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Need help picking place to buy expensive men''s ring..Help!!

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Hughrock

Shiny_Rock
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Jun 11, 2009
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Hi everyone

This is my first time posting on this site but have in the past read several of the excellent advise given by the posters here. Which brings me to the reason why I''m posting today. I''m in the market for a large purchase and need advise how best to get the most for my money. I plan to buy a gent''s diamond ring for my self and need to figure out the best places to go to for the biggest bang for the buck. I''m interested in a single solitaire with a great looking masculine ring. I want to spend no more than $200k which is a lot of money for this once in a life time splurge and it''s important to not only get the best of the four C''s but to avoid getting ripped off. I''ve considered the usual suspects like Harry Winston,Graff Diamonds which are the up market B&B''s. Have also noticed that Michael Beaudry advertises men''s rings while the other two fore mentioned jewelers do not. I''m aware in my price range it will be required to have a ring design just for me.

Another option is to buy a nice stone from a online store like Bluenile and then take it to a jeweler and have a ring designed for it. My questions are these. How much value do I gain by purchasing a ring at a big name jeweler like Graff jewelers or Harry Winstons(if I ever wanted to sell the ring) as oppose to buying a bluenile diamond? I know that diamonds are seldom if ever resold at their original purchase price due to the built in profit margins,especially if sold with in 5 years. Would the name of Harry Winston allow me to resale the ring closer to my purchase price than a diamond from Bluenile? Does the glamour of the designer name add real value to a resale?Not that I''m planning to resale the ring but I just like to know my options before hand when possible. How safe it is buying from a online store like Bluenile? I know I''ve ask a lot of questions but I have just a few more.

This is a very large investment and who is to say that diamonds will go up or down in value in the near future so it''s very important that I''m happy with this purchase. If you were spending $200k on a diamond ring would you prefer to buy at a well known B&B store or at a online site and why? It does make me a bit nervous to wire that much money to a place I haven''t conducted business with. And I have heard that many up scale jewelers will allow trade ups on future purchases which is something I doubt is a option at a online store.BTW, would you prefer Harry Winston instead of Graff Jewelers and of the two which do you think offers the best deal for the money? I have spoken with the people at Graff and was promised a very good stone for my money,but I''d like to hear what other people may have heard of this jeweler. I''ve given you several questions and as you can see this is a big decision to make and I just want to thank you for any and all advise you can offer me.

P.S. I''m considering buying in New York city or Palm Beach Florida if I go with a B&B. Again thank you very much for your help and any tips on jewelers who you think would be a good place to consider.
 
Many of the online dealers in NYC (see Resources / Diamond Vendors) will meet with clients in-person and do offer trade-up, etc.
 
With that kind of budget, I would definitely go for Graff, HW, Cartier and VC&Arpels they are great with huge carat sizes and the diamonds should also be well cut. And if you should ever wanted to sell, Graff or HW, Cartier & VC&Arpels designers pieces will definitely fetched a much better prices than blueniles diamonds.
Congrats for having such a budget!!
 
I'd be looking at a D IF Royal Asscher diamond set by Leon Mege, but I go for intrinsic quality over widely recognized names.

But yes, if resale value is important I think the big names would hold their value better, but keep in mind you are also paying a hefty premium for the name up front.

In the end, I'm not sure if it would be a wash or not.

Perhaps just buy what you like the best for yourself.
 
I understand Michael Beaudry may have filed for bankruptcy, something to look into if you decide to go in that direction. Another well-known designer to consider is Neil Lane. Also DeBeers has recently opened its own retail outlets with proprietary designs. Ditto though to considering a non name-brand designer if you''re open to going without the name brand mark-up -- and resale potential.

PS has a men''s rings thread over on "show me the ring" that has many wonderful designs -- although I suspect few if any had the advantage of a budget like yours!
 
Thank you Tod,Meg,Moh & VR beauty for responding to some of my questions. I did look in on the men''s ring thread to see if other dudes have a similar appreciation for investing money in rare gems. Looks like I''m not the only one. There are several very nice rings in there and a couple nice size stones. I was in contact with Graff Jewelers this afternoon and it was brought to my attention that they have a Gent''s ring with a 6 carat, H color,VS1 clarity, single solitaire princess cut diamond. Sounds like a decent ring for the money (about $98K) but I was hoping to get a better grade clarity and color stone. Plus I believe that size stone might be a bit much for a men''s ring. I want something that is eye catching but not in the same vein as a jewel that may have been worn by King Henry the VIII. Don''t want to stand out quite that much.

So I will check a few more Jewelers (Garrard,Blvgari, & Harry Winston) and see if they might offer something already done up with out having to design it from scratch. Not that it''s a big deal but there is something to be said about going into a store regardless of what is being sought and finding what you like with out a lot of fuss. Plus I might be able to save money and haggle a bit more if the ring is not a special order. I''m hoping I can find a good stone with about 3.5-4.0 carats,E color and a clarity of about VVS1 with a great cut. That should be more than ample to make the stone a good investment for $200K. Thus far the stones I like the most are the Cushion,Rounds & the Radiants. They appear to have the best "POP" to the naked eye. At least they seem to in my short experience.

I''m glad to hear your opinions about resale value when buying from a designer B&B. I thought a famous designer name would be the way to safe guard my investment and I appreciate that you all have confirmed my thoughts. When making such a purchase it really is great to get advise from people who have been down this road before. This is only my second gem purchase my first having been at Blvgari for a 2 carat single solitaire a few years back. Let me ask you guys a few more questions. Which designer name do you think if all things are equal(the four C''s) adds the better resale to my investment,Harry Winston or Graff Jewelers? I''m starting to think there is something in a name when it come to high end investments. Again thank you all for taking the time giving your advise in order to help me avoid making rookie mistakes
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I don''t rate diamonds highly as an investment. It may hold it''s value somewhat but unlikely to appreciate over time, unless it belongs in the extremely rare category. Have you considered rare fancy colored diamonds instead? If I have 200K to spend on a single stone that''s the path I would take.
 
Diamondflame

Thank you for posting. I agree with you that gems are not investments in the same way as real estate or stocks, but they can retain their value over time and as you might agree do offer a every day enjoyment to ownership. Your advise about investing in colored stones is interesting and very sound. Enfact I read earlier this evening how colored stones tend to go up in value over time more than white diamonds.

Truth is I really have my heart set on buying a nice white diamond. This afternoon I received a email from my jeweler that included pictures of a few offerings of men''s rings and they were not exactly what I had in mind when originally contacting that store. To be honest I was surprised to see they both were rings that have colored stones. When speaking with the sales lady yesterday I thought the stone was a H color but it''s not, it is actually a darker tint yellow L color. Based on the informing I read tonight via the internet, that particular color stone is not considered very rare. I think M-Z is more on the rare side of colored stones. But I must admit that the stone and the ring is eye popping. It does with out question look like a ring that is worth the money in appearance and based on the 4 C''s.

It''s 50% lower than I originally planned to spend and I can''t imagine a ring looking much(more masculine or having that one of a kind look) better than this particular one. Now,that is what my emotions are saying to me after viewing this beautiful diamond ring, but I want any purchase to be based on sound reasoning . Something is telling me to wait till I can find a diamond ring that is most of everything I''m looking for if not all of everything. I do have a question. Do you think a L colored stone is a bad investment?
 
Hugh - I''m glad you mentioned that a 6 ct stone might be too large for your taste. It sounds like you''re looking for a ring you can enjoy wearing on more than just the rare occasion -- I''m not a high end shopper, but from what I''ve seen of diamond prices, it could be hard to find a ring in your price range that isn''t either seriously overpriced, or seriously ostentatious. I suspect you could get two very nice rings for that money, or a great ring and a great world-class watch. I guess my advice would be to decide what you want in terms of style and stone size, and then figure out how much you need to spend to get that. Personally, I wouldn''t count out the vendors and designers here on pricescope. They may not have the 5th Avenue name recognition, but they can help you craft a one of a kind, world class ring that will probably hold its value relative to what you spend for it. And last time I checked, "buy low" was still part of the formula for successful investment!

Good luck, and please keep us posted.

Forgot to add -- we will definitely want to see pictures!
 
Hi VRBeauty and thanks for posting. I have to admit this is not the simple purchase that I thought it would be.I''m having to do my home work on this one mainly due to the fact investing in gems is kinda new to me and because the market for high end men''s rings is kinda new. You are correct about the parameters that I need to work with in. If the stone is too big it will look like a ring better suited for a woman instead of a guy. That is why my instinct is telling me to pass on this particular ring from Graff Jewelers. The ring really is amazing and the actual ring it self is so masculine that some how it makes the stone seem less ostentatious. But having said that, 6 carats is still too much for a conservative dude like me.I also contacted Harry Winston(the store not the guy) today and they unlike Graff were more than happy to talk prices over the phone for custom made jewelry.

My contact there has worked with other male clients in the past he was very good at giving details about specs and prices which is great because it makes the process seem less stressful. He gave me several options to think about. Tell me what you think of them,please. Some of the options were a E color,VVS1,3.50 carat Asscher cut stone for $150k. Also a VVS2, D color, 3.21 carat round for $ 179K.Both I though sound pretty good especially the round cut. Then the guy went off the charts a bit price wise. He gave as options a VVS1, D color,3.89 cushion cut stone for $245K. And lastly a Flawless, D color,3.44 carat Emerald cut stone for $257K. The last two imo are out of the question I''m not going above my original budget for this purchase.

The Flawless emerald stone would probably be the best investment if I were going to not mount it on a ring but instead put it away for safe keeping but that is not my objective.Btw, I appreciate you mentioning the option of buying a few rings and other jewelry like a time piece. It''s always good to hear a wide range of opinions. This is something I''ve thought about for a while and recently decided now is as good a time as any. Websites like this is such a big help to newbies like my self. Once I''ve narrowed down my choice I will certainly post a pic of my ring. Too bad about that Graff ring,really is awesome!
 
I could be wrong here but the prices quoted seem overpriced, considering the specs. I'm sure the more experienced PS'er could give a better price/carat assessment.

Btw if you're looking to enjoy a piece of jewelry, I say go for the one you love. Not the most expensive you can afford. Wearing a higher grade stone or more expensive ring may not guarantee you the same level of satisfaction as wearing the piece whick took your breath away. And trust me, that feeling may be worth far more than the amount you paid for it. Just keep that spare cash in an 'opportunity fund'. You never know when another head turner comes your way... and you will be ready to make a grab of it. Investment after all is about making the most of opportunities.
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I think your 0 key is stuck...your post said $200,000....
 
DiamondFlame

Thank you for the good advise. I have used a few websites to compare against HW prices. HW seem to be about 10% higher than the B&M options. I will ask for a reduction in price. Today''s jewelry market is a buyer''s market even at the high end jewelers in this economy. That should give me added influence haggling a final price on the sale. I have learned that certain type of diamond cuts are less and more expensive.For instant the rounds are the most popular and thus the most expensive while the square shapes (Emeralds,Asscher,Radiants & Princess cuts)are 33% less expensive. Certain type of cuts don''t illuminate light or have as much brilliance as the round cuts. Just have to do my home work.
 
I have not read the previous responses so I apologize if I am being redundant.

Based on the sale prices I have seen at Sotheby's and Christie's, it is not clear to me that a "name" piece would increase the resale value unless it is particularly unusual and coveted. For larger purchases I find the the sold lots are a good source for price estimates. You might want to consider seeing if you could pick up a stone at auction.

That being said, I have had very favorable experiences with Graff {NYC and Palm Beach], Leviev [NYC] and Kaufmann de Suisse [NYC and Palm Beach]. Recently [earlier this year], I have found KdeS to be the more "aggressive" in price - although Graff [Palm Beach] was not far behind. They really want to move their stock.

If you are looking for an incredibly well cut RB stone you could work through Wink Jones, select one and have it recut [Infinity and EightStar]. That would certainly give you something very cool and a spectacular stone.

In buying a $200k+ stone, the most important thing is for me to have a spectacularly well cut stone within my specs. To get that, you need to work with someone that understands those things - like what does well cut mean. The vendors that post on this site will be able to find what you are looking for. I would not go with just a generic online vendor. You will also have an issue with high end B&M's. Most cannot carry a conversation about the virtues of the detailed specs of a well cut stone. So, watch out.

IMHO you should get on the phone with each of our vendor friends and have a conversation about what you are looking for. Then you should pick one to find you a stone. ITMT I think you should get in touch with some of the favored vendors here to discuss possible options for a setting.

Once you find your optimal stone you can then have it set into your pre-thought-out setting.
 
Date: 6/11/2009 2:51:40 PM
Author: megeve
With that kind of budget, I would definitely go for Graff, HW, Cartier and VC&Arpels they are great with huge carat sizes and the diamonds should also be well cut. And if you should ever wanted to sell, Graff or HW, Cartier & VC&Arpels designers pieces will definitely fetched a much better prices than blueniles diamonds.

Congrats for having such a budget!!

Not that I'm in the market for such things, but I agre with megeve. If I had a large budget, I would buy something like a HW marquise with cutlet and a handmade setting which all HW settings are. This is not the kind of unusual stone and the kind of quality setting that you can get from Blue Nile or whomever. I also think that the artistry of Cartier and VC&A (in particular) is vastly underrated by an exclusive focus on online vendors. I'd also like to say that if I had a large budget, the ring had better look like something Henry VIII would have worn. [annoying cloying face]
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[/annoying cloying face]
 
If your diamond budget is 200K but don't want it to be too large consider entering the rarified world of natural-colored fancy vivid or deep blue or red diamonds

Believe me that will eat up 200K very quickly.
You may not even get a one carat stone, clarity above SI2, and you may not even have money left over for a setting.
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Thank you Diamanteblu,Imdanny & Moh for all the great contrasting advise. It helps to hear various opinions before I pull the trigger on my gem purchase. I actually did go on Christies a few days ago to learn what kind of jewels are being sold and for what price. Will check out Sothebys sometime today. I'm leaning toward an established high end jeweler like Graff or Harry Winston because they do brilliant work and for the option of resale and trading up. Plus I feel they will be in business five or ten years from now which might not be the case with some of the online options I'm starting to feel more and more comfortable going in that direction.


I was so impressed with the ring from Graff Jewelers that it made me feel, if they can design a ring with a stone that large and make it seem so proportional and perfect for that ring, I feel confident that high end is the way to go. Just have to use all the advise you guys have given me and make sure to seek the best specs for my money.Btw, the Graff ring makes my Blvgari ring look rather plain.
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Let me also say that the Graff diamond ring would indeed win favor with King Henry. It's pretty amazing! With some effort I think my idea ring can be made. Right now I'm trying to decide on the kind of stone. Have narrowed it down to a Round,Cushion & Asscher. All three seem classic and will not go out of style. At one point the guy at HW was telling me that a Emerald cut would look great for a men's ring but I'm not so sure his opinion is correct. He explained that the stone would be positioned the opposite way it normally would be for a woman's ring. That somehow would make the look idea for a male's ring. I would have to see his demonstration in person in order for me to understand his theory on this design. I have seen a similar ring worn by a celebrity that might be close to what he is talking about. I wouldn't want a Emerald cut stone raised up high like it is in some women's ring. So I have to get a better idea of his thinking by visiting the jeweler in person.

I'm curious to know if you guys agree that certain stones are better suited for a man's ring and which ?
 
Just my opinion here. I have yet to see a masculine looking ring featuring a round brilliant. I think it comes down to the setting. Men''s ring designs tend to be more geometrical and such designs typically favor stones with clean cut lines like the emerald or Asscher. What the HW rep was suggesting was to set an EC in an E-W orientation as opposed to the more conventional N-S. Btw what''s the shape of the stone in that fabulous Graff ring you saw?

If I have your kind of budget, I''d probably go for twin pinkie rings with fancy colored Asschers.
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DiamondFlame

Thanks for posting. I went online this evening looking at a few celebrity men''s rings that seem to be exactly what you described as far as the EC with a E-W positioning. I now see what the rep at HW is talking about. When set in a heavy platinum ring the Emerald stone is masculine & eye catching. For some reason I couldn''t picture it in my mind. You advise is dead on! The square shape(Emerald,Asscher,Radiant,Princess cuts) do have a more masculine look because of it''s heft and shape. The rings I saw on line which caught my eye the most had Asscher and Emerald cuts.The Princess cuts are nice also, but I read some where that the princess cut can have a hole like image in the middle of the stone when under electrical light. Not sure if that is true of well cut princess stones. Btw, that amazing Graff ring with the 6 carats has a Princess cut stone. Thank you DiamondFlame your expert advise has helped a great deal.
 
Today I went to see that 6 carat Graff ring and to my surprise the size of the stone was not as large to the eye as first imagined. I thought 6 carats would look incredibly large, and too much for a ring design for a man, but it's not. In actual size the top of stone is not much bigger than the head of a penny. The design of the ring it self is a "even" round thick width of platinum(very smooth very classy) which gets thicker near the top of the ring and the center top setting is like a hole cut out perfectly where the stone is dropped right in with only the top of the stone showing almost sitting even with the ring it self.The top of the ring it self is barely slightly wider than the stone .Very well proportioned if you can picture my description. It's very attractive but what I have decided to do is to have a ring made similar to this design for me but with a white diamond.

The Princess cut stone with this Graff ring is very nice but I don't like how the Princess cuts seem to show a dark hole in the middle of the stone when under electric light. That imo is a weird look and especially for a stone that cost this much money. At least I now have a good idea of what I'm looking for!
 
Spend some time educating yourself, figuring out what your options are, and learning more about what you like and don''t like -- that''s the ticket! The process of figuring these things out is half the fun, and when you do get your ring, you''ll enjoy your ring so much knowing that it''s not just another impressive ring, but it is precisely the right ring for you.

Of course the downside is that you might never want to part with it....
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VRBeauty

You are 100% correct on all counts!
 
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