NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement Ring!

[EdZachary]

Hi Scopers-

New experience for me-

Shopping for what is a higher end purchase to me.

Hoping to get some insight / advice.

Recently my girlfriend mentioned that she likes some of Stuart Moore's "Suspension" Designs.

Like this- http://www.stuartmoore.com/url/product:30-05-183

So for the past few months I have been looking around on the web to see what my options are.

And I happened to stumble upon an estate sale in Seattle that had the exact ring for sale in excellent condition.

Here's the GIA stuff-

VS-1 Clarity

G color

.80 Carat

Owner has an appraisal for $16K

Asking $11K

Stuart Moore is asking $6595 for the ring w/o stone.........

What's a fair price to offer?

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!

I realize there's a lot of emotion and passion that goes into this stuff, but I'm sort of a a"Dude" if a know what I mean! Dirt Bikes and Race Cars are what I know! Not looking to steal it, but don't want to make an uneducated purchase either!

TIA!

Ed Zachary

 

[04diamond<3]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

Had to edit...for a .8 carat, assuming it was cut well (do you have any other information, like depth %, table %, crown and pavillion angles?), considering it's second hand, for a brand new .8 that's well cut, it's about 4k....so second hand, I'd probably offer about 4k for the whole ring....

 

[JulieN]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

Is it the right size you need? I would verify with the manufacturer how much it can be sized if needed.

 

[Niel]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

I think you could get a similar ring new.
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.808-g-vs1-round-diamond-ags-104063639032

with a really well made half bezel/ tension setting
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/ava-sholdt-14k-white-gold-5343w14


and it would be around what they are asking for the setting.

for what they are offering to sell it you could pop a stone like this in it with that sholdt setting and it would have so much more presence

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.330-i-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104063998006

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

Is it the right size you need? I would verify with the manufacturer how much it can be sized if needed.

Ditto. I wouldn't consider it unless it was the right size.

And also, the retail price on that setting is crazy. You can get a high quality setting like that for much less.

We'd need to know more info off the GIA report to tell you if the diamond is well cut or not and to figure the value on it.

 

[EdZachary]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

Thanks for all the replies.
I have asked for more details on the diamond and will post asap. He did say that it is a "Spirit Sun" cut.

In regards to the size, the ring is a 4.5 and my girlfriend normally wears a size 5. I can see where resizing a suspension style setting could be problematic, so thanks for pointing that out!

The ring is Platinum, which is what she wants.

I met with a local custom jeweler about creating something similar and was quoted approximately $3000-$3500 plus stone. So that may be the way to go as it sounds like the owner of this ring is valuing it as a boutique designer ring that a Stuart Moore fan would be willing to pay close to twice what a similar "no name" version could be had for assuming the "Spirit Sun" cut in this ring is not some amazing stone......

Thx Niel for the suggestions, some good options there. The Hearts & Arrows is cool!

BTW-
In classic NOOB fashion, I offered $7500 after a few e-mails back and forth. Sounds like I'm lucky he didn't accept!

Glad I found this resource. I'll spend some more time pokin around here and learn a bit more!

 

[Niel]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

does she like tension settings? even in platinum you can get a larger stone and new too. I would probably just leave that one alone and start fresh. unless your GF has said "i need a stuart moore ring more than anything in the whole world!!!!"

ETA: for what its worth, sholdt is a "brand" too and make really lovely lovely rings!
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-sholdt-thread.175520/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-sholdt-thread.175520/[/URL]

 

[EdZachary]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

does she like tension settings? even in platinum you can get a larger stone and new too. I would probably just leave that one alone and start fresh. unless your GF has said "i need a stuart moore ring more than anything in the whole world!!!!"

She's not concerned about it being a Stuart Moore, she just really likes the simple clean yet dramatic solitaire style. She doesn't like busy, decorative designs if that makes sense. In here words, "I want something that's not ordinary."

She's got a great sense of style that matches her personality & passion. She is very motorsports savvy, rides street bikes, dirt bikes and is very curious about all things mechanical. She has made some art for our home using old motorcycle parts, cool stuff like that. Not sure how that all relates, but maybe helps puts into perspective my challenge!

Maybe I should have the ring CNC'd out of billet Titanium...... She would totally dig that!

Here's the other style she likes.



If you've seen similar rings, please LMK!

Thx!

 

[Niel]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

another sholdt one
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/ec-in-sholdt-semi-bezel-pearlmans-pics.180994/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/ec-in-sholdt-semi-bezel-pearlmans-pics.180994/[/URL]

 

[Niel]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

heres another one, not tension but still has the same vibe i think youre going for, simple, unique, a bit modern with some hard edge.
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-bezel-solitaire-engagement-ring-emerald-center-item-3262

even in plat thats a good price, and JA is a great place to get Emerald cuts, so it would be a stop shop

 

[EdZachary]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

heres another one, not tension but still has the same vibe i think youre going for, simple, unique, a bit modern with some hard edge.
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-bezel-solitaire-engagement-ring-emerald-center-item-3262

even in plat thats a good price, and JA is a great place to get Emerald cuts, so it would be a stop shop

Thanks Niel!
Keep'em coming!

Checkin out Sholdt and kinda like this-

 

[Niel]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

that one is a princess. Does she like princesses? Even though they are both square, give very different light return, i would just check with her what type of stone she likes.

 

[EdZachary]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

that one is a princess. Does she like princesses? Even though they are both square, give very different light return, i would just check with her what type of stone she likes.

Simple Emerald Cut is what she likes.

Like this one-



I'm assuming that Sholdt could take an emerald cut, but maybe not? Maybe that would make it a custom design $$?

 

[Niel]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

heres one, i dont know what shapes can work with it though
http://www.ritani.com/engagement-rings/solitaire-semi-bezel-set-diamond-engagement-ring-in-platinum/6321

 

[EdZachary]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

heres one, i dont know what shapes can work with it though
http://www.ritani.com/engagement-rings/solitaire-semi-bezel-set-diamond-engagement-ring-in-platinum/6321

That's interesting and elegant! I'll have to show this to her and see!

Thx.

 

[Niel]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

that one is a princess. Does she like princesses? Even though they are both square, give very different light return, i would just check with her what type of stone she likes.

Simple Emerald Cut is what she likes.

Like this one-



I'm assuming that Sholdt could take an emerald cut, but maybe not? Maybe that would make it a custom design $$?

they will do an emerald cut. did you see the link i posted, that is a sholdt emerald cut one.

 

[EdZachary]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

that one is a princess. Does she like princesses? Even though they are both square, give very different light return, i would just check with her what type of stone she likes.

Simple Emerald Cut is what she likes.

Like this one-



I'm assuming that Sholdt could take an emerald cut, but maybe not? Maybe that would make it a custom design $$?

they will do an emerald cut. did you see the link i posted, that is a sholdt emerald cut one.

Yep-

That ones on the list too!

 

[Niel]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

heres one, i dont know what shapes can work with it though
http://www.ritani.com/engagement-rings/solitaire-semi-bezel-set-diamond-engagement-ring-in-platinum/6321

That's interesting and elegant! I'll have to show this to her and see!

Thx.

I have contacted them before, and even if the website doesnt say itll fit an emerald cut, you can ask them, they might be able to fit it for that shape without it costing extra for being "custom", always worth asking

 

[JulieN]

Re: NOOB purchase of used STUART MOORE Designer Engagement R

So did she want titanium or platinum? because a titanium tension is very cheap compared to gold or platinum. http://www.boonerings.com/stone.htm

Kenny put his Octavia asscher into a Boone ring: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-worlds-first-octavia-ring.136357/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-worlds-first-octavia-ring.136357/[/URL]