Thoughts on this 5 stone ring?

[tfc_diamondlvr]

Hello folks!
I know people on here will be straight up with me, so I figured I better ask now while I still have a return period.

So:
I've been looking for a 5 stone ring for a while now.
My goal was to find one pre-loved.
I kept lowering my clarity and color needs at this point.

Sadly, the Canadian dollar super sucks right now, so all of the amazing work from folks like IDJ and Blue Nile still put me over $5k.

I purchased this ring off of ebay for $2.2k everything in (taxes, duties, delivery etc).
The seller advertised the ring as VS quality with G color and very good cut. The total carat weight is 1.8
I took it to my local jeweler who proceeded to say that at least 3 of the stones are I1. He said that the color is fine (looks like G) and he said the cut was 'alright'.
He told me that if I purchased the ring for $3k cdn taxes in that I got a very good deal.

So, should I keep the ring? Should I ask the seller for a slight refund given her misrepresentation of the product from her listing? Should I just send it back? What would you do?

I'm sorry I don't have any more photos right now. For some reason my phone camera isn't connecting with anything and I can't send the photos by email to myself!

Here's what I did take from this afternoon:



As well, please let me know what to do about the setting. I'd like to spend around $250/$300 max on a new setting. Otherwise, I guess I'll keep it for now and just resize it. Is it possible to get the band re-dipped and polished to look new?

Thanks for the continual advice on here! You folks are lifesavers.

 

[tfc_diamondlvr]

A quick update:
I contacted the seller about all of this.
She indicated that her jeweler would never make such a mistake. However, my local jeweler immediately spotted them as I1. :roll My local jeweler did say the ring wasn't that bad and you couldn't see the inclusions just looking at the ring. It does sparkle in the light (of course, not as much as an ideal cut).

Anyways, I asked her about giving me a partial refund.
She said she'd refund me an extra $200.

So, that would bring the purchase price of this ring to $1200.

Is it worth that amount? Should I be refunded even more? I just don't know if I can a 5 stone for around $2k cdn.
I was finally able to get a few more pics off of my phone.
Let me know what you folks think!

 

[mrs-b]

I think that's an awesome price! Unless it looks dull and dirty to you, I'd keep it and consider myself to have had a great deal.

Enjoy!

 

[PintoBean]

Can't tell by pics. If you enjoy it and like how it looks in person, that's all that counts!

 

[tfc_diamondlvr]

I think that's an awesome price! Unless it looks dull and dirty to you, I'd keep it and consider myself to have had a great deal.

Enjoy!

Coming from you @mrs-b , I take that as a green light! Thanks very much for your ringing endorsement. It appears that the seller will give me a small refund. Hopefully, she doesn't back out at the last minute. She's insistent to the end that the diamonds are not I1s. However, it's very clear that they are. I just feel bad that she thinks I'm trying to take advantage of her. But, I would have never said a thing if they were genuine VS2 diamonds!

Can't tell by pics. If you enjoy it and like how it looks in person, that's all that counts!

I know, it's hard to take good pics. I don't know how else to take them. I mean, obviously, I'd prefer ideal cut diamonds from IDJ or Blue Nile, but I just don't have the budget right now and get the other things I want (earrings and necklace for my wedding). So, I'm happy in the sense that I can afford something that I wanted, but I had to sacrifice on my ultimate love

 

[tfc_diamondlvr]

I think all those prices I listed are unclear.
So, just to clarify:
I purchased the ring for $1400 usd. That's equivalent to around $1700 cdn. With taxes and duties and shipping I ended up spending around $2.2K cdn.

The seller 'says' she's going to refund me another $200 (I think it'll be in USD). So, that'll bring the purchase of the ring down to $1200 usd

The ring is 18K at 1.8 ctw with at least 3 I1s and maybe 1 VS *that's a big maybe*.
This is from what the local jeweler can tell.

I will be keeping this ring if I end up getting the refund.

 

[PintoBean]

Coming from you @mrs-b , I take that as a green light! Thanks very much for your ringing endorsement. It appears that the seller will give me a small refund. Hopefully, she doesn't back out at the last minute. She's insistent to the end that the diamonds are not I1s. However, it's very clear that they are. I just feel bad that she thinks I'm trying to take advantage of her. But, I would have never said a thing if they were genuine VS2 diamonds!



I know, it's hard to take good pics. I don't know how else to take them. I mean, obviously, I'd prefer ideal cut diamonds from IDJ or Blue Nile, but I just don't have the budget right now and get the other things I want (earrings and necklace for my wedding). So, I'm happy in the sense that I can afford something that I wanted, but I had to sacrifice on my ultimate love

Don't laugh... the bathroom is great for pics, especially if you stand in the shower/bathtub lolol.

 

[Lookinagain]

You say “ My local jeweler did say the ring wasn't that bad and you couldn't see the inclusions just looking at the ring.”
What do you see? Does it bother you? The only question is if you will enjoy the ring or the stones if you reset. If so then you got a fabulous deal. But if you’re not happy with the stones no matter what you paid you never will be. You need to enjoy them for what they are or If you don’t then I would say send it back. The purchase has to satisfy whatever it was you were hoping for.

 

[nala]

Ok. I’m all about estate pieces and good deals. Having said that, sometimes I misspend money in my haste to get a good deal rather than saving up for the dream piece. So consider whether this ring will be a temporary fix. If so, you should leave as is and not invest more money in case you don’t love the stones. A reset will cost more than 300. I was quoted 800 for a custom 7 stone reset a year ago. If you don’t love the diamonds now, the reset won’t make them perform better. On the other hand, if price is your main criteria and you won’t long for the ideal 5 stone, keep it and reset it.
I have a 5 stone and one stone is of lesser quality and guess what? That is the stone my eye is drawn to. I’m gonna reset it Bc I hate it so much that I rarely wear it.

 

[Queenie60]

Personally, I would return the ring. The seller misrepresented the quality of the stones therefore, I would not be able to enjoy the ring. You get what you pay for and "if it's too good to be true - it usually is." I would save my money for a much nicer ring that I could enjoy. Just my two cents.... for what it's worth.

 

[srke]

For 1.8tcw the price after the refund seems pretty good. But I think you need to decide if that clarity is something that will bug you. If you think you'll be happy with the fact you found a large 5stone affordably, and will feel happy each time you wear the ring knowing you'd probably be hard pressed to find something at that size and price, then keep it and enjoy it.

But if you don't love it and if you think you'll always be wishing you got something better, such that you can't enjoy each time youre wearing it because you'll always have that regret, then I say return it and save up until you can get something you really love.

 

[Weecam]

I’m in Canada as well and I purchased a 3ctw eternity ring from JewelryULovebyAby on Etsy. It’s gorgeous and was very reasonably priced. I’ve made a few purchases from Aby and have always been happy. She has a 5 stone VS2 F ring in her shop for $1469CDN or $1111.71USD.
I don’t think I’m allowed to post a link...but it’s easy to find.
Hope this helps...

 

[tfc_diamondlvr]

You say “ My local jeweler did say the ring wasn't that bad and you couldn't see the inclusions just looking at the ring.”
What do you see? Does it bother you? The only question is if you will enjoy the ring or the stones if you reset. If so then you got a fabulous deal. But if you’re not happy with the stones no matter what you paid you never will be. You need to enjoy them for what they are or If you don’t then I would say send it back. The purchase has to satisfy whatever it was you were hoping for.

The more I look at the ring, the more I'm okay with it. It sparkles in most lighting and has the visual impact of larger stones (but not too large so that you can see inclusions).
I'm happy with the price as I was at a few stores, for example Van Rijk, here in Toronto and they were ALSO selling 5 stone rings for almost double the price with I1 stones. The gentleman at Van Rijk kept insisting that with 'small stones you can't see the difference bla bla bla'.

Ok. I’m all about estate pieces and good deals. Having said that, sometimes I misspend money in my haste to get a good deal rather than saving up for the dream piece. So consider whether this ring will be a temporary fix. If so, you should leave as is and not invest more money in case you don’t love the stones. A reset will cost more than 300. I was quoted 800 for a custom 7 stone reset a year ago. If you don’t love the diamonds now, the reset won’t make them perform better. On the other hand, if price is your main criteria and you won’t long for the ideal 5 stone, keep it and reset it.
I have a 5 stone and one stone is of lesser quality and guess what? That is the stone my eye is drawn to. I’m gonna reset it Bc I hate it so much that I rarely wear it.

Thank you very much for your insight! I have been trying to hold back on purchasing items that are nice, but not my HG (I'm eyeing a pair of estate earrings for my wedding = dangle pair BUT my dream is the VCA vintage Alhambra in diamonds. So, I'm trying to save up as quickly as possible to get them before August!)

So, I agree, I think I'm settled on the ring as I don't know if I can justify investing more into stones right now. And for me, I'd prefer to go to Si1 quality etc and that's at least 5k cdn. It's too much of a jump for me right now. Maybe later on in life.....like an anniversary But, perhaps by then I'll have moved on to other things.

Would you mind sharing a photo of your ring before a reset or even after the reset? I'd love to see it!

For 1.8tcw the price after the refund seems pretty good. But I think you need to decide if that clarity is something that will bug you. If you think you'll be happy with the fact you found a large 5stone affordably, and will feel happy each time you wear the ring knowing you'd probably be hard pressed to find something at that size and price, then keep it and enjoy it.

But if you don't love it and if you think you'll always be wishing you got something better, such that you can't enjoy each time youre wearing it because you'll always have that regret, then I say return it and save up until you can get something you really love.

I think you said it right, that I'm happy to find a stone at that size and price. I think moving up the chain I'd be spending significantly more. I'd love to find something pre-loved for around $3k cdn with better specs, but that doesn't seem to exist. So, this will be an example of taking what I can get right now and upgrading in my future.

I just wanted to get the advice of PSers as to whether the deal was even decent. You folks have seen it all, and sometimes even something I think is a decent deal for specs and size really isn't.

I’m in Canada as well and I purchased a 3ctw eternity ring from JewelryULovebyAby on Etsy. It’s gorgeous and was very reasonably priced. I’ve made a few purchases from Aby and have always been happy. She has a 5 stone VS2 F ring in her shop for $1469CDN or $1111.71USD.
I don’t think I’m allowed to post a link...but it’s easy to find.
Hope this helps...

VERY cool! Thanks so much for your help! I'll be looking into this right now! Your ring is GORGEOUS! I'd love to get a nice eternity ring too! I appreciate your advice!

 

[tfc_diamondlvr]

Don't laugh... the bathroom is great for pics, especially if you stand in the shower/bathtub lolol.

What about the car? I see tons of car photos? Bathtub eh? Do I take it with shots of the tub or tile

 

[PintoBean]

What about the car? I see tons of car photos? Bathtub eh? Do I take it with shots of the tub or tile

All of the above. Never enough bling **** in PS

 

[nala]

Ok. Here are a couple of pics. See if you can spot it. Lol.

 

[tfc_diamondlvr]

Ok. Here are a couple of pics. See if you can spot it. Lol.

I like this! I feel like it's a where's waldo for diamonds
I've got a very untrained eye at these things, so I don't really see anything glaringly obvious!
You should wear these more often though! They are sparkly!
What's the specs on them?

 

[nala]

I like this! I feel like it's a where's waldo for diamonds
I've got a very untrained eye at these things, so I don't really see anything glaringly obvious!
You should wear these more often though! They are sparkly!
What's the specs on them?

Ty. Lol. The bad stone is in the bottom band. Second stone from left to right. Upper band are .20’s and Lower .25’s. Uncertified but I think they are I color Si clarity except for bad stone whicH is inferior. I plan to create an alternating band with all the stones. Maybe a garland band. Not sure yet. I think the stones are gorgeous but the settings don’t five me full coverage, hence the merging and resetting.

 

[Platinum-blonde]

Honestly, if you’re on the fence, and are settling for a ring that you don’t love, you should return it. Put the money you spent on this towards the Alhambra. VCA prices go up, sometimes significantly. The sooner you can afford it, the less you’ll probably pay. I’m sure a better ring will come along. Maybe not at that price, but significantly under retail.

 

[nala]

So what did you decide?