Three choices: HOF vs Standard - what options do I have to negotiate or haggle?

[flutlichtjunky]

Hi

I was given some excellent advice on my first thread and shown some amazing sites to purchase from but due to a few issues (such as no knowing exact size etc) I dont feel comfortable buying online from the US. I know I wont get nearly as good a deal but I'll just have to accept this even though I dont have much money.

I have found two/three options in my town from two differnt jewellers and I'm having trouble comparing (unfortunately side by side is not going to happen).

One has a 0.51 H VS2 platinum GIA princess for £1850 and another has a HOF 'Dream Cut' 0.33 H IS1 for £1780 or 0.52 for £2845

Until now I'd only looked online and never seen in the flesh a diamond ring and I was very impressed with the white/brightness of the HOF, I compared to a 0.64 F VS2 and it was obviously brighter with clearer symmetry. I would love to buy a larger ring such as a 0.51 HOF but at £2845 it's far to expensive, is there a way to approach negotiating price?

Unfortunately I live in Bournemouth, UK where there are alot of wealthy people (a few miles down the road is an area called Sandbanks which is said to have the 4th highest property value per sqaure foot in the world, I've no idea why though) so even these rings were at the bottom end of what they sold. They seemed friendly but perhaps as they might not be used to people haggling if I approach it badly it wont work.

What would be a good way to discuss price?

 

[JulieN]

I don''t understand your argument "not knowing the exact size." You''re comparing a half carat princess to a 1/3 ct Dream...surely they''re different sizes?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/14/2008 7:02:08 PM
Author:flutlichtjunky
Hi

I was given some excellent advice on my first thread and shown some amazing sites to purchase from but due to a few issues (such as no knowing exact size etc) I dont feel comfortable buying online from the US. I know I wont get nearly as good a deal but I'll just have to accept this even though I dont have much money.

I have found two/three options in my town from two differnt jewellers and I'm having trouble comparing (unfortunately side by side is not going to happen).

One has a 0.51 H VS2 platinum GIA princess for £1850 and another has a HOF 'Dream Cut' 0.33 H IS1 for £1780 or 0.52 for £2845

Until now I'd only looked online and never seen in the flesh a diamond ring and I was very impressed with the white/brightness of the HOF, I compared to a 0.64 F VS2 and it was obviously brighter with clearer symmetry. I would love to buy a larger ring such as a 0.51 HOF but at £2845 it's far to expensive, is there a way to approach negotiating price?

Unfortunately I live in Bournemouth, UK where there are alot of wealthy people (a few miles down the road is an area called Sandbanks which is said to have the 4th highest property value per sqaure foot in the world, I've no idea why though) so even these rings were at the bottom end of what they sold. They seemed friendly but perhaps as they might not be used to people haggling if I approach it badly it wont work.

What would be a good way to discuss price?

I am not familiar with the HoF Dream, but if the diamond is what you want then you can try this approach maybe. Go back in and ask to see the ring you want, admire it and get into potential purchase mode mentally. Then clarify the price, when they tell you what it is, look disappointed and say " I would love to buy this ring but my budget won't stretch that far...do you have any flexibility on the price?". That way the ball is in their court, never hurts to try.

 

[ceaphron]

The first stone I fell in love with was the HOF Dream. However it was waaaaay out of our price range. I ended up getting a round brilliant from Whiteflash for a third of the price of a Dream diamond for the same carat weight, but that is neither here nor there.

My local Hearts on Fire dealer does not negotiate on the price. When we asked, the sales person told us that they have to sell the diamonds for the price set by HOF, which is wildly inflated as we PSers know.

I am not sure why you are completely ruling out purchasing a stone online. Any reputable vendor will give you all the information you need about your stone, including weight, actual dimensions in mm (so that you can arrange for a setting is you choose not to get one from the vendor), cut angles, and detailed photographs.

A quick search through Whiteflash yielded a 0.528 carat A Cut Above G-color VVS2 for the equivalent of 931 pounds. For what you are paying for a .51 you could get a .70 carat G VVS2

I know you have your own reasons for buying locally, but you''re paying twice as much for a stone that is most likely not as nice as one you can get online.