Hi All,
Long time lurker, first time poster. Through my PS readings I have observed that there is strong advocacy on PS to buy online rather than at a brick and mortar store. However, now that I am on the market for a diamond, I am finding that at the weight I'm looking (high 190s to 200) the prices online are consistently more than in store by 7-10%.
I also got a chance to look at a Feb 2010 rapaport sheet and the difference between a G/VS1 1.99 ($8800/ct = $17512) and 2.00 ($13300/ct = $26600) was $9088 (!).
So my questions are:
1. Am I looking at the wrong sites? Or does the pricing advantage only apply to rounds?
2. What about buying out of private collections (secondary market)?
3. How will going from 200pts down to high 190s affect the price?
What I'm looking for:
Shape: Radiant
Weight: high 190s
Color: F or better
Clarity: VS2 or better
Polish: VG-EX
Symm: VG-EX
Fluor: None
Table: 60-65%
Depth: 60-65%
Crown: 11-16%
Ratio: 1.15-1.25
Girdle: Thin-Slightly Thick
Culet: None
Cert: GIA or AGS
Best quote I have is 19500 from a B+M store (GIA,200pt,VS2,F). Best online quote I've gotten is just south of 22000.
Long time lurker, first time poster. Through my PS readings I have observed that there is strong advocacy on PS to buy online rather than at a brick and mortar store. However, now that I am on the market for a diamond, I am finding that at the weight I'm looking (high 190s to 200) the prices online are consistently more than in store by 7-10%.
I also got a chance to look at a Feb 2010 rapaport sheet and the difference between a G/VS1 1.99 ($8800/ct = $17512) and 2.00 ($13300/ct = $26600) was $9088 (!).
So my questions are:
1. Am I looking at the wrong sites? Or does the pricing advantage only apply to rounds?
2. What about buying out of private collections (secondary market)?
3. How will going from 200pts down to high 190s affect the price?
What I'm looking for:
Shape: Radiant
Weight: high 190s
Color: F or better
Clarity: VS2 or better
Polish: VG-EX
Symm: VG-EX
Fluor: None
Table: 60-65%
Depth: 60-65%
Crown: 11-16%
Ratio: 1.15-1.25
Girdle: Thin-Slightly Thick
Culet: None
Cert: GIA or AGS
Best quote I have is 19500 from a B+M store (GIA,200pt,VS2,F). Best online quote I've gotten is just south of 22000.