, you need to work with a very knowledgeable, competitive vendor who is "connected". The internet market is a very competitive venue, and many such vendors frequent this forum. You can also sometimes find competitive "bricks & mortar" vendors in major metropolitan areas who will work close with you. Let them know in no uncertain terms that you take the investment aspect of diamonds seriously, and want to purchase as close to wholesale as possible, while still allowing them a reasonable profit.
 
So those settings you posted are a bit different from each other--you had two which had channel set princess stones in the band and then another which had round melee in a shared prong band.

Each is a lovely look but VERY different......give us sort of an idea of the specific style--or are you a little lost?
 
I am not a jeweler but know like the others have said, diamonds are not, as a rule, a good investment, you usually lose a lot, like buying a new car and then wanting to sell...unlike real estate, which can appreciate by a lot.

I am a bit confused by your term "need", is this something you have your mind on, or your fiance has mentioned it?

Welcome to PS...and good luck!
 
Okay well... correct me if I''m wrong ya''ll but aren''t branded diamonds/ settings a better investment that ''generic'' ones?

I would buy a tiffany, harry winston, or at the least, a royal asscher because those become collectable.

But then... the wholesale thing that the experts said, would make what I just said completely wrong... so I guess I''m just confused about the information I''m assimilating. Sorry.
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Judging from what the second hand Tiffany pieces go for on SP, I''d say the individual selling to SP couldn''t be getting more than half the value.
 
What is an investment?

Regardless of whether you're buying real estate, diamonds or pork bellies, and investment is something that you can buy at a price that you can make money with.

I think there are several considerations that you need to make in order to weigh which investment you want to make.

1. How long will I have to wait to get a profit. Ideally, you'd like to anticipate making a profit immediately. In that many consumers have difficulty in liquidated a previous jewelry or diamond purchase, perhaps you could do well searching out a pre-owned item, veriying its quality and price, and maybe "partnering with a store to sell it for you when ready.

2. What do I anticipate my yearly earning rate to be? ( CD's which are very safe yield around 5% a year), so you need to consider liquidity and risk when investing in something that may not be as liquid as a bond, stock or other iinstantly salable item. So consider what you expect as a return on your investment, the length of time you wish to hold it, and do some research to see if your expectations match your research.

3. Knowledge of the item you're investing in. If you are considering diamonds, then you need to thoroughly know the item, how it is priced, what areas of the resale maket you can access, and just how prepared are to market it. If you really are determining in making your investment in diamonds, I suggest taking the GIA courses, to learn and meet others who you can network with. Extreme knowledge of the item you want to invest in is paramount to how well you can sell or buy it. Knowing that you're really purchasing the investment at a really good price, will make the investment a better one.

4. Can I make any earnings while waiting to sell? Consider buying a rental real estate property for instance. Here you make a down payment, take out a mortgage, and let the people renting it, pay off the mortgage for you. Obviously owning or wearing a diamond won't do that from your purchase date to your liquidation date, but nonetheless, something to also weigh and consider. ( Of couse to the benefit of owning a diamonds, you don't have the level of upkeep and yearly taxes on it).

5. Putting all your eggs in one basket. If your investment capital is $ 50,000. don't put it all in one investment, particularly if you have to depend on someone else to liquidate it, where your costs of selling it back into the market are not a set figure. ( i.e. percentage that a stock broker would sell your stock).
I think most investment professionals advise spreading out your investment capital into several different ones, so that if one goes down in value, hopefully you whole investment doesn't deterorate.

6. Consider your risks! CD's have virtually no risk. Your money is totally safe, but it won't appreciate much. Investments that have higher potentials also come with increased risk. So buying "right" really could save you from dissappointment if for some reason you HAVE to sell it quickly.

Many people say how you must buy a high quality diamond to have a good investment. A high priced one stone investment, also carries with it a reduced market of people willing to spend the money to buy it. Sometimes having an item more salable to the mass market is better even if the appreciation is a little less. But it does go back to buying it at a very right price in the first place can make "all the difference" for you.

Hope this helps.

Rockdoc
 
i like the whiteflash one. remember to account for sales tax 8.25% and setting, and she wants an eternity band too, in platinum, so may need to back off on the size.

whiteflash is in houston on richmond road.
 
Yep the WF diamond would be my pick for sure - it is as good as it gets! Hey I can dream
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justa thought, would the set be "overdone" with a rock that BIG with sidestones, AND a wedding band with rocks?

we can get very gaudy and overdone in texas. what neighborhood are you in?
 
ok considering roughly 10% for tax and the wedding bands and setting. that cupid's quiver setting above knocks my socks off but i don't think you can achieve it AND get a 3.5 carat rock.

platinum bead set tiffany style setting it will have to have a custon job estimated $1975

http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/-Tiffany--Style-Bead-Set-Solitaire_953.htm

matching wedding band in platinum $1325

http://www.whiteflash.com/Wedding_Bands/14-stone-Bead-Set-Band_974.htm

that leaves $40,000 for the stone.

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-2408729.htm

and 3000 for your wedding band and some wiggle room.

now, if she can be talked into plain bands, then i would get the abovementioned honker. then upgrade the setting in 5 years.
 
WOW...with a big purchase like that, take your time, and make sure you DO jnow what you are doing before you buy..........

If you ae in Texas, would it be possible to visit Whiteflash and actually SEE a few of their stones before sending the $$$$ ? I think it would definitely be worth it! Also look around lots of places, so you have an idea of what you want and what you can reasonable GET for your $$$ (in terms of the 4 c''s - and definitely the CUT).

I agree that an understated setting would be best.....the diamond really needs to be the STAR of this show!!!
 
Date: 6/9/2006 8:26:21 AM
Author: ladykemma
justa thought, would the set be ''overdone'' with a rock that BIG with sidestones, AND a wedding band with rocks?

we can get very gaudy and overdone in texas. what neighborhood are you in?
Click to expand...

Yeah, we can get gaudy, huh LK !! What neighborhood indeed. I like that.

$50,000. doesn''t get 4cts in D-F, or VS1-2 and a great cut. I know, I''ve been looking.
 
Date: 6/9/2006 10:23:54 AM
Author: Ann

Date: 6/9/2006 8:26:21 AM
Author: ladykemma
justa thought, would the set be ''overdone'' with a rock that BIG with sidestones, AND a wedding band with rocks?

we can get very gaudy and overdone in texas. what neighborhood are you in?
Click to expand...

Yeah, we can get gaudy, huh LK !! What neighborhood indeed. I like that.

$50,000. doesn''t get 4cts in D-F, or VS1-2 and a great cut. I know, I''ve been looking.
Click to expand...
memorial, river oaks, rich part of spring, sugarland, and katy. i LIKE gaudy and overdone. i have a co-worker form maine, she winces every time she sees me.
 
HI:

There is a 3.597 on Whiteflash''s site (WF), A Cut Above (ACA) line...the stone, however, takes the vast majority of your budget...but worth a look...

cheers--Sharon
 
Hi,

I live inside the loop. Also, I wanted to thank everyone on this forum for their input and advice. You have been most helpful with regard to your insight into diamonds as investments, shapes and settings, and the references on diamonds.

This is a significant purchase for me. One to which I will give some research and thought. Today, I will keep looking around will try to get back to the board later.
 
consider also
Nazar's fine jewelry on westheimer
The Houston Gold Exchange on dairy ashford and westheimer
tiffany's in the galleria
bailey banks and biddle in the galleria.

edited to add : bullocks
 
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