Ebay diamond - local pickup

[happyhappy]

Hi all, quick question. I have to opportunity to buy a local pick up diamond ring from a local ebay seller. They have an appraisal and bill of sale. It is a pear cut SI2, G, 1.02 stone with .75 on the side in smaller stones, nice looking setting. I have a loupe and I am pretty good at judging diamonds. They want 800 dollars for it. Is this a good deal ebay wise? Is it a ring I will be happy with? I have always wanted a one carat ring, but money wise it is just not a priority purchase right now to get the ring of my dreams (I want a two carat G VS ring)! Opinions please.

 

[Slykat12]

Ok now I really think a diamond of that size would be worth more and if you know diamonds you would know too.
Thus, no it is not a good deal as it sounds to good to be true.
Please look up the other Ebay horror stories going on right now.

 

[mrssalvo]

You can type in "ebay" in the search and a bunch of threads will pop up. My opinion, if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is. In general, buying diamonds off of ebay is not a good idea. Ebay is one huge flea market, sure there are deals but it is buyer beware. Only you''d know if you would be happy with it.

you might want to check out this thread where a gal is going through an ebay experience right now

 

[happyhappy]

Even if can do a local pickup? I would not buy it if I had to buy it sight unseen.

 

[AndyRosse]

Wow, that is definitely either a fantastic deal or a horrible diamond (if you''re lucky). My general rule is that if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.

Can you bring someone who can definitely tell you whether it is a real diamond, etc?

 

[sistagrl2004]

PLEASE only agree to meet the person at a jewelery store/VERY public place. You are a walking victim if they know you are coming and bringing cash!

 

[happyhappy]

I am picking it up in the retail area inside a store, so I will just ask him to go with me to a local jewelry store. I do have a loupe, so I will eyeball it too before we go (diamonds always to me look identifiable under the loups, SI2 should have inclusion visable under the loupe). It is a local pickup which I like, but I know on ebay diamonds are a very suspect catagory. On the other hand 2000 dollars gets a hideous one carat at Wal-Mart so I can take that as a reference on dollar value.

 

[pinkflamingo]

maybe you could meet at an independent appraiser in your area. that would be my suggestion. while $800 isnt that much money, you may end up with a clarity enhanced diamond or something...

the only other thing you said that bothered me is that you said it came with an appraisal. is it certified?

 

[happyhappy]

Thanks all, I am assuming it is the typical overinflated appraisal. I will go to a local store to have it appraised, but I think if it is close to what he says I will get it. I am after all moving up from a .4 carat I1 stone, so it would be a real jump for me. The seller is only 15 mins from me so it does not hurt to look. The seller has very good feedback, no neg or neutrals.

Someday I will get a two carat stone.....

 

[jetmal]

please take a friend (preferably a large one!) with you.
You can''t be too careful these days!

let us know what happens!

 

[happyhappy]

Here is a picture of it.

 

[FireGoddess]

I highly suggest you meet at an appraiser''s place of business (pre-arranged time and date with appraiser) and have the apprasier look at the ring before you buy it. I''ve seen what $500-800 for a 1ct diamond can buy, and it''s not pretty. This may be a different story - a ''good deal'' as it were on a used piece of jewelry, because most people cannot recoup the original sale price, but it wouldn''t hurt to have it checked out before you buy. I don''t know you, but unless you''re a professional gemologist or appraiser, are you really going to be able to tell whether it''s a G color, or SI2 grade inclusion? Do you even have a diamond tester to test whether the stones are real versus moissanite, etc??? Anyone can draw up a bill of sale, etc. Personally, it''s worth checking out since you''re nearby, but I''d spend the cash to have the appraiser tell you it''s a good deal before you plunk down $800.

 

[Slykat12]

Yeah ditto that. Do you have an IS? Do you have the cut info? The cert info? Proof in writting of anything? If he is meeting you in person Ebay CANNOT protect you or your rights!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are so confident in your diamond savvy why don't you buy one online where you are guaranteed in writting what you get and look at it during the return period. A loupe is only one part in diamond assessment.



Please keep us informed of the aftermath.... I am very concerned for you.

 

[firebirdgold]

I''d want to borrow a new diamond tester and test the rock before anything else.

 

[pearcrazy]

The ring may indeed be a good deal if you can see it before you buy it. Instead of cash I would ask the seller if he would accept a certified check or traveller''s checks for the amount? That would offer just a little bit of a safety net. If the seller is inside a retail store, would he have the ability to take a credit card for the purchase? Even if he added the vendor''s fee of 2-4% to the price it would be worth it if the ring turns out not to be as advertised. You would have at least some recourse to dispute the charges with a credit card.

 

[Jensia]

Or mabey even worse , mabey at that price it is stolen or something.

 

[RockDoc]

$ 800.00????

From the photo ( which is very poor ) the mounting looks like it would sell for that much.

There are just too many considerations, in grading diamonds well. Do NOT think you know what you are seeing with just a loupe. There are all different qualities of loupes and the diamond has to illuminated correctly to accurately see what is going on with it.

Ask the seller to send it to GIA or AGS and offer to pay the expenses of that contingent on it being graded exactly as it has been represented. Give him a deposit, maybe $ 100 or so, that would be refundable if the diamond doesn''t grade as it was represented to be. If it does grade per the representation, then you buy it, knowing that you have good information to support your purchasing decision. Any other way does carry some risk to it.

That is the safest way to do this.

Rockdoc

 

[Rod]

Ask yourself this question: Is this person a Charity Business Enterprise? If the answer is no, RUN FOR THE NEAREST WALLMART! Why on earth would anyone sell something for such a rediculously low price, if it was worth far more? Because they're just really nice people? Yeah......sure....... If you believe that, many of us have bridges we'd like to sell you.

Now, I've read about women who sold their husbands prized Ferrari for $10, but that was only in response to finding out they'd been cheated on.

Chances are this is an extremely poor diamond, if it's even real.

 

[perry]

I have actually twice purchased items via ebay from relatively local people. When I found it was in my area - I contacted them via the email system at ebay. I went to inspect the item. Then submitted in one case a "buy" order, and in another case the winning bid for the item. In both cases I then returned to pick up the item - saving me the cost of shipping (and them the time and trouble to pack it).

I would not be against using the same concept with a diamond - and would show up with my Idealscope and Loupe in hand.

Also, this avoids the concept of carrying an unusual amount of $.

Perry