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Purchasing & Maintaining an internet e-ring

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jdcuteng

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 9, 2007
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First of all let me say that this is an excellent site. As an engineer, I love the amount of technical information, the good advice, and the friendly environment of this site. I research nearly everything I purchase on the internet and have had a number of smooth internet purchases (even my car...excellent experience BTW). However, I must admit that an internet e-ring purchase is something I had not considered until recent visits to a chain B&M and a locally-owned B&M. I am reasonably knowledgeable about diamond basics (moreso due to this site than from any other source) and have viewed a number of diamonds to decide what type of diamond I want for my fiancee. She and I have also looked at ring styles and I know what she likes (diamond accented setting) in this regard.

Here''s what I want in terms of a diamond. A RB diamond, ideal cut (AGS0 or GIA excellent certified stone), G or H in color, VS2 or SI1 clarity, 0.8 to 1 carat. B&M prices on 1 carat stones of this type stone have ranged from $7.2k to $14k. Boy was I shocked at these prices (and the range of prices) after having intially looked at prices online at BN and WF! Is the type of diamond I''m describing a good quality or do I really need to know all the specs to say for sure? What is a reasonable internet price and where else should I consider other than BN, WF, or GOG? Should I plan ahead to have an e-diamond appraised myself? Any feel for how much this would cost for the described stone in the state of GA? Would I need a loose stone to have a "good" appraisal?

As for the setting, I''ve pretty much decided on white gold or platinum. It is my understanding that platinum is more durable and this is the direction I am leaning. However, I''m not sure how often platinum needs to be polished. Any rules of thumb? Alternatively, for a white gold setting, should I definitely go with platinum prongs? How often would it need rhodium replating (one store told me 3 times a year)? This isn''t correct is it?

Finally, how do I care for an e-ring purchased from an internet seller? All the B&M stores lead me to believe the ring needs to be inspected and cleaned at least twice a year and that they must provide this service for their warranty to be valid. Do e-rings need to be inspected this often? How do I handle this with an internet purchase? Is this a big deal and will most insurance cover the loss of a stone if this hasn''t been done exactly as recommended? As often as people move around these days, there has got to be a way to deal with caring for an e-ring other than at the location where it was purchased. How do WF, GoG, and BN suggest you care for them? Any advantages (or first hand experiences) of any of their policies?

Looking forward to more of your excellent advice...
 
Hi jd and welcome to PS
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It''s always a very good idea to establish a relationship with your local jeweler.
Most local jewelers are family owned businesses; some are bench jewelers or have an in house jeweler.
There''s no reason why they wouldn''t clean and polish your ring and inspect your prongs either at no charge or a
nominal fee for professional polishing.
A brick and mortar store doesn''t know if your ring was purchased on line or at a B & M..so not to worry.
If you need a quick repair, watch battery, or good advice, your local jeweler can help.
There''s plenty of room in the jewelry universe for both on line vendors and B & M''s to happily co-exist.

Jeff Averbook,GG
Graduate Gemologist/Appraiser

www.metrojewelryappraisers.com
 
Hi, and welcome! You are just the kind of person who is fond of numbers like some of us are! I''ll try to answer some of your questions!

I have a ring stone from Good Old Gold and earring stones from WhiteFlash. I feel that those two companies provided me the most information, including pictures, to help us choose the best stones. Plus they both have great upgrade policies if for any reason in the future you wanted to upgrade color, size, etc. I had also looked at B&M stores and found prices higher for lower quality stones. I personally see no reason to have a certified stone from WF or GOG appraised again. They provide insurance valuations and a sales receipt, so you can decide whether to insure for the purchase price or an inflated price. They have been graded by GIA or AGS, so that is independent confirmation of the quality of the stone.

My settings at the current time are white gold (because I did not find my "dream" setting yet). They are over year old and have not needed to be replated. It will vary depending on body chemistry and quality of the setting. It is not a big deal to have done, in any event. Platinum will scratch and turn gray, so it has to be polished every few months. No easy answer on white metal rings, unfortunately! Most here prefer platinum, though.

Jewelry store "warranties" are worthless. They want to get you in the store to try to sell you something! You have to have insurance on the ring that will cover any kind of loss. I have never had my rings checked twice a year. I have a little loupe and check the prongs myself periodically and have them cleaned and checked if I happen to be in a jewelry store for another reason. I figure I''m at least as smart as the sales girl behind the jewelry counter
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! People move all the time and certainly take all kinds of jewelry to be cleaned and repaired to jewelers other than the one who sold the items. So that is no big deal to buy on the internet. I''d never buy a diamond any other way.

Do a search on Chubb and Jeweler''s Mutual for insurance on a ring. And good luck!
 
You have gotten good advice so far, so I don''t have a whole lot to add. The only thing I wanted to second is that you do need to develop a relationship with a local jeweler, no matter where you buy your stone. This will help with routine cleaning and maintenance, which you won''t want to send your ring away to do. Mall stores sometimes don''t like to work with rings that aren''t their own, but a good independent jeweler should be happy to help you in the hopes that you will buy something else from them in the future, or refer them to a friend.
 
Thanks for the great advice. I do realize that I need to develop a relationship with a B&M and in fact I may buy the setting from a B&M so my fiancee can pick out a ring she is able to see in person. I will probably call WF and/or BN, GoG today or tomorrow to develop a better feel for what I''m getting into. However, as far as the specifics of a diamond, is there anything I need to really understand/know other than the following: RB, AGS0 or GIA excellent, G or H color, and VS2 or SI1 clarity. As somewhat of a novice, I''m not sure if I really need to understand more details as long as I buy an ideal cut diamond. Could someone recommend a stone or two in the 0.8-0.9 carat range that would be a good choice in the $5k range? Also, I think I read something about a discount or something at WF if you mentioned pricescope?

Thanks again for the friendly atmosphere and great advice.
 
Date: 12/10/2007 8:29:13 AM
Author: jdcuteng
Thanks for the great advice. I do realize that I need to develop a relationship with a B&M and in fact I may buy the setting from a B&M so my fiancee can pick out a ring she is able to see in person. I will probably call WF and/or BN, GoG today or tomorrow to develop a better feel for what I''m getting into. However, as far as the specifics of a diamond, is there anything I need to really understand/know other than the following: RB, AGS0 or GIA excellent, G or H color, and VS2 or SI1 clarity. As somewhat of a novice, I''m not sure if I really need to understand more details as long as I buy an ideal cut diamond. Could someone recommend a stone or two in the 0.8-0.9 carat range that would be a good choice in the $5k range? Also, I think I read something about a discount or something at WF if you mentioned pricescope?

Thanks again for the friendly atmosphere and great advice.
Not all GIA EX are created equal. So I wouldn''t tell you that any one you picked would be fine. Their EX category is a bit wide.

Here''s a few nice ones. Of course, with SI1, you need to ask if eyeclean.

The bankwire price is the discount here.


http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/3819/

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/3569/

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/3755/


5% PS discount on these.

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-540905.htm


This one''s just a tad over budget.

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-540899.htm
 
As for the setting, I''ve pretty much decided on white gold or platinum. It is my understanding that platinum is more durable and this is the direction I am leaning. However, I''m not sure how often platinum needs to be polished. Any rules of thumb? Alternatively, for a white gold setting, should I definitely go with platinum prongs? How often would it need rhodium replating (one store told me 3 times a year)? This isn''t correct is it?
I don''t think anyone answered this part. There is no rule of thumb for how long it will be before platinum needs to be repolished or rhodium plating needs to be replated. In the case of platinum, it depends on how hard she is on the ring and what kind of elements it is exposed to. It just develops a patina over time (whatever "over time" may mean
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). Some women really like the look of platinum with a patina. As far as white gold goes, it sort of depends on her body chemistry. Some womens'' white gold rings stay whiter longer than others based upon the acidity of their skin. Either way, it shouldn''t cost you much to get your ring polished/replated. It comes down to a matter of preference. And again, some women like the warm, "buttery" look of white gold when the plating is wearing off.

You don''t have to go with platinum prongs unless it''d make you feel better. White gold prongs are plenty secure and beautiful.
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Hi JD. I was in the same boat as you a few weeks ago. I ended up spending 5k on a 1.05ct I, AGS0 cut, VS1 stone and $10% off a 1700 plat setting with 10 sidestones, 1/2 ct tw from BN. It seems as though we have a very similar criteria on the stone. I found I colors are perfect. I probably would''ve gotten away with an eyeclean SI1, however I''m more of a "mind clean" guy. If cut is your most important criteria (which was my case), just check the HCA on it with the tool on this website and if it scores between a 1.0-2.0, you should be in good shape.
 
I went back to my local chain B&M tonight (Jared) and looked at some of their diamonds. I definitely like their Peerless line (AGS0 with ideal polish and ideal symmetry...they call them AGS 000). I was also quite surprised (now that I know what I''m looking at) to find their prices are quite competitive with internet sellers (although I''d have to pay tax). For instance, an AGS 000 BR, 1.1 carat, G color, SI1 clarity was $7200; an AGS 000 BR, 0.73 carat, H, VS1 was $4100. They didn''t have a BR between these two, but said they could search their other stores and find one.

Since looking at more stones tonight, I''m tending to lean toward an AGS 000, 0.85 carat, F-G color, and VS1-VS2 clarity. The trouble is that WF does not have a similar diamond and I felt fairly comfortable with them due to the rave revues on this site. However, I searched from this site and found a similar diamond on GoG, but haven''t read as much about them. Can anyone help me find a 0.85-0.9 carat, F-G, VS1-VS2 for $5k?
 
Date: 12/11/2007 10:14:42 PM
Author: jdcuteng
Since looking at more stones tonight, I''m tending to lean toward an AGS 000, 0.85 carat, F-G color, and VS1-VS2 clarity. The trouble is that WF does not have a similar diamond and I felt fairly comfortable with them due to the rave revues on this site. However, I searched from this site and found a similar diamond on GoG, but haven''t read as much about them. Can anyone help me find a 0.85-0.9 carat, F-G, VS1-VS2 for $5k?
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0.93 G SI1 A Cut Above Hearts & Arrows $5,223 -- This might be an option on Whiteflash
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If it''s eyeclean, it might be perfect .. Whiteflash should be able to let you know.

0.93 G VVS2, Expert Selection This one might be an option for you as well. It''s not A Cut Above diamond ... but it is an Expert Selection, therefore, cut wise it is right up there!

I hope you find something you love!
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Let us know what you think!
 
Still searching for the right diamond for my fiancee...brilliant round, AGS-000 (ideal cut, polish, and symmetry) w/ laser inscription, 0.8-0.99c, F-G in color, and VVS1-VS2 clarity. I can''t find one of these anywhere. Is this a very rare combination of criteria or are sellers just low on inventory due to the holdiay rush? I don''t want to sacrifice AGS-000 with incription, size, or clarity. Would it be a mistake to "settle" for an H color? I really like the F-G color range, but an AGS-000 cut with an H in color is pretty nice too. Alternatively, I can wait and hope to find a diamond that meets my criteria. Do any of of you fellow pricescopers have any thoughts?

Thanks again.
JD
 
JD...


Hmmmmm......not sure I see the problem. Doing a quick check for your criteria...


Date: 12/12/2007 9:17:16 PM
Author: jdcuteng
Still searching for the right diamond for my fiancee...brilliant round, AGS-000 (ideal cut, polish, and symmetry) w/ laser inscription, 0.8-0.99c, F-G in color, and VVS1-VS2 clarity. I can''t find one of these anywhere. Is this a very rare combination of criteria or are sellers just low on inventory due to the holdiay rush? I don''t want to sacrifice AGS-000 with incription, size, or clarity. Would it be a mistake to ''settle'' for an H color? I really like the F-G color range, but an AGS-000 cut with an H in color is pretty nice too. Alternatively, I can wait and hope to find a diamond that meets my criteria. Do any of of you fellow pricescopers have any thoughts?

Thanks again.
JD
on the search by cut db, above, under prices...I see 4 options right now, with this one on the low end...all running from $3100 to $5800.

Am I missing part of your criteria?
 
Thanks for the help regular guy. You are right about my options in some respects. However, can someone explain to me about whether all AGS-000 stones are laser inscribed? The one you pointed out at JA does not clearly state that it is laser inscribed on the AGS certification as do the "nice" AGS-000 stones. I guess I want this added piece of "security". Is this something that I should even worry about?

Thanks again.
 
JD,

I think all are. AGS or an appraiser or JA or GoG can confirm. I think it''s a routine part of their work. On the odd chance it''s not done, I think GOG can do it for you. I don''t think this is any worry. Old miner does if for like maybe $20. But...chances are AGS does it for every one of the diamonds they Certify.
 
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