With regards to the eBay listing, I can’t offer any concrete advice without looking at details. You will know this if you bothered to read through the entire review. Is it better to buy a premade ring from shops including a dealer or get a jeweler to custom make for you?? In fact, I expected Costco to be selling diamonds in the lower tiers of color (J-K) and clarity quality (SI1-I1). Shop halo rings in stylish cuts like princess and baguette at Costco.com to find the perfect piece of jewelry at a great value today! The SAME RULES CANNOT BE APPLIED TO PRINCESS CUT DIAMONDS (it’s a fancy shaped stone). Enjoy low warehouse prices on name-brand Diamond & Engagement Rings products. As long as it isn’t diamond related jewelry (just precious metal jewelry), I don’t see why not if the price and design suits your taste. That does not make them honest or mean they have the proper equipment to give you a fair appraisal. Also, please verify: should jeweler give me the original report when I purchase? SI2 Diamonds – Not All Are the Same. What do you think of Zoara online diamonds? Accessed Jan.5, 2020. We were already big Costco fans, since we live in Kirkland and know people who work there. This guide is designed to help you find a well cut diamond regardless of where you shop. I am still tempted to go that route. Then you run the risk that the ring isn’t what you thought it would be, or it was appraised differently than reported on the site.. You have to deal with possible return shipping which is a MASSIVE headache and can be a HUGE blow to the pocket book. I would trust what GIA and AGS says about a diamond and if you do intend to buy from Costco, stick with diamonds with GIA/AGS reports. Either way could work. They seem to have excellent light performance, but no cut grading in the Gia report. The bottomline is, don’t be fooled by the nice looking figures listed in any appraisal documents. The GIA grading report can be downloaded here. Where I live, one of the biggest jewellery retailers in the COUNTRY is closing it’s doors for good. "Search For Diamonds." A facsimile of the GIA report is fine. In August 2017, a federal judge ruled Costco owed Tiffany at least $19.4 million in damages, lost sales, and interest for selling rings falsely advertised as Tiffany jewelry. Available online … Well said. Simple. Hi Paul, Tiffany. That said, if you want to make the most out of your budget and get a diamond that’s cut for the best light performance (if you care about getting the best sparkle out of your diamond), you are going to have a tough time finding it. Other vendors offer similar policies (semi-standard in the online industry) had already moved on and upped their game with videos and better service. Old-fashioned jewelry stores allow customers to customize their purchases. Why are you such a hater, I bought a 5k dollar ring at costco and it’s beautiful , I went to Shane co , and even them said the quality of the diamond is outstanding, they said they didn’t have anything like it for the price I paid, so for you to come here with all your bullshit and telling people not to buy from costco is stupid. Besides significantly lower prices, White Flash also offers better sales policies like ring upgrades and after-sales services. NO jewellery store is guaranteed to last forever (except maybe Tiffany’s) so thinking you’re “further ahead” getting that lifetime warranty is naive. It has been an informative read so far , thanks. Its diamond rings with a center stone that is 1.00-carat or larger come with a GIA Diamond Grading Report. Can shoppers get tangible information like magnified photographs or ASET/idealscope or videos for the piece they are looking at? There is so much to this, and I really want to get a great ring for the money. Also, you may want to read this guide on buying a twelve thousand dollars diamond ring to help you in your shopping process. Accessed April 14, 2020. No. What do you think about round modified brilliant stones ? For your convenience, the grading certificate from GIA can be downloaded at this link. This is one of the rare scenarios where you can go ahead to make purchases without certification if they are small ticket items. Check their website. “parrot” the details from a grading report. Interestingly, Costco also has a growing business segment in jewelry and luxury products. I tried to have them insure if off the actual cost of the ring, but they said they couldn’t do that since the actual cost vs the appraisal amount differed by a large amount (~$9k). If nothing else, that notorious case suggests that a consumer considering fine jewelry should know the basics before buying fine jewelry. Would there be more choices available? Thanks in advance for a clueless shopper. Perhaps Costco was really bad at the time you wrote this post (seems like 2 years ago), but I certainly think they’re more competitive now. Never Buy Diamonds Without a Reliable Grading Certificate, why does Costco selectively offer diamonds with GIA grading reports. That said, there are certain types of modified rounds that appeal to me in the market. Hope I remember your 4c’s but I’ve been following all the posts. You can’t judge the beauty of a radiant cut by numbers alone. Costco does not offer cleaning or repair services for its jewelry. If you are really interested in the diamond, get an ASET scope and check out the cut quality of the diamond before buying. Just think about how long it took you to earn the money you are spending in comparison? Now, as for whether are costco diamonds good, I would generally discount what they claim the specifications of a piece of product is. Not even kidding, Costco just sold a ring that cost $400,000! I will go in-depth and show you some side-by-side comparisons in a moment. Having read some of the comments on this thread, all I can say is buyer beware. Cyber Monday is the Monday following American Thanksgiving, representing the day online retailers offer deep discounts. First of all, I won’t even consider buying a “very good” cut diamond anywhere regardless of prices. The reason is because this is a stock item meaning that we have more than 1 available under this item# and the IGIs are unique to each ring. However, we are completely satisfied with Costco, and thrilled with my rings. A performance budget reflects the input of resources and the output of services for each department of an organization. This is especially true when it comes to buying diamonds. The next example I found at Costco.com is a pave set engagement ring with a 1 carat center stone that’s cut to mediocre standards. It is blindingly brilliant and I enjoy looking at it. #4 – Extremely Limited Selections Available. This will help you make better and smarter decisions in a big-ticket item purchase. Doesn’t that contradict with what you said? Thank you for your inquiry, the ring which you reference from COSTCO is what is known as a princess three stone trellis style engagement ring, the total weight of the ring is 2.00 carats, with the … The information is publicly available here: https://www.gia.edu/gem-lab-fee-schedule. On top of that, IGI’s grading standards aren’t on par with reputable labs like GIA or AGS. The ring is stunning and jewelers always gaze at it when we bring it in for a ‘tune-up’. I don’t care if they are a Graduate from the GIA. Is costco jewelry a good deal? Or second hand? The local jewelers around my area would only give me a maximum of $2,000 for the ring and cited that the diamond didn’t have a GIA report. But I do give credit for their cheap ass pizzas and hot dogs with all you can eat onions (I take container worth each time I buy da dogs). Costco had argued that Tiffany was a generic term used to describe a style of ring setting.. The priciest offering at this writing is a $364,999.99 ring set in platinum with a 7.45-carat diamond rated with VS1 clarity., Tiffany does not use the 4Cs to describe its rings, relying on proprietary processes to handcraft jewelry set with stones. Know the Four Cs of Buying Diamonds—and the Fifth C, too, Understanding Luxury Automobile Limitations, General Costco Jewelry and Watch Information. Hello I read your whole article and have been doing much further research beyond that. Cheers! Secondly, for estate sales, it is best to work with a reliable appraisal who can offer you a better idea of value as well as services to check out the current conditions of the piece. While Costco may seemingly be selling “high” quality stuff, the caveat here is that Costco’s standards are based on their “Industry Grading Guide” and may NOT be based on GIA’s grading standards. Skip to Main Content Learn more about important … Thank you! I would have had to settle for much smaller diamonds for the same budget in all the places we looked, including online. The ring is priced at $13,499 with a center stone of 1.5 carats. Makes me wonder if you actually know what you are talking about? In fact, once you start making comparisons, you will find that their prices are typically 20-30% more than other online vendors. That said, the devil is always in the details. The set is $12,000 Canadian Dollars. I’m pretty sure you heard jewelers say stuff like “This diamond has more facets and that’s why it has better sparkle!”. As of December 2020, the Costco website lists rings starting at $249.99 for a simple stackable band set in 14k gold with a 0.08-carat VS2 diamond. "Schedule a Diamond Consultation." Costco claims to sell diamonds with clarity ratings better than VS2 and I color. I’ve gone through 9, yes NINE, diamond rings in my lifetime. 999 Lake Drive, Issaquah, WA 98027”. Looking for the most bang for my buck, I shopped far and wide but for the best deal bought from Costco. But can people that are GIA certified grade their own diamonds? Can you tell me what you think about this particular costco 2 carat diamond ring listing? Here’s a screenshot that shows you a total of only 263 rings available in their inventory. GIA DOES NOT ASSIGN CUT GRADES TO FANCY SHAPED DIAMONDS. Blue Nile shoppers can choose from several setting styles for the diamond that they select at an additional cost. Comparable rings anywhere else cost twice as much. What the jeweler say about grading reports for small diamonds is true. I’ll be checking them out. Costco Wholesale Corporation (Costco) is one of the largest wholesale retailer in the world with a reputation for generous return policies and unparalleled pricing for goods. It isn’t practical nor feasible. Now, I want to go on the record saying that Costco is a great outfit and a highly respectable business. What kind of ratings should I be looking out for when buying a diamond ring from Costco? https://beyond4cs.com/grading/aset-reference-charts/. https://beyond4cs.com/buying-diamonds-blind/, Follow the steps here: https://beyond4cs.com/step-by-step-guide/. Is this stone one that should be considered if it has great aset and ideal scope images? $1,999.99. So yes, if you did not do due diligence, then yes, I would not recommend Costco. I agree with your assessment against other mom and pop retailers. In contrast, online jewelers like James Allen can offer more than 10,000 diamonds with full HD videos. Our requirements were between 1 – 1.25 carats, round brillant cut, depth and table within ideal proportions, excellent polish and symmetry, faceted girdle, clarity VS 1 or 2, color d-f. The rating for these characteristics determines the quality of a diamond. The cut is a matter of personal taste, but the quality of the cut matters to its brilliance. https://beyond4cs.com/where-to-buy-fancy-cuts/. I would say that the ring you are looking is priced fairly. Unfortunately, there’s really nothing much that I can tell you about the ring at Costco except that it doesn’t seem to have a GIA grading report. Costco tries to alleviate that stress, by offering only the most beautiful rings at the … What I have found is a few places after doing further research that they have a “GIA certified gemologist.” Specifically one thats all over ebay called fascinating diamonds. Firstly, MANY (myself included) have had serious issues buying online. And is currently on hold for a short period of time . An appraisal report is NOT THE SAME as a grading report. Costco Engagement Rings Review – Are They Really Cheaper? Given their limited product selections and service standards, it really doesn’t makes sense to purchase diamond jewelry from Costco. Of course, if cut quality (sparkle) doesn’t matter and isn’t your priority, shopping at Costco or anywhere else really doesn’t matter. Advantages of Shopping for an Engagement Ring at Costco. Pricewise, Zoara is pretty much on par. I have only 1 question. Have you heard of the houston diamond district company? Hi paul. You should bear in mind that diamonds aren’t like groceries and very often, there emotional values attached to a piece of jewelry. The trial followed a 2015 verdict against Costco in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan. Paul, your response to me proves you didn’t read my post. Costco doesn’t offer ring resizing services nor any after-sales services like cleaning or re-polishing. $1,950.00. Costco tries to alleviate that stress, by offering only the most beautiful rings at the lowest possible price. From what it sounds like, your jeweler doesn’t have the diamond on hand and you are buying blind (which makes it significantly worse than buying online). The jeweler showed me a facsimile of the GIA report. That said, never buy anything without an appraisal from a well known independent lab. © Copyright 2021, Beyond4Cs.com. (59k)Before taking the plunge however we are shopping around and have been to Tiffany where we have seen similar ring for about 70k and a local highly reputable jeweler who offers us these stones with similar setting (platinum) 3.50 I/VS1 AGS ex / ideal/ideal $63,250 also 3,52 I/VS21 Gia EX/EX/EX 59,995 . #5 – Costco Engagement Rings Aren’t Sold at the Best Prices Or Quality. Designed for our more discriminating members, Costco offers an exclusive selection of one-of-a-kind jewelry that is simply spectacular! A one-carat diamond ring can sell for anywhere between $3,500 and $27,000, depending on those 4Cs, the setting's quality, and the retailer. Jewellery & Fashion | Rings | Engagement Rings. In fact, you shouldn’t even be using these inflated values for your insurance policy because you’ll end up paying a significantly higher premium. The Costco Engagement Ring comes in at $35,670, while the James Allen ring comes in at $35,590. -color I. I checked Blue Nile to do a comparison and, after factoring in the band, Costco came out on top–easy. Newsroom Guidelines News Tips In my opinion, there’s only a one benefit of buying a diamond ring at Costco – their return policy. There is still a severe lack of tangible data for the everyday consumer to base a purchase on. Free shipping. This is coming from Costco Australia but I’ve been to Costco Stateside. First of all, I don’t hate Costco. Accessed April 14, 2020. Thanks for sharing. https://beyond4cs.com/buying-diamonds-blind/ Also agree with Chris–the great thing about Costco is its return policy. Hi Paul, As a result of improper facets proportions and placements, the final face-up appearance of the diamond had been negatively impacted. Shoppers who go to Tiffany & Co. don't have to make sense of technical reports independently. As an industry expert, I always warn shoppers about the dangers of getting ripped off when buying diamonds with “suspicious grading documents”. When it comes to performing a price comparison, you need to make sure you are comparing apples to apples. In a recent case study, other experts in the industry also feel the same way and cite the importance of having a reliable grading report when buying diamonds. Engagement ring calculators attempt to help you decide how much to spend on an engagement ring by gathering information about your income, lifestyle and debt-to-asset ratio. Blue Nile. Tiffany. You need to compare exact apples to apples: https://beyond4cs.com/diamond-prices/, Paul, I have been in the market for an engagement ring for some time now. or Best Offer +$29.99 shipping. Would I purchase from them? Im thinking of buying a diamond band from Costco with 11 diamonds and a total of 0.69 ctw. One of my biggest gripe about Costco.com is that they do not sell loose diamonds or semi-mount settings. If you’re a shopper who’s looking for the prestige of a brand, Costco is probably not a brand on the same levels as Cartier or Tiffany. February 27, 2015 at 8:04 am In fact, you can count yourself super lucky if you manage to find a piece of jewelry that’s close to your desired specifications. 10 Minutes of Work at the Crater of Diamond State Park, Diamond Color Treatments And Enhancements, Jewelry Settings That Can Visually Enhance a Diamond’s Color. Personally, I would need to look at ASET/Idealscope images of such diamonds before even laying my money down. However, does Costco really provide you with the best engagement ring value? Also as far as costco rings. If this happens, you are expected to go through the hassle of sourcing for another jeweler after buying a Costco diamond ring, fork out extra cash to perform the re-sizing modifications and in the process, voiding any warranties. https://beyond4cs.com/engagement-ring/beware-of-cheap-diamond-deals/. When I personally mystery shopped Costco a few months back, the customer service contact that you mentioned can’t even provide a simple documentation of the jewelry piece prior to a purchase. I hope you don’t read the following statements the wrong way. I did some research when my fiancee showed me a diamond and white gold wedding set from Costco’s flagship store in Kirkland, WA that he liked. Buyer beware! So I agree with you 100% Paul re. Even though I had the receipt with me which clearly stated the purchase amount, another jeweler would only offer me $1,800 for the ring stating that the diamond had been “grossly” over graded. Costco and its crappy shitty values for everything! That’s just marketing bullshit. I’m came across a pair of studs today and it was listed as 0.30 ctw. If you don’t like it, simply return it without hassle (you do have to wait a bit longer than usual as they must inspect the diamond). Here’s an example of such a stone you should avoid. That said, you need to understand that GIA’s excellent cut rating spans across a wide range of variations in cut quality and you need to be extremely knowledgeable in order to pick out a truly well-cut diamond. A mutual fund is a type of investment vehicle consisting of a portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other securities, which is overseen by a professional money manager. I found a princess cut ring with 1 carat center stone and 1 carat accented on the band for 6k at Costco. What’s left? You are buying a really cheap ring under a thousand dollars. You said you would never buy very good cut diamonds then you responded to me with something completely off base. Whatever “cut rating” assigned by the vendor should be taken with a grain of salt unless they back it up with tangible cut data. https://beyond4cs.com/where-to-buy-fancy-cuts/ Let me know if I can answer any other questions. We are aware of the return policy at Costco and thought if we do purchase it we would get an independent appraisal before sizing . Given Costco’s reputation of being a wholesale operation, you would probably expect them to offer lower prices for their diamond rings than anywhere else. However, if you do your research before purchase, my experience is Costco can save you a bundle on a quality stone. That seems like a total normal way to spend your … white gold, palladium) or cherry pick a diamond for your ring. The problem is, you are not most likely not making “comparable” comparisons. Luckily, Costco has an excellent return policy and we know a local jeweler who we trust, so we were confident we could return the rings if the quality was not as advertised on the summation of appraisal document that Costco provided. Because of varying grading standards used by different labs, there’s no way you can be sure that what you are buying is what is exactly listed on the certificate. A shopper at Costco recently splurged on a $600,000 diamond engagement ring, according to chief financial officer Richard Galanti. No. The best they can do is to “parrot” the details from a grading report. With your reply, it just proved to me that you didn’t bother to read and understand the content here on Beyond4cs.com. Read this link for more details: https://beyond4cs.com/grading/difference-between-gia-ags-egl-igi/. Ok, what about shopping online at Costco.com? I’ve been searching other jewelers and they seem to be more expensive given Costco’s price for a 14kt white gold is only $789. The more important question is, do you have more concrete information of the diamond before committing to any deposits or purchase? Buying based on the 4Cs or a grading report isn’t enough because there are details that can’t be glimpsed from it. https://beyond4cs.com/grading/difference-between-gia-ags-egl-igi/, https://beyond4cs.com/grading/aset-reference-charts/, guide on buying a twelve thousand dollars diamond ring, https://beyond4cs.com/where-to-buy-fancy-cuts/, https://beyond4cs.com/shapes/round/solasfera-vs-star-129/, https://beyond4cs.com/reviews/leo-diamond/, https://beyond4cs.com/step-by-step-guide/, https://beyond4cs.com/care-and-maintenance/insurance/, http://www.costco.com/Emerald-Cut-%2526-Round-Brilliant-1.23-ctw-VS2-Clarity%2c-I-Color-Diamond-Platinum-Ring.product.100114386.html, https://beyond4cs.com/engagement-ring/beware-of-cheap-diamond-deals/, http://www.costco.com/Princess-Cut-2.00-ctw-VS2-Clarity%2c-I-Color-Diamond-Platinum-Ring.product.11753332.html, https://beyond4cs.com/reviews/houston-diamond-district/. 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