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Buying a 5-6 ct EC online without ASET? Need expert advice, please.

D

DauphineMucha

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Oct 13, 2010
Messages
386
I’ve been in contacted with JA and Adiamor regarding EC in this range, none of the diamonds I am interested are in-house or have ASET available. I understand that they have decent free return policies and they might be drop/ship vendors ( a term I learned from this forum) so probably shouldn’t expect too much of customer service.

Am I expecting to pay for the diamonds first to get the ASET? They never told me that could be an option other than “no asset is available” every freaking time! I don’t know if they would send the diamond with the image even…!

Is it true that only the cutters are able to provide ASET ? Online vendors then past it to buyers or they are able to provide it once the diamonds is called in (after I paid, I assume.)?

So far, all the diamonds I picked on JA are located in India. I am starting to feel that EC in this range might not be popular enough for vendors to stock them in house. I totally expect that the right one would be coming from outside of the US.

It’s a large purchase and I just wanted to do it right. I’ve read many times on PS that do NOT buy it without seeing the ASET…:wall:
 
Call Good Old Gold
 
I’d suggest contacting Yekutiel at IDJ (idjewelry.com). He works miracles in finding beautiful step-cut stones.
 
Any more advice on buying online would be appreciate it. Thank you.
 
Pay for the stone to be sent to a PS vendor who can do an ASET for you.
Most of the worlds +5ct EC's are already in USA, but few of the dealers with nice stones do ASET
You could buy a couple of ASET's and have them sent direct to the dealers who own the stones and ask them to take photo's for you. If you give Dave Atlas the stone spec's he can find the dealers names on RapNet and send the scopes there.
 
Did you inquire about the enchanted diamonds one that supposedly had an aset?
 
scarsmum said:
Did you inquire about the enchanted diamonds one that supposedly had an aset?
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The ones that I like don't have the ASET again.

I found that their online stock aren't that consistent (at least within my search specifics). Some said that there is ASET or video available, but there is actually none when I clicked into the detailed pages.

Just got done chatting with them and pointed out that they have double listed the same diamond at different prices. He told me that they just corrected it and took down the more $ SKU. It also said that it had ASET but it actually does not!o_O
 
BG does not have any of his ideal cut emerald cuts above two carats except one at 2.01. The larger ones are virtual.

I really think I could buy an emerald cut stone without an ASET. The problem you're encountering is that vendors are not going to call in a 5-6 ct diamond from India unless you pay. They will incur expensive shipping charges, and they'd have to know you were planning to buy. But JA definitely has a return policy, so you wouldn't be stuck. Oh, and absolutely don't get advice from the people who work at virtual diamond vendors. I have seen very questionable advice.
 
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Garry H (Cut Nut) said:
Most of the worlds +5ct EC's are already in USA, but few of the dealers with nice stones do ASET
=.
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Thanks Garry for dropping by.

Would it be fair to say that if the diamonds do not have an ASET available right the way, they might not be that great?

Wouldn't seller want to proof that a diamond is great by using a great looking ASET to potential buyer ... cream of the crop?

Not sure if I am making any sense here...just trying to get a sense of real expectation when buying online.

Not familiar with Dave Atlas yet, will search him on PS next. Thanks.
 
Nooooo, many diamond vendors are not into cut quality. Many vendors and jewelers have never SEEN an ASET scope! The diamonds might be fantastic. Has NOTHING to do with the fact that an ASET image isn't available.

If you go into Tiffany, Cartier, and Van Cleef tomorrow and ask for ASET images, I can pretty much guarantee their answer will be no!

Dave Atlas is an appraiser. He also sells ASET scopes.

https://datlas.com/ideal-scope-store/
 
diamondseeker2006 said:
BG does not have any of his ideal cut emerald cuts above two carats except one at 2.01. The larger ones are virtual. Exactly! Thank you thank you for dropping by diamondseeker!:dance:

I really think I could buy an emerald cut stone without an ASET. You would...just by video or a picture? :shock:The problem you're encountering is that vendors are not going to call in a 5-6 ct diamond from India unless you pay. They will incur expensive shipping charges, and they'd have to know you were planning to buy. BINGO! But JA definitely has a return policy, so you wouldn't be stuck. Agreed. I do feel like I am being tested by vendors on how serious I am . It was very helpful at the beginning of the conversation but the email communication started to went south...I don't really want to say too much:errrr: Oh, and absolutely don't get advice from the people who work at virtual diamond vendors. I have seen very questionable advice. Yes, that is why I keep asking for ASET to post on PS!
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I think I can screen them by video and picture, but I believe I could see the diamond in person and evaluate the cut well enough to decide whether to buy. Once you've seen well cut diamonds, it's not terribly hard. I'd probably pick up an ASET scope for fun. I have an antique asscher that is really well cut, and I definitely could see that it was well cut without an ASET image.
 
A couple of years ago, m-2-b and I went jewelry window shopping. It's fun to go with her because they take her really seriously since she now has 4.7 and 5 ct diamonds. Just for fun, we tried on some 6-7 ct emerald cuts. Oh my, it was so much fun! But I will say, I am not sure either would have been cut well enough for me to have bought if they were within my size/budget range.

Top pic, left to right, 2.3cts (mine), 3.6cts (m2b pre-upgrade), and 6ish EC (I think J color)

2014-06-07 12.03.20.jpg

Same rounds with m2b's 5 ct antique cushion AVC next to the EC!
2014-06-07 12.03.55.jpg

A larger EC but lower color
2014-06-07 11.55.38.jpg

These diamonds were at a dealer who specialized in estate jewels. Most were on consignement. I think maybe that avenue is one you should pursue. This dealer has retired now or else I would refer you. They had magnificent pieces. But there are many places like it.
 
Hey DS, I would'nt touch an EC without an ASET. But I also use Diamcalc because some stones with too much blue in ASET are winners. They would probably be your rejects from photo's and videos.
 
DauphineMucha said:
Thanks Garry for dropping by.

Would it be fair to say that if the diamonds do not have an ASET available right the way, they might not be that great?

Wouldn't seller want to proof that a diamond is great by using a great looking ASET to potential buyer ... cream of the crop?

Not sure if I am making any sense here...just trying to get a sense of real expectation when buying online.

Not familiar with Dave Atlas yet, will search him on PS next. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Hi Dauphine!
I don't necessarily find that most cutters are even familiar with ASET- many are, but not all.
There are surely some good stones on the market without ASET
On the other hand, as a consumer, you do want to vet things to the max degree possible. Speaking as someone who has been quick to point out weak points of ASET, I can totally understand why a consumer wants them.
I love emerald cut- ( it's my favorite cut) I could never imagine buying one blind. For an online purchase, the ASET does provide additional info.
I agree with Garry that a fair percentage of the world's large stones are here in NYC. Easier to get an ASET likely.
Good luck in your search- such an exciting quest!!
 
Garry H (Cut Nut) said:
Hey DS, I would'nt touch an EC without an ASET. But I also use Diamcalc because some stones with too much blue in ASET are winners. They would probably be your rejects from photo's and videos.
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Garry- even if you're buying a stone in person?
 
If you are interested in some on JA, why don't you ask GOG, or your preferred vendor to call those stones in and do the ASET and video for you? Calling in stones is a service they will provide to assist you in finding what you want.
 
Rockdiamond said:
Garry- even if you're buying a stone in person?
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I definitely meant I'd see the diamond in person. Hopefully that was clear. I would be unlikely to commit to buying any diamond without seeing it (well, Yoram is my one exception). I think we can easily eliminate the ugly ones. Just going on the JA site shows how many of them are just not worth considering at all. But once you have a diamond in hand, you can see what it does in various lighting. So I do have confidence in being able to select a diamond in person without an ASET, however, the nerd in me would like to have one to carry around! Never know when it might come in handy!:lol:
 
LawmaLlama said:
If you are interested in some on JA, why don't you ask GOG, or your preferred vendor to call those stones in and do the ASET and video for you? Calling in stones is a service they will provide to assist you in finding what you want.
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Vendors will call in stones in NY, but they won't necessarily call in stones from India without a financial commitment.
 
Rock I can and do buy better from suppliers who give me ASET and DiamCalc than I can in person.
The fact that most of the info i need comes from camera, video, and DiamCalc products that I was part of the development or am the sales agent for does help :)

DS - very few large stones like this stay in India for much more than a week. Higher Clarity are in HK, and medium and lower goods (i.e. most) are already in USA
 
Garry- Maybe it's part of our different outlooks, based on experience/environment.
I am lucky in that there's still a lot of diamonds to look at in person in NYC. I'm not that good with the handheld ASET- and looking in person, I honestly don't feel I need it.
But if I was considering stones from an Indian vendor- where sending them involved an overseas shipment, as opposed to taking the elevator....I'd agree with you- and want to see ASET/Photos/Video
 
diamondseeker2006 said:
I definitely meant I'd see the diamond in person. Hopefully that was clear. I would be unlikely to commit to buying any diamond without seeing it (well, Yoram is my one exception). I think we can easily eliminate the ugly ones. Just going on the JA site shows how many of them are just not worth considering at all. But once you have a diamond in hand, you can see what it does in various lighting. So I do have confidence in being able to select a diamond in person without an ASET, however, the nerd in me would like to have one to carry around! Never know when it might come in handy!:lol:
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We're totally on the same page DS!
Now that I'm looking at this from a different viewpoint, we've invested in equipment to take first-rate ASET pics. But in person, I find the device is not as helpful as looking at the stone.
I'm actually super excited to see good ASET pics of some of the wacky stones I love. And FCD's. It will also allow me a far better frame of reference to what to look for, as opposed to the handheld- or the small light/cone combo. Both of those units are fun to use. But in person, the eyes have it......
For buying from afar, the value good ASET images is high.
 
diamondseeker2006 said:
A larger EC but lower color
2014-06-07 11.55.38.jpg

I haven't seen as many as you have but I like the look of the lower color just based on those pictures. Much less leakage(?) and prefer that prongs/setting much more. Bigger also better too...:mrgreen2:

These diamonds were at a dealer who specialized in estate jewels. Most were on consignement. I think maybe that avenue is one you should pursue. This dealer has retired now or else I would refer you. They had magnificent pieces. But there are many places like it.

That is too bad. I've tried rings on from a jewelry store which also listed on 1stdibs, I assume that there were on consignment but the EC was no good. Too deep and too dark! I also hate those jewelry store lighting:knockout:

Any other good recommendations? I've got Jewel by Grace. Thx
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