- Joined
- Dec 28, 2005
- Messages
- 4,101
By now, many of you know me pretty well here. You know I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I've learned enough to at least help someone perhaps avoid a costly mistake. So, about a week ago, an acquantaince I knew said he had heard I knew a few things about diamonds and was looking for some help for an engagement ring. So, I spent over an hour with him and introduced him to Pricescope and guided him to the tutorials and we talked about grading reports and the C's. I advised him to stay with AGS or GIA graded stones and specifically suggested he avoid EGL unless he was planning to pay for an independent appraisal. I showed him rings on SMTR and he drooled over Mara's beauty (but who wouldn't) as well as many others. We talked about metals like white gold versus platinum vs palladium. And he promised to learn and not buy anything without my help. A few days later he says he's learning so much and had seen some rings from Whiteflash that he loved and was really grateful I had guided him towards better quality. And I felt good.
So, last night I see him and he says, "hey, I did it!!" And I said, "you mean you ordered something from Whiteflash?" And he says no, a buddy took me to see a "wholesaler" (uh oh) and he bought a 1.2 carat EGL "certified" (don't you hate that people think diamonds are certified) "SUPER IDEAL" (Don't you REALLY hate that dealers call them super ideal when they aren't even close) round stone set in white gold. So, I'm thinking, well maybe he didn't do badly and I ask if he has anything with the specs and he says, "no but here's what I do remember." "It's 1.2 carats, I, SI2" and then he says, "and it's 63/62" And then he says and I got it set in a white gold setting with some pave all for around $7,000 cash. And he wants to know what I think. WHAT DO I THINK?????????
I want so badly to shout at him and tell him he was hustled and the stone is likely pretty poor and I, SI2 is probably far worse than you were told and you paid waaaaay too much for your great deal. But all I could muster was, "that's great! I'm sure it's beautiful." I just don't get how he could have read the tutorials, taken notes when we talked about diamonds, said he would not do anything without my guidance and then go buy something that is nowhere near what he could have gotten. Frustrating I'm telling you.
Thanks for letting me vent...........
So, last night I see him and he says, "hey, I did it!!" And I said, "you mean you ordered something from Whiteflash?" And he says no, a buddy took me to see a "wholesaler" (uh oh) and he bought a 1.2 carat EGL "certified" (don't you hate that people think diamonds are certified) "SUPER IDEAL" (Don't you REALLY hate that dealers call them super ideal when they aren't even close) round stone set in white gold. So, I'm thinking, well maybe he didn't do badly and I ask if he has anything with the specs and he says, "no but here's what I do remember." "It's 1.2 carats, I, SI2" and then he says, "and it's 63/62" And then he says and I got it set in a white gold setting with some pave all for around $7,000 cash. And he wants to know what I think. WHAT DO I THINK?????????



Thanks for letting me vent...........