who understands diamond prices????

[nealymouse]

We were married 25 years last Nov 26. I had plans of Paris but our daughter became very sick and the fact that we were all together for our 25th was the best gift of all.

Today my hubby and I decided who needs Paris and he got me the 3 diamond trinity ring for our 26th anniversity in Nov.

I am over joyed but dont understand the pricing.....the price was $13,000. but the store price was $6,000. then because they are having a sale next week we got the ring for $4,500. Its 3 diamonds all the same size with a total weight of 1.75CT.

I have to say I dont think I "Really" got a deal. I think the ring is really only worth what we paid so why the game??

 

[Ember]

If you can provide some of the specs of the stones I could come up with an approximate price for you (cut, colour, clarity) for the stones. Each stone would be about 0.6 of a carat.

Diamond pricing is controlled almost exclusively by DeBeers, who hold 2/3 of the world's diamonds. Even diamonds that have not gone through DeBeers hands follow their pricing. Other influences on the price of a piece of jewelry include the metal used or any fine detail work.

 

[nealymouse]

HIJ-SI/I trinity 3/4 each diamond

Does this help?

Oh no fancy band just a plain 14K white gold the diamonds look like they are set in horse shoes? I have never seen a setting like this before

 

[java]

Shhhh it's a secret-

But the stores generally do a markup of at least 100%- usually much much more.

For example - they get a piece at $100. They mark it up to $2500. Then they have the 80% off sale. Then they take off another 10% off that. Because of whatever sale. So you get the ring for about $450 thinking you had a great deal- when the company made about 400%.

But I will say that diamond prices are still holding strong and it sounds like you got a decent price on the item! Per carat that is actually appropriate depending on the quality of stones you have.

Ember what do you do?if you don't mind

 

[nealymouse]

I saw the ring and loved the setting this is why I picked the one I got, I just dont understand what it all means

I knw they played pricing games I just wonder what it is "really" worth LOL

 

[tinatark]

The setting is called a "trellis" setting - it really is pretty. Is the ring returnable? It seems you may have buyers remorse and while you want that style ring maybe you need to shop around for the best stones at a great price?

The prices are crazy - don't worry about how they got to the final price, if the final price is a fair one to you. Kind of like car shopping - many times dealers start at MSRP, then take off rebates and other garbage to get you to the price you want to pay.

If you bought it at a mall store, you could probably get better diamonds for the same or less $$ at a privately owned store, even at a Pawn Shop.

Here's a 1.5 ctw at Sam's Club for around $2500
http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=379348

 

[lil mermaid]

OP, you say the paperwork says HIJ - are they H,I,or J color? Or is there one of each? It is hard to say without knowing that. For diamonds that are .75 each, you should have a certificate for each one.

I love that trellis style, my solitare setting has that. Very pretty, IMO.

 

[nealymouse]

I will have to ask because the recite says just what I typed. So im thinking SI because that is what it says along??? Im so confussed LOL The diamonds are all the same height in a row.

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

We were married 25 years last Nov 26. I had plans of Paris but our daughter became very sick and the fact that we were all together for our 25th was the best gift of all.

Today my hubby and I decided who needs Paris and he got me the 3 diamond trinity ring for our 26th anniversity in Nov.

I am over joyed but dont understand the pricing.....the price was $13,000. but the store price was $6,000. then because they are having a sale next week we got the ring for $4,500. Its 3 diamonds all the same size with a total weight of 1.75CT.

I have to say I dont think I "Really" got a deal. I think the ring is really only worth what we paid so why the game??

I would go to Blue Nile dot com and put in all the details. If you put in all the details and the price is the same or better than I would say you got a good deal. I would also say what price comes out on the site is what it is worth. They typically have the best prices.

Congrats on the 25 years of marriage.

Jason

 

[nealymouse]

Oh I dont have buyers remorse, I am thrilled with the ring. I just dont understand the pricing

 

[java]

SI is GOOD! So if that's what your stones are you have a very nice ring! DH says wholesale around $1400/carat for that size stones and that quality. Color impacts the price as well. But at that price point it sounds like you got a decent price! ENJOY your ring.

 

[nealymouse]

I went to blue nile and could only build it with one diamond and it came out at 2900 with the lowest quality

 

[a1tinkfans]

CONGRATULATIONS on 25 years! I'll be there next year myself!

Your ring sounds LOVELY!

If it is what you wanted and you like it, just ENJOY it!!!!

 

[manning]

You will always buy a diamond at retail and sell it at wholesale. What a racket.

Buy a diamond at 1000, it will appraise at 2000. When you go to sell it, the price will be uder the 1000

 

[RadioNate]

I went to blue nile and could only build it with one diamond and it came out at 2900 with the lowest quality

I happened to be on blue nile looking at something when this post caught my eye.

I built a total ct weight 1.7 3 stone trellis set ring in platinum close to your details and it came out about $6200. I had to make the center stone slightly larger than the side stones in their creator so that likely bumped up the price a bit as well as doing platinum rather than gold.

enjoy your ring!

 

[tinatark]

SI = slightly included (flawed) stone but depending on the level (SI1, SI2) you may or may not be able to see flaws without a loupe.
I = included stone - you should be able to see the flaws without a loupe

Colors -
H, I, J = lowest of the colorless diamonds, but still colorless

3/4 carat per stone = 2.25 total carat weight

Do you have any certifications (GIA, IGI)? I am assuming the stones aren't GIA certified, since the range the stones were sold to you as is so large - they certify per stone, and list a specific color, weight, clarity. GIA is really the *gold standard* as far as diamond grading.


Bottom line - I wouldn't worry about how they got to the price you paid - if you feel like you got a great deal and are happy with the ring -

 

[Evi]

I used to work in jewelry and will tell you most jewelry is priced at almost a 300% markup never think your getting a great deal unless you know really know the jeweler or you've been keeping track on a particular piece so you have seen the markdowns.

With that said I don't think most of us are truly buying the investment pieces being sold at the 400,000 plus range so its safe to say that if your buying a diamond even a 10k+ diamond your not buying it for investment purposes or you'd be buying something different maybe an untreated emerald or a real alexandrite. When we buy jewelry its more because we love it, it marks something with us its a celebration of something, so buy what you love because unless your buying gold in the sooks of dubai or diamonds in africa or australia and you still need to know who your buying from your never getting them for there real market price.

When buying gold American standard is 14k the rest of the world views 14k the way we view 10k they will usually only buy 18k and up. But 14k is harder and more durable so you buy what you can afford and what you like in the colors of gold. Just never expect to recap what you paid for in designer names or store brands unless they are truly the harry winstons of tomorrow.

When buying a diamond everyone talks about the 4 c I'll tell you it doesn't matter a whole lot unless your buying a very expensive stone the best is to stay between d-h these will be the cleanest colored stones next is clarity stay with between f-vvs2 anything more you will see blemishes in the stone this may not matter to you and if your ok with it then its ok also.

I dont pay tons of attention to cut and clarity unless a stone is over 1ct because honestly if you have a really good stone that is good color and clarity, though the best cuts will make it more brilliant a good diamond will have plenty of shine. and a diamond that doesn't have a perfect cut belt but is good in color and clarity may be cut to look larger this can save you money and you'll still have a great stone for a low setting.

Just some stuff to think about but remember when we buy our pandora beads and such there not worth there weight its just becouse we like them =)

either way love your ring its super sweet that hubby bought you such a beautiful setting and thought about its meaning and your going to love it forever and someday have something beautiful to pass on to your kids. I think that counts more then anything else one of my favorite pieces of jewelry is a ring that my mother bought for herself with her first paycheck its nothing fancy its just a little gold band but its that it meant so much to her it means even more to me and someday I'll pass it on to one of her grandchildren.

 

[Ember]

Ember what do you do?if you don't mind

I'm a grade one teacher. But I have family in the jewelry business and know more about it than anyone should probably have to!

I'll do some checking tomorrow and see what I come up with for prices. For now I'm off to bed!

 

[minnieandmickey]

I just want to say congrats! I have the same anniversary date as you. We'll be married 21 years this Nov 26th.

 

[bumbershoot]

If it is what you wanted and you like it, just ENJOY it!!!!

Yep. And if you guys are happy with what you paid for it, enjoy it more.

The only thing you need now is to have it put on your homeowner's/renter's insurance...State Farm called it a "rider", Allstate calls it being "scheduled"...I believe you'll want to get "replacement value" insurance for it so it can be replaced fully (not just the money you paid for it).