Where to buy certified diamonds at wholesale prices in the Bay Area?

[Quincy]

I''m looking to buy an engagement ring. So far, I''ve found out that Derco Jewlerys offer their solitaire diamonds at wholesale prices. I also heard that the Jewelry Mart (Giftcenter) in SF has hundreds of vendors that offer at wholesale prices...but I''m not sure when or how to get admission? I''ve e-mailed the Giftcenter director and she states it''s only a place for TRADE only and it''s not open to the public. Is she wrong? How does DERCO (which has a store at the Giftcenter) sell to the public?
I know my mother and sisters have bought from there in the past but I was just a kid back then. I do not want to ask them since this will be a surprise engagement. I''m planning to propose later this year.

Thanks in advance!

 

[hoorray]

Typically the Giftcenter requires a resale license to get in. Those are pretty easy to come buy, so if you ask around someone you know may have one. That said, so many people buy at the giftcenter, that there might be an easier way to get in than I know about. Maybe someone else will respond on that.

On the wholesale front -- don''t be deluded. The term wholesale means what the manufacturer sells to the next step in the distribution chain for. No vendor is going to sell to you at their cost or below. They won''t stay in business long if they do. This term is widely misused. It could be that their prices are less than mall retail, which I would believe, but they are NOT at or below the real meaning of wholesale.

So, the real issue is where can you get a good or great deal. The giftcenter is supposed to be fairly well priced, IF you know what you are looking at, so I would recommend reading the tutorials here and on some of the other sites. I also think you should check out some of the internet vendors. They are very competitively priced and the ones recommended here carry top notch stones. I''ve boght several stones from various Internet vendors with great results, as have most of the people who have been on this site for a while.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 7/9/2005 8:22:41 PM
Author: lop
Typically the Giftcenter requires a resale license to get in. Those are pretty easy to come buy, so if you ask around someone you know may have one. That said, so many people buy at the giftcenter, that there might be an easier way to get in than I know about. Maybe someone else will respond on that.

On the wholesale front -- don''t be deluded. The term wholesale means what the manufacturer sells to the next step in the distribution chain for. No vendor is going to sell to you at their cost or below. They won''t stay in business long if they do. This term is widely misused. It could be that their prices are less than mall retail, which I would believe, but they are NOT at or below the real meaning of wholesale.

So, the real issue is where can you get a good or great deal. The giftcenter is supposed to be fairly well priced, IF you know what you are looking at, so I would recommend reading the tutorials here and on some of the other sites. I also think you should check out some of the internet vendors. They are very competitively priced and the ones recommended here carry top notch stones. I''ve boght several stones from various Internet vendors with great results, as have most of the people who have been on this site for a while.

yep,no such thing as wholesale to the public.

 

[Quincy]

How reliable is ordering from online. I know if I did order from online, my gf will freak out. Such an expensive item being purchased online is kinda risky. How do you guys feel about DERCO? They state "wholesale" prices. In the meantime, I guess I have to find someone with a resale license to get in. I always thought the giftcenter was opened like the first saturday to the public?!!?

 

[Mara]

I think if you call Derco and make an appt then you can get into the Gift/Jewelry center...I''d call and ask them about this. Tell them you want to come in.

Isn''t there a Derco at Santana Row or is that another jeweler? Thought they opened a new one there.

Bottom line, no wholesale to public, if they SAY wholesale, trust me they are still making a healthy profit. It is just terminology.

Familiarize yourself with what a similar stone would cost online here on PS and then go into the store armed, so that you know how to compare what they are offering you. Aka if you find something on here for $5000 and then in the store a similar stone is ''wholesale'' priced at $6000 then regardless of wholesale or not, they are still charging more. You may not mind paying a bit more to purchase offline, but at least do the research to be aware.

 

[Quincy]

What are some reliable online diamond sellers so I can actually compare the prices to actual stores around here.

 

[FireGoddess]

There is a Derco both in the SF giftcenter and now in Santana Row. I do recommend them, they''ve got some great stuff. I got my husband''s wedding ring there. If you do decide to go to the giftcenter, you can just call Derco and make an appt, they will put you on the "guest list" and then when you arrive you show ID and they''ll give you a nametag. You can then go to Derco, and any other stores you wish. Or cut through the red tape and just go to the Derco in Santana Row.

 

[Quincy]

Oh really? I can actually go to the GiftCenter under Derco''s guest list and shop at other stores in there?! I don''t need to bring someone w/a resale license to gain access?
I''m not obligated to buy from Derco once I get in?

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 7/10/2005 1:16:32 PM
Author: Quincy
Oh really?

YES!!!

I can actually go to the GiftCenter under Derco''s guest list and shop at other stores in there?!

YES!!!

I don''t need to bring someone w/a resale license to gain access?

Nope.

I''m not obligated to buy from Derco once I get in?

Nope.

If you do make an appt with Derco however, you need to keep it and at least go in and talk to them. Then you can go look at other stores as well. They tell you not to, but NOBODY listens to that. The first time I was there, I actually had an appt at another jeweler and afterwards, stopped into Derco. You''re not obligated to buy from anyone once you get in. You can walk out empty handed, and I have.

 

[s95]

We actually got my original wedding ring through Giraux which has a place in the Gift Center, I think. On their website, you can request a pass.

We really liked them. My mother-in-law used to visit the Seattle giftshow a lot and they always remembered her from year to year. I thought that was nice. This was 10 years ago. We got a lovely stone and a nice setting from them, although I think that the stone that I just purchased through DCD is even more lovely.

www.giraux.com

Hope that helps.

 

[diamondsbylauren]

Hey Quincy,
As has been said- the term wholesale is thrown around with irrespnsible abandon.
In general, if you find the right site- online purchasing will save you a lot.

One other important point- GIA does NOT certify diamonds.This is important, because it means you really need to trust the person you are buying from.
Therefore, it may be worth the additional cost of buying in a jewelry store, or exchange IF you can''t find a competitive online vendor you are comfortable with.

 

[pattjin]

I''ve just been to the Derco in Santana Row, the people there are very nice and I didn''t feel any pressure. I spoke to a guy named Tom who was very helpful and patient. They didn''t seem to have that great of a diamond selection, I was looking for 1.0-1.3 ct VS1-SI1 D-G, I think there were around 5 or so he came up with.

I also went across the street to Valley Fair, CH Jewelers seems pretty helpful as well, and had a decent set of diamonds to look at, as well as all of the fancy gadgets like the microscope and what not that they were willing to let me use.

 

[sapphic]

You could also check out Joe Escobar, Willow Glen jewelers, and ShaneCo (some people disagree with that one).

In my opinion, ALL of these stores including Derco are made for the non-informed diamond shopper that can''t tell between a well cut diamond and a piece of "frozen spit". The salespeople are friendly and as informative as they feel you need to be before showing you 2-3 stones to look at. The diamonds are probably good but you''ll pay a few thousand more(including the sales tax) than you would on the internet and you have to haggle. Their inventories are abysmal and some even make you put down a deposit for half the cost of the diamond to ship it out to them.

That said, I haven''t had success finding a diamond online just yet. The first 2 I saw were "already sold" after the specs were emailed to me. That part has not been a good experience...but overall, as an informed diamond shopper(kinda), I know what I want and will go find the best diamond for my money. People on this forum seem to be on that boat. Not everyone has the time or inclination to be and will just pick up the 1st shiney rock a friendly salesperson shows them.

To each his/her own.

 

[Mara]

I like CH Jewelers..they carry HOF and it's fun to walk around in there. But I wouldn't buy a diamond from them, too much markup.

I agree with checking out Joe E and Willow Glen. WG is my local jeweler and they are really nice, they clean my rings for free, resized my rings for free, and have done one or two quickie internet purchase confirmations (aka yes this is a diamond ring) for free. They don't have much of a selection of loose stones in-house, so you may have to have them call stones in. Be specific re: cut. They do carry Eightstars if you want to see some nice stones that have a large markup! Joe E carries a decent selection and actually does have some really nicely cut stones, and they are kind of priced in between internet and a regular retail, so if you really want to buy offline, I'd definitely check out Joe E. They also have TONS of settings and their staff is very friendly and pretty knowledgeable compared to many.

But I'd almost always buy a big diamond purchase online if you can be patient. I like offline jewelers for settings or for smaller purchases, or jewelry pieces, but I love the internet for a good diamond deal.

Edited to add: I visited Shane Co and their diamonds were hugely marked up ...don't even know about cut, they only had GIA certs. They do have alot of settings but I didn't see one thing I liked. Whereas at Joe E..I was drooling over multiples. To me the two stores are hugely different in clientele..aka JE is not necessarily your 'average' consumer whereas Shane to me is like mass-market stuff.

 

[Quincy]

Thank you all for your informative replies. Any of the stores you've mentioned is priced competatively w/internet retailers? Do you think if I were to print out a spec of a diamond and the price from the internet...would these stores negotiate?

Thanks! By the way, I'm looking for princess cuts. GF isn't too big on those other cuts.

 

[pattjin]

Oh ya, I also visited Joe Escobar and Willow Glen. I couldn''t find any settings that were very nice at those two places. The salesperson I got at Joe Escobar didn''t seem to interested in helping me out nor did he seem all that knowledgable. (maybe because I went in in flip-flops and shorts, but that shouldn''t be a factor...I came straight from work

) But they gave me free drinks.

The store is very nice with alot of natural light. The other sales people seemed pretty good though.

Willow Glen is a nice little store, but I didn''t have time to look at their diamonds.

I''m curious about the stores in Downtown Los Gatos. There are about 3 of them that I saw (unfortunately, they were closed (and some are going to close during this next week due to repaving of Santa Cruz Ave.).

 

[Mara]

Joe E is seemingly pretty competitive with online pricing...from what previous people have said. If you find a stone you like online, I'd print it out and bring it in and see if they can get close to specs and pricing. But you will probably still pay a bit more offline.

Out of all the places Joe E is my FAVE..I still go in there and window shop, I can spend an hour there just trying on rings.

They have the absolute best selection, they carry alot of the designers that people talk about on here...Michael B, Scott Kay, etc. The salespeople who have helped me have always been great...and I wasn't dressed up either. Maybe it just depends on timing.

 

[drk]

A lot of people seem a bit leary of ordering online, but I''d still give some serious consideration to buying online. If I were buying from a reputable internet vendor with detailed info on the stone (magnified photos, certificate, sarin report, idealscope image, possibly brilliancescope +/- ISEE2 scores) and had the stone assessed by an independent appraiser, I''d feel safer in terms of getting a beautiful diamond at an excellent price than if I were to buy retail.
We bought our diamond from an online vender and couldn''t have been happier with the experience. Some people have had a couple stones sent to an appraiser in their area in order to pick one out based on their visual preference. We (and others) went and saw stones in person at the vendor to help us pick, since we live outside the US and wouldn''t have been able to have multiple stones shipped to an appraiser in our country. It made for a fun long weekend trip.
If you buy from a store, try and get as many details on the stone as possible, and get an independant appraisal with a full money-back guarantee from the vendor if the stone is not exactly what you want.
Good luck with the search!