Newb loaded with questions

[TinCup66]

Hello all, first of all what a great resource this place is. I have spent the last couple of days reading through all the
great information here. I''m getting ready to buy my girlfriend an engagement ring and need some help. I''ve spent some time with some local
jewelers and didn''t feel comfortable with either of the places I went. I felt like I was not getting a very good deal for the money I was going to spend.
So I''m looking for some honest opinions and suggestions on where to look, whats a good buy etc. I really want to get her the best ring that I can afford because she deserves it.

With that said I have the exact ring she wants but do not want to pay what Tiffany wants and after reading this board I realize I don''t have to. She loves the Tiffany
Novo ring (http://www.tiffany.com/Engagement/item.aspx?GroupSku=GRP10015&selectedSku=23101653#f+0/0/2004/0/0/2004)with a princess cut diamond. I have about 5-6k to spend and size is more important than finding the perfect diamond. Where is a good place to start? I see Excel Diamonds has a replica of the Novo, are there any other places I should look? Any advice you could share with me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[denverappraiser]

Hi Scott,

You’re off to a good start. No one else can get you a new and genuine Tiffany ring but there's lots of competition from folks who can offer you a ring that's just as lovely (or better) for less money. The tutorials and forum here are a wonderful way to learn the language and to get a feel for what the issues are. Next, choose a dealer or two that you think you would like to work with and peruse their websites. Get a feel for what they have to offer and what you like and don't like. There’s a lot to be said for buying the ring, the diamond and the setting labor from the same source. Since you’ve found a ring you like, note the cost, do a bit of math and you’ve got your diamond budget. If you haven’t already done so, go shopping and look at some diamonds in person. Get a feel for what your tolerances are for clarity and color are vs. size and budget. There’s always a balancing act between these issues and a lot of is going to boil down to taste in what you like.

Next you hit the database or showroom of the dealer(s) you’ve chosen and see what they’ve got that fits your criteria. Don’t be shy about asking them questions about what they have and what they may be able to get for you that’s not currently listed. Some are better than others at this and not everyone likes the same style of business. This is why you chose your dealer first instead of last. The right jeweler goes a long way to making this a painless and successful experience and Internet shoppers tend to undervalue this under the feeling that it's basically a commodity. When they come up with an offer, post the specs in the forum here and see what the gurus think on some of the more subtle questions about cutting and the like. Search the database here for similar items to see if the pricing from your chosen dealer is in line with their competitors. If you find something you like better, go back to your dealer and point out to them that you’ve found an alternative that you’re considering and see what they have to say. Maybe they’ll be able to meet or beat it and maybe they won’t but the burden is on them to convince you that you’re better off buying from THEM. If they can persuade you, you’re done. Buy it. If not, consider switching your choice in dealers and repeat the last few steps. When you’re done, get it appraised and documented by an independent expert as a final QC check and move on with your life.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver