Expert opinion on a 3 Ct and 4 Ct stone, please

[leslie]

Hello,
I am newly posting to this forum.
This has been an excellent resource and I appreciate the information and input from the site creators, experts and members. I am very fortunate to have discovered the site.

I have been looking at a 3 Ct and a 4 Ct round brilliant stone.
My question is if either of these stones are a ''good buy''

3 Ct
Cert: EGL
Shape: Round Brilliant
Weight: 3.30 Ct
Clarity: SI 1
Color: I (looks more like a J to my untrained eye)
Diameter: 9.57x9.62x5.87 mm
Depth: 61.2%
Table: 58.5%
Crown %: 14.5%
Pavilion %: 41.2%
Culet: .3%
Polish: VG
Symmetry: VG
Inclusions: Feather on the side, mostly covered with a prong (under 10x)

$5000 per Ct


4 Ct
Cert: EGL
Shape: Round Brilliant
Weight: 4.01 Ct
Clarity: SI 1
Color: H
Diameter: 10.28-10.24x6.26 mm
Depth: 61%
Table: 61%
Crown %: 12%
Pavilion %: 45%
Culet: none
Polish: Good to VG
Symmetry: VG
Inclusions: Small crystal in center tiny (under 10X), Feather on side, covered with a prong (under 10X)

$8500 per Ct


Initially, I thought the 4 Ct would be an excellent puchase, however, after using HCA, I realize it is very poorly cut and I would not feel comfortable with a diamond of that poor of a cut.

I also am not comfortable with a stone with the warmth of an I/J specification (the 3 Ct) even though the cut is better than the 4 ct. I am also interested in a larger weighted stone.

The most important aspects of a stone to me are:
Cut (for beauty)
Color (H or above)
Clarity (nothing visible with the naked eye, and relatively clean under all magnification)

In that order.

With any stone I am settled on purchasing I would also request a GIA cert.

I appreciate your input, in case there is a detail that I am misinterpreting or missing.
Thank you

Leslie

 

[yssie]

why not just look for a stone with a GIA report, rather than planning to have an EGL recerted? Your savings would be negligible, if even present, since to get a GIA H SI1, say, you'd be looking at EGL F/G VS1/2s anyway.


in answer to your question - neither of them meet your requirements, so neither are a good buy regardless of price.

 

[leslie]

I thought I would post so I could just get 1 or 2 people to confirm what I see is actually correct, in case I am misinterpreting, etc.

These 2 stones became available so I am considering them, but once I am satisfied these are not the ones, I will be looking at GIA stones, I agree, that is a good idea.

I also want to know if it's a good deal because if either stone IS a really good deal, I would am considering purchasing it now and trading up in 1 to 2 years.
That is how I've been getting larger and better stones over the last several years. I enjoy trading up...

Thank you very much for your input!

 

[yssie]

For a 3ct+ eyeclean H you're probably looking at VS2, possibly a nice SI1 - that's going to be a magnificent ROCK! Pretty pricey too

Why not call a few vendors and tell them what you're looking for, perhaps they'll have something you like? They will have access to more stones than we will, and finding a nice stone in that size is harder than in the 1ct range just from an availability standpoint so you definitely want an insider on the job

Some vendors many PSers have had good experiences with:
www.whiteflash.com
www.goodoldgold.com
www.highperformancediamonds.com
www.briangavindiamonds.com
www.jamesallen.com
www.exceldiamonds.com
www.idjewelryonline.com

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/23/2010 9:19:51 PM
Author: leslie
I thought I would post so I could just get 1 or 2 people to confirm what I see is actually correct, in case I am misinterpreting, etc.

These 2 stones became available so I am considering them, but once I am satisfied these are not the ones, I will be looking at GIA stones, I agree, that is a good idea.

I also want to know if it''s a good deal because if either stone IS a really good deal, I would am considering purchasing it now and trading up in 1 to 2 years.
That is how I''ve been getting larger and better stones over the last several years. I enjoy trading up...

Thank you very much for your input!

Hi Leslie

The stones aren''t the best cut as you are aware, also if you bought one and planned to use it to trade up, its going to be next to impossible with an EGL report, even GIA graded diamonds are hard to shift on the secondary market and it is usual to expect to get only 30 - 50% of what you paid, less with EGL.

I would suggest picking an AGS or GIA graded diamond that has a full upgrade policy from the vendor and trading up that way.

 

[leslie]

Thank you Lorelie and Yssie for your assitance. Both responses have been very helpful.
It is good to have someone else confirm that the cut is not that great.
I''m starting to trust my own instincts (and the HCA) more and more.

Thank you for the succinct list of diamond vendors.

The jeweler I''ve used would give me full upgrade value on these EGL diamonds.
However, with the stones getting this large I completely agree that I should have a GIA certified diamond as well as a full upgrade policy.

I will use that list of vendors.

I have read both of your posts before and appreciate your advice!

Leslie

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/24/2010 11:54:05 AM
Author: leslie
Thank you Lorelie and Yssie for your assitance. Both responses have been very helpful.
It is good to have someone else confirm that the cut is not that great.
I'm starting to trust my own instincts (and the HCA) more and more.

Thank you for the succinct list of diamond vendors.

The jeweler I've used would give me full upgrade value on these EGL diamonds.
However, with the stones getting this large I completely agree that I should have a GIA certified diamond as well as a full upgrade policy.

I will use that list of vendors.

I have read both of your posts before and appreciate your advice!

Leslie

You are most welcome Leslie, Yssie and I are glad to be of help!

I just wanted to mention with the HCA, bear in mind it is used for rejection not selection, stones that score below 2 are then deemed to be worthy of further evaluation, this is done with images, trusted vendor/ appraiser opinion and your own eyes.

 

[leslie]

Lorelie

I spoke with the jeweler and he said that he could have the cutter recut the 4 ct stone to ideal cut if I desired.
What do you think of that?

Thank you

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/7/2010 3:31:54 AM
Author: leslie
Lorelie

I spoke with the jeweler and he said that he could have the cutter recut the 4 ct stone to ideal cut if I desired.
What do you think of that?

Thank you

Hi Leslie

Well it depends, will they do it without you having to buy it first then say if the stone broke or shattered at the wheel ( rare but there is always the possibility), will they take the loss???? It could be far easier to just buy a GIA or AGS graded diamond of great cut quality and be done as you will see below there is risk involved and many questions to be answered.

Is the diamond even a suitable candidate for recutting?? Not all are suitable....An expert cutter would need to inspect the stone to see if recutting the stone is viable.

Would they have the newly cut stone regraded by GIA or AGS and if so would they charge you the original price, what if the colour or clarity were better or lower? What then? What if the colour or clarity ( or both) were lower, would you still want it?

Also when he says he will have the stone cut to Ideal Cut proportions, what does he mean exactly? Really the term Ideal Cut can mean so many things, would the cutter's idea of ideal cut mean the diamond will show high standards of light performance and beauty?? How much weight woulsd be lost? Would you still want the stone if it lost a lot of weight through the cutting process???

As you can see, all these things above and more need careful consideration. To sum up, I would not buy the stone and take the chance at this stage without a lot more info and questions answered and even then I probably wouldn't risk it.

 

[yssie]

Date: 5/7/2010 4:35:28 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 5/7/2010 3:31:54 AM
Author: leslie
Lorelie

I spoke with the jeweler and he said that he could have the cutter recut the 4 ct stone to ideal cut if I desired.
What do you think of that?

Thank you

Hi Leslie

Well it depends, will they do it without you having to buy it first then say if the stone broke or shattered at the wheel ( rare but there is always the possibility), will they take the loss????

Would they have the newly cut stone regraded by GIA or AGS and if so would they charge you the original price, what if the colour or clarity were better or lower? What then?

ditto Lorelei.. also
1. how much weight does he expect to lose
2. what exactly does he mean by ideal

This does not sound like a good plan, to be honest.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/7/2010 4:39:23 AM
Author: yssie

Date: 5/7/2010 4:35:28 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 5/7/2010 3:31:54 AM
Author: leslie
Lorelie

I spoke with the jeweler and he said that he could have the cutter recut the 4 ct stone to ideal cut if I desired.
What do you think of that?

Thank you

Hi Leslie

Well it depends, will they do it without you having to buy it first then say if the stone broke or shattered at the wheel ( rare but there is always the possibility), will they take the loss????

Would they have the newly cut stone regraded by GIA or AGS and if so would they charge you the original price, what if the colour or clarity were better or lower? What then?

ditto Lorelei.. also
1. how much weight does he expect to lose
2. what exactly does he mean by ideal

This does not sound like a good plan, to be honest.

LOL! I was editing Yissers and you quoted me!!!

 

[yssie]

neener neener.



And no quotes this time

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/7/2010 4:48:46 AM
Author: yssie
neener neener.



And no quotes this time

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

''Tis early for me and not enough coffee so I am not up to usual speed yet, it must be really early for you....

 

[yssie]

I'm still on France time, so just past you - and I'm hungry! - though I'm back home in Cali

Now, go get that coffee!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/7/2010 4:59:22 AM
Author: yssie
I'm still on France time, so just past you - and I'm hungry! - though I'm back home in Cali

Now, go get that coffee!

That ' splains it then!!

Yes M'aam, going for coffee.....

You need to find some eats.....

 

[yssie]

my gut will just have to cope until some human hour. Diamonds are an excellent distraction

That sneaky emotie is SO cute, btw