We've all been picking on the mall stores, but I have a "sour grapes" story to tell about an independent jeweler. Here goes:
 
I've given some fairly regular business to a successful, reputable, recommended, local independent jeweler.  They seem to do everything right: nice, clean store; plenty of sales people; fancy lighting above; lovely baubles on display; they'll take a diamond outside, and they'll show you more than one at a time, etc.

When I began my Ring Quest I read several books regarding diamonds, and canvassed the internet (ad nauseum) for diamond info. I poked into a few mall stores just to see what was out there.  (By the way, there IS one chain jeweler that consistently does ok, both in terms of service and product, but that's another story).  Anyway, after familiarizig myself as best I could with what was available; I got to a point where I really needed to SEE diamonds/settings in person, and on my hand, if possible.  The logical place to start was with the jeweler that I'd done business with all along.

Although we discussed that I was several months out from a purchase, the jewler offered to begin looking for some appropriate diamonds.  If we found something I liked, I could give him a deposit and he'd hold the diamond until I was ready.

A few weeks later, I got a call. He had a GIA pear-shaped stone in the store that he thought would work for me. He told me the price, grade, and measurements.  He told me what he would have to pay for the stone, and he would add 25% to that price (hummm, a few weeks earlier his mark-up was going to be 15%). After we spoke, I got on the internet to see what else was out there in the same range.  SO I WOULD BE AN EDUCATED CONSUMER. Low and behold, the first website I went to had the very same stone listed.  My guy had been right-on about his price, but I could order it myself for about $400 more than that.

To be fair, before I went to the store to see the diamond, I told the jeweler that I had seen the info about the stone on the internet, seen a copy of the GIA report, and knew the internet price. Actually, I knew more about the stone than he did; he'd not seen a copy of the GIA report. Anyway, the jeweler sounded upset, and huffed, "Well then, I guess we don't even need to show it to you."  HUH? 

I suggested that since he already HAD the diamond, perhaps I could see it? If it had been something I'd wanted to pursue, I would have offered to buy the diamond through him at a bit more than the internet price, to cover his "holding" the stone for me. Then, he could put a ring together for me. He would still be making a sale, have more $$$ to make on a ring and side stones, and have a happy customer to boot!

BUT, when I go to the store, my guy AND the owner brought out the diamond, showed me their invoice, then huffed about how outraged they were about their supplier having this diamond available on the internet.  This kind of thing had only happened to them one other time, they insisted.  And, they were going to DROP this supplier. I listened to 30 minutes of griping and complaining about how UNFAIR it was for them. They never offered to show me the stone though a loupe, there was no intelligent/helpful discussion regarding the diamond, nothing.

Here's what I think: 1) By not being internet saavy, this business was "out of the loop" in terms of their competition AND their client's expectations; 2) They let their emotions get the better of their business sense and ended up looking unprofessional to me; 3) They were totally unhelpful and showed no desire to work together.

I have a couple of pieces that are being repaired at the store.  Someday, I'll go back to pick up my repairs and I'll move on.

So, lookout DBL, here I come...
 

I have been told that my own diamond was too white and that I needed a really valuable one with a "bit" of colour in it.  He just happened to have that valuable one for me to compare mine with.  No doubt about it, mine was really white and the other one sure had colour .

LOL, Joia, I'm sure his more valuable diamond had quite a bit more color! 

I've really enjoyed all your posts everyone.  Well done. 

Honestly, it is amazing what some of these sales people try to get away with......actually DO get away with.  No wonder it is so difficult to educate people on diamonds when they have been fed no end of BS at the typical maul stores.  GGGGRRRRR!

Ace,
Have you got that ering yet?? I'm getting impatient to see it. Oh, I know you might want to propose and stuff first, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd love to see pics. 

(Unless I've missed a crucial thread, in which case please point me in the right direction!)

Jen

Good luck! Looking forward to seeing it, hope you have fun planning a super romantic proposal. (I get the feeling that you will!).

She's a very lucky lady.

Jen

thanks ladies...  i'm just trying to do my part to make it special for her...   

but of course WM...  coming soon!   

So I was just searching through ebay for antique jewelry, and I came upon a 3 ct "fancy yellow" rb in a pave setting for just $4000 (with a "value" of $20,000).  It is labeled in various parts of the description as light fancy yellow, fancy yellow and fancy light yellow, and then they say this:

THE CENTER DIAMOND, AN OVAL CUT IS A 9.60 X 7.88 X 3.76MM LIGHT FANCY OVAL DIAMOND OF SI1 QUALITY AND 2.02 IN CARAT WEIGHT!

SEVERAL HAVE ASKED ABOUT THE COLOR RATING.  THE COLOR IS CONSIDERED 'FANCY LIGHT YELLOW' BUT IF YOU NEED TO HAVE IT 'GUESSTIMATED' ON A COLOR GRADING SLIDING SCALE, I'D SAY IT'S IN THE U-V RANGE.


Hmmm, I wonder if "Guesstimating" is considered ethical practice for sellers???

when he says U-V i think he meant S-T...