upgrade-me
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2005
- Messages
- 94
I guess the purpose of this post is to 'vent' and get people's suggestions on what I should do as a next step.
I purchased my engagement ring off of a Pricescope vendor in 2005 and upgraded in 2008. I am now ready to upgrade again. I am going from an under 2 carat round, G, SI2 GIA diamond and looking for around a 2.25 round G, SI2 GIA/AGS diamond. My initial budget was around $5k for the upgrade. I reached out to the original Pricescope vendor that I've worked with in the past and started sending him various diamonds that were within my range. I have discovered several things along the way:
1. I need to up my budget. If I seriously want to get an eye-clean G, SI2 2.25 diamond, it's more like I need $10k.
2. Along the same line as #1, there is apparently a jump in pricing when you go over 2 carats (boo hoo).
3. I believe in 2011(?), prices of diamonds in general went up.
4. I am finding it difficult to find SI2 eye-clean diamonds. Some of the GIA certs of SI2's that I've looked at are just darn scary. Even ones that looked half-way decent (twinning wisps) end up not being eye-clean enough.
5. If I wanted to stay closer to budget, I will have to drop the color closer to an 'I'.
6. Several ones that I've asked the retailer to look at have come back as: a) diamond is in Mumbai, India. Can't get that for you b) sold c) on memo to someone else d) unavailable or 'can't find that one in my diamond database' or 'another retailer must actually own that actual diamond because I can't find it'
7. In a recent situation, the Pricescope retailer did find a diamond I asked about. It was an 'I' color, strong blue fluorescence, HCA 1.1. It bothered me that it was an 'I' and had strong blue fl (even though I picked it out!). I went to 2 stores to find an 'I' color GIA certed round to see if I was comfortable with the color drop. I essentially couldn't find one. One store had a GIA 'H' and a GIA 'J'. H was ok, J color bothered me. A 2nd store had an 'I' GIA I1 clarity stone - gross! It was so poorly cut that I couldn't get a good feeling if an 'I' colored stone was acceptable to my eyes. Therefore, without getting a good feel of 'I' color, I am backing away from this color.
8. Now another GIA stone was found and is available: H, SI2, HCA 2.5 eye clean stone, no fluorescence. I feel like I would want a 'faint' or 'medium blue' fluorescence to counteract the drop in color.
What should I do?
1. Keep looking/up my budget to get the G, SI2 or a H, SI2 with some fluorescence? I'm kind of uncomfortable spending $10k to go up around half a carat.
2. Consign my existing diamond and go to a vendor that has a diamond that I'm looking for? As an FYI, my original e-ring I kept when I 1st got married. I never sold it for sentimental reasons and do wear occasionally so I wouldn't be without a ring. Also, I most likely would not be upgrading again (if that is even a possibility! I'll ask hubby in another 5 yrs) with the existing retailer because I wouldn't qualify per their newest trade-up policy.
3. Wait until later this month. Why? I will be going to the Diamond District in NYC later this month with some friends for a different reason. At that time, maybe I can find a decent well cut 'I' GIA colored stone to get a real sense if 'I" is acceptable.
I've been looking on pricescope and directly on the retailer's websites for diamonds for over 2 wks every day and I'm getting frustrated.
What would you do? Your thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.
I purchased my engagement ring off of a Pricescope vendor in 2005 and upgraded in 2008. I am now ready to upgrade again. I am going from an under 2 carat round, G, SI2 GIA diamond and looking for around a 2.25 round G, SI2 GIA/AGS diamond. My initial budget was around $5k for the upgrade. I reached out to the original Pricescope vendor that I've worked with in the past and started sending him various diamonds that were within my range. I have discovered several things along the way:
1. I need to up my budget. If I seriously want to get an eye-clean G, SI2 2.25 diamond, it's more like I need $10k.
2. Along the same line as #1, there is apparently a jump in pricing when you go over 2 carats (boo hoo).
3. I believe in 2011(?), prices of diamonds in general went up.
4. I am finding it difficult to find SI2 eye-clean diamonds. Some of the GIA certs of SI2's that I've looked at are just darn scary. Even ones that looked half-way decent (twinning wisps) end up not being eye-clean enough.
5. If I wanted to stay closer to budget, I will have to drop the color closer to an 'I'.
6. Several ones that I've asked the retailer to look at have come back as: a) diamond is in Mumbai, India. Can't get that for you b) sold c) on memo to someone else d) unavailable or 'can't find that one in my diamond database' or 'another retailer must actually own that actual diamond because I can't find it'
7. In a recent situation, the Pricescope retailer did find a diamond I asked about. It was an 'I' color, strong blue fluorescence, HCA 1.1. It bothered me that it was an 'I' and had strong blue fl (even though I picked it out!). I went to 2 stores to find an 'I' color GIA certed round to see if I was comfortable with the color drop. I essentially couldn't find one. One store had a GIA 'H' and a GIA 'J'. H was ok, J color bothered me. A 2nd store had an 'I' GIA I1 clarity stone - gross! It was so poorly cut that I couldn't get a good feeling if an 'I' colored stone was acceptable to my eyes. Therefore, without getting a good feel of 'I' color, I am backing away from this color.
8. Now another GIA stone was found and is available: H, SI2, HCA 2.5 eye clean stone, no fluorescence. I feel like I would want a 'faint' or 'medium blue' fluorescence to counteract the drop in color.
What should I do?
1. Keep looking/up my budget to get the G, SI2 or a H, SI2 with some fluorescence? I'm kind of uncomfortable spending $10k to go up around half a carat.
2. Consign my existing diamond and go to a vendor that has a diamond that I'm looking for? As an FYI, my original e-ring I kept when I 1st got married. I never sold it for sentimental reasons and do wear occasionally so I wouldn't be without a ring. Also, I most likely would not be upgrading again (if that is even a possibility! I'll ask hubby in another 5 yrs) with the existing retailer because I wouldn't qualify per their newest trade-up policy.
3. Wait until later this month. Why? I will be going to the Diamond District in NYC later this month with some friends for a different reason. At that time, maybe I can find a decent well cut 'I' GIA colored stone to get a real sense if 'I" is acceptable.
I've been looking on pricescope and directly on the retailer's websites for diamonds for over 2 wks every day and I'm getting frustrated.
What would you do? Your thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.
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