Proposal Ring - Part 2

[felali]

hey guys, a very practical question, are those rings from chain stores like lee hwa fixed price? negotiable?

dont want to feel too malu when i ask if there's discount.

the last time i asked whats the ring made of the sales person gave me a weird look...and replied 'its 18k white gold, its industry-wide standard'. i guess he can tell i am a super green horn easily.

btw i was quoted about 4k for a 0.55 with quite nice specs (e colour, vs1, 3 ex)

Not exactly very negotiable I think; maybe just a tiny bit, after all the promotional discounts + credit card discounts or membership discounts. The premium ideal range (e.g. Destinee, Brilliant Rose) even less negotiable. Not sure if it varies across the brands, but I have the impression that the larger the chain, the less negotiable.

That 4k for 0.55 sounds decent, though I may point you to some online stores for comparison:
Diamond - GoodOldGold.com
Engagement Rings, Diamonds, Wedding Rings and Fine Jewellery at Blue Nile
At 4k, you can easily get a same specs but with ideal symmetry hearts and arrows, that gives you far more bling!

 

[bedposthalo]

hey guys, a very practical question, are those rings from chain stores like lee hwa fixed price? negotiable?

dont want to feel too malu when i ask if there's discount.

the last time i asked whats the ring made of the sales person gave me a weird look...and replied 'its 18k white gold, its industry-wide standard'. i guess he can tell i am a super green horn easily.

btw i was quoted about 4k for a 0.55 with quite nice specs (e colour, vs1, 3 ex)

There is definitely room for bargaining in jewelry chain stores. Their prices are already severely marked up!

I would recommend to at least using the Ideal, Aset and Hearts and arrows scopes to see the diamond first. A 3 ex diamond does not necessarily mean it is the best. There is still alot more to it

 

[Shingoz]

thks guys. i suppose no harm asking. they did not inform me of any c.c discounts at all.

what scope is that? they only gave me a norm small scope for viewing actually. think its 10x magnification?

 

[bedposthalo]

thks guys. i suppose no harm asking. they did not inform me of any c.c discounts at all.

what scope is that? they only gave me a norm small scope for viewing actually. think its 10x magnification?

This is the Ideal and Aset scope. It's for seeing the light leakages in a diamond which a normal scope can't see.

A 3ex diamond can still have a poor light return and bad light leakages.

 

[carouselmeister]

This link here also helps you to understand the scope imagings.
Whiteflash Diamond Imaging

You can also use this simple guide.

The light performance tools will help you identify the areas in the diamond that are leaking out light. Only a handful of jewelers uses these tools.

This is the diamond that I've purchased.

 

[bedposthalo]

Congratulations carouselmeister!

JP have a good illustration video of the difference in the diamonds when you use the scopes.

 

[Shingoz]

thks guys! i doubt they have the tools there!

the guy who served me is actually quite new too.

just called them to enquire and they mentioned that prices are fixed and non-negotiable.

 

[charred123]

LEE HWA SALE!

Wa lee hwa have 50% off diamond rings leh. Their rings steady one or not? The sales person recommended me the solitaire range.
1) 0.7ct F SI2 $8888
2) 0.5ct D VVS2 8748.
The prices are before discount so both rings whether 0.7ct or 0.5ct are approximately $4000. Are these rings worth it? Can buy? Helpful HWZ forummers please advise. Thanks!

 

[firewalker85]

Wa lee hwa have 50% off diamond rings leh. Their rings steady one or not? The sales person recommended me the solitaire range.
1) 0.7ct F SI2 $8888
2) 0.5ct D VVS2 8748.
The prices are before discount so both rings whether 0.7ct or 0.5ct are approximately $4000. Are these rings worth it? Can buy? Helpful HWZ forummers please advise. Thanks!

I would suggest looking around more to compare the price.. Often, you will find that no matter how much big chain stores slash their prices, it will still end up being priced higher than private jewellers..

More importantly, you need to check Cut quality of the diamond.. Big chain stores tends to mass sell their diamonds without any quality control. You might end up getting a better quality diamond and an even lower price from a private jeweller.

Out of curiousity, do you know the GIA certificate serial # of those 2 diamonds?

 

[hollander]

Wa lee hwa have 50% off diamond rings leh. Their rings steady one or not? The sales person recommended me the solitaire range.
1) 0.7ct F SI2 $8888
2) 0.5ct D VVS2 8748.
The prices are before discount so both rings whether 0.7ct or 0.5ct are approximately $4000. Are these rings worth it? Can buy? Helpful HWZ forummers please advise. Thanks!

When you say Solitaire Range it is not from their prime range Destinee???

As most of the experience bro's here are saying, avoid the SI2 go for atleast VS2 clarity and minimum color G. .5ct D VVS2 seems to be a very good price for a diamond and settings but be very sure with all the details.

 

[charred123]

When you say Solitaire Range it is not from their prime range Destinee???

As most of the experience bro's here are saying, avoid the SI2 go for atleast VS2 clarity and minimum color G. .5ct D VVS2 seems to be a very good price for a diamond and settings but be very sure with all the details.

ya not their prime range leh. i did a comparison, it's confirm less shiny. thanks for advice bro

 

[charred123]

I would suggest looking around more to compare the price.. Often, you will find that no matter how much big chain stores slash their prices, it will still end up being priced higher than private jewellers..

More importantly, you need to check Cut quality of the diamond.. Big chain stores tends to mass sell their diamonds without any quality control. You might end up getting a better quality diamond and an even lower price from a private jeweller.

Out of curiousity, do you know the GIA certificate serial # of those 2 diamonds?

yup i think the chain stores will definitely price much higher.

can i ask the GIA certificate serial # from them (or is it too noob)? & by knowing the GIA cert how will it help?

 

[firewalker85]

yup i think the chain stores will definitely price much higher.

can i ask the GIA certificate serial # from them (or is it too noob)? & by knowing the GIA cert how will it help?

Of course! Must ask!! When you spend so much money, how can they not show the GIA cert...

Looking at the GIA cert will only tell you like 40% of the diamond's quality.. the rest you need to use the different scopes to see the diamond to tell how good it is.

 

[kakaBoBo]

sorry to hijack.
anyone know where to get a led or nice ringbox.
any suggstion ?
thanks in advance.

 

[taqiyuliy]

I need help. I don't know which diamond is worth for my gfyen as a proposal ring:

Ring 1 (with side diamonds)
Carat: 0.51 (center diamond)
Color: G
Clarity: SI2

Ring 2 (w/o side diamonds)
Carat: 0.61
Color: J
Clarity: VVS2

I want to choose the best for her. Please help!
Give me suggestions pls.

 

[Shingoz]

thks guys! i doubt they have the tools there!

the guy who served me is actually quite new too.

just called them to enquire and they mentioned that prices are fixed and non-negotiable.

finally gotten the ring for them at fixed price nontheless!

 

[Shingoz]

I need help. I don't know which diamond is worth for my gfyen as a proposal ring:

Ring 1 (with side diamonds)
Carat: 0.51 (center diamond)
Color: G
Clarity: SI2

Ring 2 (w/o side diamonds)
Carat: 0.61
Color: J
Clarity: VVS2

I want to choose the best for her. Please help!
Give me suggestions pls.

erm i a friend recommend me to get at least F color (anything lower will be yellowish) and VS2. the cut matters too.

 

[taqiyuliy]

erm i a friend recommend me to get at least F color (anything lower will be yellowish) and VS2. the cut matters too.

Thanks! Will try to survey more. Im looking @ Hearts & Arrows.

 

[hollander]

Thanks! Will try to survey more. Im looking @ Hearts & Arrows.

Hi Bro,

If budget is not a contraints avoid J and SI2 but then again if you feel that you are happy and your GF is happy with that buy then proceed.

If you are really keen with the Color then go with F the least, but G color can be considered but don't go to J. For clarity as mentioned if you are on a budget but wants to have a better clarity then go for a VS1 or VS2.

As most of us will suggest, set your min, median, max budget and always include "some rooms" on your max budget, let's say you want a better settings with additional blings and a different kind of metal.

You can source out online 1st, from WhiteFlash, BrianGavin, BlueNile, GoodOldGold, or Vivo a local online retailer, and many more. Those mentioned are offering H&A as well, but you will only see the details thru pictures. 2nd, do the usual walk-in on Singapore Shops and Brands as most of them are carrying H&A you just need to ASK. Some of them may show the different scopes that you require, some of them are very limited. 3rd, Singapore's private jeweller which is, as mentioned can give you most of the assistance that you need, they can accomodate you on what you need.

All whether online, walkin, and private jeweller, I think will be more than willing to accomodate you but make sure to educate yourself as well, atleast the 4C's.

 

[hollander]

finally gotten the ring for them at fixed price nontheless!

Congrats!!

Would you mind sharing us the details?