Hi guys,
I''ve picked out a stone for my GF''s ring, and I am happy with it. It''s an AGS000 .96 VS1 K round brilliant, and while I was reluctant to even look at a K stone, the cut is so great that the color isn''t noticeable at all. The price was around $4,200. Then, out of the blue, I get a call from a family friend. She used to own and operate a high-end jewelry store, and while she sold the store a few years back, she still maintains contact with all her suppliers and whatnot. She heard that I was in the market for a stone (her niece is my GF''s best friend), and offered to help me out. I know that she has helped other guys who are getting engaged to her niece''s friends out with stones, and so I told her what I had found already. She said she could do better, and as far as I can tell, she knows her stuff - she agreed that the cut is the most important element, but thinks she can get a stone of similar cut with better color at the same size for less money. I laughed and said I would certainly take a look at such a stone, and agreed to meet with her when I head back home next weekend. On top of that, she told me that she trusted me enough to let me take the stone back with me to where I live now, and compare it to the stone I''ve already got, free of charge.
Now, I''m certainly going to take her up on her offer - it''s not going to cost me anything, and it couldn''t hurt to look. The question I have is whether or not I should prepare to be disappointed. After reading tons of posts and FAQs and viewing numerous stones, the only way I can see her getting a comparable stone at a lower price is by not making any profit off of it. I suppose if she only does this sort of thing as a favor to friends, it''s possible. If it''s not what I expect, I don''t want to be rude and just brush her off. Any comments?
I''ve picked out a stone for my GF''s ring, and I am happy with it. It''s an AGS000 .96 VS1 K round brilliant, and while I was reluctant to even look at a K stone, the cut is so great that the color isn''t noticeable at all. The price was around $4,200. Then, out of the blue, I get a call from a family friend. She used to own and operate a high-end jewelry store, and while she sold the store a few years back, she still maintains contact with all her suppliers and whatnot. She heard that I was in the market for a stone (her niece is my GF''s best friend), and offered to help me out. I know that she has helped other guys who are getting engaged to her niece''s friends out with stones, and so I told her what I had found already. She said she could do better, and as far as I can tell, she knows her stuff - she agreed that the cut is the most important element, but thinks she can get a stone of similar cut with better color at the same size for less money. I laughed and said I would certainly take a look at such a stone, and agreed to meet with her when I head back home next weekend. On top of that, she told me that she trusted me enough to let me take the stone back with me to where I live now, and compare it to the stone I''ve already got, free of charge.
Now, I''m certainly going to take her up on her offer - it''s not going to cost me anything, and it couldn''t hurt to look. The question I have is whether or not I should prepare to be disappointed. After reading tons of posts and FAQs and viewing numerous stones, the only way I can see her getting a comparable stone at a lower price is by not making any profit off of it. I suppose if she only does this sort of thing as a favor to friends, it''s possible. If it''s not what I expect, I don''t want to be rude and just brush her off. Any comments?