To get or not to get? Statement melee necklace

[Bojambles]

Hi, I’m considering a purchase of this second hand melee necklace, and want to seek opinions on whether it is a good deal.

specs:

• White gold (I think 18k)
• White diamond melee 4.13 tcw, 816near colourless and eye clean (this is all the info currently available, statements from the manufacturer)
• Yellow diamond melee 0.63 tcw, 8 pieces, eye clean (statement by the manufacturer)
• I do have another small piece from this manufacturer and am in general fairly satisfied with the quality of melee that they use - not the best but decent

I will get to view the piece in person first. I’m undecided as:

1. I feel that my neck is very thin and so necklaces often look like they’re hanging off me unless they’re very short. Could the chain after the last diamond link be swapped out and replaces with a ribbon / shortened?
2. I did my own estimation (and I’m no expert), and the value I got was close to the price it was offered to me at (~US$3,800). But most of that value would be coming from the “yellow” diamonds. They seem to be of the deep / dark yellow range, a few look almost brown. I prefer the canary colour range which are also more valuable, not sure if the necklace is really worth the price with these colours. Should I choose to resell it in the future, would I likely face a huge loss?
3. For US$3,800 to US$4,000, would I be better off customising a riveria style necklace of my own? Or am I unlikely to get something substantial for this price, even in melee. If I were to customise, I would want something like the Tiffany Circlet choker (something like the picture attached, but probably with only half the diamond circlet links as this has only half the diamond tcw as the necklace I’m
4. 
   
   

 

[Austina]

Only you can decide whether it’s worth it, and whether you’d wear it. FWIW, I think it’s lovely, such an unusual design, I’ve certainly never seen anything like it before.

If all the links are just metal, then it shouldn‘t be that difficult to get a good jeweller to shorten it.

 

[dk168]

I believe it is a good price, however, I would hesitate in buying the necklace as its design is too grand and elaborate for daily/casual wear. It would end up sitting in a box in a drawer without much opportunities to be worn.

However, each to their own, and the OP may have more opportunities to dress up than I do.

DK

 

[Bojambles]

Thank you both! Just wanted to check first that it was a decent price for secondhand... now, as both of you have mentioned, it's how much use I think I can get out of it... I can picture this with a white silk top but not much else, am not much of a fashionista unfortunately

 

[Ladygrey]

I think it would be a lovely decoration for your jewellery box.... But probably but probably not very good value at cost per wear. A much simpler riviere necklace like second one you posted would probably get much more wear. Or, can you imagine what a gorgeous solitaire necklace you'd get for that money? And you could wear that every single day of your life, in sweats or a ballgown.

 

[dk168]

A black dress or top with a deep V neck or sweetheart neckline would be my choice to show off this piece.

Agree that cost per wear would be very high due to lack of opportunities to dress up in smart casual let alone formal dress code nowadays!

Another reason why I missed my late partner - he was an officer in the army and we attended formal functions.

DK

 

[Bojambles]

DK - not sure how I didn't realise, but you are right, a deep V would be fantastic, and black (and maybe navy / royal blue) would bring out the necklace. Sorry to hear about your loss!

Ladygrey - you had me trawling Bluenile for a while looking for solitaires haha... I believe DeBeers also recently announced that it was slashing prices, albeit for the top end and not for the range that I can afford.

 

[dk168]

IMHO, although a riveria style necklace may be more versatile with better cost per wear, the vow factor would be less.

It really depends on your own personal circumstances, lifestyle and preferences at the end of the day.

DK