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Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2009
- Messages
- 114
The Quest for the 5.0 cwt Diamond
Rather than post all the links to the threads in “The Rocky Talk”, I will try and give a shorter version in this thread.
I am 63, working (own business) and wife is 53 (working) and I had asked if she wanted to get another place in FL, since the prices have fallen so much in the past 3 years.
She reminded me that our place was purchased new in February, 2006 and we had lost as much money on it, as we would save on buying another. I chidingly asked, if she would like to upgrade her 3.69 round diamond. This is a diamond that was her grand mothers and I purchased from her mother in 1995. It is a beautiful ring and she has always been complimented on it from everyone we know, to even strangers we meet in restaurants, malls, etc. I commented that our best friend’s diamond was around 5.0 cwts and we always have to keep up with the Joneses (not their real name… ). To my surprise, she said “yes”. Thus came the search for the 5.0 cwt Round.
Started at the end of October, beginning of November and went to our normal jeweler, whom we have purchase numerous pieces for her and 9 Rolex’s (6 for me and 3 for her). We looked at numerous stone in the 5.0 cwt range for anywhere between $85K and $140K. I commented that my budget was around $50K to $70K max. He said he would get some other stones for us to examine.
Now the fun begins because I Google diamond forums and come up with 2 that show numerous and frequent posts . I now read about every thread for the last 5 years and every site that gives “the buyer” information on how to look for the 4/5 “c’s” with Cut being the most important to most.
I find that there are sites that list Internet diamonds that can be searched by size, color, clarity, etc. I now find that “my” perfect diamond for my wife is around $175K and the Internet sites do not take “trades”. How do I sell my wife’s present diamond? Another dilemma.
I am then told to find a dealer I am comfortable with and have them get me an assortment of diamonds to look through and pick one. Back to our trusty jeweler and look at some more stones that are out of our budget and also told that to get a real feel for the trade, it must have a GIA report.
Give the diamond and off it goes to GIA.
Back to the Internet. Post numerous diamonds I can afford and everyone wants GIA/AGL reports, IS photos and numerous other photos, angles, degrees, etc. Not getting anywhere likes this and everything in “my budget” has something wrong with it. Ask more questions, send more emails, get more educated, and get more confused. Not good.
Email GOG. Jonathan is a very educated and gracious individual and answered all plus any additional questions that I did not ask but he knew I would sooner or later. He and his videos helped immensely with viewing and understanding a little about different cuts, colors, clarity, etc.
Now the kicker.
Wife says her favorite diamond is a Cushion with Radiant being 2nd and Round being 3rd.
I am blown away. I have been looking for Rounds. Married to this woman and never knew she liked Cushions. In fact, because the search, never heard of Cushions. OK….now the search is narrowed down.
1 ½ weeks before Christmas, her boss tells her that we should call and make an appointment to see Peter Fabrikant on Fifth Ave, NYC. He will have some diamonds for us and will blow us away with the quality and price.
Now the story will get shorter.
We go and see approximately 15 diamonds in Cushion, Radiants and Rounds, with 1 Emerald Cut.
He shows us H color, I color, SI1 & 2, etc. Shows 4.5 cwt, 5.0 cwt 5.5 cwt, 6.0 cwt and 6.5 cwt. Explains about each diamond and the difference between them and the price of each. He looks at our diamond and GIA report and says that he will give us for the diamond what he would charge another dealer for the stone. Not what we wanted to receive but not the worse. The prices he gave on the stones we examined, were 10-30% cheaper than comp stones from the internet.
Needless to say, dear wife like the 6.02 Cushion. We decide on the final price (less trade), pick out a setting, chit chat for a little while and then leave. Peter does let us keep her ring for New Years and a party on Saturday night and we can overnight it to him on Monday. Our ring will be ready the end of next week.
The company for the setting is KG Creative Design, Ltd., 579 Fifth Avenue, NYC.
These are pictures that were taken by KG and they apologized for the poor photos. The setting is not to the wife's liking and she is having a custom one make for her. Peter said he would pikc the side diamonds and match them to the center stone. GIA report: 6.02, I Color, VS1, Four None.
I will post a few and follow up with the final ring when it is done.
Thank you for listening to my story and I thank each and every one of you for the help you have given me both my answering my posts and from my reading the many, many posts all of you have responded.
Oh, the budget was not met and it was shot.
Cant wait to see the finished product. I do love the current setting though. I think it looks great in the pave halo. I''m sure the custom setting with the side stones will be gorgeous as well.
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