1mm chip in 10mm diamond - would you? Risks etc

[fenestrate]

The 1mm chip looks, when the diamond is viewed from the top, like a little scoop into the girdle extending 1mm into the diamond and 1mm wide, and extends a couple of millimetres down the pavilion, tapering quickly til there is no chip.

Unfortunately I didn’t think to take pictures.

If it’s wearable as is, is there a significant damage risk? Can anybody quantify that risk? The chip is next to a prong.

If the diamond was recut, would you lose a mm all round in terms of face up size to yield a 8mm stone, or more likely a 9mm stone?

For price comparables, should I be looking at 8 or 9mm stones rather than 10mm stones?

And, would you buy such a stone and if so, what price comparable would you use?
If you did would you wear as is or recut?

Any risk to the stone in resizing? It is in 18k.

Thanks.

 

[Wewechew]

I would have no interest in purchasing the stone. The damage sounds like it could lead to further chipping very easily, and unless you are getting this diamond for a STEAL, recutting doesn’t make sense as you would lose way too much weight.

 

[distracts]

I would only recut if I could have the chip area polished out so it wasn't so obvious but was in an "off-round" shape. But that only looks ok on some kinds of cuts like OECs and OMBs. If it's a MRB or emerald cut or something, heck no.

If you love the diamond and it's a good enough price, I might still consider buying it - keep in mind that with the chip it would be graded I1 or I2 and should not be priced above that.

The way you describe it on the table AND pavilion - is it a chip or a crack? If the damage is on both the top AND bottom of the stone it sounds like it might be in danger of cleaving in half entirely. Which would obviously be a no-go.

 

[Bron357]

As the owner of a destroyed diamond, yes it is possible to still wear such a ring. Recutting isn’t about “trimming the edge“ unfortunately as diamond light performance is about cut and angles. You could end up with a much smaller carat weight diamond once the whole diamond is re facetted. And without an opinion from a diamond cutter you can’t know what size diamond you will end up with and therefore what price is appropriate to pay.
it might be 10mm now but it could end up under 8mm or the diamond cutter might say “too risky”.
So I’d be more inclined to use a prong or a bezel setting to disguise / minimize the appearance but that said, I have no idea what a fair price for a substantially chipped diamond is. I would say mine is only worth the value of the setting plus a bit.

 

[fenestrate]

Thank you all for your replies! Really so helpful.

The diamond is a MRB at 3 and a quarter carats, and probably tipping more into the light brown scale than Y-Z. The cut is good enough for me, it is a nice bright stone, and the asking price is 4500.

The chip sits next to one of the four prongs (they are good substantial prongs).

I'd definitely need to resize the ring though so wonder whether that'd be a problem in terms of the stone's integrity under heating.

@distracts the chip is a bite into the girdle and extends down slightly into the pavilion.

What is you guys' instinct on this, @distracts , @Bron357 and @Wewechew ? Would you pass? It is very unlikely I'll come by a 10mm stone again, but I can't seem to assess how much such a ring needs to be babied to stop it cleaving in two, which would obviously be a loss of 4500. it would be uninsurable but I don't tend to insure things anyway.

Even if it stayed in ok shape, if I ever wanted to sell it do you think I'd be able to get my money back on it or would I have to sell it at a loss?

Any idea how to go about pricing a comparison? Or even what your gut instinct says would be a price you'd take the risk at, would be greatly helpful.

 

[Bron357]

Thank you all for your replies! Really so helpful.

The diamond is a MRB at 3 and a quarter carats, and probably tipping more into the light brown scale than Y-Z. The cut is good enough for me, it is a nice bright stone, and the asking price is 4500.

The chip sits next to one of the four prongs (they are good substantial prongs).

I'd definitely need to resize the ring though so wonder whether that'd be a problem in terms of the stone's integrity under heating.

@distracts the chip is a bite into the girdle and extends down slightly into the pavilion.

What is you guys' instinct on this, @distracts , @Bron357 and @Wewechew ? Would you pass? It is very unlikely I'll come by a 10mm stone again, but I can't seem to assess how much such a ring needs to be babied to stop it cleaving in two, which would obviously be a loss of 4500. it would be uninsurable but I don't tend to insure things anyway.

Even if it stayed in ok shape, if I ever wanted to sell it do you think I'd be able to get my money back on it or would I have to sell it at a loss?

Any idea how to go about pricing a comparison? Or even what your gut instinct says would be a price you'd take the risk at, would be greatly helpful.

I’m all for a good buy.
Id offer $4,100 and see if you can get it for around $4,300.
A diamond chipped or otherwise isn’t affected by ring re sizing.
Have you checked it with a loupe? What you don’t want to see is a “line / crack” leading away from the chip. I would not buy it if it has a stress line in addition to the chip, such a diamond would be unstable. If it’s just a clean edged missing “hunk” and it doesnt bother you, I’d buy it. If you are hard on rings, I would seriously consider changing the setting to a bezel or rim set so as to cover and protect the diamond from further damage. Diamonds like most gems don’t like being hit against solid objects.

 

[headlight]

I would only recut if I could have the chip area polished out so it wasn't so obvious but was in an "off-round" shape. But that only looks ok on some kinds of cuts like OECs and OMBs. If it's a MRB or emerald cut or something, heck no.

If you love the diamond and it's a good enough price, I might still consider buying it - keep in mind that with the chip it would be graded I1 or I2 and should not be priced above that.

The way you describe it on the table AND pavilion - is it a chip or a crack? If the damage is on both the top AND bottom of the stone it sounds like it might be in danger of cleaving in half entirely. Which would obviously be a no-go.

It wouldn’t necessary be graded as an I clarity because it has the chip.

 

[monipod]

I think it would look amazing in a rose gold bezel setting... Yes, if you can haggle the price a little more, it's a good price for a big stone. Just so long as the chip isn't more than a clean chip into the girdle.

 

[OoohShiny]

Are you in the USA?

If so, I would propose to the vendor that you would like to get the stone independently assessed, and then request it to either be sent to Oldminer or Denver Appraiser, who post on here.

I'm not sure of the costs of appraisal but it would give peace of mind as to whether it is at risk of self-destruction, lol.

 

[Wewechew]

It wouldn’t necessary be graded as an I clarity because it has the chip.

With that chip it would.

OP- I would be interested at that price. But like others have mentioned, I would bezel it to protect it from further damage.

 

[distracts]

It wouldn’t necessary be graded as an I clarity because it has the chip.

The chip would have to be very, very small to not reduce the clarity rating and this chip is 1mm, which will definitely reduce it significantly.