What''s going on with inventory?

[gracie33]

I have been waiting on the right diamond from WF, but they are very low on inventory. The estimated wait time has now been extended, and I am getting nervous because we are planning to get engaged within the next month or so. Why is it taking so long?

We love WF, and want to buy from them, but we are running out of time!

Just wanted to vent and get a better understanding of what the situation is.

Thanks!

 

[gontama]

Date: 10/20/2007 1:59:02 PM
Author:gracie33
I have been waiting on the right diamond from WF, but they are very low on inventory. The estimated wait time has now been extended, and I am getting nervous because we are planning to get engaged within the next month or so. Why is it taking so long?

We love WF, and want to buy from them, but we are running out of time!

Just wanted to vent and get a better understanding of what the situation is.

Thanks!

I am sorry for the situation. I assume you mean color, clarity, and weight by "right diamond". If I were you (others may not do so), I would get one from WH which is very close in weight.

Their trade-in policy allows you to upgrade to another diamond with higher color and clarity when it is available. If the diameter is close, (<0.1 mm diff), I was told that many settings can be adjusted for the new diamond. This way, you can have an engagement ring on time with the option for upgrade later. Some people may not like to take this 2 steps. This is just what I would consider, because this ensures that you will eventually get exactly what you want.

Situation --- does not look very different (to me) among vendors here. If they have a lot of inventory, I imagine established brands get hit particularly hard. They probably have more buying power. For example (I have no relation to them), I hate to see not much inventory at Infinity, which I think carries really nice diamonds too. Ability and will to make/deliver the finest seems to have little relevance to supply control power, if such a thing exists ...

 

[Skippy123]

I would call them and see what they can get in.

 

[Independent Gal]

Why not try another vendor? Have you already given them money? If not, check out james allen, good old gold, blue nile, pearlman''s... I''m sure someone can find you the diamond you want! No need to stick with Whiteflash.

 

[gontama]

Date: 10/20/2007 5:00:22 PM
Author: Independent Gal
Why not try another vendor? Have you already given them money? If not, check out james allen, good old gold, blue nile, pearlman''s... I''m sure someone can find you the diamond you want! No need to stick with Whiteflash.

No need to stick with WF. Those vendors do have nice diamonds too. But nothing wrong with sticking with WF because OP loves WF which I think is a part of puchasing experience. If OP opens up their mind to other sources, that is certainly a possibility.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Gracie, they get in new diamonds every few weeks. No vendor has an unlimited supply, unfortunately. I waited months to get my earring diamonds.

Exactly what are you looking for? You may need to look beyond WF or adjust your dates.

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 10/20/2007 5:36:26 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006


Exactly what are you looking for? You may need to look beyond WF or adjust your dates.

ditto..

 

[echelon6]

They won''t get new stock in until they''ve sold out substantially their old stock for any particular size range

 

[JohnQuixote]

 

[JohnQuixote]

Date: 10/20/2007 8:00:58 PM
Author: echelon6

They won't get new stock in until they've sold out substantially their old stock for any particular size range

Where did you hear this Echelon? It doesn’t actually work like that. We can inform our cutting partner of what we would like to have (based on demand trends) but inventory is limited to what mother nature produces in terms of rough - balanced with what’s commercially appropriate for the specialized cutting we require.

I’ve often said it would be GREAT if we could place orders like we were in a kitchen:“Hey chef, order in...Three 0.96 ct G SI1s.Make ‘em eye-clean with a side of medium blue fluorescence. Also one 8mm round, just under 2ct - not above - J but facing up white…VS if fine, hold the fluoro…We need a half-dozen 80 pointers rushed to table two, near-colorless and clean with matching tables and spread...they want those as earrings please. And the lady at table three wants a princess but is allergic to feathers...please make it without. Thanks.”

It's not quite like that, especially when dealing with niche cut quality.Along those lines… who knows why you don’t find too many superideals just under ‘commercially important’ weights?

 

[Lynn B]

"...Along those lines… who knows why you don’t find too many superideals just under ‘commercially important’ weights?" -- JohnQuixote (in post above)


OOOOH, ooooh, I do, I do!!!!!!!!

Because of the significant price increases per carat at certain benchmark sizes... it's almost always in the cutter's best (financial) interest to take the stone up to the next nearest "commercially important weight", even if it means "hiding weight" somewhere in the stone and sacrificing beauty in the process.

Well?! Am I right? Am I right?! Do I get a trip to the candy jar, sir???!!!

 

[JohnQuixote]

Date: 10/20/2007 10:03:11 PM
Author: Lynn B
'...Along those lines… who knows why you don’t find too many superideals just under ‘commercially important’ weights?' -- JohnQuixote (in post above)
OOOOH, ooooh, I do, I do!!!!!!!!

Because of the significant price increases per carat at certain benchmark sizes... it's almost always in the cutter's best (financial) interest to take the stone up to the next nearest 'commercially important weight', even if it means 'hiding weight' somewhere in the stone and sacrificing beauty in the process.

Well?! Am I right? Am I right?! Do I get a trip to the candy jar, sir???!!!

Wow. She's classy, pretty, witty... and fast (I suspect no one is surprised).

Exactly. Yield is a huge factor in cutting decisions - just as demand is. As I was replying here I was reminded of this post and thread, which addresses how many cutting decisions are made and why high cut quality may not be as plentiful as commercial cut quality.

Cheers Lynn - - and methinks everyone's candy jar is always open to you.

 

[Lynn B]

Haha, awwww shucks, John!!!

Thanks for making my day!!!

 

[solange]

I waited a few months before Leslie at Whiteflash located the perfect stone for me--and at a price that was well below our budget.

In the interum,I had seen several stones I thought might be suitable on the multiple listing site atmuch higher prices and sent her inquiries about them. but she said they were not for me. The stone she finally found was a perfectly eye clean Ideal cut 4.10 SI2. I recently had it reappraised by same appraiser who originally appraised the stone three years ago and the value has gone up to the point where he said that I could probably resell it to a dealer for at least what I paid because the price of large rough has gone up so much.

I am sure Whiteflash could find a stone for you if you can wait but they are very discerning and honest about what they approve for sale and Brian Gavin is a wealth of information.


My stone was not in their stock but they get new listings frequently from various wholesale sourcess so you really do not have to wait for restocking.

 

[echelon6]

Date: 10/20/2007 8:59:16 PM
Author: JohnQuixote

Date: 10/20/2007 8:00:58 PM

Author: echelon6


They won''t get new stock in until they''ve sold out substantially their old stock for any particular size range

Where did you hear this Echelon? It doesn’t actually work like that. We can inform our cutting partner of what we would like to have (based on demand trends) but inventory is limited to what mother nature produces in terms of rough - balanced with what’s commercially appropriate for the specialized cutting we require.


I’ve often said it would be GREAT if we could place orders like we were in a kitchen:“Hey chef, order in...Three 0.96 ct G SI1s.Make ‘em eye-clean with a side of medium blue fluorescence. Also one 8mm round, just under 2ct - not above - J but facing up white…VS if fine, hold the fluoro…We need a half-dozen 80 pointers rushed to table two, near-colorless and clean with matching tables and spread...they want those as earrings please. And the lady at table three wants a princess but is allergic to feathers...please make it without. Thanks.”

It''s not quite like that, especially when dealing with niche cut quality.Along those lines… who knows why you don’t find too many superideals just under ‘commercially important’ weights?

Actually I recall you posted something to the effect of that in a previous post (or somebody else at WF). Hope I''m not putting words in your mouth, I may have misinterpreted what I read, but it does make sense from a business perspective to not order in new stock if the old ones havent been sold down yet. If this is not the case, then I stand corrected.

For diamonds in particular, I''ve noticed certain diamonds with TIC proportions / above average optical symmetry / tight angles get sold down within days of listing, whereas I can (usually) find something I personally don''t like in older stock (e.g. a carbon spot in the middle, or assymetrical features, or large variances in c/p angles).

 

[diamondseeker2006]

All I can say, eschelon, after watching the WF inventory daily for about a year, is that they get in new stones from their supplier about every 6 weeks or so. I almost settled once for some earring stones and then backed out. I am glad because what I really wanted eventually came along. Buying a matched pair is a little more difficult than buying a single stone, too.

 

[gracie33]

I was under the impression that I had to wait, so I was worried. I am looking for a D-F, VS1 or VS2 .70+ H&A.

Thanks for the replies, I will be giving WF a call tomorrow.

G