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Buyers Remorse WWYD?

RosieR

Brilliant_Rock
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Feb 3, 2013
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Hello Pricescopers, long time no thread!

I’m on my journey to purchase my perfect jewellery staples, and have generally been quite lucky along the way, as I’ve managed to acquire almost everything. I recently purchased a 16 inch 18 Karat white gold diamond non graduated tennis necklace. It was sold to me for a really good price as 7.2 carats, G color VS1 clarity.

I’ve just come back from my independent appraiser and she mentioned that the stones are not the quality as sold to me. In her opinion H/I/J/K colour and more SI clarity. She also mentioned that the cut quality was not as good as my ID Jewelry purchases. Her full report for insurance will come through next week.

Question - would you pricescopers return the necklace on the grounds it was not as sold and it’s not the same quality as your existing collection, or keep it as it’s a good price and you don’t really want to sink more money into a piece of jewellery that you cannot physically see daily (like a ring or bracelet)



P.S please don’t ever buy jewellery when you are stressed, overwhelmed, overworked and not in the position to listen to your gut :(
 
Sorry to hear that your purchase was not as represented.
Knowing what you now know, how do YOU feel about it?
Was the price inline with what the appraisal revealed?
If you feel you paid too much then I hope there is a return policy. Otherwise, if the price was fair and you like the item, does it matter to you if it’s not the same quality as your other pieces? Will you still wear and enjoy it?
If not return it. Don’t beat yourself up over it.
 
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Did you immediately notice the difference of the necklace to your eye/taste not being as nice as your other items?
or only after learning the independent appraiser‘s grading opinion differed than the sellers grading opinion?

returning as not as sold might be sticky tricky as it’s one persons opinion appraisal against another’s. If you do use that as the reason for return.
if you are within a reasonable return policy program - and you are questioning keeping it now so soon -
that probably won’t go away. Use their return program.
 
I guess I would ask if you like the necklace and are happy with the way it looks, and feel that you got it for a good price. If so, and the only reason you are questioning a return is because of the appraisal, then I'd probably keep it. Or I'd at least investigate what a a G VS1 necklace of the same carat weight would normally cost and figure out if returning it and probably paying more for a G VS1 was worth the differential to me. And also whether I could really see the difference between the two or if it is a mind clean thing only. So, if it bothers you for any of these reasons and you are willing to pay more for a true G VS1, then yes, return it if you can. But if you like the way it looks and as you say, don't really want to spend more, then it seems your choice would be to keep it, or go without (assuming the G VS1 requires more funds which you don't want to spend).
 
The good price kinda goes down the drain if it is not the quality you paid to get. Did the price compare to HIJK, SI1?
 
Not to be a jerk, but all I'll say is ... I'd never buy diamonds that don't have grading reports from GIA.

Why?
I'm not a gambler with my hard-earned money.
 
Sorry to hear that your purchase was not as represented.
Knowing what you now know, how do YOU feel about it?
Was the price inline with what the appraisal revealed?
If you feel you paid too much then I hope there is a return policy. Otherwise, if the price was fair and you like the item, does it matter to you if it’s not the same quality as your other pieces? Will you still wear and enjoy it?
If not return it. Don’t beat yourself up over it.

Thanks for your kind words @Bonfire
I’m still waiting for her official appraisal which should come through next week. She said for the price i paid, it was a good buy and there is no real reason to send the necklace back. She said the stones appear white due to the white gold setting, so the range of colours are not too noticeable.
I’m now starting to think I may need to alter the length so there is slightly less flipping so light always hits the stones.
 
Did you immediately notice the difference of the necklace to your eye/taste not being as nice as your other items?
or only after learning the independent appraiser‘s grading opinion differed than the sellers grading opinion?

returning as not as sold might be sticky tricky as it’s one persons opinion appraisal against another’s. If you do use that as the reason for return.
if you are within a reasonable return policy program - and you are questioning keeping it now so soon -
that probably won’t go away. Use their return program.

Hi @Rfisher the diamonds in the tennis necklace are much much smaller (0.04 carats per stone) than my tennis bracelet (0.14 per stone) and eternity band (0.25 per stone) which is why I initially thought the stones were less sparkly. So I was aware something was different, but couldn’t figure out what it was.

Thanks for the information on opinion vs opinion for grounds of return.
 
Hello Pricescopers, long time no thread!

I’m on my journey to purchase my perfect jewellery staples, and have generally been quite lucky along the way, as I’ve managed to acquire almost everything. I recently purchased a 16 inch 18 Karat white gold diamond non graduated tennis necklace. It was sold to me for a really good price as 7.2 carats, G color VS1 clarity.

I’ve just come back from my independent appraiser and she mentioned that the stones are not the quality as sold to me. In her opinion H/I/J/K colour and more SI clarity. She also mentioned that the cut quality was not as good as my ID Jewelry purchases. Her full report for insurance will come through next week.

Question - would you pricescopers return the necklace on the grounds it was not as sold and it’s not the same quality as your existing collection, or keep it as it’s a good price and you don’t really want to sink more money into a piece of jewellery that you cannot physically see daily (like a ring or bracelet)



P.S please don’t ever buy jewellery when you are stressed, overwhelmed, overworked and not in the position to listen to your gut :(

Hello RosieR

Something similar happened to me recently but I was too far in to be able to return - but the stone and the subsequent ring won’t ever be the same for me because the quality would not be what I would have chosen to buy - and I’ll end up selling it quickly.

So in my view, I would return it if it’s not what you expected because it will always cause you to pause (even if you justify it with ‘it’s a great price’ etc - it still won’t be the quality you were hoping for).

Anyway, that’s my view - for what it’s worth!
Good luck with your decision
 
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Not to be a jerk, but all I'll say is ... I'd never buy diamonds that don't have grading reports from GIA.

Why?
I'm not a gambler with my hard-earned money.

If only I had the budget for 0.5 carat stones in a full tennis necklace! I was not aware that GIA did certification for smaller stones. Not that they would be easily or readily available here in the UK.
 
Not to be a jerk, but all I'll say is ... I'd never buy diamonds that don't have grading reports from GIA.

Why?
I'm not a gambler with my hard-earned money.

Grading reports on each and every tiny stone in an in-line bracelet?
 
Usually professional diamond sellers know what they are selling, so you can kind of intuit the true quality based on the price they are asking. In other words. There are no deals in the trade. It sounds like you paid a fair price. All that matters is if you like it and if you think there are other options for the same money you would like better.

My prize old cut diamond was sold to me as a G VS2 on eBay back when I bought it. Turns out it’s more like a KL SI2. I negotiated a 15% refund from the seller. It wasn’t a “deal”. But as a rare antique it was exactly what I wanted so I was happy with the price. I still love it to this day, deal or no.
 
If you love it for the money keep it. If you don’t love it, you might as well return it.

Btw, I don’t believe that necklaces need to be the same quality as bracelets or rings, however, it sounds like the construction of this one isn’t perfect.
 
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Grading reports on each and every tiny stone in an in-line bracelet?
(Uh Oh! Another long Kenny post.)

Of course not ..... but for a few people, maybe.
I'm discussing the rational for what's right for me, not preaching to convert others to my perspective.
Clearly buying ungraded diamonds (seller-graded) is right for many many people.
No problem; that's their business.
But IMO it is good to hear a range of opinions on purchases that are important, expensive, and risky.

That's the main reason I'm only interested in jewelry with one or just a few diamonds large enough to justify the cost of a GIA report.
I want to be as sure as possible about what I'm paying for.
Since it's so easy to get away with, the potential for conflict of interest is inherent with seller-grading.

The second reason is no matter how much culture wars are affecting gender these days, I still have gender-associations when it comes to jewelry, you know, men's jewelry vs. women's jewelry.
I have no desire to wear anything other than one ring with one diamond large enough to warrant a GIA report.
Other men happily rock more feminine designs.
No problem, again that's their business.

Why do I care about buying only GIA-graded diamonds?
A diamond's value depends tremendously on its specs.
With diamonds it's not possible for one without extensive training, experience, and equipment to judge the value of a diamond they're looking at.
That means everyone who buys diamond jewelry with ungraded stones is at the mercy of trusting the seller, who in turn is at the mercy of trusting their seller, who in turn is at the mercy of trusting their seller - and so on, for however many hands in the chain from the mine to retail.

But as always people vary.
Obviously many take the risk, or don't see a risk, or are't informed about the risk.
If you want ungraded diamond jewelry you have no choice - unless you are uber-rich and buy pieces in which every diamond has a GIA report - IOW MUCH more expensive, and/or much smaller diamonds.
But at least they can be more confident they're wearing the real deal with grades X, Y, and Z, and therefore what a fair value really is.

Unfortunately in my 20 years on PS I've seen too many of these seller-"graded" disappointment threads.
 
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Ah, I wondered why you hadn’t yet posted pictures. I’ve been checking on the hour :lol-2:

I’m sorry it’s not what it seems - I would be disappointed too. However, as others have said, if you wouldn’t have noticed these differences & love the necklace anyway, which you know was a good price, I would keep it, love it & wear it. Does it sparkle? Does it sit nicely? Lots to weigh up, but you are the one who has to wear it & feel proud to show it off, in your jeans & in your dresses.

Pretty please post a picture!
 
I would return it and keep looking.

My local estate jeweller has a 6 ctw tennis necklace, G/H, VVS2-VS1, very good cut for about $5,200 USD... It comes with an independent appraisal
 
Question - would you pricescopers return the necklace on the grounds it was not as sold

Yes. That's all it takes. And: there are no bargains.

It would bug me for sure. And I have made this type of error and it bugs me to this day (e.g., spouse's 20 year-old studs that I hate for my own cluelessness at the time.) I don't think she will ever replace them. Oh, but they are screwbacks which she dislikes but still messes with all the time so maybe I can bait-and-switch some day based on posts alone.

I don't know what you should get instead -- maybe just take a break until your heart is in it and you can feel the joy.
 
I would return it and keep looking.

My local estate jeweller has a 6 ctw tennis necklace, G/H, VVS2-VS1, very good cut for about $5,200 USD... It comes with an independent appraisal

You wrote,"It comes with an independent appraisal."
If your "local estate jeweler' paid for the appraisal, then it's not truly independent.
I think some appraisers know it they grade soft they'll get more future business from someone like an estate jeweler, than if they graded accurately.
Of course grading accurately only possible when a diamond is removed from the setting.

They can only guesstimate weight of set diamonds based on diameter.
That's not accurate because two diamonds of the same diameter, one shallow and the other deep, will not weigh the same.
The deeper one will be heavier.

GIA grades the color of D-Z diamonds by looking into the pavilion.
That's not possible when a diamond is set.

Next, you can't grade clarity either in a set diamond, because the setting itself blocks the view of part of the diamond.

Again, some folks don't bother with all this.
They'd probably call this splitting hairs.
But some put a higher priority on accuracy, and will appreciate being better-informed.
 
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This is a personal question. For me, personally, I probably wouldn’t have gotten the necklace appraised in the first place - all appraisals are effectively just guesses, tbh, though the difference in colour and clarity seem quite stark. I might have had my jeweler look it over and confirm that the stones were diamonds to make sure I got what I paid for (though I guess there’s no real way for the jeweler to tell me if they’re natural or lab) but not gone for the full on appraisal because of this sort of he said - she said situation that gets created.

Personally I have a bit of a “good enough” approach to jewelry; if the price is fair and I like how the necklace looks, I wouldn’t care about the colour grade or the clarity. So I would probably just keep the necklace because it wouldn’t be worth it to me to return it and pay the cost to upgrade with a different vendor who grades in line with my own expectations (ie their G is also my conception of G).

But at the same time, you have to love it because you are the one wearing it, and if it isn’t mind clean to you, you won’t wear it. So the decision would be yours.
 
I use the most scientific method lol - I listen to my heart. If it skips a beat and the piece makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside, I get it. The specs are not as important imo.
 
You wrote,"It comes with an independent appraisal."
If your "local estate jeweler' paid for the appraisal, then it's not truly independent.
I think some appraisers know it they grade soft they'll get more future business from someone like an estate jeweler, than if they graded accurately.
Of course grading accurately only possible when a diamond is removed from the setting.

They can only guesstimate weight of set diamonds based on diameter.
That's not accurate because two diamonds of the same diameter, one shallow and the other deep, will not weigh the same.
The deeper one will be heavier.

GIA grades the color of D-Z diamonds by looking into the pavilion.
That's not possible when a diamond is set.

Next, you can't grade clarity either in a set diamond, because the setting itself blocks the view of part of the diamond.

Again, some folks don't bother with all this.
They'd probably call this splitting hairs.
But some put a higher priority on accuracy, and will appreciate being better-informed.

Agreeing with all of this.

There’s only a few highly reputable appraisers in my city that I have used myself and trust. They are known to grade very hard and conservative. There are other appraisers who are known to be very generous with their grading. I’d buy a piece with one of these appraisals if the price was right. Their guestimate is more accurate than what I can do with a loupe.
 
I will respectfully disagree on the "appraisal" angle. I agree that if you want to know if you were completely and totally taken for a ride, an appraisal can provide some reassurance. But...

There is a world of difference between "retail replacement value" and "fair market value" and appraisals for insurance purposes vs. equitable distribution, etc. Reputable shops may differ by four-fold in their valuation and it may not even be clear which method they are using.

If it looks vintage, they may look for comparable sales online. If it looks new, they will default to the crazy-high retail replacement value that offers a consumer no guidance whatsoever. (This has led many of us to infer an actual value of ~ 25% of an appraised value.) And, of course, how can one as a rando individual seller even get that amount since you are at the mercy of the eBay riffraff or ultra-low-balling vendors and resellers.

If all the value is in one diamond solitaire, they will have a lot of data to work with and a pro should get pretty close on the 4Cs. If the value is in a lovely blue sapphire of unknown origin, they will pull up some data from a subscription database and guess if it's "good" or "fine," etc.

You will never be able to determine if something was a "good value" or "good buy" based upon a jewelry appraisal -- certainly not to within the +/- 30% of purchase price that would make us sad or happy. And you will almost never get a gemological opinion from an appraiser that would rival that of a decent lab.

EDIT: not a jeweler or an expert on gems or appraisals but I have been down all these paths and have a fair degree of confidence in this admittedly opinionated assessment.
 
Grading reports on each and every tiny stone in an in-line bracelet?

Yes. I did that for my tennis bracelet. All ACAs too. No regrets. Took me three years of methodical planning and a few extra side hustles to make it happen. Sparkliest bracelet ever. 40+ yeas of wearing enjoyment ahead of me!

Life is too short not to buy the best diamonds or eat the best chocolate.

@RosieR my opinion may not be the popular one, but I think you should hold out for a higher quality necklace -- one in keeping with your two GORGEOUS foundational pieces, your bracelet and your eternity ring. One that will make your heart beat faster every time you put it on.

I have a photo of your beautiful hand/wrist saved on my desktop in my inspiration folder. I've always admired your aesthetic. A necklace with be the third piece of your jewelry trinity. It will be a piece you will keep and cherish for the rest of your life. So what's the harm in waiting a little longer, and saving up a little more for an amazing piece?

Life is too short not to be completely and utterly in love with our jewelry.
 
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Runningwithscissors, I run with you. :wavey:
 
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HI:

A bargain isn't a bargain if you don't get what you want. I don't care much for the adage "it's good enough". I much prefer "because I'm worth it".

cheers--Sharon
 
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