Is this a fair price? And some other related questions too...

[FreeBaGeL]

Here are the stats on the diamond:

Stone: Diamond, Marquise (Brilliant)
Weight: 1.10 carats
Measurements: 10.06-5.28 x 3.45mm

Depth: 65.3%
Table: 61% (3.2mm)
Girdle: Thk. (fac)

Clarity: SI1
Color: H
Flourescence: None

Polish: "Good"
Symmetry: "Good"
Culet: Small (abr)

Price: $4295

Now, I looked at this diamond for a while in person. I am a terrible judge of "sparkle" in that all diamonds look pretty much the same to me. It was even tougher because the store I found this one at was robbed recently and had only one marquise in stock so I couldn''t even compare it right next to others.

I was actually looking for a VS1-VS2, but this one was graded out as a "very high" SI1 and the color is right about what I was looking for as well to save a little money. I looked at in a 10x microscope though I wasn''t exactly sure what I was looking for. I''ve been told to look for veins, bubbles, etc and I didn''t really see much of that but again I could''ve been looking right at one and probably not known it. I stuck my hand behind the diamond and couldn''t see the color of my flesh through the diamond which is good, but the diamond did seem kind of "dark" when I looked at it up close. Is this just how diamonds are or should i be able to see something through most of them? Same thing when I looked through the microscope.

I am not sure what a good depth, table, and girdle are (or what table and girdle even mean) so I''m not sure where this diamond falls in there.

I know it''s difficult to say without seeing in person especially since that''s really the only well to judge cut (which again I am terrible at doing just by looking at it), but does this sound about right or can I do better? I''m looking to stay at around $5k total with a plain platinum band.

 

[Regular Guy]

Looks to be priced consistent with pricing of options on this board, though maybe at the higher end.... Here I see about $3900, give or take $700...and keep in mind overall the internet pricing here is on the low side, compared to what''s available locally, generally.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Thanks.

Bump for more opinions.

 

[Modified Brilliant]

Welcome to PS.

Although the diamond you mentioned seems reasonably priced for a retail store..you still have many unanswered questions.
It might be prudent to spend a little time learning more about marquise shapes because they vary in shape and appearance and personal
preference also is a factor. The one you mentioned has a length to width ratio of 1.91 to 1. (preferred). Ask if there is
a laboratory report available (GIA, AGS,etc). Do some comparison shopping first at a few different stores, compare on line prices,
determine what's important to you after reading a bit more here. Good luck and always ask about a return/exchange policy.

www.metrojewelryappraisers.com

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Yeah, I''ve done a LOT of reading the past week or so and come up with some more specific questions.

I''ve seen it mentioned that the ideal depth for a marquise is 63-68, which is good since this one sits right in the middle at 65. However I''ve seen it mentioned elsewhere that you probably shouldn''t exceed 63 which would put this one on the highside. Which is closer to being correct?

Table-wise I''ve read that a marquee should be in the 52-62 range, so at 61 this one is at an extreme end of that range, is that ok?

With regard to ratio some places have mentioned that if you can''t hit 2:1 then shorter is better, while others have mentioned longer is better. Which is it, or is it just a personal preference thing?

Lastly, I keep hearing people say "for retail", do you guys recommend buying online? Almost everything I''ve read says not to buy a diamond without seeing it. I''m an electronics/computer/HDTV guy and I can''t believe people walk into stores like Best Buy and pay those enormous markups for lower quality stuff than what''s available cheaper online. Am I being that chump buying a diamond locally?

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 6/26/2007 10:55:09 AM
Author: FreeBaGeL

Lastly, I keep hearing people say ''for retail'', do you guys recommend buying online? Almost everything I''ve read says not to buy a diamond without seeing it. I''m an electronics/computer/HDTV guy and I can''t believe people walk into stores like Best Buy and pay those enormous markups for lower quality stuff than what''s available cheaper online. Am I being that chump buying a diamond locally?

A few points:

1) AGS seems to agree with you
2) AGS is the most highly regarded certificating available
3) Most advice on this board would suggest good value can be had on-line, and that both your price and selection is optimized this way, on the internet.
4) Basically, consider the AGS position as one of their at cross purposes, serving a set of constituents who subscribe to them.
5) Regarding your example with Best Buy...differences may have to do with the level of price point, and frequency of sale. In particular, see that at the recent higher price points for big plazma TVs, the most healthy of these big boxes...being I think Best Buy, reporting also a big hit because of working these items.
6) The internet allows efficiencies here. The value question goes to you, where, when the internet was not option, it was just borne by local jewelers, to determine how much value they would assess for giving you their showroom, and competition then, somewhat as now, moderated those value definitions. Now, with the "world as our oyster," you can shop specs, and consistent with that, internet presentations of specs have provided a new level of detail, to get you to buy at one place over another, to the purchasers benefit.

 

[denverappraiser]

Retail stores are not generally the least expensive place to buy stuff. The reason that people shop there has to do with convenience, speed, ease of things like returns and setting, access to specific designers work, the status associated with a particular store and the general shopping experience. The online shopping experience involves the possibility and perhaps even the probability of needing to make a return to a far away dealer and choosing another one after you’ve had the opportunity to look at it and show it to your chosen advisers. This process can sometimes get time consuming and tedious while others find it to be an enjoyable part of the hunt.

There’s a lot of similarity between online electronics and online diamonds but there are some key differences as well. The most critical difference is that the product is far less definable. With an electronic purchase, when you buy a particular manufacturers sku#, you can be reasonably confident of what to expect and failing fraudulent activity on the part of the merchant, you are likely to end up with exactly what you had in mind. Diamond jewelry is much more difficult in this regard. The lab reports simply do not contain sufficient information to fully understand your purchase before it arrives. Adding to this that the diamond is only a component of the finished piece and you have to be concerned about craftsmanship issues on both the mounting and the setting service that aren’t discussed on the grading reports at all. The quality of work is definitely not the same for all setters. You are putting a great deal of faith in the jeweler and it’s a lot easier for most people to extend this faith to a jeweler that is close to home, who has been there a while and that you can actually visit in person.

There are many fine online jewelers and a fair number of them are simply jewelers from someone else’s neighborhood that are expanding their market by advertising online but there are others where the only skill is in web design (if even that) and they simply don’t justify the trust that the transaction requires. Unfortunately, it’s sometimes hard to tell them apart.

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

 

[Regular Guy]

I''ll just comment on two points from Neil''s...

Date: 6/26/2007 11:54:16 AM
Author: denverappraiser
The online shopping experience involves the possibility and perhaps even the probability of needing to make a return to a far away dealer and choosing another one after you’ve had the opportunity to look at it and show it to your chosen advisers. This process can sometimes get time consuming and tedious while others find it to be an enjoyable part of the hunt.

1) To the extent the Pricescope community provides an opportunity for buyers to vet their experience, I think Neil may provide the wrong impression...at least if you do not speak generically...but have reference to the experience with vendors who frequent this board...if you''re lead to believe, as Neil suggests, that there may be a probability of needing to make a return. I think that, based on a) the info provided and b) the decision making that ensues, c) most people do keep their selection.

2) This does not speak to the potential advantage of shopping in a real store...where you can select among a range of options, and pick your favorite, based on seeing yourself which one you know you would prefer, among those shown. That provides a real context, it seems to me, for shopping in a physical store. It''s hard to know what you didn''t get...what it could have been like...when shopping on line. Still, internet vendors try to make this as easy as they can.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Good stuff guys.

Any thoughts on the depth/table of that original diamond?

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 6/27/2007 12:02:48 AM
Author: FreeBaGeL
Good stuff guys.


Any thoughts on the depth/table of that original diamond?

I''m just going to put this out there, but she did ask for a marquise right? Because if not, they are a peculiar cut and were VERY popular in the 80''s, but not so much right now.

Just wanted to make sure!!!

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Yes, she originally liked both princess and marquise about equally but recently told me she preferred marquise.