visit with my favorite local jeweler tomorrow

[katiedid]

Ok ladies, I''m excited. If you followed my "beautiful new 3-prong martini pendant" thread, you know how positively thrilled I was with the work my new-found local jeweler did. It could not be more perfect. (And I don''t say that very often about ANYTHING. I''m super picky...)

I called him today, just on a whim, to see if they ever traded diamond earrings. I told him I had these 1.5 ctw earrings from Jared, and that after wearing them for almost a year and getting used to the size, I wished I''d stuck with the smaller ones, which were 1 ctw. I told him I knew that sounded crazy and was the complete opposite of what most people do, which he thought was kindof funny, but said yes, they do trade, and for me to come by tomorrow. I''m taking a vacation day tomorrow anyway, so I told him I''d make a visit there! I know that Jared wouldn''t do any kind of trade, other than to let me spend double what I paid for these on an upgrade. And I don''t have the $ to do that, even if I wanted to go bigger.

My question is this: how do I approach this potential trade? I want to go back to around 1 ctw, but I want nicer stones with much better cut. The ones I have now have no certification, and I don''t care so much about that, as long as I get something in a better size that is cut better and sparkles more than these do. I know I can''t expect to walk in there with my receipt for these and ask them to give me that much towards a new pair (and I''m sure they were overpriced at Jared to begin with.) I''m hoping it will be an almost even trade -- smaller carat weight but better cut stones.

What do you all think I should expect? Am I being realistic?

 

[Ellen]

Well, I''ve never done this, and really I''m kind of surprised they''ll take stones they didn''t sell you...So, I think you will just have to take what he gives you basically, and go from there. I suppose you could ask for a bit more if you think it''s too low, or ask to have him throw the settings in for free if your new stones won''t work.

 

[Regular Guy]

Katiedid,

Sorry, this is a non-sequitur & sidebar, but...what "juice" do you get from earrings. Do you feel their weight? Do you see them as you pass in a mirror. Is it the moment you take them on and take them off? The look you get when people look at you.

Just curious. Obviously, unlike an e-ring...you won''t routinely be looking at these during the day...or any time you''re wearing them, or so I''d guess.

 

[katiedid]

thanks Ellen--we''ll see what happens I guess.

Regular Guy, I''m not sure I get what you''re asking... do you mean why do I care about the size of the earrings? Or why am I not happy with them? I know most people probably think I''m crazy for wanting SMALLER diamonds. But ever since I got them, I''ve always thought they were pretty but weren''t really "me". They''ve always seemed too big--not really what I''d call "gaudy" but when I look at them, I don''t think "wow, I love these--I think they are the perfect size for me".

Oh well, since I''m not getting much feedback on this question, I''ll just wait and see what happens tomorrow!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/2/2007 8:27:07 PM
Author: katiedid
thanks Ellen--we''ll see what happens I guess.

Regular Guy, I''m not sure I get what you''re asking... do you mean why do I care about the size of the earrings? Or why am I not happy with them? I know most people probably think I''m crazy for wanting SMALLER diamonds. But ever since I got them, I''ve always thought they were pretty but weren''t really ''me''. They''ve always seemed too big--not really what I''d call ''gaudy'' but when I look at them, I don''t think ''wow, I love these--I think they are the perfect size for me''.

Oh well, since I''m not getting much feedback on this question, I''ll just wait and see what happens tomorrow!

I don''t think you''re crazy at all. I''m one of the few "size concious" gals around here, so I totally get it.

Let us know what happens!

 

[risingsun]

My jeweler has been willing to take in trade items that I haven't bought from him. I just did that with a pendant, over the weekend. He's done this on several occasions. I negotiate to get the best price possible. This is not a mall store, BTW, but a high end jeweler. It's all very polite and I walk away feeling good about the situation. The way I see it, both my jeweler and I have gained something from the transaction. Bring in your receipts and appraisals to give him something to work with. Please let us know how it turns out. I hope you get a pair of sparklers that you love

 

[katiedid]

thanks ellen and risingsun! I''ll take my receipt in and see where we go from there. And I''ll definitely let everyone know!

 

[Stone Hunter]

GOOD LUCK!!!

So exciting. I remember hearing that Jared''s would take diamond stones .5ct and higher in trade. Even if they didn''t sell them. I''m sure your guy has some standard like that too. He probably already has someone wanting to upgrade to the size you''re bringing in.

HAVE FUN!!!

 

[:)]

You may want to consider having an actual appraisal done (by a certified appraiser, not a store) for resale value of the studs - you would let the appraiser know what the purpose of the appraisal was so that it could be valued properly. That would get you a good idea of what to expect. You won''t get nearly what you initially paid, but at least a real appraisal would give you an idea of what would be expected so you wouldn''t have to wonder if you were undervalued at the trade in jewelers.

 

[katiedid]

Just got back from the jeweler. He looked at my earrings and said they were great color but had "a lot of flaws in them", which I already knew, of course! I showed him my receipt from Jared and he said that I got a pretty decent deal for the size. I tried on a pair of 1 ctw and I swear they seemed so much bigger than I remember my 1 ctw being. I looked at them with the loup and they were very clean, and all of his earrings are G or better in color and SI1 or better in clarity.

But he said he''s getting some ideal cut earrings in that are F in color. He doesn''t usually use ideal cut stones for earrings, because most people don''t want to pay for that in an earring. He ordered them after seeing them at the jewelry show he went to in Orlando a few weeks ago. They are due in in about a week to 10 days and he''s going to call me when they come in. He said they were "killer" and he wanted me to take a look at them. We talked about trade value, etc and he said he thought he could trade me my earrings for the ideal cut 1 ctw ones that are already set in 14 wg martini settings (which is what I''d want). He said if they come to him with screw backs, he''ll change those for me. So I''ll go look at those when he gets them and if they look good, I''ll get them. They are (on paper) exactly what I want--great color, 1 ctw, and great cut.

 

[Sundial]

That sounds great and I hope it works out! You will love having ideal cut studs in martini settings!!! I think people sometimes underestimate what you can do at a locally owned jewelry store. My local jeweler has taken both diamonds that I bought from him and one that I bought elsewhere in trade. As long as you are both satisfied with the transaction why not?

Edited to add: Regular Guy even though I can't see my studs when I wear them I love catching glimpses of them in mirrors and I appreciate them when I take them on and off. I feel that nice diamonds on the earlobes complete my look and are an important accessory.

 

[katiedid]

Thanks sundial! I think we''d both be getting an ok deal with this trade if it works out. He can resell my 1.5 ctw no problem. He had a pair of 1.5 ctw there in the store (they were nicer than mine) and they were more than I paid for mine at Jared.

He said the 1 ctw ideal cut earrings would end up being about the same price as my 1.5 ctw non-ideal. Which means he''s giving me pretty much everything I spent on mine as credit towards the new ones. I think that''s pretty generous. I even looked at some that were .75 ctw and thought those were a great size too. I just don''t want to go too much smaller and wish I hadn''t. I guess when he gets the ideals in, I''ll see how the .75s look in addition to the 1 ctw. I don''t think of .75 ctw as small at all.

I''ll keep everyone posted!

 

[marcy]

Wow, it sounds like everything will work out great for you. My 1/2 ct RB diamond studs are nice and sparky but I know your ideal studs will be incredible! I can''t wait to see them.

 

[Stone Hunter]

Oh I''m so glad that it went well for you. I would be so excited if I were you. Waiting for those studs to come in would be hard for me. So cool that you may be able to do an even trade if you love them.

Sounds like they will be perfect for you. My fingers are crossed that you''ll love the new earrings.

 

[Ellen]

I missed this yesterday.

Sounds like you are going to come out of this very well!

Keep us posted.

 

[risingsun]

It sounds as if you will end up with your perfect studs

Oops, that didn't come out the way it was intended

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/4/2007 7:57:25 PM
Author: risingsun
It sounds as if you will end up with your perfect studs

Oops, that didn''t come out the way it was intended

But it''s still a nice thought.

 

[risingsun]

Date: 8/4/2007 9:46:35 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 8/4/2007 7:57:25 PM
Author: risingsun
It sounds as if you will end up with your perfect studs

Oops, that didn''t come out the way it was intended

But it''s still a nice thought.

 

[katiedid]

ha ha!!! I love it -- the "perfect stud". Does he really exist? Just kidding!

I think I have a pretty good stud if I do say so myself!
I think the 1 ctw will be great. I keep thinking "will those be too big or just right?". I guess I''ll have to wait and look at them. It seems like the studs I love the most are smallish and very sparkly.

Does anyone here think 1 ctw will be TOO big? That may sound stupid, but I see lots of people here with studs that are .5 - 1ctw and they seem very happy with that size for everyday wear. I figure if he''ll do an even trade for the 1 ctw ideal cut, I should do that, and then keep the .5 ctw studs I have and possible bezel set them at some point. Then I''d have 2 different looks and 2 different sizes. It''s just that the .5 ctw are not very sparkly. They were bought from a maul store many years ago and even after putting them in the US cleaner several times, I just can''t get them to really sparkle.

 

[risingsun]

The 1 ctw ideal cut do sound "ideal" for everyday wear. Try them on when they come in and see what you think

 

[katiedid]

thanks again to all of you for posting! I am going to be dying of impatience until they come in. I hope he doesn''t change his mind when he gets them! (I can see him going "wow, these are way nicer than I remember. I can''t trade these to her for those "cracked glass" ones she has). Ha -- they aren''t that bad of course, I just see all the flaws in them now that I didn''t pay much attention to when I bought them. All I saw was the size! Just goes to prove that bigger is NOT always better with diamonds. Here is my thread of when I had them set in martini settings -- just for you to see: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/martinis-tomorrow.62814/

 

[rocks&purses]

Hi katiedid,

I think the 1 ctw will be a perfect size. That''s what I''ll get when I upgrade from my .70. Although, I think the .70 is a decent size. The ideal cut will make a great difference too. I''m glad that you have a great relationship with your local jeweler as it sounds like you''re getting a fair trade.

Can''t wait to see your new studs.

 

[Ellen]

Unless you have very large lobes, 1 ctw will be perfect.

 

[Stone Hunter]

Date: 8/5/2007 10:24:05 AM
Author: katiedid
ha ha!!! I love it -- the ''perfect stud''. Does he really exist? Just kidding!

I think I have a pretty good stud if I do say so myself!
I think the 1 ctw will be great. I keep thinking ''will those be too big or just right?''. I guess I''ll have to wait and look at them. It seems like the studs I love the most are smallish and very sparkly.

Does anyone here think 1 ctw will be TOO big? That may sound stupid, but I see lots of people here with studs that are .5 - 1ctw and they seem very happy with that size for everyday wear. I figure if he''ll do an even trade for the 1 ctw ideal cut, I should do that, and then keep the .5 ctw studs I have and possible bezel set them at some point. Then I''d have 2 different looks and 2 different sizes. It''s just that the .5 ctw are not very sparkly. They were bought from a maul store many years ago and even after putting them in the US cleaner several times, I just can''t get them to really sparkle.

I think size depends on personal taste and the size of your earlobes. I have very small lobes but would like to move up from .50 tcw. Is that how you feel when you wear your .50 tcw set? Then you need more than that but you may have to try on some .75 tcw studs and see what you think of that size.

But do give the 1ctw stones a chance. Also if you bezel set the .50 tcw how big mm wise will they be? Will they look the same in your ears as the 1 ctw? Anyone know? If that''s the case then you really will have two different looks but the same size stones. KWIM?

 

[iheartscience]

Wow, katiedid, it sounds like you have a great jeweler! I can''t wait to see your new set, whatever you decide to go for! If it was me, I''d stick with the 1 ctw since you had those before and were happy with them.

 

[katiedid]

I think you guys are right--I''m shooting for the 1 ctw and I doubt they''ll feel too big. I''m wearing the .50 ctw lately (the 1.5 ctw are sitting in my jewelry box, waiting to go to their new home.

)

I''ll probably look at the .75s if he has some nice ones, but if he''s willing to trade me for the 1 ctw, I''d be an idiot to not take that deal. It''s not like he''s going to give me money back if I wanted the .75s! I already feel like he''s doing me a favor by trading.

If I bezel set the .50s, I''m guessing they''d be the same size as .75s or so. I like the really thin bezel setting that he''d get for me. He even cuts off some of the back of the bezel so it sits flatter on your ear. He says he makes it so the culet is just inside and not scraping your ear, but it doesn''t need to be any deeper than that.

I''ve cleaned my .50s several times lately (after they''ve been sitting in my jewelry box for 2 years...) and I could not get them to really sparkle. Yesterday when I was grocery shopping, I bought some clear ammonia and I put a mixture of hot water and ammonia (a little more water than ammonia) in my US and ran them through twice. They look SO much better! I guess it was the ammonia that did it. I''ve tried regular cleaner and Mr. Clean in the US and it didn''t do what the ammonia did. I don''t want to clean them often in the ammonia though because I''ve heard it''s not good for gold and they are set in wg. Same with my martini pendant. I ran it through there once too but I''m scared to use ammonia very often on it since it''s wg as well.