Old-cut erings on auction

[rockzilla]

It varies by auction house (and sometimes by type of good). You can likely find it on their website though.

 

[Phoenix]

Thanks, Rockzilla. I will look at their website more closely to see if I can find it (didn''t find it last time I looked, but that could just mean I didn''t look hard enough!

).

 

[widget]

Date: 6/5/2007 10:58:15 AM
Author: lienTN
Thanks, Widget. Appreciate the infor and yr suggestions.

May I ask you a few more Q''s: how do I know how much is the buyer''s premium? Is it determined solely by and at the discretion of each auction house? Is it possible to have the stone inspected by an independent valuer?

Thanks.

I just checked: The BP at Skinner is 17.5 percent. The auction is June 12, previews: 10th and 11th afternoons, and 12th in the morning.

I''m sure you could send a rep to look at the diamond, but of course it would cost you. You might call and ask Skinner about this. I''m sure this question comes up all the time. Maybe they have a "list" of appraisers who do this all the time for them for reduced prices.

Keep in mind I''ve never done this before...just guessing here!

widget

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 6/5/2007 11:25:03 AM
Author: widget

Date: 6/5/2007 10:58:15 AM
Author: lienTN
Thanks, Widget. Appreciate the infor and yr suggestions.

May I ask you a few more Q''s: how do I know how much is the buyer''s premium? Is it determined solely by and at the discretion of each auction house? Is it possible to have the stone inspected by an independent valuer?

Thanks.

I just checked: The BP at Skinner is 17.5 percent. The auction is June 12, previews: 10th and 11th afternoons, and 12th in the morning.

I''m sure you could send a rep to look at the diamond, but of course it would cost you. You might call and ask Skinner about this. I''m sure this question comes up all the time. Maybe they have a ''list'' of appraisers who do this all the time for them for reduced prices.

Keep in mind I''ve never done this before...just guessing here!

widget

Thanks again, Widget. Really appreciate it.

I will do some further research re an appraisal and also call Skinner on some other stuff.

 

[widget]

I thought I'd bump this, since the auction is tomorrow. I'll post the sales results of the rings above when it's over.

lienTN: Did you call Skinner? What did you learn? Are you bidding on anything? Inquiring (read: nosy) minds want to know!

widget

 

[widget]

...for anyone interested: (prices include 17.5% buyers premium). These are all the rings I posted (I think) on pg 1 of this thread

From the top:

#1 unsold.
#2 unsold
#3: 881
#4 1762
#5 2293
#6 4700
#7 5581
#8 6462
#9 36425

 

[rockzilla]

Did you go to the auction or just see the results online?

I am still deciding whether or not to bid on the 1.3 old mine from the previous page...

 

[widget]

no...just got the numbers online

I am still deciding whether or not to bid on the 1.3 old mine from the previous page...

it's too late! The auction was today!


widget

ETA: Oops! Just realized you're talking about the one from the other auction...Let us know if you try for it!

lienTN: Did you bid on anything? Do tell! (LOL the honkin' pear didn't sell for 18 thou, did it?)

 

[crown1]

hi! for those of you who are interested in jewels at auction gallery63.net has a few things of interest coming up.
you need to scroll thru the art work to get to the jewelry.

there is a large gia natural sapphire (i believe 16 carat) set in platinum. i believe the side stones are trillions. a to die for riviera necklace 25+ carat set in platinum martini style. several watches some rolex, one diamond cartier tank. can''t remember what else but take a look if you are so inclined. hth.

 

[Phoenix]

Widget, I didn't in the end, very tempted too though.

(Just a little secret, the reason I didn't bid on the pear is because I am saving money for something else!

I am returning my 3.02 ct F VS1 stone and putting that money together with some more for a Lucida. I've asked Signed Pieces to look out for one for me. More abt that on another thread, but later though

).

Thanks for yr help, Widget.

 

[Phoenix]

Widget, can I ask you a naive question? Why is it that at auctions, these items sell for prices that seem way below what they should fetch? I mean the big pear, if you buy a modern cut of that size from any of the online vendors or B&M , I imagine it''d go for hundreds of thousands of dollars, so why is it so *cheap* at auction? (comparing say buying a house at an auction, you could expect to get it at say 80-90% of market value, depending on the general economy and housing market) but these prices seem *way* below. Is it the cut and if so, assuming one wanted to have it recut (God forbid!

), wouldn''t you end up with a more valuable stone (albeit at a slightly smaller weight)?

 

[widget]

Hee hee lien...you sound like I''m an expert on auctions. I''M NOT!! lol

But I''m pretty sure that a real ''diamond bargain'' (a wholesale bargain, anyway) wouldn''t slip by in one of these auctions.

I''m sure that pros...dealers, cutters, etc...check these items out, and decide what a diamond is worth to them, and bid accordingly.

I think the best we can hope to do in these sales is to get something below retail.

widget

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 6/17/2007 10:35:21 AM
Author: widget
Hee hee lien...you sound like I''m an expert on auctions. I''M NOT!! lol

But I''m pretty sure that a real ''diamond bargain'' (a wholesale bargain, anyway) wouldn''t slip by in one of these auctions.

I''m sure that pros...dealers, cutters, etc...check these items out, and decide what a diamond is worth to them, and bid accordingly.

I think the best we can hope to do in these sales is to get something below retail.

widget

He he, I am sure you know much more than I do!!

So there''s no such thing as a bargain then? I''d better not keep looking at those auction sites!

. Btw, did you see the H&W honker on the Christie''s auction of June 13th ? Totally drool-worthy!!

 

[widget]

Date: 6/17/2007 11:06:17 AM
Author: lienTN

So there''s no such thing as a bargain then?

Sure there are....to consumers like us!

I think a lot of estate jewelry retailers acquire stuff from auctions like these. If we bid against them for an item and edge them out, I bet what we end up paying is still less than what that same item would cost if they''d won, and we had to buy it from them.

widget

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 6/17/2007 11:22:52 AM
Author: widget

Date: 6/17/2007 11:06:17 AM
Author: lienTN

So there''s no such thing as a bargain then?

Sure there are....to consumers like us!

I think a lot of estate jewelry retailers acquire stuff from auctions like these. If we bid against them for an item and edge them out, I bet what we end up paying is still less than what that same item would cost if they''d won, and we had to buy it from them.

widget

That''s great to know, Widget! Thanks. I will continue to drool over these gorgeous items at Christie''s and Skinner''s and the the like, yay!

 

[Beacon]

Date: 6/17/2007 11:22:52 AM
Author: widget

Date: 6/17/2007 11:06:17 AM
Author: lienTN

So there''s no such thing as a bargain then?

Sure there are....to consumers like us!

I think a lot of estate jewelry retailers acquire stuff from auctions like these. If we bid against them for an item and edge them out, I bet what we end up paying is still less than what that same item would cost if they''d won, and we had to buy it from them.

widget

Totally agree Widget. I used to buy things frequently at auction and you got a hugely better deal than retail. These days, the edge is narrowing - unless you are pretty open about what you want.

Sometimes I have found that what you see in the catalogue looks a lot different in person. PSers are very particular, but what you get at auction is often way, way outside what we would expect here. None the less, especially for estate pieces you are often bidding against dealers and you will do better to get it at auction by *a lot*.

Here''s an interesting one: I recently tried on a huge asscher at auction. It was just over 16 carats, J, VS2, GIA cert. Sold for $290,000. It was a stunning stone, despite the J color. In fact considering it''s huge size the J color saved it from totally overwhelming my finger. For that ring, you could not touch that price at a retailer. Definitely better at auction.