i was told that my old engagement ring is worth only $75?

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

#31
Christiflora said:
This leads to topic better discussed in the Money Talks sub forum. Don' be surprised to see many people constantly wanting to upgrade their diamonds, and counting on reselling the current Diamond as a source of funding. The situation is no different than people buying new designer handbags with some funds coming from reselling old bags. Designer handbags are also not life essentials.:D
Click to expand...

THIS!!! :woohoo:
 
#32
tulipfield said:
Remember the supply of diamonds is controlled by the DeBeers cartel; diamonds are actually common and only seem rare because DeBeers monopolizes distribution. Therefore they are usually basically worthless at resale.

For this reason I plan on picking another stone for my engagement ring, and I'll never pay retail for diamonds.
Click to expand...
You're very wise.
 
#34
I apologize if this is off-topic, but does this extend to diamonds incorporated into a design by a name brand (VCA, Cartier, Stephen Webster, Roberto Coin, etc)? I mean diamond pieces in exquisite gold settings which are hallmarked - resale on those seems a little less depressing. Or No?
 
#35
BBC said:
I apologize if this is off-topic, but does this extend to diamonds incorporated into a design by a name brand (VCA, Cartier, Stephen Webster, Roberto Coin, etc)? I mean diamond pieces in exquisite gold settings which are hallmarked - resale on those seems a little less depressing. Or No?
Click to expand...

In this case, resale value will likely be in the brand name alone and not in the value of the diamond(s). It also depends on the name. Some name brands don't appear to hold their perceived value as much as others. YMMV.
 
#36
Im new to the site but i see similar issues on the value of jewelry. My hobby is building pendents that are unusual, something you wont see comming at u on the street. I basically show my gemstones only mounted in 14kt gold or better. One of my appraisers gets requests all the time to sell off collections that are family items & in short many are sold for the scrap. Some very good items with very unusual stones will sell but these are the really good stones that are getting hard to find in colored stones. Diamonds are in such abundance, that only the top cuts demand top dollars. I buy from sellers mostly overseas right from the cutters & have some very unusual items. Jewelry is a tuff business, so I keep it at the hobby level-steve...
 
#37
BBC said:
I apologize if this is off-topic, but does this extend to diamonds incorporated into a design by a name brand (VCA, Cartier, Stephen Webster, Roberto Coin, etc)? I mean diamond pieces in exquisite gold settings which are hallmarked - resale on those seems a little less depressing. Or No?
Click to expand...

They won't lose AS much of their retail value but the resale is still not as good as you'd think it would be. They must remain entirely intact and unchanged and in pristine condition, all original paperwork, packaging, etc., to maintain valuation as well.
 
#38
ame said:
They won't lose AS much of their retail value but the resale is still not as good as you'd think it would be. They must remain entirely intact and unchanged and in pristine condition, all original paperwork, packaging, etc., to maintain valuation as well.
Click to expand...


Thank you! Good to know. I've been keeping my purchases to "name" brands, I don't mind if they lose some value due to not being new, but I am pretty careful as well. Some designers like VCA, the prices keep going up, so that helps too, and of course I keep all paperwork, boxes, etc.
 
#39
BBC said:
Thank you! Good to know. I've been keeping my purchases to "name" brands, I don't mind if they lose some value due to not being new, but I am pretty careful as well. Some designers like VCA, the prices keep going up, so that helps too, and of course I keep all paperwork, boxes, etc.
Click to expand...

Diamonds/jewelry in general just are not investments. They don't retain value for resale as a whole. You'll get more back on the resale market being that it's a brand name, but it's not like you're going to get exactly what you paid back. It's just that you'll lose less money than you might otherwise.

The best way to "retain value" when you "resell" it is really just to trade it back to who you bought it from originally towards something else. And if you buy the best quality--and by that I mean the best cut quality--and middle slash higher on the color and clarity scales, it tends to fetch more in trade as they can often resell it easier. G color and VS1 will resell faster than a DEF IF-VVS clarity, at least right now. The demand is greater.
 
#40
ame said:
Diamonds/jewelry in general just are not investments. They don't retain value for resale as a whole. You'll get more back on the resale market being that it's a brand name, but it's not like you're going to get exactly what you paid back. It's just that you'll lose less money than you might otherwise.



The best way to "retain value" when you "resell" it is really just to trade it back to who you bought it from originally towards something else. And if you buy the best quality--and by that I mean the best cut quality--and middle slash higher on the color and clarity scales, it tends to fetch more in trade as they can often resell it easier. G color and VS1 will resell faster than a DEF IF-VVS clarity, at least right now. The demand is greater.
Click to expand...


Thanks, ame - I understand. I don't see jewelry as an investment, but I do look to only buy things that will retain some value over time. Also, I'm not buying diamonds, but gold pieces that may have diamonds in the design, like my VCA large frivole earclips. I also like pieces that have a "wow" factor in the design, like Sutra or Stephen Webster, where some of the value is in the design itself (and you also know the diamonds used in them are good). Now I am considering a Roberto Coin gold link design that has pave on some of the links. His diamonds are gorgeous, but for me it's more of an enhancement to the gold, which is substantial. I'm not considering a diamond ring or even studs (I would get bored of them too quickly), and I'm also not looking to get rid them of anytime soon.
 
#41
BBC said:
Thanks, ame - I understand. I don't see jewelry as an investment, but I do look to only buy things that will retain some value over time. Also, I'm not buying diamonds, but gold pieces that may have diamonds in the design, like my VCA large frivole earclips. I also like pieces that have a "wow" factor in the design, like Sutra or Stephen Webster, where some of the value is in the design itself (and you also know the diamonds used in them are good). Now I am considering a Roberto Coin gold link design that has pave on some of the links. His diamonds are gorgeous, but for me it's more of an enhancement to the gold, which is substantial. I'm not considering a diamond ring or even studs (I would get bored of them too quickly), and I'm also not looking to get rid them of anytime soon.
Click to expand...

Is the gold solid gold or is it plated? That would make a huge difference in the valuation.
 
#42
$75 seems very harsh! I would look around, and speak to some proper valuers. I know there are different valuations for different things - Insurance replacement, historical cost etc. Maybe see if you can speak to a certified valuer rather than just a jeweller or pawn broker.

In my country (Australia), most items that sell second hand are at a discount to the Insurance valuation by negotiation (if its on a forum like eBay or Gumtree). Although the Insurance valuation is if it was stolen.

Seems like there is an opportunity for people to purchase their items (even designer items) second hand rather than new? Get a lower price for the same thing? Especially if people are always upgrading and it comes with certificates as if it were new.

I do hope all the expensive things I bought I can pass down and give to my potential future children and have them cherish it. Even if it isn't 'worth' as much as I paid. Either way I am going to enjoy it until I'm dead lol (morbid but true!)

I have my grandmothers engagement and wedding ring, they are not worth a lot of $ but I cherish them so much. Since she loved them and they were special to her. To me they are priceless because she was awesome!!
 
#43
Staci_W said:
Anyone tried worthy.com ? I've been seeing it advertised on FB lately.
Click to expand...

I went to Worthy.com to find out how much my ring would sell for. They require clear photo's of the ring from top and sides as well as photo of GIA certificate. A few days later they got back to me and said there were people interested but they did not give me an estimate of what I would get in the sale. So I have no idea what my 21 year old e-ring is worth at this point. I'm praying not to have to sell.

I'd probably try craigslist first and start at 80% of what I paid which looks reasonable when I've looked at other rings listed there. I would not sell lower than 60%, I'd just keep it for my son.
 
#45
I have my engagement ring which originally was appraised at 1600 dollars. Its small, princess cut diamond, 0.25 carats, but quality is VS2 I think. anyways, I don't wear it much because it was never my taste, and just wear different ring on that finger.
I sold my gold necklace to local jeweler for a fair price, and also asked him how much my e ring would be worth if sold. He told me after looking at it-75 dollars!


I was totally shocked. He said its because diamonds don't appreciate same way as precious metals do. Unless you have very large diamond, its hardly worth to even buy it.


can anyone else confirm this? anyone had similar experience?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top