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New member in a tizzy! Is this a good deal???

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katrinab

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 29, 2012
Messages
49
Hi everyone, I'm new on here (well, actually I've been looking on here for months!) and have just seen a deal on a deals site on the internet. It's for a white gold 1ct diamond solitaire. The problem is that the quality is not quite what I was looking for but it does seem very cheap. My partner and I are keen to get engaged but we're struggling to save up as I'm a poor student and he is paying almost all the bills and mortgage. If we could get this for a steal then maybe I could wear it for a year until we've saved up a bit more and then sell it to get something more amazing than we could usually afford.

The ring is 9ct white gold (don't think this is very common, most seems to be 18ct)
Diamond is round brilliant 1.01ct, J-K in colour and I1 in clarity. Make is Very Good.
Price is $2750.00 New Zealand Dollars (I live in NZ), I think this is about USD $2209.00.

My dream ring is a round brilliant with a baguette on either side but the one I've been looking at is a custom made piece, 0.60ct centre, excellent make and H colour, SI2 (eyeclean) clarity. Made by my family jeweller in platinum. It actually will be about $5400.00 NZD which is a few thousand dollars less than what it would cost me in a store.

Please tell me what you think! I really want to get engaged but want to make money off this ring to get my dream ring later. I guess if it's a really great deal then I could even sell it straight away and almost have enough for my dream ring sooner than we'd planned.

I had a quick look on an online ring website and it looks like something comparable is roughly NZD$5000 to make.

Any opinions gratefully received! :D
 
What lab graded the diamond? I1 isn't desirable, regardless of the lab. You will not make money on that ring. You will likely have trouble reselling it, even at a substantial discount off what you paid for it. Better to save for what you really want.

If you want an engagement ring, perhaps you can find a pretty little vintage or antique one for a couple or three hundred dollars. I don't know if they are available in NZ, but there are some beautiful old pieces available here in the US for reasonable prices. They are quite modest, but the metal work on some of the rings from the early 1900s is beautiful.

liz
 
Thank you so much for such a promt reply! Yes, I suppose you're right that it would be best to wait to get my ring until we have saved up enough to get the real thing, it would be a bit of a risk to try to make money off the lower quality one. It's tricky here in NZ because most people get horrible diamonds from chain stores which are low clarity and poor make that are really expensive, so people don't usually value those things too highly. If I get a 0.60ct centre it will be the biggest single diamond in my family and would be big compared to most stones here.

I just got an email from the seller in response to my question about the valuation amount and she says it was valued at $10,200.00! Like I said, pricing on diamonds here is crazy! I've emailed her back asking who graded the diamond and also who did the valuation. It'll be interesting to see what she says!

Here are a few links to online auctions here for similar rings:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/jewellery-watches/rings/white-gold/diamond/auction-507067377.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/jewellery-watches/rings/white-gold/diamond/auction-507438247.htm
If we even made $2000.00 off it I'd be super excited!
 
Wow, thanks EB, what a gorgeous ring! The problem is I don't think my partner would like the idea of buying a second hand ring. It does not bother me in the slightest. What are Old European Cut diamonds like IRL? I've never seen one before, here rings are all round brilliants and princess cuts. It is very rare to see anything different, especially in a store.

I figure it is $1695 USD which is $2106 NZD, then I have to add 15% for our goods and services tax to import it (GST) which brings it up to $2422 NZD, then a customs fee of 0.5% to bring it through makes it a total of $2545! That's so ridiculously cheap my jaw just dropped on my keyboard! Hope I worked it out right! Even with the import fees it is still 3K cheaper than buying it here! That's just crazy! Somebody pinch me! :shock:
 
My silver coin was valued at $500. I'm offering it with a NoNameLab report certifying that it's authentic and in very good condition, at a very cheap price of $100. :naughty:

Apologies for the snark. And no I do not own any silver coins. :loopy:
 
Um...no...

What is your max budget for the ring? We can find you something cheaper and better.
 
Hehehe yes thbmok, it turns out the valuation and grading report were done by the same company, some random NZ one which I've never heard of. So there goes that idea! Oh well, it was worth a try :twirl: Like I said, I would have been happy making a little money off reselling it if it was actually going to be worth more than we paid for it, regardless of the obscene amount it was valued at.

I've been known to be a little bit obsessive... So now all I can think about is the beautiful ring E B posted! Does anyone know where I can find some more information about OECs and how they compare to modern round brilliants etc? I love the fire and brilliance of a RB. Also, do they face up a similar size to a RB? Is Emily's Attic off Ruby Lane a reputable trader?

hmr mama, my total budget for the ring is $5000 NZD, which is about $4000 USD I think. But anything cheaper than that would be amazing, like the OEC E B has suggested. TBH at this stage I just want to be engaged! Been waiting for so long but there is always something else to spend the money one. I guess it is one of the joys of owning your own home. But we're young (22 and 23) so we will have plenty of time to save up for a great anniversary ring later :naughty:

You guys are amazing for all your help, thank you so much!
 
 
Hi katrinab!

Congratulations on being with a wonderful person you want to marry!

But, you have got to realize that this deal is not a deal. It sounds too good to be true? Probably is.
9 karat gold is not even allowed to be called gold in the US. It is 37.5% gold, the rest, who knows?

From Wikipedia:
Contact allergy
About one out of eight people has an allergic reaction to the nickel in some white gold alloys when worn over long periods. A typical reaction is a minor skin rash.[3] Because of this, many European countries do not use nickel white gold. White gold alloys made without nickel are less likely to be allergenic.

An I1 is gross 99.9% of the time. Some very lucky ladies have found I1's where the inclusion is acceptable to them, but they are few and far between. Do a google image search for I1 diamonds, you'll see what I mean.

Flipping jewelry to make a profit is for those with massive amounts of hands on experience with jewelry and a great deal of intestinal fortitude. Even then, profit margins are slim. Look on the PS preloved forum, everyone is taking a financial hit on the resell.

For a comparison of old cuts vs modern round brilliant, do a YouTube search for good old gold. Can't post vid links here.
Here are some pertinent PS threads:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/august-vintage-cushion-compared-to-a-bgd-round-brilliant.165243/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/august-vintage-cushion-compared-to-a-bgd-round-brilliant.165243/[/URL]
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-amazing-holy-grail-9-9mm-oec.178975/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-amazing-holy-grail-9-9mm-oec.178975/[/URL]
 
Oh wow, you guys are fantastic! Thank you so much for the time you must have spent finding me all this info! I just looked at the time/date of these postings and did a double take... It's the 29th of August here and currently 4.10pm! So thank you for spending your valuable time helping me out, I REALLY appreciate it! It's lovely to talk to like-minded people, my partner hates the word 'diamond' ;)) and I don't like to talk to my Mum about it because she always get so excited and can't give me an honest opinion on anything!

I LOVE the OECs! They're so beautiful with their chunky facets and big sparkles! Now I just need to find out more about the Jabel ring E B posted because it looks perfect for me! It is about the size I was looking for and OEC, plus my partner will be super stoked that it is so cheap (hope it's not too good to be true, JaneSmith!). I actually rather like the idea of getting a estate piece because I love the history behind things and wondering where it's been etc.

It is all so confusing because there are so many options once you start looking! All the stones/settings you have shown me have been beautiful but the Jabel ring really sings to me for some reason. Do you know what I mean? Of course I'd love a MASSIVE rock but that will come with time. Until then I want something that I will love because it is a representation of the love my darling and I share.
 
I'd want a head-on pic of the Jabel ring to evaluate the faceting pattern. OECs are fairly popular on here right now. A well-cut OEC has charm and personality, but .55 ct isn't going to be big enough to see much of the faceting. Many people here love OECs, but just to offer a contrary take, the modern ideal-cut RB is cut for optimal light performance in modern lighting conditions. IMO, a big OEC is lovely, but in a smaller stone I'd want the best possible light performance. Just my opinion.
 
katrinab|1346210430|3258971 said:
Of course I'd love a MASSIVE rock but that will come with time. Until then I want something that I will love because it is a representation of the love my darling and I share.
Click to expand...


Hey Katrina! I'm so glad you found PS before your SO and yourself went and bought such a scam! There's NO way you can make $200 on it from a resell. There's a reason the jeweler is selling it for so cheap. There's something wrong with it! I have suspicions that it may be clarity enhanced or treated some way. Before I found PS, I got scammed into one of those! Those aren't worth dirt on a secondary market! Be weary!

I also just want to add that you should probably get a smaller, better quality center stone. If you buy a super big, but crappy diamond, and choose to upgrade later, you'll feel forced to buy similar sized or larger diamonds.. which might delay your upgrade, or force you to a downsize. I'd hate to think you buy a poopy 1 ct now, then upgrade later to a smaller, but better performing stone. Even though you'll be happy with the performance, you might have some hesitations about the size.. :sick:

Since you mention wanting to upgrade later on in life, please make a consideration for our PS vendors. :)) A lot of them have upgrade policies, and you will LOVE that when you're upgrading! They also offer very very competitive pricing, since they have each other to compete with. Many of our PS-ers are from out of country, and import their diamonds from PS vendors. It ends up a cheaper option, even with all the import taxes… AND you end up with a much better quality diamond!!

If you really think OECs are what make your heart flutter, considering that you're out of country, I wouldn't bother with the RubyLane vendor. You would need to take it to get appraised by a reputable (not jewelry store!) independent appraiser to verify its stats and performance. Since you're out of country, it might take longer to receive and appraise.. and if you return it, you might be faced with a bit of trouble. If you're loving OECs, research into JbEG (Jewels by Erica Grace), OWD (Old World Diamonds), or GOG (Good Old Gold). JbEG has a lot of consigned pieces that you might be interested in, and they can give you a plethora of videos and photos, unlike Ruby Lane. I myself purchased my stone from GOG and have nothing but the best raves to say about the benefits of videos and analysis that Jon provided for my long distance, unseen in person purchase.

Please post again to let us know how everything goes! :wavey:
 
I wouldn't discount the Ruby Lane ring without getting more information, like their return policy, who graded the diamond, and if you can get more photos. It would add a step and a (hopefully small) additional cost, but you could send it to an appraiser here in the US before having it sent to you for peace of mind (if you'd need it, but you may not).

One of the good things about that ring is that the baguettes, and the setting in general, are nicely proportional to the center stone, which is harder to do with the stock baguette settings and diamonds under 1 carat. Even if the stone is a few grades off in both color and clarity (say, H, SI1) and the diamond looks like a nice OEC, you aren't going to be able to replicate it for that price, which is why I recommended it. I do agree with the poster who said (s)he'd ask for head on shots, and a standing profile shot. It may be a dud, but it could also be a deal.

Otherwise, if you plan to upgrade but really need to keep costs down now, I'd go with a modern RB in a solitaire setting (less of a gamble) and then either have a setting custom made for your stone when the time comes, or upgrade both the stone AND the setting? ;))
 
The seller's response to my questions regarding the grading of the Jabel ring were that she is GIA trained and that she has more than 10 years of experience in grading stones. This really puts me off but I suppose it is quite a kerfuffle trying to get an estate ring like that graded by a reputable company like GIA. Also, she will send me some photos when she can but at the moment her computer has a virus so she can't(?). And yet she could still reply to me... Anyway, I am so uncertain about it all. I had a look at some videos of OECs and modern RBs and I have to say that while it looks like some OECs are AMAZING! it is a real risk considering I know next to nothing about what to look for in a stone, apart from the 4 C's and so on. Plus RBs are so brilliant and I love the scattered look just as much as the chunky look of OECs. I pretty much change my mind at least once every day! Crazy much?! :loopy: At least I don't feel too much pressure to get a ring. Hehe my partner got a parcel delivered today that was exactly the shape of a ring box and I got so excited! But then it turned out that he'd ordered a new phone charger because our puppy had chewed through his work phone charger a few days ago. :((
 
JaneSmith|1346209361|3258954 said:
Hi katrinab!

Congratulations on being with a wonderful person you want to marry!

But, you have got to realize that this deal is not a deal. It sounds too good to be true? Probably is.
9 karat gold is not even allowed to be called gold in the US. It is 37.5% gold, the rest, who knows?

From Wikipedia:
Contact allergy
About one out of eight people has an allergic reaction to the nickel in some white gold alloys when worn over long periods. A typical reaction is a minor skin rash.[3] Because of this, many European countries do not use nickel white gold. White gold alloys made without nickel are less likely to be allergenic.

An I1 is gross 99.9% of the time. Some very lucky ladies have found I1's where the inclusion is acceptable to them, but they are few and far between. Do a google image search for I1 diamonds, you'll see what I mean.

Flipping jewelry to make a profit is for those with massive amounts of hands on experience with jewelry and a great deal of intestinal fortitude. Even then, profit margins are slim. Look on the PS preloved forum, everyone is taking a financial hit on the resell.

For a comparison of old cuts vs modern round brilliant, do a YouTube search for good old gold. Can't post vid links here.
Here are some pertinent PS threads:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/august-vintage-cushion-compared-to-a-bgd-round-brilliant.165243/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/august-vintage-cushion-compared-to-a-bgd-round-brilliant.165243/[/URL]
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-amazing-holy-grail-9-9mm-oec.178975/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-amazing-holy-grail-9-9mm-oec.178975/[/URL]
Click to expand...

WOW, i didn't realize how lucky I was!! I gave my fiance an I1 Solasfera diamond. It must fall into the .1 percent that aren't "gross" :roll:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/solasfera-set-and-returned-from-gog-pics-inside.177872/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/solasfera-set-and-returned-from-gog-pics-inside.177872/[/URL]
 
GMUAlum08, I'm glad you found one! They are out there. Well done.
 
We've seen a number of beautiful, eye clean I1s on here (mine included) - but the missing link this case is a reputable jeweler that specializes in high performance diamonds (GOG, ID Jewelry, etc). I1s are great on your budget if you know what you're buying and the vendor has accurate pictures and idealscope/asets images, plus videos, and a great return policy!

Has anyone had personal experience with that Ruby Lane vendor? You may want to start a separate thread with their vendor name in it to find out. Being so far away, returns will be difficult but like others suggested - getting an appraiser to be the go-between may be the ticket.
 
webdiva|1346350835|3259893 said:
We've seen a number of beautiful, eye clean I1s on here (mine included) - but the missing link this case is a reputable jeweler that specializes in high performance diamonds (GOG, ID Jewelry, etc). I1s are great on your budget if you know what you're buying and the vendor has accurate pictures and idealscope/asets images, plus videos, and a great return policy!

Has anyone had personal experience with that Ruby Lane vendor? You may want to start a separate thread with their vendor name in it to find out. Being so far away, returns will be difficult but like others suggested - getting an appraiser to be the go-between may be the ticket.
Click to expand...

Exactly webdiva. My fiance has yet to spot the inclusion in her ring and no one has ever said anything but how beautiful and sparkly the stone was. I saved over 3k by going with the I1 vs buying the exact same size/color stone in SI1 clarity
 
are you set on a round? i think a nice James allen EW marquise setting would be nice in your price point and have a lot of finger coverage even if you went down to a .5 or so. or a .8 solitare
 
OK here's a catch-up on what's been happening...

So the main concern for us in getting my ring sooner/later is money (isn't it always!). Anyway, I have been chatting to Lorraine, the lady who has made the last six rings in my family (sister's engagement ring and wedding ring, brother-in-law's wedding ring, sister-in-law's engagement/wedding ring, brother's wedding ring and Mum's 40th wedding anniversary ring). I've added pics of Mum's ruby ring on the SMTB thread if you want to have a look, don't have photos of the others. So Lorraine says that if money is a problem for us at the moment then we can pay it off as we can afford it! We can't afford to buy it outright like we would like to because we've had two big bills come up over the last few weeks very unexpectedly. So this option would be fabulous for us because then the ring is in progress and made by someone we really trust to do an awesome job.

I have yet to talk to my partner about this but I really really hope that he agrees to it! I don't think she would do this for anyone, in fact she is working from home at the moment because she has moved down-country to be near her daughter during a difficult time so she's doing us a huge favour. Wish me luck! Maybe I should make him his favourite dinner tonight.... :cheeky:
 
We have progress!! All is underway, the stone is in transit (I think) to the jeweller and should take roughly two weeks to make up. Will keep you posted for those who are interested in a round with straight baguette sides :D
 
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