Help Understanding HOF Diamonds

[minousbijoux]

Hi there

I'm a regular over in the CS forum, but seldom venture over here. I know embarrassingly little about diamonds, but have offered to help a friend. She has a white gold hearts on fire three stone pendant necklace that she wishes to sell. The style probably has a name - it is three stones descending in size from the biggest at the top down. Is that an eternity necklace?

Anyway, she wants to sell it and I will help her post it on DB. But a couple of questions first so I can give her a sense of value. Whenever I read threads on diamonds, people talk about "ideal cuts" and "hearts and arrows." I understand there is a quality system, but I'm just not that familiar with it. Is the fact that they are HOF diamonds significant in helping assess quality? I have asked her for the diamond certs and she does have some paperwork, but I don't know if it is from a preferred lab. Since the best diamond labs are different than the best labs for colored stones, can someone help me out by directing me to the reputable ones - are they GIA, EGL and AGS? What else should I know in determining diamond price? If the certs contain enough information (and they're not some inhouse fly by night certs), can I use the data on weight, cut, clarity, color, plug it in to the search criteria and see what pops up for prices, or is it better to come to you first, share the data and have you give me your opinions on value? Finally, I know there have been a few good threads on how to value items in the Preloved Jewels page. Would it be fair, after determining whatever the value is to discount it by a certain percentage, like the normal 20% - 30%, or do diamonds not work that way?

She thinks the necklace is worth at least $10,000. Eeep, I hope her expectations aren't too high.

She also has two antique jade pieces that have been handed down for generations in her family. One is in the shape of a butterfly (probably a brooch) with diamonds and what looks to be high karat gold and another one similar in composition. I saw these on her i-phone as she keeps these in her safe deposit box. Is this perhaps the kind of thing one takes to an auction house like Bonhams, or is that ridiculously unrealistic?

TIA

 

[diamondseeker2006]

She needs to get an appraisal on the jade pieces and then go from there.

If you can get the grading reports on the diamonds in the HOF necklace, you can pretty accurately find out current retail price on similar stones. She is going to be disappointed in what it will sell for because HOF stones are very overpriced compared to other hearts and arrows stones (you can compare prices with WF ACA's and GOG Superior H&A). The one time I looked, they were about a third more expensive than similar H&A stones. Considering that it is second hand, I would say she would be very lucky to get half of what the item would sell for new today.

 

[minousbijoux]

Thanks for your response. I'm disappointed but not surprised at the resale value of those stones - for a while there, they were so heavily marketed that it makes sense there would be an added premium.

 

[Gypsy]

Even in re-sale there is a good premium for hearts on fire. So it's not totally wasted. And honestly, it's probably the easiest way to get ideal cut stones. We on PS prefer savings and research over markups and ease of purchase. But there is a market for it, and Hearts on Fire pieces are lovely and well constructed. There are even a few PSers who swear by them.

Do you know the carat weight of the diamonds? If it's one of their stock pieces you should be able to get a comp for what the piece sells for right now, and then take off about 40% or so to get the price she can expect to get. Even if she consigns she won't get more-- cheapest consignment is 20% and they can't price pre-owned as new, so they have to offer it at a discount of at least 20% as well.

But even at 40% off REAL (not inflated) retail for hearts on fire, you may have to go lower to get a quicker sale.

I HIGHLY recommend Ebay for this sale. It's a better market place for high end marked up brands. Diamond bistro has mostly savvy buyers that know what the comp for the piece in generic H&A stones, and will be using that as a guide for now much to spend-- not carrying about the brand. Ebay, you get people who don't know a ton, but know Hearts on Fire means quality, will see the 40% off retail (you will post that in the listing and link to the same piece on the Hearts on Fire site) and will buy.

She may be getting the 10K number from an inflated appraisal though. So keep that in mind. You will have to educate her and to adjust her expectations.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I agree with Gypsy that HOF may sell best on ebay. But I am going to say that new HOF on Oakgem are listed 50% or more off retail, so I am not sure it is realistic to think a used piece will go for 40% off retail.

http://www.oakgem.com/Products/Hearts_On_Fire_Repertoire_Teardrop_Diamond_Earrings_5863.aspx

http://www.oakgem.com/Products/New_Hearts_On_Fire_Triplicity_Diamond_Pendant_18K_Gold_Necklace_7070.aspx

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I HIGHLY recommend Ebay for this sale. It's a better market place for high end marked up brands. Diamond bistro has mostly savvy buyers that know what the comp for the piece in generic H&A stones, and will be using that as a guide for now much to spend-- not carrying about the brand. Ebay, you get people who don't know a ton, but know Hearts on Fire means quality, will see the 40% off retail (you will post that in the listing and link to the same piece on the Hearts on Fire site) and will buy.

.

Yep, everyone who buys on DB knows that HOF is inflated, but since the site is free, there is no harm listing there while figuring out what to list on eBay for, plus there are not eBay fees, so that can be calculated in as savings. (List slighly lower on DB figuring part of the difference would be made up in not paying eBay.)

 

[denverappraiser]

She thinks the necklace is worth at least $10,000. Eeep, I hope her expectations aren't too high.

On what is she basing this expectation?