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1.8 ct second hand solitaire for USD 5,600 - Hoax?

May06

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
5
Hi there,

I have seen this beautiful solitaire - 1.8 ct brilliant cut - in a pawn shop, so it must be second hand. It comes with no certificate or specifications as it is not a proper jewelry store. It has some black marks, visible when you turn the ring upside down.

Price is 3,500 stirling pound (about USD 5,600). They have a 2 week return policy so I was thinking of buying it and taking it to an independent valuation and getting a refund if the quality is very poor. Does it sound like something to pursue? It is a lot of money at least for my pocket...

I don't know anything about diamonds so any feedback is welcome :o)
 

Dreamer_D

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Dec 16, 2007
Messages
25,251
I would not personally buy from a pawn shop unless I knew a lot about diamonds and could on my own get a rough feeling for its color and clarity and most importantly, cut, first. So I did not waste my time. Most likely it is not all that great quality, since most diamonds on the market are not great quality. Do you know of a really good independent appraiser locally who can comment on its cut as well as its other characteristics?

Do you like the way the diamond looks? Does is sparkle and show a nice pattern of bright white and dark when you move it? Does it look pleasing in many different lighting environments?
 

denverappraiser

Ideal_Rock
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Jul 21, 2004
Messages
9,150
May06|1311005664|2971442 said:
It comes with no certificate or specifications as it is not a proper jewelry store.
They could get paperwork if they wanted. The mojor difference between a pawnshop and a jewelry store is one of decor, and the reason they are selling it without paperwork is because they think they can get more for it that way. That's their choice but don't be fooled into thinking that that it means that they don't know. It probably is secondhand but even that isn't carved in stone. Jewelers sell 'used' things and pawnshops sell 'new' all the time.
 

May06

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
5
Thanks for the feedback! I guess I should expect a clarity of I2 or I3? The scratches are visible but then again it is even more obvious in a bigger stone I suppose. I really like the colour and the way it shines. The 2 week refund policy gives me some peace of mind...
 

denverappraiser

Ideal_Rock
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Joined
Jul 21, 2004
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9,150
May06|1311005664|2971442 said:
It has some black marks, visible when you turn the ring upside down.

May06|1311012718|2971556 said:
Thanks for the feedback! I guess I should expect a clarity of I2 or I3? The scratches are visible but then again it is even more obvious in a bigger stone I suppose. I really like the colour and the way it shines. The 2 week refund policy gives me some peace of mind...
I wouldn’t venture to guess a grade from a description or even a photograph. Clarity is graded face up, not upside down and in the lower clarity grades it’s definitely cheating to slam them for things that are only visible from the back. That said, the difference between an I1 and an I2 is a BIG deal. That’s nearly a factor of 2 in the popular color ranges (G-J) and it nicely spans the issue of whether this is a bargain or not. It’s a little hard to shop online because I-2 doesn’t do well with the Internet houses and the don’t list them all that often although you may be able to get an offer on something comparable if you call or email them. I again point out that surely the seller already knows this, and it does make me wonder; why they don’t already have a sensible pedigree on it?

If you want to send it to a credible lab to get documented, the closest to you I think is HRD and they’ll take more than 2 weeks. GIA is even worse. You might see if you can extend that return period if you’re going to pursue this one.
 

May06

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
5
Thanks Denverappraiser. I was thinking of taking it for a valuation in a jewelry shop where they would give me a full report (like you would need for insurance purposes). They give you an appointment and value your stone there and then... I trust the person carrying out the valuation is a specialist... Would this not be reliable enough?
 

Dreamer_D

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Dec 16, 2007
Messages
25,251
May06|1311090349|2972253 said:
Thanks Denverappraiser. I was thinking of taking it for a valuation in a jewelry shop where they would give me a full report (like you would need for insurance purposes). They give you an appointment and value your stone there and then... I trust the person carrying out the valuation is a specialist... Would this not be reliable enough?

Your trust is likely misplaced in the scenerio you describe and it would not be reliable enough for me.

The other issue is the diamond could be treated in some way, clarity enhanced for example. You need the diamond looked at loose by a qualified independent appraiser. This is different than someone associated with a jewelry store. You need to do some research to find one if you want to proceed.
 

TristanC

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jun 6, 2011
Messages
995
2 weeks is not a lot of time. I would try asking the pawn store to send it to GIA on your dollar if you are bent on buying that stone.

When it returns they get to keep the cert if you decide not to buy it, or you get to buy at the negotiated price pre certification if you like the specs.

They basically have nothing to lose except time. If they decide not to for any reason that should send warning bells.

Of course, if it comes back when excellent specs (unlikely given the visible black spots) they might up the price, or if it comes back with really bad specs and you still like it, you can try negotiating again. Worst they can do is say no and keep the cert...
 

denverappraiser

Ideal_Rock
Trade
Joined
Jul 21, 2004
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9,150
May06|1311090349|2972253 said:
Thanks Denverappraiser. I was thinking of taking it for a valuation in a jewelry shop where they would give me a full report (like you would need for insurance purposes). They give you an appointment and value your stone there and then... I trust the person carrying out the valuation is a specialist... Would this not be reliable enough?
Clarity enhancement is pretty easy to spot if they're a decent gemologist but it's definitely a big deal and should definitely be looked for. I would NOT trust that they are a specialist just because they work in a jewelry store or even because they call themselves an appraiser. Many, even most, are not. Perhaps they are, but the burden is on them to convince you that their advice has merit. Ask questions and check their credentials.

Insurance replacement value isn't really what you're looking for here and I would make sure your appraiser knows it. Even ignoring the substantial differences in valuation methodology, the problem is that for insurance paperwork, the benefit of the doubt goes to the stone. That is to say, borderline calls tend to be rounded UP so that the insured gets a stone that's at least as good as the lost one. It's better to move half a step up than half a step down at replacement time. As a prospective buyer, you likely want the opposite. You want conservative grading so that you know you're getting what you're paying for and you want borderline calls to be rounded DOWN. Since the whole heart of this issue is likely to boil down to the I1/I2 borderline call, I would make sure that you find an appraiser you can meet with in person and with whom you can ask exactly this question. Unfortunately, this also runs head on into a conflict of interest problem when using a selling jeweler as a grader. 'You should buy one from me' is possibly the case, but it's most definitely NOT an appraisal and it seriously colors the usefulness of their opinion of their competitors wares.

I agree with the above that lab grading is the best solution in this situation for both you and the seller. Lab fees are relatively cheap and shipping isn't that much of a pain these days. I also agree that 2 weeks is insufficient time to do it. With international shipping, I'm not even sure that 4 weeks would be enough. Again, HRD in Belgium may be worth considering for this.
 
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