Retail store rings.

[treller]

Hi all,

I recently went to a retail store with my girlfriend to get an idea of diamond sizes. I was surprised at some of there comments.

They told me they grade the rings themselves and sometimes throw away the GIA report if they did not agree with them, they told me that the GIA had a clause in it that stated the GIA certificate was just an opinion, in fact they showed me the clause in the box of old certificates they had discarded.

They then tried to promote a Round Cut Diamond with 81 facets, this they said was a better cut than the 57 or 58 facets that is now close to 100 years old and that they have improved the skill.

After reading quite a bit on here, I think they were giving me total crap. In fact they made a passing comment how you would never want to buy a diamond online as you were never sure what you were getting.

Here are some of the diamonds they showed me:

2.11 rd SI1 J $18344 8.14mm, 56.8% table, 63.42 depth, 36.05 Crown

2.16 rd SI2 G $19922 8.24mm, 58% table, 61.94 depth, 35.26 crown

2.05 rd SI1 J $16380 8.21mm, 51.6% table, 60.78 depth, 35.46 crown

2.05 rd SI2 J $16380 8.14mm, 50.2% table, 61.64 depth, 34.86 crown

About $500 to set in tiffany setting in platinum.

My budget is about $20,000, I want a 2.0 ct round ring set in platinum classic tiffany style, best diamond I can get for the money. Any better suggestions than the above?

Thanks
Treller

 

[oneandahalfrock]

Date: 8/18/2009 12:05:11 AM
Author:treller
Hi all,


I recently went to a retail store with my girlfriend to get an idea of diamond sizes. I was surprised at some of there comments.


They told me they grade the rings themselves and sometimes throw away the GIA report if they did not agree with them, they told me that the GIA had a clause in it that stated the GIA certificate was just an opinion, in fact they showed me the clause in the box of old certificates they had discarded.


They then tried to promote a Round Cut Diamond with 81 facets, this they said was a better cut than the 57 or 58 facets that is now close to 100 years old and that they have improved the skill.


After reading quite a bit on here, I think they were giving me total crap. In fact they made a passing comment how you would never want to buy a diamond online as you were never sure what you were getting.


Here are some of the diamonds they showed me:


2.11 rd SI1 J $18344 8.14mm, 56.8% table, 63.42 depth, 36.05 Crown


2.16 rd SI2 G $19922 8.24mm, 58% table, 61.94 depth, 35.26 crown


2.05 rd SI1 J $16380 8.21mm, 51.6% table, 60.78 depth, 35.46 crown


2.05 rd SI2 J $16380 8.14mm, 50.2% table, 61.64 depth, 34.86 crown


About $500 to set in tiffany setting in platinum.


My budget is about $20,000, I want a 2.0 ct round ring set in platinum classic tiffany style, best diamond I can get for the money. Any better suggestions than the above?


Thanks

Treller

I can also 100% say that they decided to throw away these GIA certs to give the diamond a better grade. WTH??? Yes, grading is all an opinion, but some opinions are most trusted than others- who are you going to trust; the trained gemologist or the mall clerk??? (no offense to the mall clerks, just saying I trust GIA a WHOLE lot more

).

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 8/18/2009 12:05:11 AM

Author:treller

Hi all,



I recently went to a retail store with my girlfriend to get an idea of diamond sizes. I was surprised at some of there comments.



They told me they grade the rings themselves and sometimes throw away the GIA report if they did not agree with them, they told me that the GIA had a clause in it that stated the GIA certificate was just an opinion, in fact they showed me the clause in the box of old certificates they had discarded.



They then tried to promote a Round Cut Diamond with 81 facets, this they said was a better cut than the 57 or 58 facets that is now close to 100 years old and that they have improved the skill.



After reading quite a bit on here, I think they were giving me total crap. In fact they made a passing comment how you would never want to buy a diamond online as you were never sure what you were getting.



Here are some of the diamonds they showed me:



2.11 rd SI1 J $18344 8.14mm, 56.8% table, 63.42 depth, 36.05 Crown



2.16 rd SI2 G $19922 8.24mm, 58% table, 61.94 depth, 35.26 crown



2.05 rd SI1 J $16380 8.21mm, 51.6% table, 60.78 depth, 35.46 crown



2.05 rd SI2 J $16380 8.14mm, 50.2% table, 61.64 depth, 34.86 crown



About $500 to set in tiffany setting in platinum.



My budget is about $20,000, I want a 2.0 ct round ring set in platinum classic tiffany style, best diamond I can get for the money. Any better suggestions than the above?



Thanks


Treller

Please please don''t buy there. They ARE feeding you total crap. Here are some vendors to start your search with-with all of them if you can call them they will give you personalized service.

http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/

http://www.whiteflash.com/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/

All of those vendors are wonderful and can help you get the most bang for your buck. Also make sure to tell them you are a PS member as many offer discounts.

 

[burberries5]

I totally agree with you when you call their bull**** crap. I recall my 2 experiences at the mall.

1st place consisted of a saleswoman telling me that "No one will see the slight inclusions in this diamond because they are not going to rudely stare at your hand." I find that very interesting because I didn''t have to rudely stare through the glass counter to see the flaws in the diamond she was pushing at me.

The 2nd place was Ben Bridges where a mysterious older man seemed very guarded to discuss his selection with me. This purchase is suppose to be a happy moment/true accomplishment for me as a man, but instead this sales guy was depressing me. I felt like he didn''t want me to get married.

 

[TripleG]

Besides the sites mentioned above you can check out Blue Nile as well. I got my ring there. They dont offer upgrade policies if you ever want to trade in the ring and dont have the visual pictures of the diamond. But if that isnt a requirement for you then they offer great prices and excellent service as well. I got my Ering from there a few weeks ago and couldnt be happier.

Here is one I found for you. They have a bunch of options much better than the store for that price. In keeping with your price range I went up in Color and Clarity. I find the bigger the stone the more the clarity and especially cut is the most critical. That being said this one is an ideal cut which makes it more pricier and excellent on symmetry and polish.

http://www.bluenile.com/round-diamond-2-carat-ideal-cut-h-color-vs2-clarity_LD01136877?__fun_frm=i&filter_id=1

This one is 18975$. (There are other options, I just like the cut and symmetry of this one the most so far)

Six Prong Classic Ring (Not called tiffany type but I think its the closest to it)

http://www.bluenile.com/solitaire-diamond-engagement-ring-platinum_2?filter_id=1&collection_id=234

that is $520.

They set it and ship it out to you with their appraisal.

Good luck and have fun shopping. I think as the others said dont believe this store, they have filled you with fallacies so far and seem to try and be pushing you in to something which should never be the way this experience goes.

Hope this helps.

 

[D&T]

please run from this store

buy from a reputable vendors on here that won''t say those things... and will be honest and up front with you

 

[Lula]

Date: 8/18/2009 11:15:24 AM
Author: D&T
please run from this store

buy from a reputable vendors on here that won't say those things... and will be honest and up front with you

Ditto.
They are putting themselves first, not you.

 

[stone-cold11]

Thritto.

Something like this?
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-2163498.htm#

 

[denverappraiser]

Date: 8/18/2009 12:05:11 AM
Author:treller

They told me they grade the rings themselves and sometimes throw away the GIA report if they did not agree with them, they told me that the GIA had a clause in it that stated the GIA certificate was just an opinion, in fact they showed me the clause in the box of old certificates they had discarded.

Hi Treller,

It’s certainly true that the GIA report is expressing an opinion only, but then so is theirs. You can bet that if they thought what the GIA lab had to say was better than their own opinion then they would have kept that report so what you know from their statement is that they think GIA was too critical on those particular stones. Perhaps so, but I would be inclined to ask questions about their methodology in coming to that judgment. You then get to decide who you want to believe. There is a significant conflict of interest associated with selling based on grading done by the seller, even if it's correct, and if GIA isn’t to be the arbiter, who is? As I'm sure you've discovered, the differences are small and the affect on pricing is significant.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver