seedslinger
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2011
- Messages
- 45
If you had to and all else being equal...which one would you choose?
seedslinger|1316890065|3024754 said:I'm talking about RB's in the 1-2ct range.
Diamond will be in an antique ering.
I'm not so interested in discussing whether EGL certificates are "worth the paper they are printed on" or not, just an idea of the variability between the different EGL labs.
For example, I suspect that all 3 of color gradings above would look similiar and would grade as a GIA L or M.
From what I understand EGL USA is one color grade soft in comparison to GIA, EGL Intl. perhaps 2 grades softer and EGL Israel perhaps 3 color grades softer than GIA.
What do you think?
slg47|1316890528|3024758 said:seedslinger|1316890065|3024754 said:I'm talking about RB's in the 1-2ct range.
Diamond will be in an antique ering.
I'm not so interested in discussing whether EGL certificates are "worth the paper they are printed on" or not, just an idea of the variability between the different EGL labs.
For example, I suspect that all 3 of color gradings above would look similiar and would grade as a GIA L or M.
From what I understand EGL USA is one color grade soft in comparison to GIA, EGL Intl. perhaps 2 grades softer and EGL Israel perhaps 3 color grades softer than GIA.
What do you think?
the problem is that they are inconsistent. it may be 1-2 grades or it may be 3-4 which has a huge effect on pricing.
Yssie|1316918347|3024773 said:slg47|1316890528|3024758 said:seedslinger|1316890065|3024754 said:I'm talking about RB's in the 1-2ct range.
Diamond will be in an antique ering.
I'm not so interested in discussing whether EGL certificates are "worth the paper they are printed on" or not, just an idea of the variability between the different EGL labs.
For example, I suspect that all 3 of color gradings above would look similiar and would grade as a GIA L or M.
From what I understand EGL USA is one color grade soft in comparison to GIA, EGL Intl. perhaps 2 grades softer and EGL Israel perhaps 3 color grades softer than GIA.
What do you think?
the problem is that they are inconsistent. it may be 1-2 grades or it may be 3-4 which has a huge effect on pricing.
Exactly that - there's no consistency, no way to reliably make any sort of correlation assumptions for a given stone!
If you're looking in-person and you do your homework and compare, and you are consistently won over by an EGL in a variety of lighting types, well, good for you for finding the stone your eyes like best!
If you're buying online, and *knowing what you've got* by the respected authority's standards is important to you, then choose a GIA or AGS if you're in the US.
seedslinger|1316890065|3024754 said:I'm not so interested in discussing whether EGL certificates are "worth the paper they are printed on" or not, just an idea of the variability between the different EGL labs.
Anne :)|1316981594|3025281 said:Well, to answer the question you posed directly, I would trust an EGL USA cert before one of the EGL Intl/Israel, so sight unseen, all else being equal it is more likely that the EGL K is a truer "K" than the EGL Intl "J" or Israel "I".
And I second, and third, and fourth (etc) all those above that I wouldn't buy an EGL stone of any type sight unseen; Truth is the only thing I would buy (and did) sight unseen was an AGS 000 H&A. That's a definition and standards I can live with.
Again, this is the problem. You have made a false assumption. There simply is NOT a linear conversion chart to convert one lab's grading to another. SOME EGL Israel stones are dead on with what GIA would say and SOME EGL USA stone are way different. There is no way of telling from looking at the report which of these groups applies to the stone you're considering. If what you want is a GIA graded stone, buy a GIA graded stone. Don't try to buy something else and try to convert.seedslinger|1316890065|3024754 said:From what I understand EGL USA is one color grade soft in comparison to GIA, EGL Intl. perhaps 2 grades softer and EGL Israel perhaps 3 color grades softer than GIA.
Anne :)|1317147466|3027031 said:With your eyeballs
And
compared next to certified GIA or AGS stones
seedslinger|1317236213|3028037 said:Anne,
Again, thanks for your reply.
My intention of the thread is not to anger people, play devils advocate or suggest that EGL is in anyway comparable to GIA or AGS.
I'm simply asking for my own education and interest.
As has been said here, you are buying a diamond, not a piece of paper. So, while EGL is known to be both soft on grading and inconsistent, that doesn't mean that there are no good diamonds with an EGL certification. Further, while GIA and AGS are the undisputed standards in diamond grading, they are also by nature, an opinion.
As for my specific case, I have a setting that was my great grandmothers that requires a 1.25 stone, the setting also needs about 500 in repair to re-prong and size. Issue is that I have set my budget on the entire ring at 3500. While I understand that this is a small budget for a diamond of that size and good quality, it is all that I can spend in good conscience.
Thus, I have been looking at lower color (to M) diamonds. I think we can live with a lower color for the following reasons:
1) The setting is an "illusion" setting in which the sides and point of the diamond will be mostly covered, almost like a semi-bezel setting.
2) The setting is antique, so a warmer color will look somewhat correct.
3) My gf and I prefer a vanilla color to icy white.
Now that I have given you my parameters, here is the theoretical.
Diamond 1 is a GIA 1.22, Ex. cut, L, SI1, with a sub-2 HCA rating.
Diamond 2 is a EGL Israel, 1.25, Ex./ideal cut, J, VS-1, with a sub-2 HCA rating.
Diamond 2 is $500 less than diamond 1.
Both diamonds can be seen before purchase.
I have no intention of ever selling the diamond or trading up.
As I said, I'm not trying to ruffle any feathers, but if you can expect (with some level of chance), that the EGL stone is actually an L or M and a SI1 or eye-clean SI2 and you are okay with those grades, didn't I just pay for the ring restoration with the balance of the two stones? And if the EGL stones does not grade to the "expected" standards or does not appeal to the eye, one could pass on it.
Again, I'm not trying to anger people, just throw-out a theoretical situation.
Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge!