Mara
Super_Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2002
- Messages
- 31,003
A few things here. First off you can ALWAYS find a better stone or a cheaper stone or another stone. There are tons of stones out there. What's important is right now does this stone feel good? If you keep feeling like there is something better out there for you..its hard to actually make a decision and feel good about the spending of the $$. Personally I think this deal sounds pretty good. But with an uncerted stone who knows. Definitely get the appraisal, definitely go along and see if you can get those stones unset and do crown and pav angles on ALL THREE of them. Even if the cuts are 'okay' as opposed to excellent, at least then you are buying with full knowledge and disclosure as opposed to 'well I think it's a well cut I'.
That said, I ran a pricescope search using AGS 0 as the quality (this does not guarantee a great looking stone, but it means that the parameters of the stone were such separately that AGS graded each one 0, meaning that each one fall into the best category possible for grading cut dimensions. However, when all put together, that does not mean an AGS 0 is a great cut stone. It means that each separate dimension is within the AGS 0 range.) which is a good place to start when looking for well or medium cut quality. You can't go TOO wrong with an AGS 0.
You said you found alot of stones in 1.4-1.5 range, but those were probably just stones, not well-cut or with an H&A or AGS0 differentiator.
1.32 I SI1 AGS 0 goes for $5400. 1.33 G VS2 Hearts and Arrows goes for $7000. 1.29 H SI2 Hearts and Arrows goes for $6000.
Now for the side stones.
.33c G SI1 AGS 0 stones go for around $600. G VS2 more around $700.
Platinum custom made setting such as what you describe can be anywhere from $500-1200 without stones, depending on what sort of deal you are getting on the package. Our ring with .70c of baby melee .03c stones around the band, custom made in platinum from a wax mold was $2k. So that kind of tells you how much work can go into a custom setting.
Vatche settings are around $1000 I think for a 3 stone. They are very nice! There are some pics in the Eye Candy section I think of some pretty 3 stone rings.
Anyway add all of that up, using the 1.31 I SI1 AGS 0 center stone and the two .33c G SI1 AGS 0 side stones and you have $6600 just for the stones. Estimate around $1000 for a setting and its $7600 to build a similar ring online (not knowing too much about the specs of the stones but knowing they could be well cut).
So if you use those #'s, the $7000 she is quoting you sounds like a good deal and right on the money. If you have to pay a state tax, be sure to factor that in as it may close the gap between your savings.
It sounds as though you feel more comfortable buying offline, if that is the case and this woman is willing to go the extra mile, which it sounds like she is, then good luck! Go with her to get the appraisal, have the stones unset, and then make your decision. Once you have all the info, you should feel more comfortable (or not if the stones are badly cut), and your pricing sounds very good.
Hope some of this made sense. Good luck and let us know what happens!!
That said, I ran a pricescope search using AGS 0 as the quality (this does not guarantee a great looking stone, but it means that the parameters of the stone were such separately that AGS graded each one 0, meaning that each one fall into the best category possible for grading cut dimensions. However, when all put together, that does not mean an AGS 0 is a great cut stone. It means that each separate dimension is within the AGS 0 range.) which is a good place to start when looking for well or medium cut quality. You can't go TOO wrong with an AGS 0.
You said you found alot of stones in 1.4-1.5 range, but those were probably just stones, not well-cut or with an H&A or AGS0 differentiator.
1.32 I SI1 AGS 0 goes for $5400. 1.33 G VS2 Hearts and Arrows goes for $7000. 1.29 H SI2 Hearts and Arrows goes for $6000.
Now for the side stones.
.33c G SI1 AGS 0 stones go for around $600. G VS2 more around $700.
Platinum custom made setting such as what you describe can be anywhere from $500-1200 without stones, depending on what sort of deal you are getting on the package. Our ring with .70c of baby melee .03c stones around the band, custom made in platinum from a wax mold was $2k. So that kind of tells you how much work can go into a custom setting.
Vatche settings are around $1000 I think for a 3 stone. They are very nice! There are some pics in the Eye Candy section I think of some pretty 3 stone rings.
Anyway add all of that up, using the 1.31 I SI1 AGS 0 center stone and the two .33c G SI1 AGS 0 side stones and you have $6600 just for the stones. Estimate around $1000 for a setting and its $7600 to build a similar ring online (not knowing too much about the specs of the stones but knowing they could be well cut).
So if you use those #'s, the $7000 she is quoting you sounds like a good deal and right on the money. If you have to pay a state tax, be sure to factor that in as it may close the gap between your savings.
It sounds as though you feel more comfortable buying offline, if that is the case and this woman is willing to go the extra mile, which it sounds like she is, then good luck! Go with her to get the appraisal, have the stones unset, and then make your decision. Once you have all the info, you should feel more comfortable (or not if the stones are badly cut), and your pricing sounds very good.
Hope some of this made sense. Good luck and let us know what happens!!
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