Is This Quote from Brian Gavin Diamonds Too Much?

[Smith1940]

I am looking to treat myself to a new necklace. WF quoted me for a sapphire and white gold necklace, and I asked BGD for a quote for the following:

A 16-inch necklace in 14k rose gold, with five evenly-spaced diamonds of 0.10 each, totalling 0.50. (FYI, he has a stock version on his website for $1,150 with seven diamonds of 0.07, so totalling 0.50 too.)

The quote is $1,550.

Too much? Good value, bad value?

I asked why it was so much more when the diamond weight is the same. They said that rose gold costs more, but mainly that the jump in price from 0.07 to 0.10 was huge.

So, it's a $400 difference, for the same carat weight. This seems excessive.

On the other hand, I know they do good work and the necklace would be beautiful. N.B. All the diamonds in every example listed would be Brian's signature melee.

I'm not a diamond expert, just an enthusiast, and I would be grateful for some pointers as to whether this is a fair price, or not.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I get a quote from WF for the exact same necklace and see how they compare. I'd urge you to consider 7 stones, though, because if you space them evenly, you'll mostly only see 3 stones with a 5 stone necklace. I'd want the 7 stone at least so you'd see 5 stones.

 

[Smith1940]

Thanks! Good idea with the seven stones.

I definitely would have got the same quote from WF, but they don't work in rose gold. They said it's too difficult for them.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Ahhh, very interesting! I don't think Brian's quote is bad, though, since I would expect the larger stones to cost more. They do beautiful work.

 

[partgypsy]

I wouldn't know know exactly how much a necklace like that would cost but I'm not surprised at all at the difference in price. You are asking for something that is not in stock, in rose gold, with larger diamond sizes used.

You just need to ask yourself whether you would like the custom that much more (price wise) than what have on stock, and you will have answered your own question.

If I was going to do a 5 stone necklace, I wouldn't evenly space them but put them more towards the "bottom" of the necklace so to speak so they are visible.

 

[Smith1940]

Thanks everyone!

The diamonds are larger, but do remember that they total the same weight as the necklace that costs $1,150.

So, seven diamonds of 0.07 = 0.50 - asking price $1,150
Five diamonds of 0.10 = 0.50 - asking price $1,550

I know that larger diamonds cost more, and it's custom work, but even so, the $400 difference just seemed a little steep to me considering I end up with the same weight as the $1,150 necklace - Part-Gypsy, I should have made clear that the stock version of 0.50 for $1,150 is also rose gold, so I'm not sure why they said it's partly the rose gold that costs more - that doesn't make sense. Anyway, I would have thought the difference would be more like $250, considering the same diamond carat/gold karat weights and same rose metal of the two necklaces - but I may well be wrong, so I thought I'd ask others! It's interesting that at least one person doesn't think it's too crazy.

Decisions, decisions!

 

[webdiva]

Smith1940 - larger diamonds cost more relatively - even if it's the same carat weight total. Price per carat for stones is different based on their size.

 

[farmer gal]

It is the same carat weight but each individual stone is larger so the price is going to be higher. You could also call ID and tell them your pricescoper and get a quote from them to compare prices.

http://idjewelryonline.com/index.php

 

[Enerchi]

Smith!
I don't know if it is a reasonable quote or not from BGD, so I'd go with the suggestion of a comparison quote - Yekutiel/Luann would be happy to price that out for you but be sure to let them know you are on PS and you want that quality (F/G VS2/SI1). It may not be the same as BGD signature melee tho.

I wonder if you could have 7 or 10 stones evenly spaced from L to R, but start that approx 2" away from the clasp on each side? For me, my hair is never up in a pony tail so the 'back of my head' diamonds would never be seen. Id rather have all the diamonds I am buying, be visible. KWIM? If its custom work you are going for, worth asking that question....

So - this is the RG project you were contemplating, eh??? NICE!! I'm jealous!!!

 

[Smith1940]

Thanks both! As I said above, I realise that larger diamonds cost more, but I didn't think it would be as much as $400 more for a same total weight.

Anyway, I have just checked my email and they have taken $100 off the quote because I explained that I had asked for quotes before but always found them just that bit too steep. The rep I'm dealing with said he met with Brian and since the chain is the same as the stock $1,150 version, it's $100 off. This makes it even more difficult to decide!!! It's generous of them...it's still a little more than I was thinking of spending, but I guess prices of precious metals and gems aren't going down anytime soon...torn between this and the WF sapphire necklace for $975!

 

[Smith1940]

Enerchi!! I am just recovering from my dental surgery, which was nicely topped off with the flu. So I'm feeling pretty tired, and I thought a new necklace might cheer me up! It's been a rotten three weeks!

I also never wear my hair up, and I'm quite small, so I think I'll stick with the five stones paced the same as the seven stones, so it'll be like the seven stones except the two nearest the clasp won't be there. I think the five will still show - on all the pics of the classic seven stone DBTY, it's only those last two that you can't see.

So what do you think, my friend? Rose gold and diamonds, or five 0.13 sapphires?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!

 

[Enerchi]

Can you say.... "BOTH"?!?!?!?!

 

[Smith1940]

No, I have to pick one, I think!

Enerchi, just how naughty ARE you?

 

[Enerchi]

No, I have to pick one, I think!

Enerchi, just how naughty ARE you?

Oh I ROCK it in the naughty department!!! I believe you called me an enabler, so I was just doin' my job, ma'am!!!

Now, a real decision, huh??? Well, what if you had RG around the sapphires? Not being flippant by that, but it would make the blue pop out and satisfy the RG you are interested in. The sapphires match the earrings and you DO already own 2 DBTY style necklaces already. Would that be a consideration? Would WF make the sapphire one in RG? same price?

 

[Smith1940]

Hi Enerchi! I am actually thinking about both, and it's ALL YOUR FAULT! I think you should be banned from Pricescope, with your naughty ways!

I have decided to go for the BGD necklace.

Your idea about the RG and sapphires was very good, but WF doesn't work in rose gold. They say it's too difficult for them. Also, my sapphire studs are set in white gold, so....It was a very creative solution, though!

BGD was very good to take $100 off the price when I said I thought it was too much, and so far the customer service from Jamie has been excellent. I'm excited because everyone says the BGD melee is great and that their bezels are very well-made.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Enerchi!! I am just recovering from my dental surgery, which was nicely topped off with the flu. So I'm feeling pretty tired, and I thought a new necklace might cheer me up! It's been a rotten three weeks!

I also never wear my hair up, and I'm quite small, so I think I'll stick with the five stones paced the same as the seven stones, so it'll be like the seven stones except the two nearest the clasp won't be there. I think the five will still show - on all the pics of the classic seven stone DBTY, it's only those last two that you can't see.

So what do you think, my friend? Rose gold and diamonds, or five 0.13 sapphires?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!

Be sure to explain to them exactly what you mean about the spacing. You want longer chain at the ends and the 5 stones nearer the center so they all show. If I were you, I would take another chain the same length and some tape and get it figured out approximately, because they have no idea of the size of your neck and it would be a shame for the top two stones to not be seen! If that were the case, you may as well just do three stones!

Your rose gold necklace will be gorgeous! Can't wait to see it!

 

[Enerchi]

Hi Enerchi! I am actually thinking about both, and it's ALL YOUR FAULT! I think you should be banned from Pricescope, with your naughty ways!

I have decided to go for the BGD necklace.

Your idea about the RG and sapphires was very good, but WF doesn't work in rose gold. They say it's too difficult for them. Also, my sapphire studs are set in white gold, so....It was a very creative solution, though!

BGD was very good to take $100 off the price when I said I thought it was too much, and so far the customer service from Jamie has been excellent. I'm excited because everyone says the BGD melee is great and that their bezels are very well-made.

Ah, the thankless life of a "diamond enabler"...

I think you will be thrilled w the BGD DBTY necklace and so glad that Jamie is giving you a $100 reduction - that's very nice of them! I only have martini studs from them, but really enjoyed my email convo's w Jamie and then Denise. They are great people and I really love my diamond studs. I went for "j" from the signature line, so I'm confident based on all we've read here on PS, that their melee will be outstanding!

Too bad the RG/sapphire idea didn't work out but makes sense to do sapphires in the WG to match your studs. This will be a lovely RG addition to your DBTY collection! (this is going to be in RG, right?)

 

[Smith1940]

Diamondseeker - thanks for the advice! I have asked them to space the stones a little to the front

 

[Smith1940]

Enerchi - ever thought of working for a bank??

Yes - it's RG. It will take about 10 days. How can I wait that long??

 

[partgypsy]

I'd love to see it when it gets done. If I had some extra spending money I would definitely consider a necklace of this kind. My MIL has one but of different semi-precious gems in yellow gold, and I think how pretty it is every time I see it.

 

[JuneRose]

Oh I'm so glad you went with the rose gold -I cannot WAIT to see this

 

[Smith1940]

Thanks part-gypsy and Junerose! I can't wait to see it either!! Most stock DBTY necklaces 0.07 pointers, so I'm really excited about having 0.10 pointers!