I walked into the mall store to get a feel for what the color and clarity values looked like. I got to see a lot and it was helpful. To get a feel for how their prices were, I decided to ask for some certificate so that I could write down the specs, and then try to price online what that should cost.
She caught me off guard when she said "Let me tell you what you would expect to pay for that." I said "It says $13,500 on the ring -- is that not your selling price?" She said "No, that is retail, and most mall stores would give you 10% off of that." She then pulled out a red Rappaport sheet, and looked over to color F, SI1. She said "The Rap guide says $6300 per ct. This is a 1.01 ct. Your price would be $5800."
So she took 8.9% off the Rap right off the bat. I was surprised by this. But when I got home and put the specs into a price-finder, I saw a (wide) range of $3700 to $6000 for the "same" thing. (example http://search.virtcert.com/cgi/u/1057/v.cgi?stock=401753&_s=1057&_p=abaz83&_c=&_fs=1&prestock
So my theory is that her price does not jive with the Rap report because the polish/sym/cut, etc. were below what the rap considers good. Am I correct?
Here are the specs of the stone she quoted me for (I don't actually want this one, but it is an example):
EGL
1.01 ct, round 6.27x6.19x3.99 mm
64% depth
60% table
11.8 crown
45 pav
girdle sl-thick to sl-ex thick
polish=good
sym=good
SI1
F
Fluor faint
So if my theory is correct in that they are being good for showing the Rap-sheet, but bad in using stones below the quality Rap intends to quote -- should I go there to buy a stone and say "I will go along with your 8% off Rap policy but you have to get me a well cut stone, such as a Tolkowsky cut with AGS 0 or 1a, ideal polish and sym and no fluor?." Does that sound like what I should do?
She caught me off guard when she said "Let me tell you what you would expect to pay for that." I said "It says $13,500 on the ring -- is that not your selling price?" She said "No, that is retail, and most mall stores would give you 10% off of that." She then pulled out a red Rappaport sheet, and looked over to color F, SI1. She said "The Rap guide says $6300 per ct. This is a 1.01 ct. Your price would be $5800."
So she took 8.9% off the Rap right off the bat. I was surprised by this. But when I got home and put the specs into a price-finder, I saw a (wide) range of $3700 to $6000 for the "same" thing. (example http://search.virtcert.com/cgi/u/1057/v.cgi?stock=401753&_s=1057&_p=abaz83&_c=&_fs=1&prestock
So my theory is that her price does not jive with the Rap report because the polish/sym/cut, etc. were below what the rap considers good. Am I correct?
Here are the specs of the stone she quoted me for (I don't actually want this one, but it is an example):
EGL
1.01 ct, round 6.27x6.19x3.99 mm
64% depth
60% table
11.8 crown
45 pav
girdle sl-thick to sl-ex thick
polish=good
sym=good
SI1
F
Fluor faint
So if my theory is correct in that they are being good for showing the Rap-sheet, but bad in using stones below the quality Rap intends to quote -- should I go there to buy a stone and say "I will go along with your 8% off Rap policy but you have to get me a well cut stone, such as a Tolkowsky cut with AGS 0 or 1a, ideal polish and sym and no fluor?." Does that sound like what I should do?