Need Some Help - Am I Missing Something Here?

[cmellinger]

I was looking online for a diamond. I am hoping to get engagement during the Christmas week (ok, pending she says yes).
I was on BlueNile about 2 weeks ago and found a 2.01 Carat Round Stone. Color: H, Clarity VS2. It was $23500 or so. I went back to look for it and I can't find it. I have continued looking online and now I found what I think is the same stone on Ritani.com. The cost is $23,041. http://www.ritani.com/diamonds/round-diamond-2-01-H-color-GIA-certified/D-DDRQ59?search_key=d-ddrq59
That is almost a $500 difference! Am I missing something?

Question 2! I am not really familiar with Ritani, as I have more recently heard the name, but is it worth buying a "Brand" name ring like this? I mean is it something that her friends would know or be impressed with?

 

[DiamondBrokersofFlorida]

How do you know it is the same stone? I can't see any table or depth or anything and I wasn't able to bring up a GIA lab report on the stone and all is see is a sample photo? In other words, that is not the photo of the actual diamond. Which mounting are you look at?

 

[cmellinger]

I don't know if it is the same exact stone, but the Stones on paper seem to line up almost exactly.
Both were:
2.01 Carats
Cut Very Good
Color H
Clarity VS2

I think it is the actual stone and there is a 3d image of it that says actual stone. The issue is that I can't find the old stone as it is not there anymore on Blue Nile. But even without me being able to locate the old stone, the above characteristics were the same. Could there be something else that would effect the price $500 or is that also markup issues, etc. Not really sure. I am not an expert and want to learn just enough that I make a good investment.

What are your feelings about the "Brand" name rings vs non brand name. Does anyone actually know the difference?

 

[chrono]

There isn't enough information to say the two stones are the same. There are plenty of diamonds out there with the same carat weight, colour and clarity. The only sure way to know is if they have the same lab report number. If not, then they should have the same cut stats (table, depth, crown and pavilion angles). I'd say it is highly unlikely the two are the same diamond.

Personally, I prefer to buy the diamond separately so I can get the best diamond possible for my budget. Then if you want the branded Ritani setting, have it set in one, then you can call it a branded Ritani ring, if that's what you are after. There is practically no other information on the diamond and I would never buy any without those critical pieces of cut information because I risk getting duds.

 

[cmellinger]

Chrono,

Thanks for your feedback. What is anyone's thoughts about the "Brand" name ring vs. non-Brand name ring? Does it really matter?

 

[chrono]

It is a very personal choice. Some people like the ease of having a stock setting ready, yet have high quality, which a branded setting fits the bill. Others have a specific design in mind and so go the option of customized setting where the setting is created for the stone based on either the designer or customer's vision. There is no right or wrong way.

 

[yssie]

If branding matters to you, and is worth the extra expense, it matters.
If getting exactly that setting with exactly those details (rather than an "inspired-by") matters to you, it matters.
If it's more convenient to get the branded setting than risk custom work, it matters.
If you're on a limited timeframe, it matters.
Ritani is a reputable brand, if you decide to go that route.

Likelihood that the stones are the same based on just those four specs is low, and can't be sure either way without details.
The VG cut grade is a warning flag - get more info.
Even if they are exactly the same stone, at this price range a $500 difference between vendors or from one week/month to the next is drops in the ocean. Prices for the same stone in the same (shared) virtual inventory can vary based on where the stone is, where the vendor is, what services the vendor will provide... you can ask if the vendor you want to purchase from will price match...

 

[_kat]

I had a similar situation. I found the same stone at ERD and Brian Gavin for roughly a difference of $200. Sometimes they have diamonds that they get from the same source (i.e. shared inventory). In my situation, even the GIA report that was included in both were EXACTLY the same so i was 100% sure that they were the same diamond. The vendor I went with price matched and gave me the stone for slightly less than their competition so I was very happy with it.

 

[cmellinger]

Thanks to everyone for the great advice.

Any other feedback on the Branded Ring vs the non-branded and would I be crazy to buy online? I have done more research and realize now that at least with Ritani, I can build the ring and see it in an affiliate store before I purchase. I think that is very appealing. Now I need to figure out which store might be convenient. Not sure if there is anyone in my area yet.

 

[cmellinger]

I actually found the GIA Diamond Grading Report on that diamond on the same page. I must have missed it too. The only issue is that I don't have the report from BlueNile as I did not think to download it at the time. I guess I am getting better educated as I move along here.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

post the details please, and report # or a jpg

 

[Niel]

if youre just going on those few details you provided, id say its probably not, on JA i put your stats in and got 2 different stones that size. Id bet its just a coincidence.

As for a "brand" setting I think it is a matter of taste. If you like that style and reproductions just dont match up, then it matters, if you like the generic idea of it but feel like you can get the same basic look elsewhere, then not as much.