Bargain Beauties

[Amys Bling]

I remember someone saying there was a thread featuring bargain beauties a while back, but I could not find it. I think it would be fun to start this up again! Post your bargain beauties, whether they are Ebay- antique store- pawn shop- or custom made finds.

Post pics and the $ you spent (obviously everyone has a different idea as to what a bargain is, BUT share your bargains!)

I'll start

1. 4.85mm H VS2 OEC (approx. .46 carats) set in a pendant - stone cost $250

1. 5.29mm light yellow I1 OEC(approximately .41 carats) - stone cost $150

sorry, didn't realize the photos would post in the opposite order!

 

[Miss Sparkly]

Center stone just over half carat (halo) $200

Semi Mount 14k gold/diamonds (princess) $255

14k gold band with .10 point diamonds $315

much much more I love bargin shopping

 

[Andelain]

I just posted this last night in the sapphire thread, but it fits here too...

It's a crappy pic, but here's my latest pawn shop theft........ err, I mean find. I happened to spot this and it fits my big hand, so I asked to see it. It was tagged 10kt gold and the guy behind the counter said the center stone was a Tanzanite. I knew it wasn't, and the blue color was so perfect I took for granted it was a synthetic sapphire. I liked the ring anyway, so when I was told I could have it for $200 OTD I bought it. I took it home and got out a loupe. There's a small inlclusion in the sapphire, the ring is stamped '18kt", "Ceylon", and "Levian".

 

[Miss Sparkly]

Oooooh a Levian for $200 *sigh* I love it

 

[junebug17]

Oh, I love this thread! I have several pieces, including diamond studs I just purchased from ebay, and I'll post pics as soon as I figure out how to do it...

Congrats on such great deals ladies, I'm very impressed! And I LOVE a bargain!

 

[Andelain]

Oooooh a Levian for $200 *sigh* I love it

And with a natural Ceylon, too.

Thanks SparklyBlonde, I love it too. I have another one I almost forgot about. About a week after snagging that sapphire I went into another pawn shop and happened to spot a ring with a deep ruby red stone and round baguette stones going down each side. The ring is very heavy, I mean if I threw it I would hurt someone, 18kt gold, and has a maker's mark that I'm not familiar with both inside and outside the band. The diamonds are nice sized, very white and 100% eye-clean. Several are completely loupe-clean. The man that does the gemstone trading there is a GIA gemologist and I've known him for years. He came out to talk to me when he saw I was interested in the ring.

I asked what the stone was and he wasn't sure, but not a ruby. I thought it was a tourmaline and he agreed I was likely right. The ring was marked $1400 and I knew I could get it for $1200 and even hoped for $1000. I asked his best price and he said, "Between the size of that rind and the terrible economy, I've had it for almost 6 months. I'll let you have it for $700". My credit card came out so fast there are singe marks on it. The stone needs a bit of re-polishing, it tested positive as a tourmaline, and the setting alone is worth way more than $700. Here it is...

 

[junebug17]

Ok, I'll give this a shot...purchased this ring from ebay several years ago, .33 carats in a circa 1940's setting - $150. Never got specific info on the diamond, but several jewelers have told me it's a very nice stone. I wore this as a wedding ring for several years.

 

[diamondringlover]

Ok this is my find, 5 stone F VS1 in 18K .75ct, got if for $550 on Ebay appraised at $2300 (I know that is inflated lol)

 

[Amys Bling]

keep them coming

 

[Miss Sparkly]

YYYYAAAYYYYY! I just won this on Ebay! I've been wanting a carved band for when I don't feel like wearing any bling $71.76. It's a size 8 so I'm going to have my jeweler do a small inlay of gold to take it down to a 7. This is the vendor's photo.

 

[Miss Sparkly]

I'll add one more This is the only photo of the diamond band I have right now. It was so dirty and tarnished in the pawn shop but the stones sparkled through all the gunk so I thought for $80 I'd give it a shot. Brought it home and polished it up with gemcare from Wink (AWESOME stuff btw) and boy does it sparkle Also thrills me that it's a 6 1/4. I've never been able to wear that small before

 

[Amys Bling]

Sparkly Blonde- glad to see you are an ebay junkie like myself

 

[junebug17]

Awesome finds sparkly blonde! I'm loving that carved band!

 

[ForteKitty]

I just bought an 18k 0.15ct aca whiteflash- petite dreams of africa pendant & chain for $73!! (came w/ WF appraisal and folder)

it sells on whiflash for $399!
http://www.whiteflash.com/diamond-penda ... nt-653.htm

 

[Andelain]

Sparkly Blonde- glad to see you are an ebay junkie like myself

SparklyBlonde, those are too pretty! I see I'm far from the only person who trolls ebay. I've gotten many things over the years on there, but don't have pics. I did buy something new last night, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170529866042.

It wasn't a screaming deal, but it was about $300 cheaper than I would pay for just the stone loose, and the numbers and pics look good. The fact that it's in a setting that happens to fit my pinky is a bonus. The lets me wear the stone until I use it in something. It's a size and color that I really like.

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

I actually went on a bit of a recycling spree a while back.

My mom gave me her size 6 channel set band so, using the gold and the diamonds, I turned it into a size 3.25 bezel band - cost $0 (thanks to Windy City Diamonds in Chicago, who did the labor for free since I had been buying other stuff!)



My mom also upgraded her e-ring and made her old e-ring diamond into a pendant. She gave me her old e-ring setting and I popped my BB tourmaline into it (setting job done by WCD as well). Cost - $0 for setting, ~$200 for stone. Result: new ring

 

[sparkledust]

BEG your tourmaline is YUMMY!!! I love the simple solitaire setting...WOW

 

[kelpie]

I love finding steals! My best has got to be this emerald...2+ ct emerald and 3 cts of very nice diamonds. Imagine my shock when it arrived and was marked GRAFF inside. All for $1300, steal regardless of who made it (I keep telling myself this because the jeweler who sized it ruined the hallmark).

 

[arjunajane]

Ooohh..I like it, great finds everyone!

I'll just add my faves..


"New Old Stock" vintage Art Carved band, 14k white and yellow gold, hand made, $200.




0.39ct OEC/OMC, L-M colour, $140.

 

[arjunajane]

Transitional, 0.47ct G VS1, $350.




And of course my favourite and best find to date -
OEC 1.53cts, K/L VS2 in an 18k setting of approx 13grms gold weight, with ~1.25cts of baguette side diamonds.
$3200.

(The ring has since been dismantled, the gold value put against a different project, the OEC is having a custom setting made
at the moment, and the baggs remain loose).

 

[junebug17]

Amazing finds Arjunajane! That 1.53 OEC is gorgeous!

 

[vintagelover229]

I have a few but I don't have photos of everything yet so I'm sorry in advance! I'll list them all and then come back and quote and add pics later!

1) My benchmark 2mm YG milgrain band. I don't have photos of it yet, but the seller sold it to me for 57.00 shipped! I need to get it plated because I don't wear much yellow gold, but I thought that was a great deal!

2) My OMC diamond earrings .66ctw-.75ctw (seller wasn't sure) I'm actually going to be listing these earrings soon myself, but I paid a little over 400.00 for those in WG settings and they are pretty nice for starter studs!

3) My new OEC earrings. H-I in colour, 1ctw VS2-SI1 in clarity in WG martini style settings and got those shipped for 1100.00 (added pics of these ones)

4) My WF SBTY necklace 16" (Sapphire by the yard) in 18K WG for 325.00

5) My OMC snowflake pendant that is .8ctw and I love it! Love the charm this baby has! Price was 475.00 (not as great of a deal as it could be, but I've never seen anything like it before!)

6) Diamond pendant cross .25 ctw (rounds and bags) for 195.00 in 14K WG

6) My engagement ring to be is a 1.64 Transitional cut diamond (almost a modern ideal cut) H VVS1 (might be flawless but can't tell because of a prong) in a 14K YG (it has been plated now) circa 1930. Price paid was 4500.00 and it appraised at 25,500.00!!!

I have a few pics I'm going to post and I'll do formal threads later on (I'm sorry ladies...I've been holding out!) for each piece but I some of the pieces are still in the states.

 

[dinamit]

What a great thread! Brilliant finds everyone (couldn't resist, sorry )!

ForteKitty, are you enjoying your WF Dreams of Africa pendant? What a steal! Did you find it on eBay?

I was seriously considering getting it from WF as an affordable treat, but your sure beats that. I like that a 100% of the profits go towards the cause, and the way the three little diamonds represent my family - there are three of us at the moment - my son, fi and myself.

Would you mind posting some pics pls? I would love to see what it looks like in 'real life'.

Thanks!

dinamit

 

[dinamit]

Oh, and I recently got some tiny Brian Gavin leverbacks, which are on their way to me as I type. They cost $375!

Here is a glamour shot. These were originally meant as a present, but I ended up getting them something else as I couldn't wait for the earrings. Nevermind - they were on my wishlist!

 

[arjunajane]

Amazing finds Arjunajane! That 1.53 OEC is gorgeous!

thank you junebug I do feel fortunate when I look back on the finds I have come across on ebay..
I'm sure if there were decent pawnshops in my city, my bank balance would also be lower

 

[jgny]

redrose229 - where did you get that 1.64 Transitional cut diamond ring for $4500??? That is SOME deal!!!

 

[vintagelover229]

redrose229 - where did you get that 1.64 Transitional cut diamond ring for $4500??? That is SOME deal!!!

Jgny: When I saw the listing for the ring it was actually listed at 5k...and WELL worth the price even at 5k. It was sold as a 1.6 H VS2 but said that those specs were only because the seller wasn't 100% sure what they were, but knew it was at least those. When I emailed her she said I could take it for 4500.00! I contacted my boyfriend (and we hadn't been dating long, but we both knew we were going to be together) and I said that I've NEVER seen a deal like this before and we snatched that baby up! When it arrived in Houston I took it to my appraiser (but I wasn't allowed to see the ring in person until my boyfriend saw it first, so it stayed in the box until my dad and I got there) and the appraiser knew what a deal we got on it and was speaking loudly from the room so I could hear and said "It's a CZ!" as a joke, lol. He said it boarders on the edge of ideal cut, could be flawless but theres something under a prong, could be a scratch that could be polished out, or could be a slight inclusion but he said he had a hard time seeing it, and either way, VVS1 is WAY more than I thought I'd have! I thought I'd have an eye clean SI1 for 4500.00! Did I mention the seller SIZED it, insured shipped it and plated it for that same 4500.00? She and her husband were great to work with and I love the ring!

As far as the site goes that was selling it...it's a very popular diamond/jewelry resale site that I don't think can be talked about on PS. It has a forum that goes along with it and I think that's why it's not allowed to be posted or anything. It was a deal of a lifetime and I'm really pleased we could afford to get it. My boyfriend is thrilled to have gotten me something FAR beyond what I was hoping for, not to mention HUGE on my size 4 fingers. We are very blessed to have something like this fall into our laps and I'm very very thankful for it. I've posted this pic in the unique pics thread too, but it gives a little more detail to the side of the ring. The side stones are very very nice as well, and the milgrain is very detailed and delicate. I was BLOWN away when I actually seen it because I didn't expect an older piece like this to be this high quality. It came in the original box too, I'm hoping to get on antique roadshow so they can tell me more about the history of the piece, but I'm doubting theres much information to get from it.

*end of threadjack* awesome thread by the way! I love bling and all things vintage...but when you get them for a steal, well it makes it that much better for me!

 

[Indylady]

Oh, and I recently got some tiny Brian Gavin leverbacks, which are on their way to me as I type. They cost $375!

Here is a glamour shot. These were originally meant as a present, but I ended up getting them something else as I couldn't wait for the earrings. Nevermind - they were on my wishlist!

Dinamit, when your huggies arrive, would you mind sharing your thoughts? I am seriously thinking of getting them..I have a thread on Hangout asking for opinions, and I'm between these and some pave huggies from ID Jewelry.

Did it take a long time to have them made and shipped to you?
What do you think of their signature melee in person?
Do they droop forward a little (I find that leverbacks have the tendency to hang at a funny angle on me if they're a little heavier)?

Lots of thanks in advance!

 

[dinamit]

Hi IndyLady,

Well, the leverbacks arrived today!

They are very delicate. If you are cool with expecting a tiny pair of well made earrings, then you will be happy. They look very small in the box (it's a big box!), but surprisingly, not so small once on. They do sparkle, the melee is lovely, especially in artificial light. As with regard to drooping forwards, I find this happens in one of my ears where the piercing is a little streched. However, I can adjust that by pushing them back, and they will stay that way. The wait is about 10 days since they make each pair to order.

I am very curious about the other you are considering; would you mind sharing? Do you have a pic?

Happy shopping!

dinamit

 

[Indylady]

Hi Dina!

Thank you so much for your review! These are the other earrings I'm considering. I keep going back and forth, but I am making the decision tonight and calling in to order by tomorrow. http://www.idjewelryonline.com/product_ ... ts_id=1078

The nice thing about the BGD huggies is that you can wear a charm with them. I can't with the pave ID huggies, but they're also twice the carat weight which is enticing. Thank you again! I'll let you know which ones I'm getting as soon as I figure it out.