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More sense to buy now and upgrade, or just wait until I can afford the larger stone?

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Kim N

Kim N

Ideal_Rock
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Oct 6, 2005
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I am upgrading from a 1/3ct stone. I''ve been looking at 3/4ct to 1ct, and I''ve recently found a great 3/4ct. But in looking at the loose stone on my hand, I think it may still be a little bit small.
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Darn PS influence and the Bay Area wealthy!
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However, with my current budget priorities, it''s not a good idea for me to spend any more money than this 3/4ct right now. I''ve already gone as low in color and clarity as I''m comfortable with. I know diamond prices will just keep going up up up. So, does it make more sense to buy the 3/4ct now and upgrade later, or just wait until I can afford the bigger stone five years down the road? The new stone will be the same price five years from now either way. Is either option financially better?

Also, is a 3/4ct small for the Bay Area? I have a size 5.625 finger.
 
I would wait until I could get the stone I really want. You might not get a good deal with a trade-in, and if you get something now just so you can trade it in later, you might not be happy wearing it.
 
Thanks for your input, MB. I''m not worrying about the trade-in value because I''m going with a vendor with a good upgrade policy, but I do understand what you mean about not being happy wearing a smaller size. I also know that I''ll be spending money to unset/reset for each upgrade, so maybe the fewer times the better..
 
Ok, let me throw in a wacky (or not so wacky?) idea here... I don''t know what shape you currently have, BUT, if you have this great trade in policy why don''t you live a little and go for another shape that could possibly look larger than its weight. Like a shape that you would never have thought you would consider, but what the heck, try for a while. Like an oval, or a marquis, or a pear...?? You might fall in love, or at least go on an adventure! You could always trade it again after a while. I think that no matter what, I bet you''d be trading in whatever you get, down the road. Because, after all, why not?
 
Kim ... I think it would be a big visual jump from 1/3 to 3/4 ... when you look at 3/4 carat stones are you looking at the stone on a flat surface, or dropped into a setting on your hand .. that REALLY makes a difference!

I'd suggest a halo setting - but if you want to get to a 1ct size eventually then you'd have to switch settings again then too ... (though you could drop a colored stone into the halo & have a RHR).

Maybe you'll get lucky & find a .8 or .9 stone ... right below the big price leap at 1 ct ... even consider I1 stones perhaps, if the inclusion is "prongable" -- able to be covered.

If it's important to you and your "energy" is directed there now ... I'd act. Ya only live once!


ETA: On Julia's point ... good idea if you're open to it. My mom has a .75 Emerald cut that everyone has always assumed was 1ct because people just aren't as USED TO judging the size of EC's ... MOST FOLKS know what .50, .75, 1.0 ct ROUNDS look like ... but fancies throw everything out the window! HA! Sneaky!
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Date: 11/17/2006 1:20:15 PM
Author: decodelighted
Kim ... I think it would be a big visual jump from 1/3 to 3/4 ... when you look at 3/4 carat stones are you looking at the stone on a flat surface, or dropped into a setting on your hand .. that REALLY makes a difference!

I''d suggest a halo setting - but if you want to get to a 1ct size eventually then you''d have to switch settings again then too ... (though you could drop a colored stone into the halo & have a RHR).

Maybe you''ll get lucky & find a .8 or .9 stone ... right below the big price leap at 1 ct ... even consider I1 stones perhaps, if the inclusion is ''prongable'' -- able to be covered.

If it''s important to you and your ''energy'' is directed there now ... I''d act. Ya only live once!


ETA: On Julia''s point ... good idea if you''re open to it. My mom has a .75 Emerald cut that everyone has always assumed was 1ct because people just aren''t as USED TO judging the size of EC''s ... MOST FOLKS know what .50, .75, 1.0 ct ROUNDS look like ... but fancies throw everything out the window! HA! Sneaky!
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Exactly!! I find that my radiant throws people way off. It''s the "rectangle thang." I would say, go look and play!
 
i say do it. 1/3 to 3/4 is a huge jump!!

and don''t worry about what is bayarea large or normal because that''s not important. but other than that i think it varies. i know people with smaller stones and people with larger stones (mostly PS''ers..haha). i don''t think there is a norm here.

and also you have a really good point about prices jumping. if a 3/4 is something like $3k now, in another year it could be $3500 and in a few years maybe more. it''s uncertain what will happen with diamond prices. i know from when i bought to when i upgraded, prices went up like 20-30% which is a lot when you are talking thousands of dollars. i wish we had bought a larger stone sooner..it would have been cheaper.

so just get in with an upgrade now and make sure your upgrade policy is good and then in a few years, get what you really want. but at least you''ll have locked in just in case it goes up again. sure it could go DOWN but at least you have that $$ already in the pot yanno.
 
i say go for a simple solitaire and make the jump. there really is a good size difference there and you could be content for quite awhile with it.
 
That''s true. 1/3 to 3/4 is a big jump. A very noticeable one!
 
Julia, I never thought about changing shapes before. That''s not such a wacky idea! I have a round now and was looking at rounds. I''ve tried princesses and don''t like the look on my hand, but I haven''t tried the other shapes yet. I''ll go do that before I make a decision. Thanks for the suggestion!

Deco, thanks for your input! I''ve been looking at the stone in a pair of tweezers and lying on the top of my hand between my 3rd and 4th fingers. Do you think that''s an inaccurate way to gauge size? I don''t have one of those stone holders that act as a ring so that I can actually wear it. I''ve considered halo settings and love looking at them, but they don''t look good on me. I have looked for 0.8 and 0.9 stones and even I1 stones. With what''s in inventory now, so far I haven''t been able to find a good match with my budget and the specs I''m aiming for. I''m definitely going to keep looking, though!

Mara and Belle, thanks for jumping in with your input! Yes, the 1/3 to 3/4 is a big size difference already. (Just wish it were more!
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) For my stone and the one I''m considering, it''s the difference between 4.5 mm and 5.9 mm. I''m 70% convinced I''m going to make the jump now. I''ll just have to eat the cost of doing multiple unsets/resets.
 
I vote do it NOW! I''ve gone from a .51 to .81 and that was noticeable. 1/3 to 2/3 is definitely a noticeable jump!! I think you’ll be happy with the size. Don''t worry what is "small" in the bay area. I later went from a .81 to 1.23 because I wanted at least a carat and a bigger diamond. Can you tell I''m a big fan of buying now and upgrading later? I''m very content with my 1.23 now.
 
Hi Kim-

I have a marquis that is about 1 carat. It looks more like some of the 2 carats I have seen in other shapes. Also, rounds are supposed to be more expensive, and maybe by switching to another shape you could get a larger stone. Have you seen the marquis set east-west or slightly off center? The ovals also look large for their weight.

Have you compared prices online to make sure the prices you are looking at is in line?
 
Date: 11/17/2006 1:56:42 PM
Author: Kim N
Julia, I never thought about changing shapes before. That''s not such a wacky idea! I have a round now and was looking at rounds. I''ve tried princesses and don''t like the look on my hand, but I haven''t tried the other shapes yet. I''ll go do that before I make a decision. Thanks for the suggestion!

Deco, thanks for your input! I''ve been looking at the stone in a pair of tweezers and lying on the top of my hand between my 3rd and 4th fingers. Do you think that''s an inaccurate way to gauge size? I don''t have one of those stone holders that act as a ring so that I can actually wear it. I''ve considered halo settings and love looking at them, but they don''t look good on me. I have looked for 0.8 and 0.9 stones and even I1 stones. With what''s in inventory now, so far I haven''t been able to find a good match with my budget and the specs I''m aiming for. I''m definitely going to keep looking, though!

Mara and Belle, thanks for jumping in with your input! Yes, the 1/3 to 3/4 is a big size difference already. (Just wish it were more!
37.gif
) For my stone and the one I''m considering, it''s the difference between 4.5 mm and 5.9 mm. I''m 70% convinced I''m going to make the jump now. I''ll just have to eat the cost of doing multiple unsets/resets.
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My rounds were pretty, but yes, people can spot them and size them up more easily. I''ve had square princess cuts and they appear smaller than their weight. Sad but true. Same for emerald cut. I''ve owned a pear that appeared larger. I had a "rectangular princess," which had the wow thing going on. So far, my radiant has the most wow factor yet--I don''t know why. Something about the rectangular shape along with the refraction of the cut. Mystifies people. Anyway, I have found that sometimes it is not so much that you want a different diamond size but that you are in need of some kind of change or pick me up, masked as a diamond change. Changing rocks always made me feel better. Could you be looking at a job change, or be avoiding something, or need recognition for something? Sorry, I don''t mean to pry. It could be that you just want a bigger rock, darn it!
 
Julia, that''s actually pretty close to the mark. I had some shrinkage before I started actively looking for a new diamond, but I have been going through some stress recently. Now that it''s over and I feel a sense of accomplishment, I''m looking for a pick-me-up. I think changing diamonds would do it for me because I was feeling the shrinkage before anyway.
 
Kim-

Going from 1/3 to 3/4 is a huge jump! I think it''ll be lovely
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I have to add this- I hate that people feel that the area that they live in dictates what size e-ring they should have! Please don''t let that dictate what size e-ring you should have. 3/4 carat is a beautiful size!
 
If the price will be the same in five years, it is financially better to wait five years and buy then.
 
february2003bride, yes, I know I shouldn''t let what others around me have influence me. Thanks for the reassurance about the size.



Date: 11/17/2006 6:43:59 PM
Author: JulieN
If the price will be the same in five years, it is financially better to wait five years and buy then.
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Julie, I wasn''t sure if I was clear in my above post. I meant that the whole price of the new stone would be the same price whether I used my trade-in value from a smaller stone or paid the full price of it without trade-in. The only difference would be the amount of cash I''d need on hand in five years. So I was asking whether waiting five years to buy it or doing a small upgrade now and trading up later would be a financially better option.
 
I would go for it now. If you really want size try a 3/4 OVAL. The oval I have really faces up much larger than it''s size. It is

a .38 but people think it''s .50 So if you want change, size, and the appearance of even more size; check out the OVAL shape.

Also pick a vendor that will let you put all/most of your purchase price toward your next upgrade.
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I know how you feel. I had just recently upgraded from my original e-ring and I think the center was 1/4 and now I have a .80 so the comparison is HUGE! After spending all this time on PS, I am feeling the shrinkage. I do LOVE my ring, but I''ve always wanted a big "rock", no more than 3ct because then it''ll look too big on my finger. My ultimate goal somewhere down the line is a 3 carat because I like the number 3 and I have this fake 3ct princess that just looks awesome! FI and I made a deal last night that when we are married and he chooses to spend a lot of $$$ on something like a corvette or the new Nissan Skyline ($60-$70K), I get to spend the same amount on something I want. I told him he can ride his $60k and I''ll just wear mine.
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I clicked submit before I was finished... oops... I would defintely say get the 3/4 now and upgrade later if you truly want a bigger stone than the 1/3. However, just think it through. It took me 2 years before I decided to get this upgrade and we haven''t set a date, yet! Good Luck!
 
Thanks, snlee, gail, Stone Hunter, and SilverKae! Snlee, the consensus does seem to be to buy now and upgrade later.
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I''m really leaning towards it. If you were able to see a size difference between 0.51 and 0.81, I think I''ll be happy with my size difference too. Gail and Stone Hunter, I didn''t know marquises and ovals looked larger for their weight. I''ll check those out before completely deciding on a round. Gail, the searches I''ve made have been for online vendors, so the prices are very reasonable. Silverkae, I''m definitely going to think it through. I saw your upgrade on another thread, and it''s gorgeous!
 
Kim-

If you choose a setting with a halo around the stone, it will make your stone look twice the size that it is. There are lots of them to look at on here-
 
Oops Kim-I just saw that part where you said halo''s don''t look good on you-maybe there''s another kind for you to try on, or another shaped stone that would look better on you. The halo''s are so pretty-what don''t you like about them?
 
Date: 11/17/2006 4:25:28 PM
Author: february2003bride
Kim-

Going from 1/3 to 3/4 is a huge jump! I think it''ll be lovely
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I have to add this- I hate that people feel that the area that they live in dictates what size e-ring they should have! Please don''t let that dictate what size e-ring you should have. 3/4 carat is a beautiful size!
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Just to expand a bit on f2003b''s comment, I have a 3/4 ct. center stone (rb) and most of my neighbors rings are much larger than mine, but mine sparkles so beautifully, has no inclusions visable to the naked eye, is a beautiful color and I love my setting so what they have is meaningless. Someone is always going to have a bigger stone than you but it doesn''t make yours any less beautiful or special.

I would upgrade now and then again down the line, especially considering the jeweler has a good upgrading policy.

Good luck and don''t forger to post pictures of both rings!
 
Date: 11/19/2006 3:20:16 AM
Author: Kim N
Thanks, snlee, gail, Stone Hunter, and SilverKae! Snlee, the consensus does seem to be to buy now and upgrade later.
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I''m really leaning towards it. If you were able to see a size difference between 0.51 and 0.81, I think I''ll be happy with my size difference too. Gail and Stone Hunter, I didn''t know marquises and ovals looked larger for their weight. I''ll check those out before completely deciding on a round. Gail, the searches I''ve made have been for online vendors, so the prices are very reasonable. Silverkae, I''m definitely going to think it through. I saw your upgrade on another thread, and it''s gorgeous!
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and pears too - very spready.

i''d make the jump now. and then jump later.
 
I don''t know what your budget is but I got a 1.10 ct princess in a lucida style setting for $2,000. I LOVE it. I know people bash ebay but if you''re careful who you buy from you can find an excellent deal. I wanted a smidge over 1 ct and wide setting. I also sold a 1 ct princess ring for $1500 G color Si1 that I got an excellent deal on but I wanted over a carat for personal reasons, so I sold it to put the money toward a bigger one. In this economy lots of people would rather sell a ring on ebay than a pawn shop and if you buy from a person you don''t have the mark up of a store. You get the cert. and original receipt a lot of the times. The person I bought from paid over $5,000 for the exact ring that only cost me $2,000.

Two things to stay away from: low clarity diamonds and clarity enhanced! Look for an actual person wearing the ring in the picture so you know it''s the ring you''re buying. Good luck, you pm me if you need any more help. Search for the diamond size you''d be happy with and go from there.
 
Both my mom and MIL have MQs and I think they look HUGE for their weight. Something about their points (same with pears).
 
Great idea~
 
I just heard a marquis is more expensive because of how much "rough" is used? Does anyone know about this?
 
Date: 11/19/2006 6:09:12 PM
Author: sgruning
I just heard a marquis is more expensive because of how much ''rough'' is used? Does anyone know about this?
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Huh, I thought they were less because of popularity.
 
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