Diamond with chip in in crown, girdle, pavillion

[AdaBeta27]

I've been looking at a used diamond that has a noticible chip at the girdle which extends to crown and pavillion. In other words, there's a very small chunk missing. It was a nicely cut eyeclean (from top) I1 prior to the chip. Somebody's insurance probably replaced rather than repaired it.

Reading various posts here and at DT, repair if not recut is recommended. I've not seen any approximate pricing on the various repair options like polish it out, fill it with whatever you folks use, etc. Can someone give me a very rough estimate of costs? Since it's just a pretty I1 with replacement cost in the $3200 to $3500 range, I'm looking for the cheapest fix that will hold it together enough for occasional use as a dinner ring.

I can't see any crack propagating from the chip yet, at 30x. If I can buy it cheaply enough, I am considering using this stone in a vintage style setting that has 4 very wide foldover prongs, thinking maybe that or a bezel could cover the chip with or without doing the repair. Good or bad idea? What would you do? Forget it and run like 'L,

?

 

[denverappraiser]

Many questions rolled into one. For starters, a diamond with a chunk missing is an I3, not an I1. Pay accordingly.

Your insurance salvage theory is a pretty reasonable one and the insurance company has already been through the math that you describe. They decided that they would get the most money if they sell it in its present condition. They aren’t always right, of course, but there are some fairly educated people making these decisions. I do this kind of thing fairly regularly, often on behalf of insurance companies as the client. I call it a damage report. It takes a bit of practice but most appraisers should be able to give you some good information for a reasonable price. There''s no way to give anything like useful advice without examining the stone.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ISA NAJA
Independent Appraisals in Denver

 

[cjfilm]

hello how are you?
question whats a good price estimate for a 0.93cttw princess cut fancy,
not sure of measurments.


thanks for any input

 

[denverappraiser]

Date: 4/27/2005 7:57:14 PM
Author: cjfilm
hello how are you?
question whats a good price estimate for a 0.93cttw princess cut fancy,
not sure of measurments.


thanks for any input

Charles,

There is an enormous range that will depend on information that you haven't included. The bottom is about $100 and the top is about $8,000. This is kind of like asking: What's a good price for a blue car?

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ISA NAJA
Independent Appraisals in Denver

 

[oldminer]

We often have chipped diamonds repaired or occasionally fully recut. Repairs can leave asymmetry, extra facets, a very slight retained dent and/or still a little chip showing. Re cutting, if the stone is sound enough to take the process, can give you a completely fixed and even a finely made diamond, OR a reasonably fixed, relatively average cut, as it likely as before the chip happened.

Repairs are rather inexpensive compared to full re cutting. Rarely would we think of re cutting an I1. Imperfections increase the risk of further breakage during the recut process. They more you work on the diamond, the more perceived "risk" of breakage. No one is responsible for breakage during cutting. We self insure...in other words, we take the risk on stones we own. On diamonds we do not own, we won't accept any responsibility for any damage, negligent or not. This means we rarely cut a diamond for anyone else. What consumer would assume the risk? Very few to none.

We are willing to get work done by a skilled, old time cutter, but the risk is on the owner of the diamond. If a retailer offers this service to consumers and accepts the risk, then I'd fully expect their price for repairs or re cutting to be very high compared to the cost of the service provided. They are making consumers pay for the overall risk of the occasional broken diamond that will need to be replaced. This is a fair way to provide the service to consumers.

Go into the best store in town and see what they will do and how much they might charge for their recommended repairs. Ask if they will replace the stone in case of loss or damage during cutting. Get their policy in writing and decide if you wish to pay enough to do the job. Its the safest way for you to proceed. A low price for a repair or recut, at your risk, may be a false bargain.