Discount Diamond Earring
I'm buying a diamond engagement ring and want to know the "experts"
opinions of whether this is a fair price.... I'm buying from a jewelry
store in NYC that my brother bought his engagement ring from and my
father bought a nice set of diamond earrings from and both were very
happy with the price/quality/service. What I was shown was a 100 point
SI1 with DE color and what appears to be a very nice cut. Round Brilliant
by the way... It isn't GIA certified so the color etc is the dealers
"estimate" but he does have a good rep. What would you expect to pay for
this diamond?
Difference in prices below discussed at WHOLESALE!
But you don't tell us what the price is to know if it is fair. The
difference between a D and an E in SI1 is only 100 per carat, so the
possible disparity in color is not as important in this stone as it would
be in a VS1 where the disparity in price is 1,100 per carat. If the
color drops to F then subtract another 100 per carat for an SI1.
If the stone should be an SI2, then drop another 700 per carat from the
price, so if the stone was really an E-SI2, it would be worth 800 per
carat less than if it were D-SI1.
Now do you begin to see the difference a grade makes. Do you begin to
understand why no fine stone should be purchased without a cert from an
independant lab??? Your jeweler can have an excellent reputation and be
completely honest, but a simple error of one color and one clarity can
cost you 800 per carat at the levels listed. If you were comparing VS1
stones, a drop to E-VS2 would be worth 1,600 per carat less than a D-VS1.
For your information, I sell a well made D-SI1 with either GIA or EGL LA
cert for approximately $4,470, but this would not be a fair price to
expect in a retail environment. In addition to the price advantage that
I offer, I also offer the following dissadvantages that your local
retailer will not.
Cash up front, ten day right of return for any reason. Your local
retailer will probably offer terms, or perhaps a discount for cash.
One stone at a time to look at. Your local retailer will probably have
at LEAST two for you to look at.
Send me a picture or drawing setting consultation. Your local retailer
will have a selection of rings in stock, and many have an on staff
designer available to meet with you.
The pleasure of waiting for registered mail to deliver your stone. Your
local jeweler can probably deliver it to you, mounted, this afternoon if
you tell him soon enough this morning.
Just some food for thought. Expect to pay a retailer in New York 10-50%
more than you would pay someone like me, depending on how flexible
(hungry) he is.