Is this channel set band from local bm going out of business a good deal?

[joyful]

A local jeweler in Ohio is going out of business

(IDG Jewelers). I''ve never done business with them, but I stopped in yesterday because I''m looking for a wedding band and they are advertising that everything is at least 50% off. Well, I found a channel set wedding band that I like a lot! The ring is 14k white gold with 10 diamonds and 1 carat total weight. The price is $1,250. Please let me know if you think this is a good price. They also have a channel set band with .75 ctw for $750. I like both and I will go back and look today if after a little research it''s a good price.

Thanks for your help!

 

[y2kitty]

I wrote something, but I was misinformed!

 

[tyty333]

It is really difficult for us to say because we know nothing about the stones that were used. Only you can look
at the rings/stones and tell if they are beautiful, sparkley and without inclusions. Take the rings outside and look
at them in different lighting and make sure they are still beautiful (and not dead). Thats all I can offer...good luck!

 

[denverappraiser]

Be aware that any sale that’s based on a ‘discount’ needs to include a reality check on the original price. Presumably they couldn’t get $2500 for it or they wouldn’t still have it for sale to you (and perhaps they wouldn’t be going out of business). It’s fairly common in the industry of going-out-of-business sales to both markup up the existing inventory just before the sale and to bring in a big supply of new merchandise from outside just for the sale. Don’t be dazzled by the percentage off. Whether or not it’s a good deal will have to do with the quality of the stones, the quality of the craftsmanship etc.

Get it appraised by an independent as part of the deal. If they won’t allow this or you otherwise find the jeweler untrustworthy, don’t buy it.

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

 

[oldminer]

Neil is absolutely correct. In addition, you must remember that there will be no warranty for you in case the item is somehow defective What if the diamonds keep getting loose or one or two fall out? You can, and probably should, buy insurance for loss since there will not be a store to take care of it for free. Shop on-line some and see how much a similar item sells for from some of the trusted vendors here, too. They aren''t going to disappear on you next month probably and prices on the Internet tend to be competitive and not as misleading as "GOB sale" prices frequently are.

 

[PinkTower]

I was in BaileyBanks+Biddle this week. They too, are going out of business. I looked at several mountings, and felt their discount price was still more than I would pay for custom work, which I prefer in the first place. However, it depends on what you want. Some people fall in love with a particular brand name, or perhaps the brand name is very well respected. In that case, I think the going out of business sales are a good value. What brand was the item you were considering?

For example, the BBBiddle sale had Ritani mountings for half price. The salesperson stated that they are rarely discounted anywhere. So, if a customer was on the market for that particular setting, they would be in luck!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Yep, as stated, you''re not really getting a discount.

I was watching as one store in the mall went out of business and their 1 ct studs at "half price," were nearly $1000 more than what I paid for mine here online (and the mall ones were not very well cut and had lower clarity/color). Even when they marked them down even more, the price still was higher.

 

[Lurchie]

Joyful, to give you something to compare to, my channel set band was custom-made by Whiteflash. It''s platinum with 11 diamonds but the tcw is less than 1, I''m sure. (It''s 2.5 mm wide). Price was the same. I think you can do better.

 

[diamondringlover]

I have to agree with everyone else, that dosent seem like a very good price to me.

 

[D&T]

Date: 7/10/2009 2:31:49 PM
Author: diamondrnglover
I have to agree with everyone else, that dosent seem like a very good price to me.

ditto. take a look at those diamonds closely. If you take away all those spot lights, the diamonds may not wow you as much as it did in the shop.

 

[setell]

I agree with what the others said. It''s sometimes a marketing gimmick to make you feel like you found a hot deal. This local store here have been having their 50-70% blowout sale for the past 1 or more years (since I started paying attention to them). Don''t tell me any business can possibly afford to offer such steep discounts everyday if it was "real"! Of course their original price is sooo inflated that even at 50% off they are still making a good profit.

 

[joyful]

Just wanted to post a quick update. I ended up buying the channel set band the very day that I first posted this thread! I appreciated everyone''s input about going out of business sales. In this case I felt that the ring was very pretty and sparkly and I really love the way it looks with my engagement band. I''m sure that the diamonds are not ACA quality, but they are pretty and the price was right. Here''s a picture (not very crisp after resizing):