Old-cut erings on auction

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I was amusing myself this morning at: http://www.skinnerinc.com/content/showauction.asp?fam=11&type=latest

And started looking at erings (not that I'm in the market...LOL) and it looks to me that there are some real bargains to be had out there.

It's made me wonder why more prospective brides/grooms don't check out auction houses. None of the following have lab reports, so seeing them IRL would be essential. Also, the prices quoted are estimated values...not hammer prices.

Anyway, since old-cut diamonds seem to be getting more respect around here lately

I thought I'd post some Friday morning antique eyecandy...

First, .45ct OEC est: $700-900:

ETA: All the rings that follow are mounted in platinum....

 

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....1.07 OEC: $1500-2000:

 

[Love in Bloom]

!

That site is really nice...what great finds Widget!

 

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...OEC, 1.83cts, $3500-4500:

 

[chrono]

I love that last one you posted, Widget. The 1.8 ct OEC. The setting that comes with it is awesome too. So does the auction begin with that $3500 price? I''d buy it for that price but not if it keep going up when others bid on it.

 

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...Transitional cut, 1.80cts, $4000-5000:

 

[Love in Bloom]

Date: 6/1/2007 2:09:39 PM
Author: Chrono
I love that last one you posted, Widget. The 1.8 ct OEC. The setting that comes with it is awesome too. So does the auction begin with that $3500 price? I''d buy it for that price but not if it keep going up when others bid on it.

Good point Chrono. I wonder how the estimated prices are determined

 

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...and for more bling: OEC, 1.99ct, Accents: 2.67ctw; $4000-5000

 

[Love in Bloom]

Date: 6/1/2007 2:16:00 PM
Author: widget
...and for more bling: OEC, 1.99ct, Accents: 2.67ctw; $4000-5000

Holy smokes that ring has some presence!

 

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....and finally, for those in desperate need of a honker: Old cut pear, 6.68cts

, $18,000-22,000:

 

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The humongous pear is my fav...wouldn''t it make a knock-out pendant???

(If I remember, I''ll go back after the auction and see what these pieces actually sold for...then report back.)

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[FireGoddess]

Wowee - I think some of us *whistles innocently* don''t know enough about auctions to take the leap...or know about fabulous auctions like these! Be still my heart...I want a big ole OEC. The list keeps getting longer....

 

[Efe]

Love the 1.83 ering. I used to love auctions but now the buyer''s premium has gotten out of hand. I think this auction house has a 17% premium. That really adds up with big ticket items. I stopped going locally when it went up to 15%. That plus tax and you pay about 25% above your winning bid. You really can find some treasures though, especially those oecs.

 

[Kaleigh]

WOW!!! Great finds widget!!

 

[innerkitten]

beautiful! I love the old cuts.

 

[Madam Bijoux]

Auction houses are great places for estate jewelry lovers. In Philadelphia, this auction house (link below) will have a jewelry sale on June 8. (This auction house is highly regarded.) The preview is today..hmmmm...I wonder where I'll be spending this afternoon.....
http://www.freemansauction.com/

 

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Thanks, Mme Bijoux! I''ll check that link out later. (I''ve worn myself out at Skinner lol)

Thought I''d throw in a few eternity bands. These are all platinum, avg estimated price: $700:

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 6/2/2007 10:13:10 AM
Author: Madam Bijoux
Auction houses are great places for estate jewelry lovers. In Philadelphia, this auction house (link below) will have a jewelry sale on June 8. (This auction house is highly regarded.) The preview is today..hmmmm...I wonder where I''ll be spending this afternoon.....
http://www.freemansauction.com/

Hehe, let me know if you saw anything good. I haven''t been to one myself, but do know it''s very respected.

 

[widget]

An auction preview would be great fun...but I'd be scared to go to a live auction.

I'd be afraid of getting carried away in the hysteria and suffer from "convulsive arm/paddle jerks!"

Has anyone around here ever been to a live auction I wonder?

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[oshinbreez]

It would be fun to go to one of those auctions. Do things usually go for the estimated prices?

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 6/2/2007 3:49:01 PM
Author: oshinbreez
It would be fun to go to one of those auctions. Do things usually go for the estimated prices?

Sometimes yes and sometimes no. I''d love to go to one, but it would be a bit nerve wracking. Or as widget said you could get caught up in all the excitement, and then be like yikes, what did I just do!!!

 

[Madam Bijoux]

I went to the preview at the Philadelphia auction house. There were 2 very impressive rubies and one pleasant 2.27 pear shaped diamond with 2 pear shaped side stones. I wasn't crazy about any of the antique pieces. Most of the diamond solitaires were not up to Pricescope standards. The employee didn't say (maybe didn't know) what color any of the diamonds were or when the antiques were made. They had one David Webb bracelet. The evening gowns were beautiful, and all of them were in good condition. There were some nice handbags and some perfumes that had never been opened. While I was there, I overheard someone arranging to have a person from the auction house place bids on her behalf because she couldn't be there for the auction.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I have been to one auction that involved fine jewelry, oriental rugs, etc. It was in a high-priced resort area. The items were beautiful, but I didn''t really preview anything seriously, so I have no idea of the value. But a man bought his very well dressed wife a 6 or so carat diamond tennis bracelet and some kind of diamond ring. It just seemed like entertainment to them. It was entertaining for me to watch. But I would have never bid without having very certain information on the value of the items. Even the handmade rugs would have required some very definite price knowledge. My in-laws have bought some rugs and other things there because they have a vacation home there, but I would be much too afraid to bid on something I did not have an appraisal on. The key to going to auctions is to know what the items are worth and to set your price limit and not bid beyond it.

 

[rockzilla]

After seeing this thread, I went to a fine jewelry preview at my local auction house. This ring caught my eye:

It''s a 1.3ct old mine, j-k SI, with ~.70ct in the setting.


They estimate it will go for between $2,400 and $3,600 (including buyer''s premium)....so tempting....

 

[widget]

Oooooh...I love it! Do you think you might bid on it?

In any case, let us know what it goes for.


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[rockzilla]

I don''t know...the auction isn''t for another couple of weeks...

I do like it though! Do you think it is too e-ringy?

RZ

 

[Kaleigh]

I''d wear that as a RHR in a heart beat.

 

[Phoenix]

I like that honker, the pear. I wonder if anyone could pls explain to me what a "buyer''s premium" is. I think I understand the concept of an auction (I actually almost bought my first house on auction but ended up buying it prior to the auction), but not sure how the buyer''s premium works.

I am going to contact them for more infor on the pear . The cut doesn''t seem that great, but perhaps it can be re-cut?

 

[widget]

My understanding is that a buyer''s premium is a percentage "fee" that is tacked on to the hammer price of an item. So if the bp is %17, and you win an item for $20,000, then you''ll have to pay $23,400. Something to keep in mind when bidding!

I''d be leery of purchasing such a big item without seeing it IRL first. There''s no return policy on auction items, and that honker doesn''t have a lab report. You''d have to trust the eyes/estimates of the auction house.

I suppose the pear could be recut, but unless it''s really ugly, doing so would break my heart. It''s an old cut...look at that culet!!

BTW...if you do want to inquire about it, I''d call rather than email. I requested by email some info on a piece last week, and haven''t heard back yet...

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[Phoenix]

Thanks, Widget. Appreciate the infor and yr suggestions.

May I ask you a few more Q''s: how do I know how much is the buyer''s premium? Is it determined solely by and at the discretion of each auction house? Is it possible to have the stone inspected by an independent valuer?

Thanks.