Same GIA cert. number on a diamond being on 2 websites?

[Jdermady]

I apologize if this is an obvious question, but I am just starting my diamond research.

I looked at a diamond at a mall jewelry chain store and got all the specs including the GIA certificate number. I found the exact same diamond through Pricescope sold by B2C Jewels for $1200 less than the chain store. This diamond on B2C Jewels had the exact same GIA certificate number.

Is this how big jewelry chain stores purchase their diamonds? Is this how people negoiate big deals in the chain stores?

 

[LibbyLA]

Jdermady,

I can't answer for the same diamond being physically at a chain store and also listed on B2C Jewels, but I have seen the same diamond listed in the inventories of several online vendors. For example, I saw my oval on the Blue Nile web site first, then found it listed on brilliance.com for $1200-1300 less than Blue Nile's price. Bought it from Brilliance...

If you use the diamond search tool here, chances are that you will see several diamonds listed by several vendors. That's "virtual" inventory.

liz

 

[John P]

I apologize if this is an obvious question, but I am just starting my diamond research

It's a logical question. This explanation should be helpful.
https://www.pricescope.com/journal/why_are_there_several_dealers_offering_exact_same_stone

 

[WinkHPD]

I apologize if this is an obvious question, but I am just starting my diamond research.

I looked at a diamond at a mall jewelry chain store and got all the specs including the GIA certificate number. I found the exact same diamond through Pricescope sold by B2C Jewels for $1200 less than the chain store. This diamond on B2C Jewels had the exact same GIA certificate number.

Is this how big jewelry chain stores purchase their diamonds? Is this how people negoiate big deals in the chain stores?

Chances are pretty good that if you contact the diamond vendor on line that he will come back with something along the lines of, "Oh, that diamond is not available right now, but here are some others that we can get for you."

I had that happen more than once with a diamond I had already delivered to a client and they called me the following week because they found it cheaper on line and wanted their lower price honored. I asked them to call the vendor and then was told that the vendor said the stone was temporarily unavailable. Since none of the diamonds that the vendor did have fit the requirements I did not loose the sales, but I found it interesting that people keep trying to sell diamonds that have been purchased by a retailer and that is no longer even on the market.

In two of the cases the on line vendors were on the "Do Not Sell" list of the vendor who actually sold me the diamonds as they were slow pays he did not want to bother with. (I know nothing of B2C Jewels who was not one of the vendors involved with my deals.) For $1,200 I might look a little harder to see if they have something that you want, but for the couple hundred that I was dealing with it was more hassle than it was worth. You might also be able to use the information to negotiate with the Mall store, although if they have actually purchased the diamond they are going to have less incentive to deal with you.

Wink