Helping friend with HOF sale...Help/Advice please

[BriBee]

Hello I was thinking of posting in Preloved, but since we're not selling yet and just looking for tips I thought I'd post here for some help.

A close friend of mine recently asked me about selling her ER and WB...I'm not sure on all the details yet but I know her ER is a HOF stone, probably a half carat. I recommended that she check out loupetroop and DB for selling, but I want to help her get everything ready first....

She does not have ANY paperwork on it so I recommended that she get it appraised locally. If she does this will the appraiser be able to tell it's a HOF and give her paperwork proving it? I know this might help her get a little more money since it's a branded stone. I was also thinking I should have her get it inspected/cleaned/replated or whatever else it might need to look in newer condition. Do you think this will be worth it, or will the cost of having all this done not be worth any extra money she might get?

Any other advice or tips you think I should pass along would be greatly appreciated. And how should we go about deciding on a selling price? I think it was purchased in 2005 so she might get a decent return considering the rise in prices since then, is this correct? She's not overly concerned about what she sells it for because I think she is going to donate the money, but I still would like to see her get a fair price.

 

[ruby59]

Go on ebay into the sold items. A comparable 1/2 carat diamond went for under $2,500. Doesn't Hearts and Fire inscribe their initials and number on their diamonds as identification?

 

[pregcurious]

This website says that each HOF diamond is inscribed with the logo and number.
http://www.melbys.com/heartsonfire.html

 

[BriBee]

Thank you, so the appraiser should be able to find this and note it in the appraisal. I will also try to check eBay for comparisons.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Is there any way the ring can be taken to a HOF dealer? They probably can look at the diamond and possibly look up the inscription number on their computer and get the basic info that way and document it. I'm not sure if this would be as good an an appraisal but having a HOF dealer document the specs and authenticate it may be enough for some buyers.

 

[BriBee]

Is there any way the ring can be taken to a HOF dealer? They probably can look at the diamond and possibly look up the inscription number on their computer and get the basic info that way and document it. I'm not sure if this would be as good an an appraisal but having a HOF dealer document the specs and authenticate it may be enough for some buyers.

Yes, I thought about this and will probably suggest it to her. She went with me to my jeweler today and he louped it and could not find an inscription. It was purchased in 2005 and he said it was possible they weren't inscribing stones at that time. The band does say HOF in it and has some other markings, but no identifying numbers. She doesn't even have the HOF box because it was purchased from a local B&M that sold HOF and they packaged it in their own boxes. I'm positive it's an authentic HOF Dream cut, but I know that without paperwork and certificates people may be reluctant to buy online.

It's so frustrating for her because the store where it was purchased has since closed (local B&M, hit hard by the economy), and she doesn't really want to contact the ex to see if he has any paperwork. Maybe she can get somewhere with a HOF dealer, but if not my jeweler gave her some great advice and tips for trying to sell online and gave her some price points he thought were reasonable. He also told her that if she doesn't have any luck selling that he would make her an offer, or let her trade it in towards something in his shop if she wants. He also said that he could do an appraisal for her, but he didn't think it would be worth the cost to her based on what she could get for the set. At least she has some options and ideas now, she might decide to hold off on selling, but I'm not sure.

 

[ruby59]

http://www.heartsonfire.com/about/hearts-on-fire-difference/our-promise/serialized-diamonds.aspx

According to the hearts and fire website, not all HOF diamonds are serialized. So the fact that your friend's diamond does not have it, does not necessarily mean it is not a HOF. But I do not know how you can prove it without the certificate.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Oh, that is a bummer that they didn't inscribe the stone. I occasionally look up HOF stones on eBay (and even bid on a couple) and they all stated they were authentic, but I am not sure if all said they were inscribed. Some were even loose - not sure why the stones were taken out of the settings, but they were - and all have been smaller stones. I've bid on stones around .25-.30, so it wouldn't have been a huge loss if they weren't HOF. But, with a stone around half a carat, then you're talking $1000+ possibly as a preloved price, so maybe you can find a less pricey appraiser? Some jewelry stores have less expensive appraisals...I've seen them for $75 at a couple of places as promotions.

 

[BriBee]

http://www.heartsonfire.com/about/hearts-on-fire-difference/our-promise/serialized-diamonds.aspx

According to the hearts and fire website, not all HOF diamonds are serialized. So the fact that your friend's diamond does not have it, does not necessarily mean it is not a HOF. But I do not know how you can prove it without the certificate.

Thanks for finding this ruby, I'll show this to my friend...it will probably make her feel better since she was even beginning to doubt her ring. I think she should look around at some different appraisal options or go to a HOF dealer....the other issue is that she literally has NO info on the ring, so she doesn't even know exact size (she "remembers" hearing it was .5) and has no idea of color and clarity. How in the heck can you sell a diamond without that info

I'm almost wondering if her best bet isn't to hold on to the set and then take the jeweler up on his offer of trade, he said he'd give her $2,500 in store credit. She's a nurse though, and doesn't wear much jewelry at all, but maybe she could get some nice studs. Or hold on to it and then when she gets married (her and her SO seem to be headed that way) she can use the store credit towards their WBs or something. She is a little apprehensive thinking it would be "weird" to use her old set towards new wedding bands, and I totally understand this. But I also told her that I traded my old setting towards credit for new and FI and I don't feel bad or weird about it at all.

 

[ame]

If she can contact an HOF dealer I wonder if they can find any info from HOF directly as to the original information based on the buyers name?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

http://www.heartsonfire.com/about/hearts-on-fire-difference/our-promise/serialized-diamonds.aspx

According to the hearts and fire website, not all HOF diamonds are serialized. So the fact that your friend's diamond does not have it, does not necessarily mean it is not a HOF. But I do not know how you can prove it without the certificate.

Thanks for finding this ruby, I'll show this to my friend...it will probably make her feel better since she was even beginning to doubt her ring. I think she should look around at some different appraisal options or go to a HOF dealer....the other issue is that she literally has NO info on the ring, so she doesn't even know exact size (she "remembers" hearing it was .5) and has no idea of color and clarity. How in the heck can you sell a diamond without that info

I'm almost wondering if her best bet isn't to hold on to the set and then take the jeweler up on his offer of trade, he said he'd give her $2,500 in store credit. She's a nurse though, and doesn't wear much jewelry at all, but maybe she could get some nice studs. Or hold on to it and then when she gets married (her and her SO seem to be headed that way) she can use the store credit towards their WBs or something. She is a little apprehensive thinking it would be "weird" to use her old set towards new wedding bands, and I totally understand this. But I also told her that I traded my old setting towards credit for new and FI and I don't feel bad or weird about it at all.

Unless she needs the funds for living expenses or whatever, the store credit does sound like an easier solution than dealing with appraisals and the hassles of trying to resell the ring.