I''ve finally settled on my specs...

[ringhunter]

And wanted to make sure the PSers thought that they are reasonable. Quick refresher on what I''m looking for:

A 2 carat RB to go in this Tacori setting. My budget is around $15K, but I think I''m going to have to go up to $16K to make it work the way I want.

I want the stone to be at least 2 carats, so I needed to figure out the best balance of the remaining C''s to meet my budget while maximizing the beauty of the stone. So here''s what I''ve settled on after some research:

Carat - 2
Cut - GIA Excellent
Color - H
Clarity - SI2 (eyeclean, with inclusions near the side of the stone)
GIA cert. a must

I found one perusing Blue Nile for $14,044. It had a medium blue florescence though.

My diamond broker (reputable) said he can get me a stone to meet these specs for $13,500 without the florescence.

So, is this combination of specifications attractive for the price? My broker had suggested an I/SI1, but with the G colored sidestones in the setting, I didn''t want to go up to an I in color. And the H/SI1 is out of my price range.

Finally, my best friend''s family owns a high end jewelry store here in Charleston. They carry Tacori and should be able to get me the setting with minimal mark-up. Does anyone know what the mark-up typically is on a setting such as the one I linked? I know the price in the store was $2600 for WG, but I will be getting platinum. How much more for the platinum? I would be thrilled if I could get the setting for $2K, which will put me only $500 above budget for what I feel is a pretty good setting/stone combo, if I may say so myself .

Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

 

[ringhunter]

Stopped by a local jeweler on the way home that carries Tacori. The book price for platinum was $3610 - more than I thought. Hopefully the mark-up is large and I can get a good bit of that knocked off.

 

[dbsdiamonds]

Tacori has at least 125% markup over cost. I have a friend that owns a shop locally that carries Tacori. So a suggested retail of $5k would cost him less than $2500. Remakes off the Tacori line should cost at least 50% less than original Tacori model costs.

Important thing to notate is platinum costs per ounce almost gold pricing, so today''s Tacori pricing "should be" less than the suggested lists they''ve had out there. Question is whether they''ll "cost it out" to reflect the market platinum pricing.

2ct H SI2 GIA at $13k is right on. Best thing is to know all of the options available and have one analyze them all to isolate the most favorable based off more favorable inclusions styles vs. having big "crystal" inclusions dead center which may be visible.

Marty
CEO/Pres
Diamond Brokerage Service Inc
www.dbsdiamonds.com

 

[ringhunter]

Date: 11/7/2008 5:34:19 PM
Author: dbsdiamonds
Tacori has at least 125% markup over cost. I have a friend that owns a shop locally that carries Tacori. So a suggested retail of $5k would cost him less than $2500. Remakes off the Tacori line should cost at least 50% less than original Tacori model costs.


Important thing to notate is platinum costs per ounce almost gold pricing, so today''s Tacori pricing ''should be'' less than the suggested lists they''ve had out there. Question is whether they''ll ''cost it out'' to reflect the market platinum pricing.


2ct H SI2 GIA at $13k is right on. Best thing is to know all of the options available and have one analyze them all to isolate the most favorable based off more favorable inclusions styles vs. having big ''crystal'' inclusions dead center which may be visible.


Marty

CEO/Pres

Diamond Brokerage Service Inc

www.dbsdiamonds.com

Great info, thanks!

It sounds like I can try to work them down to at least $2K (or less) on the setting. That''s fantastic news. I really didn''t think I was going to be able to get the ring I wanted near my budget, but it looks like it might work out.

My broker offered to make me a replica of the Tacori setting for $1500, but I want to get the name brand if I can. My g/f is partial to Tacori.

I''m glad you think the specs and price match up. I don''t know as much about the different inclusions, but I will look into that more. I did want to make sure the inclusions are near the edges as opposed to the middle of the stone. I have time before I buy, so it allows me to be selective based on the inclusion pattern.

 

[jstarfireb]

Your specs like a nice combination, but I still wouldn''t discount I colored stones. A well cut I diamond will face up so white that you won''t be able to tell the difference next to G colored sidestones.

Also, don''t discount AGS certs, unless it''s the extra price premium you''re worried about. They''re just as strict as GIA on grading (according to PS, they''re stricter on cut, perhaps a bit less on color, and spot on for clarity).

 

[ringhunter]

Date: 11/7/2008 6:04:59 PM
Author: jstarfireb
Your specs like a nice combination, but I still wouldn''t discount I colored stones. A well cut I diamond will face up so white that you won''t be able to tell the difference next to G colored sidestones.


Also, don''t discount AGS certs, unless it''s the extra price premium you''re worried about. They''re just as strict as GIA on grading (according to PS, they''re stricter on cut, perhaps a bit less on color, and spot on for clarity).

I might have to go look at some I color stones to get a feel for it. I haven''t actually looked at any, so I was just going off of research.

What AGS cut compares to GIA excellent? I would consider them, but it seems like most of the stones that my broker gets are GIA and I''m more familiar with them. From what I''ve read though, I would agree that they''re right there with GIA and shouldn''t be ruled out.

Also, how does the price compare btwn. the two certs?

 

[jstarfireb]

AGS0 ideal cut is not only on par with GIA excellent, but it''s actually more strict and weeds out some duds that actually get labeled as GIA excellent.

Here''s some info on the price difference. For me it was worth the premium to get an AGS certified stone (I got a princess, and AGS is the only lab that grades princess cut quality).

The HCA is a great tool that not only evaluates the cut quality of any round diamond, but shows how the ranges of AGS ideal and GIA excellent cuts overlap for rounds.