Please advise: VS2 with cluster cloud pin points in the midd

[1dqs357]

Hi all,
Please give me some advice:
I'm new to this website but I've seen many helpful posts. I've been looking at a radiant cut 1.87 carat I color VS2 very good polish and symmetry, listing at $11,000. This is a retail store "selling wholesale price" they said. Upon further price research I saw that their pricing is about 500-700 dollars more before tax. I saw some microscopic cloud crystals under the table in lower 3rd quadrant close to center. They appeared brownish under loupe but under microscope they were white silver-ish. Nevertheless the diamond is definitely eye-clean, has great light performance and it made my heart sing to look at it. The salesperson said he thinks this is opaque crystal, not carbon because if there was black or brown carbon it won't change color when the microscopes light lights it up from the bottom. I was surprised to see VS2 GIA at this price with that cluster smack dab in the middle so I asked straight up for a discount but they said no this is as low as it can go. What should I do? This stone was love at first sight for me until I looked deeper. We're new graduates still trying to save for house and wedding, should I pass on this stone or should I insist to buy it at a discount? The people at the store and I have spent about 1 month looking at various stones and this one is the one I loved the most. The salesperson claimed it was from their new york place (I'm thinking diamond district??) and it shipped thru some state in the Midwest where a buyer was looking at it but whoever it was didn't buy the stone and now I'm looking at it wondering should I keep on looking at other stones? Should I try to negotiate further cuz i feel kinda bad they've been helpful and polite to me, but $11k is a big sum... Also worth noting is my state has sales tax so after tax it's like $12000 but like when they got it at new york there's no sales tax, so I think a discount isn't impossible. I'd keep looking but we plan to be engaged on July 4th weekend and we still need to customize the ring. I'd love to hear your opinions. Thank you so much.

 

[upgrade-me]

Re: Please advise: VS2 with cluster cloud pin points in the

It sounds like you have a bunch of questions & concerns which are all valid. Let me see if I understand them all:

1. "I was surprised to see VS2 GIA at this price with that cluster smack dab in the middle so I asked straight up for a discount but they said no this is as low as it can go. What should I do?"

Is $12k in your budget for the ring? You mention that you two just graduated and need to consider the wedding cost and saving for your house. Will the $12k be a big dent into those future expenditures? That, unfortunately, is for you to decide. If it really is too much AND this store has a good upgrade policy, maybe you can start with something smaller and upgrade to something bigger down the road. That is what I ended up doing over the years. I am currently working on my 3rd upgrade.

2. " This stone was love at first sight for me until I looked deeper."

Will those microscopic cloud crystals bother you all the time? If so, don't get it. Even though you said it is definitely eye-clean, it really depends on whether eye-clean is good enough for you. Personally, eye-clean is good enough for me, but if the diamond needs to be even clean through a loupe to make you happy, then this stone is not for you.

3. "should I pass on this stone or should I insist to buy it at a discount? ... Also worth noting is my state has sales tax so after tax it's like $12000 but like when they got it at new york there's no sales tax, so I think a discount isn't impossible."

Didn't you already ask for a discount and they said no? I guess you could ask again but realize that tax is not something a business keeps; it is a passthrough. They are merely collecting on behalf of the state and remitting it (assuming they are an upstanding business and not keeping it). I think this once again goes back to your maximum budget for the ring.

I don't I think I answered any of your questions but just gave you food for thought. Best of luck in your diamond search...

 

[1dqs357]

Re: Please advise: VS2 with cluster cloud pin points in the

Thank you @upgrade-me for your input. To answer your questions:

1. That budget is what we can afford. And in my family personally we don't do upgrade down the road we just buy it once >.< ...so that's why it's a bit tricky to get it right the first time. Talk about pressure eh?

2. With that being said, we like to get a good deal just for that feel-good factor, or at least get our money's worth for a VS2. If I aimed for an SI 1 initially I'll be okay with having the cloud cluster it wouldn't bother me at all. But since I'm paying a bit extra and still have that cluster in the middle..albeit it's eye-clean and very pretty. I'm trying to decide how to feel about that.

3. This business has good reputation on yelp but in my experience with them, I donno how far that goes. Cuz we were looking at this 1.90 H VS1 radiant at $13k loupe clean but not as sparkly, and everything was good until I saw the GIA certificate showing green inclusion plots (feather I think) near the edges which they did not disclose for some reason. I was taken aback by that. Like on one hand they were more than patient and cordial with us which we're grateful but when it comes down to it we don't feel satisfied on the quality or full disclosure.

Thank you again for your advice I appreciate it.