Might have made a bad purchase

[Emerald City]

You guys, I need help. I just made a down payment on a ring featuring a lot of blue moonstones. I'm concerned because I think, in retrospect, the price might be a little high. I'd like some help in seeing if I paid too much. The Etsy seller has taken the listing down but I saved a few photos and I can post the text description. I don't know if I'd be allowed to post these things, though. Hopefully someone will let me know if I can go ahead and post those.

Ah, okay, here are pictures:




Basically it's a 14k white gold ring with a 10x7mm moonstone as the center stone. It has a halo made of 4x6 moonstones, and then several smaller moonstones on either side of the setting, extending along the shank. The moonstones all have high adularescence and look very nice. They don't look like opalite to me (I have several pieces of opalite and it has a very distinctive look, but I admit I am NOT an expert!). I will have paid $1430, including taxes, for it.

I succumbed to the sparkle factor. I feel really stupid and worried that I made a mistake!! I'd really appreciate any help and advice you guys can give. Thanks!!!

 

[lovedogs]

Can you post a pic? You are definitely allowed to post pics here, it's not an issue .

 

[Emerald City]

Thanks! I just posted a couple of photos.

 

[PreRaphaelite]

What percent was your down payment? Maybe the seller will agree to cancel the sale in exchange for a ‘restocking fee’ - what’s the return policy?

 

[Emerald City]

What percent was your down payment? Maybe the seller will agree to cancel the sale in exchange for a ‘restocking fee’ - what’s the return policy?

I don't want to cancel the sale unless it turns out I really have overpaid. I like the ring very much.

 

[Rfisher]

If you searched and sourced the stones yourself, of course depending on the quality of stones,
And custom made the 14k ring thru danielM or DK maybe. But that’s a lot of your time involved too. And it’s not instant gratification of buying a finished piece. And if the design part (if you take an active part in the design phase) goes wrong - it’s still your baby.

for comps - but I’m not sure this is comparing like to like?

Beautiful Rainbow Moonstone Platinum Diamond Ring - Etsy

All moonstones show strong rainbow color and are crystal clear with best clarity you can get for moonstones. Set in custom made platinum setting, with 6 full cut 2 point diamonds. Color and saturation on these moonstones are surreal. Everyone seen it will be curious of what they are. Extremely

www.etsy.com

 

[OreoRosies86]

Its not crazy outrageous, it would probably be a lot more time consuming to go custom. The setting is 14k white gold and looks substantial.

 

[Crazie4Cuts]

I don’t think the price of the ring is extenuating or priced ‘too high.’ Did you have a budget on what you wanted to spend for a moonstone ring? And then there is this consideration: Is this an antique or an inspired new ring? Moonstones are relatively inexpensive, but ones which have a translucency will most likely cost more with a bluish sheen. And more importantly, if you are going to wear and enjoy it.
-C4C
PS. I think it gorgeous, but I think you need to try it on and see for yourself if all the moonstones match and have the look you want! The middle pear one looks fabulous with that high dome, but I can’t tell from pics if it is one that is transparent with the bluish sheen.

 

[lovedogs]

I don't think you overpaid. As others said, sourcing the stones yourself would take a while and be annoying (finding matched pairs, making sure each one is clean, etc). And then you'd need to find someone to make a custom setting who is experienced setting moonstones. All said and done, it would likely cost very close to what you paid (maybe a few hundred less), but would have taken much more time. I think it's lovely!

 

[Emerald City]

If you searched and sourced the stones yourself, of course depending on the quality of stones,
And custom made the 14k ring thru danielM or DK maybe. But that’s a lot of your time involved too. And it’s not instant gratification of buying a finished piece. And if the design part (if you take an active part in the design phase) goes wrong - it’s still your baby.

for comps - but I’m not sure this is comparing like to like?

Beautiful Rainbow Moonstone Platinum Diamond Ring - Etsy

All moonstones show strong rainbow color and are crystal clear with best clarity you can get for moonstones. Set in custom made platinum setting, with 6 full cut 2 point diamonds. Color and saturation on these moonstones are surreal. Everyone seen it will be curious of what they are. Extremely

www.etsy.com

Oh, wow, that is GORGEOUS! Darn. I like both rings equally, lol. I am getting the impression I might have overpaid by a small margin? Because the ring I bought is 14k, but this is platinum, and there isn't as large a difference in the price points as I would expect. There might be more moonstone in the ring I purchased, but not much.

 

[Emerald City]

Its not crazy outrageous, it would probably be a lot more time consuming to go custom. The setting is 14k white gold and looks substantial.

Thanks. That's a really good point!

 

[Emerald City]

I don’t think the price of the ring is extenuating or priced ‘too high.’ Did you have a budget on what you wanted to spend for a moonstone ring? And then there is this consideration: Is this an antique or an inspired new ring? Moonstones are relatively inexpensive, but ones which have a translucency will most likely cost more with a bluish sheen. And more importantly, if you are going to wear and enjoy it.
-C4C
PS. I think it gorgeous, but I think you need to try it on and see for yourself if all the moonstones match and have the look you want! The middle pear one looks fabulous with tat high dome, but I can’t tell from pics if it is one that is transparent with the bluish sheen.

I did have a budget; I wanted to stay within $1600. It's not an antique, it's newly made. I would love an antique ring, but I wasn't able to find the kind of design I wanted in the price range I had. I am absolutely THRILLED to know I didn't overpay for this ring the way I thought! I got really paranoid and started wondering if I'd overpaid by, like, 40% or something. I get so emotional over jewelry; I'm probably the last person who should actually be buying jewelry!

I love moonstones, and the minute I saw that ring, I felt that sort of wham! My rule with jewelry is that I must want to fight someone for it (not literally, but that kind of "I MUST have this or I will perish!" feeling). Because otherwise, you wind up just not wearing it much or at all. I have the same rule with clothes; if the reaction is "Nice" or "Meh," then I don't buy it.

The moonstones are apparently very high-end. I can't wait to see it in person!

 

[Emerald City]

I don't think you overpaid. As others said, sourcing the stones yourself would take a while and be annoying (finding matched pairs, making sure each one is clean, etc). And then you'd need to find someone to make a custom setting who is experienced setting moonstones. All said and done, it would likely cost very close to what you paid (maybe a few hundred less), but would have taken much more time. I think it's lovely!

I never considered going custom with this, for the exact reasons you and others mention. The thought of taking months to source matching stones, and then find someone to set them, made me feel a bit queasy. I saw this particular ring and it was somehow exactly what I was looking for. It is a bit "in your face" with the moonstone content, but that's my style. Thanks for the advice; it's really good to know I didn't blow my budget on something that was worth a lot less!

 

[JPie]

I think the price is reasonable!

 

[Emerald City]

If you searched and sourced the stones yourself, of course depending on the quality of stones,
And custom made the 14k ring thru danielM or DK maybe. But that’s a lot of your time involved too. And it’s not instant gratification of buying a finished piece. And if the design part (if you take an active part in the design phase) goes wrong - it’s still your baby.

for comps - but I’m not sure this is comparing like to like?

Beautiful Rainbow Moonstone Platinum Diamond Ring - Etsy

All moonstones show strong rainbow color and are crystal clear with best clarity you can get for moonstones. Set in custom made platinum setting, with 6 full cut 2 point diamonds. Color and saturation on these moonstones are surreal. Everyone seen it will be curious of what they are. Extremely

www.etsy.com

Oh, and thank you for taking the time to look for that! It truly is splendid!!

 

[Emerald City]

I think the price is reasonable!

That makes me feel so much better!! Thank you I felt sick with worry after buying it. I always second-guess purchases but this really felt overwhelming, as my husband wasn't involved the way he usually is. There is a reason I say he's the logical one in the family.

 

[Bron357]

It’s a very beautiful and unique ring. While Moonstones aren’t an expensive gemstone, matching blue Schiller gems requires time and searching. It’s also a hand crafted ring, that’s an investment in time and expertise which costs money. If you were to commission making a similar ring with say DK you’d be looking at paying a similar price. All that aside, many of us have decided to pay what was being asked/charged to have a piece that makes our heart sing and not regretted it at all.

 

[pearaffair]

I’ve paid more for less

And I think the ring you found is stunning!!!! Can’t wait to see hand pics!

 

[Kevin Bryant]

For a costume ring its not a high price, I have seen some high quality moon stone on the market that price wise shocked me, I just put together a quote for a solitaire one for a client and it has been a while sense I quoted good moonstone I was shocked at the wholesale price, either that are I just did not pay attention that much in the past. What is there return policy?

 

[distracts]

Moonstones that are good quality have gone up in price a lot lately. For moonstones that look nice like that, and the kind of ring it is, I think the price is fair, and not a ripoff or anything.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I don't know anything about moonstones but its lovelly
Can't wait to see the headshots

 

[Emerald City]

It’s a very beautiful and unique ring. While Moonstones aren’t an expensive gemstone, matching blue Schiller gems requires time and searching. It’s also a hand crafted ring, that’s an investment in time and expertise which costs money. If you were to commission making a similar ring with say DK you’d be looking at paying a similar price. All that aside, many of us have decided to pay what was being asked/charged to have a piece that makes our heart sing and not regretted it at all.

That's exactly how I feel about this ring - it makes my heart sing. It isn't perhaps the most balanced piece I've ever seen, but I have been thinking about it constantly for 6 weeks. Usually I see a piece and like it, but when I give myself a few days to think about it, my ardor has cooled. Not with this one.

I really appreciate the advice and the additional perspective. This site has taught me that I am still a newb at all of this!

 

[Emerald City]

I’ve paid more for less

And I think the ring you found is stunning!!!! Can’t wait to see hand pics!

Thank you!! It's an unusual piece, in my opinion. I can't wait to see it myself!

 

[Emerald City]

For a costume ring its not a high price, I have seen some high quality moon stone on the market that price wise shocked me, I just put together a quote for a solitaire one for a client and it has been a while sense I quoted good moonstone I was shocked at the wholesale price, either that are I just did not pay attention that much in the past. What is there return policy?

I did a bit of reading about moonstones, and they've been going up in price the last few years. The reasons given were that some sources of moonstones - I think Ceylon was mentioned - haven't produced much at all in 20 years, and nice specimens have been sold from buyer to buyer, thus driving up the price somewhat artificially. Huge demand from China has also played a role in driving up moonstone prices.

The return policy is a full refund, no questions asked, if I don't like the ring. I believe I am responsible for paying return shipping in that case.

 

[Emerald City]

Moonstones that are good quality have gone up in price a lot lately. For moonstones that look nice like that, and the kind of ring it is, I think the price is fair, and not a ripoff or anything.

I just posted about moonstone prices going up before I read your post! I remember when moonstones were largely restricted to the crystals-and-chakras community (aside from Victorian and Edwardian pieces), but they've definitely garnered mainstream interest the last few years. I'm glad that you think the moonstones are good quality; I thought so, too, but I'm not particularly well-versed in moonstones. I know opalite better than moonstone! Thank you for your reassurance; it is very much appreciated.

When I started this thread, I was in panic mode, but the responses have been really supportive and kind and full of really good information! You all are amazing, you really are. There is a wealth of knowledge here that is to be respected. Thank you all so much!

 

[Emerald City]

I don't know anything about moonstones but its lovelly
Can't wait to see the headshots

Thank you I really love it and can't wait to see it!!! I am really excited to take pictures when it arrives and show off the new bling! (Does moonstone count as 'bling' per se around here?)

 

[Emerald City]

Oh my Lord, you guys. She just sent a video of the ring. My heart zinged! The light play is amazing!! Is there a way to embed the video here?

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Thank you I really love it and can't wait to see it!!! I am really excited to take pictures when it arrives and show off the new bling! (Does moonstone count as 'bling' per se around here?)

Yes !
Moonstone is bling !

 

[Emerald City]

Yes !
Moonstone is bling !

W00t! That is gnarly

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Oh my Lord, you guys. She just sent a video of the ring. My heart zinged! The light play is amazing!! Is there a way to embed the video here?

Some one please help Emerald city !!!