Is this emerald cut ring a good deal?

[katkrack]

It has been a really good year with much to celebrate! First and foremost, we are celebrating a 10 year wedding anniversary. Our local jeweler (very trusted, excellent quality) has a three stone, emerald cut ring with the following specs:

Center stone: 2.30
Side stones: 1.13
Center is K, SI1
Side stones are about the same, maybe slightly better

Original price was $25000, but there is a 30% off for a holiday sale. Is this a good deal? The ring is beautiful in person (not sure the picture does it justice) but 17,500 is still a lot of money. I do have some diamond studs worth $2,000 they will allow me to trade in on the ring.

There is also a 1.73 round brilliant diamond pendant (faces up to look like 2.0 carat) in a J, VS1 that is also interesting. After discount, I could get that for $12,000 (so after my trade in, $10,000).



Is the ring a good deal? Based on a little research, it seems like online places (blue nile, etc.) do not even sell a K grade and even the J for a 2.30 stone would be considerably less than the hefty original price tag on this ring (granted, the side stones add a lot of value and weight).

What are your thoughts?

 

[katkrack]

I'm really just seeking any opinions or even just a thumbs up or down on whether the three stone ring is a good deal. It is beautiful on my hand, but a lot of money and I am trying to determine if the color and the quality are worth the price.

Thanks for any assistance or feedback!

It has been a really good year with much to celebrate! First and foremost, we are celebrating a 10 year wedding anniversary. Our local jeweler (very trusted, excellent quality) has a three stone, emerald cut ring with the following specs:

Center stone: 2.30
Side stones: 1.13
Center is K, SI1
Side stones are about the same, maybe slightly better

Original price was $25000, but there is a 30% off for a holiday sale. Is this a good deal? The ring is beautiful in person (not sure the picture does it justice) but 17,500 is still a lot of money. I do have some diamond studs worth $2,000 they will allow me to trade in on the ring.

There is also a 1.73 round brilliant diamond pendant (faces up to look like 2.0 carat) in a J, VS1 that is also interesting. After discount, I could get that for $12,000 (so after my trade in, $10,000).

View attachment 1522511

Is the ring a good deal? Based on a little research, it seems like online places (blue nile, etc.) do not even sell a K grade and even the J for a 2.30 stone would be considerably less than the hefty original price tag on this ring (granted, the side stones add a lot of value and weight).

What are your thoughts?

 

[Gimmethebag]

The stats are a little low for my comfort zone, since emerald cuts show everything. I would type in the closest stats possible in Blue Nile and see what the price difference is.

 

[katkrack]

The stats are a little low for my comfort zone, since emerald cuts show everything. I would type in the closest stats possible in Blue Nile and see what the price difference is.

Yes - I came home and checked Blue Nile which is what got me thinking....

The reason I was considering this jeweler was the fact I could:
1. trade in my diamond studs (2K value)
2. the 30% discount sounded appealing

However, I think the $25000 price tag for a K color and SI1 just don't add up (even with the supposed 30% discount).

The diamond pendant at 1.73ish (J, VS1) is probably a fair deal. However, even after the 30% off it is still 12K ish (10 after the 2K trade in).

I'm considering starting all over My husband is already tired of my back and forth, but I would rather be sure than have regret.

Thanks again for your feedback!

 

[evekitti]

I wouldn't go for K SI for emerald cuts. These step cuts don't hide inclusions or yellowness as well as round brilliants do. I wouldn't go below VS and G colour, but personally I like my diamonds colourless or near colourless.

 

[eye candy]

Usually the inclusions on an SI1 are visible on emeralds since the diamond cut is like a hall of mirrors. K means the stone is quite yellow to the naked eye.

I would pass. It's common for jewelers to give 30% off to entice buyers.

You may want to ask Victoriahermes in the "I'm a 19 yr jeweler thread" in this forum and get her opinion. She's the expert jeweler and knows their tricks.

 

[katkrack]

Usually the inclusions on an SI1 are visible on emeralds since the diamond cut is like a hall of mirrors. K means the stone is quite yellow to the naked eye.

I would pass. It's common for jewelers to give 30% off to entice buyers.

You may want to ask Victoriahermes in the "I'm a 19 yr jeweler thread" in this forum and get her opinion. She's the expert jeweler and knows their tricks.

You girls rock! Thanks for te feedback. Yes I am definitely stepping away from this one. Thank you so much! I do think I will also ask in the other thread. Do you think it woud be tough to trade in a few smaller diamonds ( I have an oval and a round at .5 each, d or e, vs1) with other jewelers? I feel so tied in to this jeweler because of the small studs my husband gave me last year. What are your thoughts on trading in a few smaller stones for something more substantial? Is it doable?

 

[eye candy]

You girls rock! Thanks for te feedback. Yes I am definitely stepping away from this one. Thank you so much! I do think I will also ask in the other thread. Do you think it woud be tough to trade in a few smaller diamonds ( I have an oval and a round at .5 each, d or e, vs1) with other jewelers? I feel so tied in to this jeweler because of the small studs my husband gave me last year. What are your thoughts on trading in a few smaller stones for something more substantial? Is it doable?

It's doable. I've done this before. It depends on the jeweler though. It's easier to get the same value for your stones if you are trading them with the original jeweler who sold them to you. So if Fred sold you those for $3,000 two years ago, he more than likely will take them back at $3,000 this year in exchange for that upgrade diamond. If it's another jeweler...it maybe tougher. They like to throw things in there like, "it's a conflict diamond, I don't know where you bought it, or it may have a strong blue flourescence, etc." In these cases, you'll be trading the diamonds at a loss.

 

[eye candy]

I just noticed you were also considering a 1.73 RB diamond pendant. I would consider that for $12,000 since it's a VS1. Are the polish, symmetry, and cut all excellent? I heard that if you have the 3 ex's, the J color wouldn't matter. If it has a strong blue florescence, it would also look white and this would cancel out the J color.

They also have an HCA report in pricescope that you could plug in numbers to see if the diamond is reflecting a lot of sparkle. http://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

Your jeweler should allow you to trade in the earrings for this instead IMO if the pendant is worth it.

 

[katkrack]

I just noticed you were also considering a 1.73 RB diamond pendant. I would consider that for $12,000 since it's a VS1. Are the polish, symmetry, and cut all excellent? I heard that if you have the 3 ex's, the J color wouldn't matter. If it has a strong blue florescence, it would also look white and this would cancel out the J color.

They also have an HCA report in pricescope that you could plug in numbers to see if the diamond is reflecting a lot of sparkle. http://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

Your jeweler should allow you to trade in the earrings for this instead IMO if the pendant is worth it.

Thank you so much for your valuable insight! I am under educated in diamonds but trying to learn as much as possible to make a good decision. I have five smaller ( but good quality) diamonds and I just really want one nice item. I really appreciate your perspective and experience with trading at jewelers besides the original seller of the stone/s. I sort of anticipated some pushback and the 'well, we can give you basically nothing' routine. I am now considering trading the earrings at the original seller (same jeweler that has the 1.73 and k colored emerald cut ring) for something there and a different smaller stone I have (.46 oval) back at that original jeweler (different from the one with the other two items).

You rock! I really appreciate your help!