14 replies to this topic

[jacob_felger]

I would like to know if a Leo Diamond I'm looking at for my soon-to-be fiance is worth as much as Kay Jewelers is selling it for. If anyone could help that would be GREAT.

Here are the specs: Round Mod. Brill. Cut, 5.17 - 5.19 x 3.24 mm.
0.54cts.
Colorless(F)
SI(2)
Good Polish / Good Symmetry,
No treatment.

It's a Leo, so it has 8 extra cuts to make it more shiny. Shiny is a technical word for scintillation. Anyway, the diamond price grader seems to indicate it's overpriced - they are selling it on a 14kt gold ring for $2100. Tell me if this is a good deal! Thanks!

[wumpus]

i am going to be totally honest and just say that for the money stay away from name brand mall stuff. It sounds trashy but what you need to do is find a pawn shop with a decent return policy (some go as high as 30 days) and then find a decent jeweler. purchase a ring that you think she will love and then take it to be appraised just to be sure that what you are getting is real (keep all receipts) i just got a 1 tcw 3 stone Leo engagement ring from a pawn shop, my total price was 1140, and yes it is gorgeous.

[davidelevi]

It's not an unreasonable price for what it is. All custom cuts (Leo, Leo Princess, Solasfera, Ashoka, ... hundreds of them) are priced at a premium since the competition is less - no one else has that particular look. In addition, buying at a nationwide B&M chain such as Kay's means paying another premium in terms of higher overheads, compensated by easy access and (usually, but not always) greater solidity/reliability as a business. Can you find something that looks as good for less money? Yes, no doubt. Can you find the same for less money? A lot harder.

My two questions to Jacob:
1. Does it have to be a Leo? Why?
2. Is upgrading/reselling something that matters to you?

Wumpus - I don't disagree that mall stores are generally poor value for money, and this is no exception, but I don't understand your comments about pawn shops. They can be the source of some great deals (possibly yours), but finding a Leo there is worse than a needle in a haystack, and they are not for the faint of heart at the best of times; you need to know what you are buying. Using them as appraisers is a bit of a pot luck - some may well know their gemstones, but many won't, and will give you totally unreliable indications of what you have.

Edited by davidelevi, 08 July 2010 - 01:02 AM.

[denverappraiser]

Note to gurus: Jacob posted this question in 2005.

Neil

[HeartAndStone]

bad wumpus..

You've got a very keen eye on details Neil.,

[davidelevi]

Good point...

[77corvettegirl]

My husband purchased the 1.5 carat Leo diamond. It is absolutely stunning! He traded in my old engagement ring (which had been purchased at Kays) and they honored the full price trade in. You will have to show your receipt to prove the actual purchase price.

He gave this to me on our anniversary during a vacation in Key West! I love the way the diamond sparkles and always get wonderful compliments on it. The Leo is on the pricey side. My ring was 14,000.00 but it really is too beautiful to pass up!

If your thinking of buying a Leo Diamond you can't go wrong! She is guaranteed to love it! You will have to have it checked every six months to keep it covered under warranty.

[LaurieH]

Wow...what's the Color and Clarity of your Leo? And was that 14k$ AFTER the trade in, or you're including the trade-in value? Btw...care to show off your ring here? Congrats on the new ring

[77corvettegirl]

I'm including the trade-in value. I've had it a few years now but still love to look at it! It is 1.58 carat, color is H, clarity is SI1. I checked online at Kays and the price has actually gone up to $15,000.00.

I'm curious, the yellow gold ring is more expensive than the white gold. (By about $1500.00 Is there a reason for that?) I took the best picture I could get but I have to give the photographers credit! It's really hard!

Attached Thumbnails

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[davidelevi]

18k yellow vs 14k white gold and the fact that white is more popular, so design and other overheads are distributed over a larger number of items are the only two things that come to mind. Having said this, if they are charging you over $1500 for a plain gold solitaire ring they are ripping you off. White, yellow or whatever other colour.

[denverappraiser]

$1500 EXTRA for yellow gold?!! That's nuts. You're missing something or maybe there's just a typo in the price. Maybe you're looking at 2 very different designs but something is off. Recheck your facts.

Edited by denverappraiser, 04 January 2011 - 02:43 PM.

[77corvettegirl]

Maybe someone on here can tell me the difference. BTW~White and yellow gold were the same price when my ring was purchased.
Product Details:
Stock number:150769709Metals: 14 KARAT YELLOW GOLD
Diamond Total Weight: 1 1/2 CT.
Primary Diamond Cut: LEO ROUND
Primary Diamond Color: HI
Primary Diamond Clarity: SI1-SI2
Primary Diamond Setting: PRONG SETTING
Primary Diamond Certification: YES AND GEMEX
Primary Diamond Gemscribe: YES
Metal Prong Metal: PLATINUM
Stock Size: 6.75
Minimum Size: 5
Maximum Size: 8.5
Step Size: .5

14K Yellow Gold 1 1/2 Carat Leo Diamond Solitaire
This beautiful ring features a stunning 1 1/2 carat round Leo Diamond, secured by platinum prongs in a high-polish band of 14K yellow gold. Independently Certified and laser-inscribed with a unique Gemscribe® serial number. Available at select Kay Jewelers locations -- call 1-800-527-8029 for the store nearest you.

Price: $14,999.00 The standard size for this ring is 6.75. If you choose a different size, a service charge will be applied.

Ring sizing services will take up to three business days before the order is shipped.

14K White Gold 1 1/2 Carat Leo Diamond Solitaire
This dazzling ring features an eye-catching 1 1/2 carat round Leo Diamond, secured by platinum prongs in a high-polish band of 14K white gold. Independently Certified and laser-inscribed with a unique Gemscribe® serial number. Available at select Kay Jewelers locations -- call 1-800-527-8029 for the store nearest you.

Catalog Price: $13,499.99 The standard size for this ring is 6.75. If you choose a different size, a service charge will be applied.

Ring sizing services will take up to three business days before the order is shipped.
5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 6.75 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.5 ;}[url="http://www.kay.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/LogonForm?langId=-1&storeId=10101&catalogId=10001&catEntryId=150882001&URL=InterestItemAdd%3fURL%3dInterestItemDisplay%26catEntryId%3d150882001%26langId%3d-1%26storeId%3d10101%26catalogId%3d10001"]Add to wish list[/url] | [url="http://www.kay.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductOnlyPrintView?storeId=10101&productId=150882001&img="]Print Page[/url]
Product Details:
Stock number:150882001Metals: 14 KARAT WHITE GOLD
Diamond Total Weight: 1 1/2 CT.
Primary Diamond Cut: LEO ROUND
Primary Diamond Color: HI
Primary Diamond Clarity: SI1-SI2
Primary Diamond Setting: PRONG SETTING
Primary Diamond Certification: YES AND GEMEX
Primary Diamond Gemscribe: YES
Metal Prong Metal: PLATINUM
Stock Size: 6.75
Minimum Size: 5
Maximum Size: 8.5
Step Size: .5

Edited by 77corvettegirl, 04 January 2011 - 04:46 PM.

[77corvettegirl]

Is it me or is there no difference? Did I miss something?

Edited by 77corvettegirl, 09 January 2011 - 09:46 AM.

[LaurieH]

That's very strange. I wonder if maybe they changed their pricing on things and something didn't get edited properly and stayed in the system half-right, half-wrong. Things like that have been known to happen and that is the ONLY reason I can think of that they'd have that huge a price discrepancy on virtually identical products. That or it was priced based on the specific diamond set in those rings, and one had a slightly higher value than the other. Either way what matters most is if you think you got a fair (or reasonably fair) price and if you love your rings. If the answer to both of those is yes...well...then congrats and just enjoy your ring

[denverappraiser]

I agree, those look to be identical advertisements except the price and the metal color. Call that 800# and ask. If you want the yellow one, demand that they sell it to you for the price of the white one or provide a justification why not.

It's curious how different the stock number is. Usually I would expect them to be a variation on the same number or perhaps 1 number different.

Edited by denverappraiser, 10 January 2011 - 10:16 AM.