QUICK!!! HELP!!!

[bonbonfay]

Ok, this is my first time posting on here! My boyfriend has been ring shopping and I''ve been giving him advice/looking at websites/sending him what I like. I found my dream ring posted on pricescope, but of course WAY out of my price range. In the search, I have found a ring on EBay...and I"m really hesitant about such a large purchase on Ebay...here is the link. Can anyone offer any advice on the price, ring itself, appraisal company, etc. And the seller says it''s "enhanced"...what does that mean? The auction is up in 4 hours, so any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/PRINCESS-DIAMOND-RING-1-62CT-PAVE-RITANI-ANTIQUE-WG_W0QQitemZ8932243057QQcategoryZ92906QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Gypsy]

NO. I''ll explain why... just wanted to get the no out there.

 

[Mara]

it really depends.

if you can get the ring for $1k, it may be worth it. the pictures look decent...but i wouldn't imagine this is any great STEAL of a stone if it went for more money. like that is not a $10k ring right there or anything for $1k. it's probably worth a few thousand, with the clarity enhanced stone, and the setting, but you don't know much about craftsmanship or the stone itself other than the blurry UGL cert image.

clarity enhanced means that this stone could have been something like an I1 or I2 and they 'enhanced' it to make it look better, like laser or fracture filling etc. some people don't care about enhancement, others wouldn't buy a stone with that type of treatment. also stones that are enhanced are typically cheaper.

but again for $1k why not? that is IF it goes for around $1k. i don't know that i'd pay more for it without some sort of real confidence it is what it shows/says/looks like. it's easy to make pictures look good and diamonds sparkly.

i'd check into the return policy, have others had problems returning in case you just HATE it. we have had some issues on here with PS'ers who bought on eBay why had the hardest time getting something returned, bounced return checks etc. it's a risk of course but if you can lose the $1k and are willing to take risk, why not. if you can't take the risk of it being something it isn't and you can't lose the $1k or be tied up trying to get it back for 5 months or something, i'd say no.

i have bought some jewelry/diamond stuff on ebay but the most i have spent is $300ish. i just am not comfortable spending large amounts online unless it's a branded item with an idea of quality, aka a michael B or simon G ring for $1k or something when you KNOW that actual retail value is $3-5k. to me that'd be different. but something like this with a UGL clarity enhanced stone in a ritani 'style' ring from a random seller is inherently more risky.

good luck!

 

[Scintillating]

That''s not an authentic ritani setting, it''s a knockoff - and not a very good one.
Also - UGL? I don''t think I''ve heard of UGL. So I say no too.

Work within your budget to get something high quality that really works for you.

Scintillating...

 

[bonbonfay]

Thank you so much for your input!!! I''m so new to all of this diamond stuff...I probably couldn''t tell a CZ from the reall thing... :-/

 

[bonbonfay]

Also, you can see the appraisal card and it says the ring appraised for $14,200 through the Universal Gemological Laboratory...you think that isn''t accurate?

 

[Gypsy]

Ever heard the saying "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is?"

The cert is UGL: Look here: http://www.unitedgem.net/products.htm You can purchase these things online. *shakes head*... not a reliable source for the information.

Second: The describtion says "F-G" in color. Yeah. It's either one or the other.. that's the first tip off.

Third: It's clarity enhanced. That means the diamond was very included (cheap with big black spots) and they cleaned it up. These diamonds are not worth much... and honestly don't look very good unless done very well on minimum inclusions of a certain type. You'd be better of with an expensive, good quality cubic zirconia.

Then there's the setting and band. 18k and 14K... the jeweler down the street from my work has a set that's similar (I browse often there) and it's priced very reasonably. Basically you're paying for the setting (that's if it goes for 1000 ish) and you don't know what the quality of the workmanship is and you aren't getting any service with it.

The seller, who has a good rating, is telling you all you need to know-- with what he/she isn't saying about the ring. No protestations of the quality of the setting...just telling you statistics and facts. They are protecting themselves. There is nothing wrong with what they are doing. Ebay is buyer be ware territory.

Personally, I wouldn't buy. If 1000-2000 is your boyfriend's budget and this is the look you want.... find a nice 14K or 18K setting (14K is actually great for white gold because it starts out whiter than 18K-- less yellow gold in it-- so it fades less-- usually) or even a platinum one from a jeweler that will stand behind it and replace diamonds that fall out of the pave, and who will replate it every year-- or as needed for you. Who, if the setting is defective, will replace it. And get a nice CZ for the center-- or a lovely colored gemstone-- until you can afford to upgrade to a nice sized diamond in a few years.

The seller's rating is good. But like I said the flags are there if you know what to look for... AND you are getting exactly what you are paying for. No more, no less.

 

[bonbonfay]

Thank you SOOOO much for your advice!!! I''m so glad I posted this on here! My bf''s budget is actually around $6k, but thought if we could get a deal...My very favorite dream ring is https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/chicagohills-and-i-are-official.15017/, but after inquiring, found out the setting is about as much as my bf''s whole budget. Well, I guess the search is back on...he knows what I want, so maybe I"ll leave it up to him! (eeeek, kinda scary thought...)

 

[Gypsy]

Okay... looked at what you like. Have advice.

Call/ email Isaac at Dimend Scaasi or Bill Pearlman at Pearlmans Jewelers. Ask to see Beverly K halo semi mount settings (both are authorized dealers-- Bev K has larger selection of halo round pave semi-mounts than square but you might like a square one there). Bill will give you a password to the Bev K site and you will go to the collections page... then to semi mounts and you will see some settings that will appeal to you... and Bev K comes in 18K at very good prices. Setting should run under 2K depending on which you pick. That leaves 4K for the center stone. I think Isaac will sell you the setting alone as long as it's Bev K and it's not from his own collection (don't qoute me on that... but he did agree to sell me one).

We can find you a nice 1 carat for 4 k! Just pick your setting, then tell us the shape/ cut and we'll see what we can find with you.

There are NO AMAZING DEALS OR STEALS with diamonds. You get what you pay for (and you don't overpay if you come to PS first).

 

[bonbonfay]

Is it a good idea to buy a pave setting over the internet, though? I mean, with the stones falling out, who services them, etc.??

Should I just google those guys and find their email/website that way? Thank you for the advice!!!

 

[Rod]

Hey Bonnie.........Welcome and thank goodness you''re asking for advice and how nice you''re not offended to hear that most of us would run for the hills over making such a purchase on ebay. Like Gypsy said and is basically a "mantra" here on PS - if it appears too good to be true, it likely is too good to be true. That stone, could be pleasing. It''s clarity enhanced, which means it was treated to remove inclusions. Not necessarily a really bad thing, but not something I''d want in an engagement ring.

Bottom line is, if you can afford more and it appears you can, you can do SO MUCH better. If you can afford to lose $1,000, this ring might worth that much, but don''t believe it will appraise for more and don''t expect that getting your money back if you are not pleased will be easy. There have been multiple horror stories of people hoping to have lucked into the deal of the century on ebay, only to wind up with a lousy looking stone and a supreme headache trying to get their money back.

Good luck..............

 

[Gypsy]

Both are real- full service jewelers that service the line's they sell. Both have solid reputations both are BB members and various trade association members. You willl get servicing... you'll just have to send your ring in for it if don't live near the one you buy from. If you wind up buying a diamond from Isaac-- even better he'll set it too, and BAM the whole thing will be covered. As for Bill, I'm not certain what his policy is for setting diamonds that aren't purchased through him, but you can ask.

websites are www.pearlmansjewelers.com and www.dimendscaasi.com

 

[pinkflamingo]

I wouldn''t buy from this seller, case in point:

Neutral/neg feedback

Way too risky!!