Prices for champagne diamonds

[ltpowell]

I posted this on the DiamondTalk.com forum several days ago and didn't get any responses, so I'm trying again here ...

I'm starting to look for a colored diamond; my husband promised me one for our 20th anniversary next July. At a local jeweler (in Ann Arbor, MI) we were shown a pink champagne diamond. It was just over 1/3 carat, SI1 or SI2, and about PC1 in color (going by the pictures on http://www.preciousmetals.com.au/fancycoloured.asp). The price for this loose diamond was about $770. Is this a reasonable price for this type of diamond?

We were told that the store could order more stones in for us to look at, but we would have to pay the costs of shipping and insurance to the store. (A side question: is this a common policy?) We have dealt with this store before, and they do wonderful custom design work. I would like to get an idea of how their diamond prices are so I can decide whether I should buy the diamond from them, or buy the stone elsewhere and take it in to have them design a ring.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

That sounds like a reasonable price, if you like it, buy it.
Usually stores that charge for getting goods in deduct the cost from the stone if you buy.
Many retailers get cheesed off when customers go to 10 stores and get 50 stones shipped and never buy one. Imagine how you would feel.

Glad my website was of some help for the color grading

 

[bonrontuffy]

This is prety high for a champagne diamond. There are many dealers on online aucitons who offer money back . Champagne diamonds are usually less expensive.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

You may well be able to buy cheaper from an auction, but that was not the question.
The price from a local jeweler was the question.
The local jeweler has many side benefits that an auction does not, not the least being peice of mind.
It is well known that we can buy things in cheaper modes, but the value of things needs to be considered relative to the market that the consumer chooses to buy from.
this consumer never asked for instance if their was a website that specialised in champagne diamonds. If so I could have suggested my own website where I list similar stones. I refrained from doing that

 

[Richard Sherwood]

The pink champagnes run more than the straight champagnes. Sounds reasonable to me, if it's nicely cut.

Rich, GG
Sarasota Gemological Laboratory

 

[rsilvers]

I like the strong yellow ones better than ones that are brownish. I suspect they cost a lot more also.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

PC1 = Pink Champagne which is about white H diamond price.
Brown normal Champagne are about 1/3rd white prices.
Strong yellows are more than white's.