~~~OMG OMG OMG!!! What do you think?? It's on layaway!~~~
- Thread starter jenbuggy85
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Love it! I know some people do not like to buy things pre-owned but I have found some of the best deals from reputable pawn shops. You do have to be careful though....the ring is pretty!!
Almost everything I have is pre-owned. I LOVE it! My clothes...things around the house..jewelry. (Well, except that little wishbone charm from Tjmaxx! lol!) I used to HATE used things when I was younger, but now I find the most amazing things at thrift stores! One of a kind stuff. I just can't justify spending $20 on a shirt..lol! I know, sounds silly! I'm a thrift store queen! Heheeh!!!
I will speak with the own again on Tuesday to see if she'll let me take it before I buy. Right now I have a few days after I buy it to take it somewhere and have it checked. Full refund if I change my mind.
Do you have any suggestions on how to further protect myself? I don't want to let this ring go!
Maybe writing everything down and taking a pic with the ring next to it in the shop? Or a pic of her holding it? LOL!
Paying and then being able to return it w/in a week or 2 sounds right to me, because otherwise, what are they gonna do? Give you the ring w/ half the money? You could still never come back, kwim? (Not saying that you would, but other than keeping your license, passport, credit cards, etc, there is no real guarantee that you would come back). You sign paperwork stating the return policy when you buy anything from a pawn shop and it'll state all of the stipulations for return. Sounds legit to me, and I've known people who have worked in pawn shops before. Congrats, your ring looks beautiful!
Do you have any friends that know a lot about jewelry? If you do, have your friends check it out before you bring it to someone else. It looks amazing from the picture, and the price is extremely cheap. If they believe that it is ok, then bring it to an appraiser. The appraiser will probably cost you around $150.00. Well, that has been the price I have seen in the diamond district in nyc. I hope everything works out with your purchase. Happy shopping!
Nope, I'm new to this area and haven't met very many people yet. So far I only have one friend...lol!
I live in a pretty small town. I'm not sure if we have an appraiser here? I'll have to ask around.
If everything checks out ok at the jewelers I think I'll send the stone out to have it cert by GIA.
I'm so freakin excited!
jenbuggy85- Try to be sure the person you take it to is a GIA graduate gemologist. This is important. Many jewelers will tell you they know diamonds form experience etc. But I have had problems with them NOT knowing what they claim to know. If you are in a small town, a bigger, "fancy" shop will most likely have a GIA graduatel gemologist on staff. And even though those kinds of pricey shops can sometimes be intimidating, I find that the true professional gemologists will be more than happy to share their expertise with you. They do a lot of things to diamonds these days to enhance them. A diamond may be real but may have been treated to enhance it's clarity, for example. A trained professional gemologist is the only person I would trust to tell me exactly what my diamond was, and hence whether or not it was a "good buy." But this is just my opinion.
Also, if you like to buy secondhand, it would be great if you could find a gemologist that you trust to take any big purchases to in the future.
Also, if you like to buy secondhand, it would be great if you could find a gemologist that you trust to take any big purchases to in the future.
jenbuggy85- Try to be sure the person you take it to is a GIA graduate gemologist. This is important. Many jewelers will tell you they know diamonds form experience etc. But I have had problems with them NOT knowing what they claim to know. If you are in a small town, a bigger, "fancy" shop will most likely have a GIA graduatel gemologist on staff. And even though those kinds of pricey shops can sometimes be intimidating, I find that the true professional gemologists will be more than happy to share their expertise with you. They do a lot of things to diamonds these days to enhance them. A diamond may be real but may have been treated to enhance it's clarity, for example. A trained professional gemologist is the only person I would trust to tell me exactly what my diamond was, and hence whether or not it was a "good buy." But this is just my opinion.
Also, if you like to buy secondhand, it would be great if you could find a gemologist that you trust to take any big purchases to in the future.
The problem is that since I live in such a tiny place there isn't much for jewelry stores around here. We have one. It's family run. The next biggest town we have is St. Louis, about 2 hours away from me. Def no chain stores here.
We live on base at Fort Leonard Wood here in MO. While there are thousands of people that come through here...there's not that many families that live here. The jewelry store, the only one, is actually in the next town over in Waynesville. I'm having a ring worked on by them right now actually.
I wouldn't mind going to St. Louis to have it checked out by a bigger store....BUT, here's the kicker.. I'm afraid to drive on the highway! Esp in the city. My hubbys a Drill Sgt and would NOT be able to get off to take me there. The one friend I have (I'm new to this area) I don't think would be able to take me either. I know, I'm a big baby! I was in a really bad crash (NOT me driving!) when I was about 18 and now I can't hardly drive on the highway at all. My husband HATES going on road trips with me! LOL!
I don't know much about this one store we have here other than they're really nice, lol. I'll call them Tues and have a little list of questions next to me
The problem is that since I live in such a tiny place there isn't much for jewelry stores around here. We have one. It's family run. The next biggest town we have is St. Louis, about 2 hours away from me. Def no chain stores here.
We live on base at Fort Leonard Wood here in MO. While there are thousands of people that come through here...there's not that many families that live here. The jewelry store, the only one, is actually in the next town over in Waynesville. I'm having a ring worked on by them right now actually.
I wouldn't mind going to St. Louis to have it checked out by a bigger store....BUT, here's the kicker.. I'm afraid to drive on the highway! Esp in the city. My hubbys a Drill Sgt and would NOT be able to get off to take me there. The one friend I have (I'm new to this area) I don't think would be able to take me either. I know, I'm a big baby! I was in a really bad crash (NOT me driving!) when I was about 18 and now I can't hardly drive on the highway at all. My husband HATES going on road trips with me! LOL!
I don't know much about this one store we have here other than they're really nice, lol. I'll call them Tues and have a little list of questions next to me
Well, you never know... You could ask them if they have a graduate gemologist on staff...or if they know of one in the area. Keep us posted on what you find out.
Well, you never know... You could ask them if they have a graduate gemologist on staff...or if they know of one in the area. Keep us posted on what you find out.
No problem
I'll start a new thread with pics on Tuesday IF it all goes down the way a hope it does!I'm really curious to see what size the stone is. It's def bigger than my .50 round that I'm wearing now. In the pic it looks REALLY big, on my finger it looks pretty big to... Hmm... I'm hoping it's over .50 atleast! Mind you, I have NO idea about diamonds! LOL!
We shall see!
I think it's beautiful! Like everyone else said, make sure it is what they say it is!
If so, it seems like you got a great deal!
If so, it seems like you got a great deal!
