I know you all hate the "did I pay too much? questions...lol

[michelejo]

But, I understand the desire to ask...perhaps it's just morbid curiosity? It's amazing how much I've learned about diamonds in the past few days lurking here. Really. It just never occurred to me before that there was more out there than what's available down at the local Crescent or Zales (or Wal-Mart or Target!).

Dh bought me a pair of 1/2 carat studs (18k gold) last Christmas and he thought he did really good because they told him the diamonds were certified (but the "certificate" says "graded as mounting permits" so isn't this more about grading the piece than the diamond(s)?) and their best grade (5-star rather than 3-star or 4-star). They also "educated" him on the 4C's and he really thought that the dimaonds he got were among the best he could have had. Maybe so for our budget (I really just wanted the $200 pair I saw at Target...I'm soooo cheap!) but I'd like to know for sure.

Anyway, my studs were a very affordable $699, on sale from $1499. (What's a sale really, at these stores where the mark-up is crazy?) Anyway, the "certificate" is a little card with a pic of the earrings, it's from Independent Gemological Laboratories. It says:

Cut: Round Brilliant
Carat: 0.46 ct tw
Dimensions: 3.90 - 4.00 x 2.80 mm
Color: H1
Clarity: SI2-I1
Symmetry: Good
App. DWT: .30


I love them...they sparkle and they are just what I wanted...they make me feel pretty and I can wear them daily without feeling like they are too much. (I'm a sahm and a daily jeans n t-shirt gal.) Particularly being that they are on my ears, I don't think the quality matters. But I am curious...did we overpay? Underpay? Was the deal so-so? What could I have bought for that $$ buying online? Do the chain B&M diamonds have their place? Just purely morbid curiosity here (and for future reference)!!!

Thanks!!

Edited to add: How is depth calculated? Have I done it correctly at around 70% (which isn't good, lol)?

 

[Giangi]

Hello and welcome!
Firts off, it looks like the stones were graded in the mounting, so all grades are provisional.
SI 2 or I 1 are great for earrings because nobody will look at them very closely. Let's assume they are I 1's, since you don't have a widely recognised certificate (but it's more than normal at 23pts each

). let's also assume they are I color. The price is fair. Not a steal, but not outrangeous. It looks like you love them and that's all that matters!

BTW, I think there's a typo in the report... Using the measurements you provided, the estimated size is 0.27ct each, which would be 0.54total... The depth should be in the 2.4mm range.

 

[Giangi]

Yes, depth from the numbers you posted is 70%. But I think it's a typo, as I stated above. 2.8mm height is typical of a 0.35ct diamond.

 

[strmrdr]

Here is some from blue nile for $600 that might be comparable.

bn

They dont give a lot of information which is pretty typical and there are cheaper places out there.
For mall store pricing you didnt do too bad.
When you go to buy again let us know and we will help you select the best diamonds that fit your budget.

 

[fire&ice]

Your enjoyment & feeling pretty wearing them for the past year...........................priceless.

Enjoy! And ditto strm - come back & visit if you are in the market again.

 

[Mara]

I agree with F&I..if you love them a year later that's all that really matters. Ignorance is bliss...seriously!

On your Q about sale prices etc...I look at it like this. If the stones were on sale for $699....the stone is never going to mark them so low that they don't make a profit. So chances are the value to the store was something like $400 or similar as what they paid. So they still make $300 when they sell them. Compare that to the 'original price' of $1499 and know that is a HUGE RIPOFF.




So a sale isn't really a sale, it just means their markup is ridiculous. Great that you got them at a reasonable price and didn't pay the $1499!!

Third what the others said, next time you buy stones, come here first and read up. You will never want pre-set studs again!