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Good second-hand diamond dealers? Any ideas on price range?

R

Rocky_2012

Rough_Rock
Joined
Nov 29, 2012
Messages
33
Dear all,

I'd be very grateful for recommendations on reliable and trustworthy dealers for second-hand diamonds. What I am looking for is:

Modern cut
Cut grade: Excellent
2.0-2.5 carat
G or better
VS1 or better
None or faint fluorescence

I would also really appreciate on some advice at which price point the stone should come in. (I have had an extensive look at the Blue Nile website - second-hand stones should give me a discount over their prices, though, right?)

Thanks very much for your hekp in advance!
 
Re: Good second-hand diamond dealers? Any ideas on price ran

There is no dealer for what you are looking for. If second-hand is supposed to give you a price discount, any dealer would remove the stone from the mounting and send it for an updated report and sell it at current prices. Usually you will only find second hand pieces for sale from dealers if if the piece is of some provenance or vintage that adds value. If Blue Nile's prices are too high, consider VS2 and SI1 clarity grades.
 
Re: Good second-hand diamond dealers? Any ideas on price ran

...all right, makes sense ;-) So you're basically saying prices at stores like Good old Gold and the online retailer like Blue Nile should be the same?

Any dealers similar to Good old Gold that you could recommend?
 
Re: Good second-hand diamond dealers? Any ideas on price ran

PS Preloved Jewels forum here
Jewels by Erica Grace - consignments
Pearlman's - consignments
DiamondBistro.com - individuals

Used rings,etc. ,you usually have to find local pawnshops or stores that sell used stuff. And don't expect documentation in most cases.
 
Re: Good second-hand diamond dealers? Any ideas on price ran

Hi rocky, the second hand market is five or take. When I was shopping, jewels by Erica grace had a 2.14 round brilliant, SI2 G GIA XXX for 16,500 and the comps were roughly 5k more. Other places to look are pearlmans, eBay, or local estate sales

Good luck!
 
Re: Good second-hand diamond dealers? Any ideas on price ran

HI:

Oakgem.com
Dover Jewelery (.com)

cheers--Sharon
 
Re: Good second-hand diamond dealers? Any ideas on price ran

I'm going to suggest you get a GIA Ex with a good idealscope image. And go down to H in color and SI in clarity.

If you have further flexibility, I'd suggest something right under the 2 carat mark, like 1.8 cts. And if flourescence is safe on a stone, I suggest you consider it. Many people on here consider safe flour. a desirable characteristic.


Here's a contender at 2 carats. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1520319.asp ask if eyeclean
Here's a contender at 1.8 http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1442390.asp ask if eyeclea

Difference is $3,000 in terms of money. In terms of spread it's .2mm. Which is visually noticable, but when set and on the hand at this size range (7.8mm-8.0mm) it's really not that much.

You would need an idealscope image of each to verify light performance.

If you want over 2 carats: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1534424.asp 8.3mm for 22k, ask if eyeclean.

Make sure you are looking at the measurements of the diamond when you are comparing them, not just the carat weight.
 
Re: Good second-hand diamond dealers? Any ideas on price ran

Dear all,

Many thanks for all of the valuable suggestions.

@Gypsy: Why would yougo down to SI and H? It's cheaper, obviously, but wouldn't you note the quality difference (thinking especially of the color here, stine is gonne be set in platinum)
 
Re: Good second-hand diamond dealers? Any ideas on price ran

For what it's worth, to my eye an H color looks spectacular in platinum. I actually prefer it even to a D color in platinum.
 
Re: Good second-hand diamond dealers? Any ideas on price ran

My 2ct is an I, and my half carat is a higher color - around a G/H, you can look at my pictures for comparisons. Just click my name and hit topics, I have a couple where I am wearing them side by side.

You can't tell a difference face up
 
Re: Good second-hand diamond dealers? Any ideas on price ran

EBay is the way to go but hard to find well cut modern brillants. For old cuts, once you go eBay it is hard to go back to retail.
 
Re: Good second-hand diamond dealers? Any ideas on price ran

There is also I do now I don't.

www.idonowidont.com

From what I can tell, it's similar to Jewels by Erica Grace.
 
Re: Good second-hand diamond dealers? Any ideas on price ran

Rocky,

What's your budget? I had to go down to H VS2/SI1 in order to get a 2ct stone. I can post pictures taken inside and outside if you want to see them.

I've seen some AGS triple 0 diamonds on ebay selling for very cheap, but it does not happen often.
 
Re: Good second-hand diamond dealers? Any ideas on price ran

As others have said, unless you come across an individual selling a stone on consignment, then you are probably unlikely to get a deal on a 2 ct. excellent cut diamond. G VS1 is my personal preference for specs on a modern round brilliant (for a ring) as well. The most I would go down to would be H VS2, and that is what my diamond stud earrings are. If color and clarity are important to you, then I'd go under 2 cts. to get it. A 1.8 ct. diamond is still really large. But if it has to be over 2 cts., then I would suggest G-H VS2.
 
Re: Good second-hand diamond dealers? Any ideas on price ran

A 2ct Ideal is going to be hard to find secondhand, unless it's just a private individual selling it to maximize profits to buy an upgrade, is my guess (some of those diamonds appreciated 30-35% or more since purchased, making people NOT want to trade-in or sell back to dealers.) 2ct is plenty large enough for lots of people. Once you start hitting the 2ct mark & up, more diamonds are cut to retain weight vs. get ideal or superideal performance, and/or H&A pattern. You'd be more likely to find an estate diamond that's an older brilliant cut. Or OEC or mine cut.
 
Re: Good second-hand diamond dealers? Any ideas on price ran

I agree with Gypsy, and really like the last option she presented you with. The stone looks beautiful and that's an excellent size! I tend to be very lax with my color/clarity preferences because a) I actually can't see the color differences very well, and b) they're necessary sacrifices to reach my desired carat weight with my available budget. I think an H/VS2 combo is great value for money, and your eyes will never perceive a difference between that and G/VS1.

Good luck! :wavey:
 
Re: Good second-hand diamond dealers? Any ideas on price ran

Dear all,

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions. They are tremendously helpful for me and much appreciated.

I had a chat with one of the guys at Good Old Gold and he told me that they would be able to call in a few stones from suppliers, run the full set of analytics on them, and help me pick the best stone.

I find the idea very appealing that someone with more knowledge than I have helps pick the stone and that the selection would be based on solid analytics so that I know exactly what I am getting. I have also read in the forum that fellow users are working with appraisers before pulling the trigger on a stone.

So, my question, I guess, is: How do you approach the process? Just go with Gold Old Gold (which, I suppose, factors their appraisal services into the quoted price) or select a renowned independent appraiser and pay her/him for the efforts separately?

As for my budget: I would like to stay below 40k, ideally around 35k, so G, VS1, and >2.1ct should be feasible (and, as for size, I'd definitely like to stay above 2ct). The question I am asking myself is how it is worth to pay for a better cut. GIA excellent starts at ~32ok, but one can easily spend 40k+.

The sentiment here in the forum seems to be to rather invest more in the cut and compromise on color/clarity. Is that because you can actually see the better cut with untrained eyes?

Thanks again for your help!!!
 
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