Advice on a Diamond on hold

[the3styler]

Hi All

I've been reading through numerous articles and searching for a while. I think i may have found a suitable diamond (brick shop) which is currently on hold, but keen to get some further advice before i proceed purchasing after reading about ones to avoid!

I've run the HCA calculator in it and it is scoring 0.9 - which is a good sign. It seems to be within the write numbers. Details below.

7.00 - 7.02 x 4.29 mm
1.30 carat J SI1 Excellent Cut, Polish and Symetry
Depth: 61.2 %
Table: 57%
Crown Angle: 35.0°
Crown Height: 15.0%
Pavilion Angle: 40.6°
Pavilion Depth: 42.5%
Star Length: 50%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted, 3.5%
Culet: None
Florescence is Faint.

It would bet set in a white gold crown setting on a yellow gold ring. Any help much appreciated incase i have missed something.

Thanks!

 

[OoohShiny]

HCA <2 indicates the angles work, and the higher crown should be good for creating coloured fire.

Only think I'd want to check is whether you/the intended recipient are happy with a J (preference / acceptance of tint is entirely personal) and whether the inclusions are eye-clean or not (and if not, if you/the intended recipient are fine with that).

If it has a GIA/AGS grading report with the inclusions plotted, post it up for consideration.

 

[the3styler]

Thanks OoohShiny,

I've attached the GIA Report. The inclusions were difficult to spot when viewed without magnification - although I am not 100% sure what i am looking for. Ideally i was thinking of going up the colour scale a bit to a G, but my GF had previously pointed out that she liked a similar J coloured diamond, so i am considering it.

Thanks again!

 

[OoohShiny]

Link to GIA online version of grading report for those of us averse to downloading things
https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=1298993479

To my eyes, the inclusion plot is not bad for an SI1 - a lot of smaller inclusions scattered around can be less noticeable than a whacking great big inclusion. Only you can tell if it is eye-clean enough for you and your intended, though, as only you have seen it!

Does the jeweller have an ASETscope? They are useful for determining the accuracy of the cutting and, therefore, if there are any areas of light leakage. If they don't have one, you could purchase one online and take it to the shop yourself, and that way you'd have it for future diamonds you might buy

What are the returns/refunds policies at the shop? If it's not in writing and you can't get 100% refund of money (so not 'store credit') then I'd not be keen myself.

If you are happy to post your budget, we may be able to help you find alternative options for consideration

 

[the3styler]

Thanks - yes it looked pretty clean. I will need to check with the Jeweler regarding the ASETscope, but have been looking into getting one in any event.

Thanks for the heads up in terms of everything else to consider when buying from the shop - i will make sure i add to the list to check. I'm in the UK so budget is £10k max. I am being quoted a 'discounted' price of circa £8k for this one in a setting which seems high, but i haven't really negotiated - more just let them put a price to me first.

The issue I have is that it seems to be a fairly unique setting which i know she is 'set' on (although i have a picture of it and presume that another jeweler could replicate that). Thanks again!

 

[elliefire99]

Hmm... At least for online sellers 8k pounds seems high. You should be able to get an ideal/super ideal diamond within similar specs as your diamond for $7,500-$9,000 easily (5,700-6,9000 UK).

Correct me if I am wrong, diamond gurus, but that's what a quick search showed!

 

[sledge]

See below. RC is projecting a value of around $5,800 USD for the stone. That's around 4400 GBP. Unless the setting you are getting is uber expensive I think he's gouging you on price.

https://www.rarecarat.com/diamond-report/70a66d0f-c7cc-4524-bf29-3b0e53532c1e

FYI the proportions look promising. I would try to get an ASET image if possible.

Are you open to an online purchase? If so we can probably find you a better deal if you give us an idea of the setting you want.

 

[farrahlyn]

Ditto @sledge and @elliefire99 they're gouging you on price unless its an insanely intricate setting. Can you post the pic of the setting? it may not be AS unique as you think. with a little sleuthing we may be able to find similar or the exact setting if you want to do a little sleuthing with us.

 

[sledge]

Just for fun...ED link for ASET, idealscope & H&A images. FM link for best price match and video.

While this stone has a slightly different personality, it still falls within ideal parameters. Also scores a 1 on the HCA. I personally think the clarity is overkill but I think it demonstrates that for the same money you can get an equal or better stone elsewhere if your jeweler doesn't play ball with you and make the overall price w/ setting more reasonable.

1.26ct J FL - $5,868 USD - 34/40.8, 56 table, 61.7 depth, 80 LGF
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R126-282395613?utm_source=rarecarat&utm_medium=cpc

https://www.fourmine.com/shop/diamond/1815236?utm_source=rarecarat&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=2017

 

[the3styler]

Thanks - I had a feeling the price felt very heavy! And by what you guys are saying I’m looking at nearly double!

I can’t see how the setting is a lot as it’s 18ct yellow gold and white gold.

See picture of the setting below (with a different diamond in). Happy to look around- so suggestions really appreciated - I’ve browsed online but with US online stores I’d be paying 20% tax here on top of the price. But blue nile seems to get around this via a base in Ireland, so that would be a preference. I suppose the alternative would be to buy the diamond lose online then find a jeweller for the setting to fit it?

 

[rockysalamander]

It's a vintage replicate setting. A good bench jeweller can make that.

 

[lovedogs]

I think the price is very steep for what you're getting. The setting isn't super intricate, so I can't imagine the price is fair.

 

[the3styler]

Yes I agree - it seems way off. I guess online will always be cheaper, but is there a ‘fair’ price I can expect to negotiate to ...?

 

[OoohShiny]

The PS search tool has 80+ stones in J SI1, with a range of prices:

https://www.pricescope.com/diamonds/search?vendor=-1&branded=None&inhouse=-1&shape=1&minprice=1&maxprice=1600000&mincarat=1.3&maxcarat=1.32&mindepth=60&maxdepth=62.3&mintable=53&maxtable=58&mincut=1&maxcut=6&mincolor=7&maxcolor=7&minclarity=8&maxclarity=8&minsymmetry=1&maxsymmetry=2&minpolish=1&maxpolish=3&min_cut_gia=1&max_cut_gia=1&min_cut_ags=1&max_cut_ags=2&minflourescence=1&maxflourescence=6&checkbox_panel1=,05,04,03,02&checkbox_panel2=&sort=&page=1&pageview=24&adv=true&days=100&cert_number=

Most of them seem to be around $6-6.5k.

Although the XE site doesn't reflect consumer currency rates exactly, it gives a good indication that $/£ conversion gives around £5k at the moment:
https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=6500&From=USD&To=GBP


So, £5k to purchase, 20% VAT on import, £6k shipped to the UK. That allows £2k for an awesome setting.

If you bought the stone and had it set in a ring by the vendor, you'd need to add 2.5% Import Tax, but I think you could get a SuperIdeal for the budget you are looking at.

I did that - although with the exchange rates somewhat more favourable - and got a larger size, higher colour, better clarity, and MUCH better cut for the money I had to spend!

If you stuck with the £8k budget, rather than saving money on the current combination of the 4Cs, you could increase size/colour/clarity, I think.

 

[ringo865]

Yes, as you’ve seen. A fair price might be roughly half of his quote