Need help/advice on OEC five stone ring

[pixies]

I purchased a 1.50ctw OEC five stone ring off of ebay a few days ago. It arrived today and I'm at a loss what to do. The stones are purported to be F-G VS-SI1 with a spread of 4.1-4.2mm. 4/5 stones are beautiful. Bright and white, just lovely. I can still see their little open culets even at this size. I'm unable to see any inclusions so that is another plus.

HOWEVER, one of the end stones is a total DUD! Smaller and shallower than the rest, completed with a pancake top (not the dreamy, puffy crown OECs are known for). As a result, darkness abounds.

The setting reminds me of five little manicured Gollum hands holding on to his precious (talllll, mangled white gold prongs with yellow gold tips). The dud diamond is set uneven from his prettier siblings, maybe a mm or two above the others (not taller/higher, just out of line). I never intended on using the setting. I purchased this ring strictly for the diamonds.

I only paid $950 for the ring. At this price, should I keep it and look for a replacement diamond? I need to see if I can purchase calipers tonight before acting on this. The rest of the diamonds look well matched. I could tell the last diamond was flatter in his pictures but at the angle they were taken I couldn't see the size discrepancy and that it was set unevenly.

Can I negotiate with the seller at all? I just feel like there is no way that one diamond is a similar carat weight or spread. I'm not looking for a *huge* discount, maybe $95-100 (approximately 10%). I would be willing to un-mount the diamonds and send the mount and dud diamond back since neither are of any use to me.

So should I try to negotiate or do you think it is still a fair price and I shouldn't bother? I feel like it was a good price just a little misrepresented. OR do you think I should just return it and start over?

Anyone willing to help me find a 4.2mm OEC in the F-I range? I've found loose ones both smaller and larger than what I need. I have a feeling I'll have to find this one in a ring vs. loose.

I'll post pictures soon. I just wanted to get this up ASAP so I could get my fellow OEC fans advice!

 

[pixies]

Unfortunately I think my camera charger must be packed away in storage (preparing for a 2000 mile move in less than two months, ugh).

I had to do the best I could with my iphone camera. It does no favors to the pretty oecs but I used MS paint to create a sophisticated rendering ( ) that would illustrate the issue at hand.



This is the vendors photo. Weird angle but a little clearer than my iphone pics.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Hi pixies!

Does sound like you got a great deal! Looks like 20-30ptrs are going for a 1/3 to 1/2 of what you paid for the entire ring depending on their C's.

If I were you, I'm not sure $100 would be worth the hassel of complaining to the seller and returning the dud diamond and setting given the deal you got. However, I do understand your frustration, and it's well within your rights as a consumer to complain and see what amends can be made. Worst case scenario, the seller says "no", in which case, assuming they have an overall return policy, you can return the whole thing.

But, if you love the other 4 diamonds, and don't feel like you've been jipped on the overall cost, then I say keep them.

Check OWD in the "Small diamonds" section for the future fifth member of your five stone. There are quite a few in the 20-30 range, but you'd need to call and check on exact mms.
http://www.oldworlddiamonds.com/view.php?SHAPE=SM

 

[pixies]

Thanks for the response.

I probably won't contact the seller unless I decided to return it altogether. I think I'm just annoyed/need to vent. If it was fully disclosed that the end stone hovered above the rest and wasn't a great match I don't think I'd be perturbed by it. I suspected that I may have to replace that stone. The condition of the ring took me aback the most even though I wasn't planning on using it.

I think I'm really just wondering if someone else were in my shoes would they go through the trouble of hunting down a match or would they just return it. If I returned the ring, I wouldn't have to replace it with another five stone. It could be a single loose OEC or and OEC in a pretty mount. I just need to decide before sinking $ into mounting the diamonds.

I don't think I could bring myself pay the price OWD asks for their small diamonds (example of one of their stones that is in the size range I need: http://oldworlddiamonds.com/detail.php?ID=1160&SHAPE=EU. I'd return the whole ring before paying 50% of the price on one replacement stone. I know I could find a replacement on ebay but I'm suffering a bit of ebay burn-out. I think I spent at least 40 hours searching last week! Maybe I need to take a break and start hunting next week .

 

[Snicklefritz]

Hey pixies,

Sound like you've put a lot of work into finding something that makes your heart sing. I understand what a disappointment it can be when you have certain, reasonable expectations that aren't met. You clearly knew the setting wasn't in the best condition to begin with, but understandably would have liked to know about the wonky diamond too

If you're not set on a 5-stone, you're not happy, and feel like you'd be settling by keeping this 5 stone, I'd return it. Despite all the stress that it can create, jewelry should give you joy, esp when you're putting considerable $ into it.

And, stepping away from the process when you're frustrated is probably the best advice you can give yourself.

 

[Dreamer_D]

A matched pair of 4mm OECs from an ebay vendor I contacted are $500. Recently a ring with a 4mm stone sold for $170. So $950 is a good price just for the four good stones IMO. I would keep it and sell the mount for scrap and get a replacement. If you have some patience you will find it. But I would tel lthe vendor about my complaint and ask them if they will do anything about it.

 

[Winks_Elf]

Please do not take this as an insult as it is not meant to be. You bought a vintage ring off Ebay; does the color and clarity line up with the vendor's description? Did the seller say that all five stones were perfectly matched for cut quality and size? Unless they clearly discussed cut quality and provided measurements on each stone and the one is off, you really can't complain. Unless it's a rose cut or single cut, it was not grossly misrepresented, and you got a good deal for just the four stones alone.

The rest of the stones are beautiful. Contact JbEG or GOG and see if they can source a matching stone (don't measure the dud, measure the good ones and take the average from there).

 

[diamondseeker2006]

As long as there was no misrepresentation...as in saying the 5 stones were perfectly matched or something, I don't see any grounds to complain. You either want to keep it at that price or you want to return it. I think it might be a headache to find a replacement stone, though, unless you are willing to pay more for it than you did for these.

 

[pixies]

I wasn't looking to cast blame on the vendor. I just wanted to see if it was still a good value for what I'd be keeping/using. Everyone seems to think so. That gives me assurance about it all.

Last night I decided to contact the vendor. I was just honest and explained what my problem with the piece was. I said I'd be happy with a simple return and refund but I really liked the other four stones so if the vendor would be willing to discount the piece and take the mount and diamond back that would work as well.

The seller said they wanted to work with me and would provide a discount. Essentially, I did as Dreamer suggested. If I were going to return the piece anyway I didn't figure it would hurt to ask. The worst they could say is no. I would have given the vendor positive feedback either way. I was on the fence about contacting them but I'm happy I did. They've been great thus far and willing to go the extra mile.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll start a thread for setting ideas shortly!

 

[Amys Bling]

glad it all worked out.

 

[slg47]

pixies...how much of a dud is it? are you looking to part with it? if so, I am looking for a small diamond for a project (pendant)
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/wtb-want-to-buy-0-10-ct-round-diamond-t172222.html']https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/wtb-want-to-buy-0-10-ct-round-diamond-t172222.html[/URL]