How is this 1.14ct?

[finchuck]

The asking price is $2,800. The seller is private and agreed to use escrow.com so I can have it appraised prior to releasing the funds to them.

It is mounted in a 6-prong 18k white gold ring with two baguettes weighing a total of .32cts.

This is straight off the GIA cert:

Shape and Cutting Style-Round Brilliant
Measurement- 6.67-6.75x4.16 mm
Weight-1.14 carat
Proportions
Depth-62%
Table-58%
Girdle-slightly thick to thick,faceted
Cutlet-none

Finish
Polish-Very Good
Symmetry-Very Good
Clarity Grade-SI1
Color Grade-I
Fluorescence-None

 

[canadiangrrl]

Have you seen it? What did you think?

 

[finchuck]

I haven't seen it in person. The escrow fee is $60 and probably $50 to have it appraised locally, is it worth it to have the ring shipped for inspection? I can always send it back, I just don't want to be out $110.

 

[phoenixgirl]

So it is an individual reselling the ring?

It's a steal as long as it checks out. 1.14 ISI1 GIA certed stones are going on PriceScope for $3854-$5345. Just make sure everything is verified before the deal is sealed.

Yes, you should get it appraised/inspected . . . if it seems too good to be true, make sure it isn't before you're stuck with it. But let's hope it is!

 

[finchuck]

Yep, it's an individual.

Can an approximate determination on the cut be made from what is on the GIA cert? There aren't any crown or pavilian figures.

The escrow option makes me feel pretty confident that they're not screwing me. Plus they live in PA (I'm in NJ), so if things don't workout I can drive up there and open up a can.

 

[canadiangrrl]

For that price, I'd definitely consider having it shipped to an appraiser and getting it checked out, given that you can do this before releasing any funds. If it meets with your parameters (carat/cut/colour/cost/clarity) it could be a pretty sweet deal. Have you seen pictures of the ring online? This isn't an ebay thing, is it?

 

[Mara]

CG I was just going to ask that...Fin is this another eBay thing?

I would try to get a Sarin on the thing....the last few stones have been far from lovely by the numbers.....Sarin can really show you the light on this stone (or the pool of darkness

)...can you call around to some local jewelers and see if anyone has a Sarin machine? Do this before you buy.




Oh and also a few things to note, the depth at 62% and the slightly thick-thick girdle are not the BEST signs of an excellently cut stone. It may be a very good cut...but just figured I'd mention that. This stone probably is losing a bit of carat weight in the depth and the girdle...so it may be smaller looking than a typical well cut 1.14c.




As the others noted, it's a really good price...I'd be sure it's not a steal for the wrong reasons...e.g. bad cut. Good luck...

 

[finchuck]

Yep it's another ebay, but from an entirely different person than the other ones.

I know how everybody hates the uncertanties of ebay, but I like to get the best bang for my buck. If I can save $800 or $1,000 and put that toward a better ring, it's worth the effort to me.

This one has a GIA cert and is willing to use escrow, so I'm pretty sure I'm going to give it a shot. Aren't the table and depth percentages close to what typically well cut stones are?

Or can it be deceiving and this just be a poorly cut stone?

On DCD, it says an ideal diamond has 60.2-62.7% depth, 53-57% table, very good polish, very good symmetry, thin to medium girdle, and no culet. This stone seems pretty darn close to these figures to me, other than the girdle and the 1% on the table.

 

[Mara]

Everyone will have their idea of what 'ideal' is...the term is so overused. That said, I would not necessarily consider a 62.7% depth stone an 'ideal' though it may depend on the other #s.




So a 62% depth stone is kind of pushing the envelope. If all the other #'s are nice it may be very good. But that combined with the slightly thick-thick girdle may be a bit of a warning flag.




Not saying you shouldn't pursue it. But GIA cert and escrow doesn't equal well cut stone. Also the guidelines for table & depth don't necessarily mean well cut stone either. Just like AGS0 doesn't equal well-cut stone. You need to get the crown and pav angles and see what's going on. Get a Sarin.

 

[finchuck]

Do you think a regular jeweler could give the crown and pavilion figures?

Where would I need to take it to get those?

 

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

----------------
On 12/19/2003 3:35:11 AM finchuck wrote:





Do you think a regular jeweler could give the crown and pavilion figures?

Where would I need to take it to get those?
----------------

If the jeweler has access to the sarin data or has a sarin machine he/she can give you this info...

You can also make the stones sale contingent on the evaluation by an independent appraiser who have these fancy gadgets to do the proper evaluation you need and do a full work up on the diamond in question..

 

[Mara]

You need a Sarin to do that. No one else can do it unless they have a Sarin machine.




Call around and find out who has one in your area...then have them run the report.

Or if you can find a local appraiser in your area who has one...you mentioned PA...




Dave Atlas is in PA so maybe he can do the appraisal for you and I think he has a Sarin. Give him a jingle...he may also have other recommendations. David Wolf is in NJ...check the Appraisers list at the top of this site for details. See if Dave or David can do the appraisal and make sure they have a Sarin.

 

[aljdewey]

I'm sure everyone means well and is truly trying to help, but you cannot run a Sarin on a *mounted* stone, Finchuck. That means the best you can get on this is estimated crown angles, etc.




Finchuck, I applaud your frugalness....I really do. But I have to say it one more time, and then I'm going to remain silent on the ebay bargain stones from here on out so as to not offend the masses.




You may be spending a dollar to save a nickel here.......does that make sense? Everybody wants to get a good deal----hell, I'm the queen of bargain shopping---but there is a line that is easily crossed into throwing bad money after good. Put your thinking cap on for a minute and ask yourself why the price on this stone is so low? There's another stone on ebay - 1.14, I, SI1 with and EGL cert - loose stone only for $3350. The stone your asking about has a GIA cert AND a white gold band with .32 ctw of baguettes, all for $2800??????




When the price is too good to be true, it usually is.




If you pick an appraiser that knows what a diamond actually looks like, its gonna cost you more than $50. A decent appraiser runs in the neighborhood of $100 to appraise a stone between 1-1.5 carats. Add that to your $60 escrow fee, plus shipping to you (and most definitely shipping back when the appraiser tells you the stone barks, and that's why it's selling for $2800 mounted), and you're out $200 and you still have *no* ring.




Finchuck, that same $2800 plus the $200 you'd blow to find out the stone is a visual train wreck......let me tell you what that $3000 could get you. Another poster here recently bought a BEAUTIFUL .95, H, VS2, GIA stone for that $3000 from a reputable vendor here. Mount that in a simple tiff setting for $80 and you're done for $3080. You could easily drop down a bit to .80 or .85 and get a really nice stone for the money.




I'm not suggesting you spend outrageous amounts of money or go beyond your budget. I'm suggesting that you give some thought to the very high risk in losing money here. Not on the stone--escrow would prevent that, but as you point out, you'd lose the escrow fee, the appraisal cost, and the shipping cost both ways if the stone turns out to be a dud -- which the probability is HIGH that it is.




If you can comfortably afford to gamble losing $200 on the stone if it doesn't pan out, then by all means spin the wheel and take a gamble. But it doesn't sound like you can afford to do that - "I don't want to be out the $110". Please understand that there is NO guarantee in purchasing a ring this way, and if you can't afford to lose the $200, then that's not the place for you to be shopping for a ring. Gambling is for people who can afford the loss should it occur.

 

[aljdewey]

PG, does this help illustrate the culmination that led to the post in the other thread? There is no shortage of them. In the "other" post you said:

"The only posts that bother me are the ones where the person just will not accept that he will not be able to resell his ring for MORE than he paid for it! I'll tell you nicely once that you have a better chance of being killed by a falling sky-diver whose shoot wouldn't open than you would of finding someone who would like to pay a premium just for having you own the ring for a while, but if you still persist in your idi***, it's time for some rid*****."

The "better chance of a falling sky-diver" talk has been given on the last several eBay stones that have been asked about, and yet the question continues. After a while, it just gets silly and makes one snap. How many ways can one say "maybe that's not a good move?"

 

[canadiangrrl]

Finchuk, I'm inclined to agree with Al. If this is an ebay thing, I'd pass. If staying on budget is a concern to you (and I applaud you if it is) I'd start looking for a smaller stone with a nice make from one of the P'scope vendors. There have been too many instances of buyer's remorse from ebay diamond purchases and I wouldn't want to see you lose your shirt.

 

[aljdewey]

On 12/19/2003 10:45:05 AM canadiangrrl wrote:
If this is an ebay thing, I'd pass. If staying on budget is a concern to you (and I applaud you if it is) I'd start looking for a smaller stone with a nice make from one of the P'scope vendors.*****

Finchuck, this is BY FAR the best advice you're going to get here. Please, please do yourself a favor and give serious consideration to this suggestion.

 

[Mara]

Aww girls let the guy get his stone appraised. You never know...it could be a winner.




Who really knows? Not us. You'd have to have the stone unmounted. Take it to Dave Atlas in PA. Get it appraised. If you don't have to pay until AFTER the appraisal, you aren't losing anything but the $100 for the appraisal. If you are dead-set on finding yourself some great eBay deal, which sounds like you are....then go for it.




Would also say though that the amount of time you have put into this eBay search and come up with dead end after dead end seems like a huge sinkhole. With that same $2800 you could have gone online, gotten an awesome .85 I SI or similar type excellently cut stone, with all the numbers, and a simple platinum setting. In all of something like a day or less. Your budget is very low, as you know...I can respect you trying to maximize it. But know your limits, when is enough enough? If this stone turns out to be a dud...are you prepared to go on searching with eBay?

 

[fire&ice]

Regarding ebay, surely there has to be someone who took the advice to take a loss on the engagement ring & sell on ebay.

When I first started researching for my new ring, I checked into ebay. While I'm sure a gem exists amoung the rough, they are far & few between. The perils & risks are great. IMHO, the cons outweigh the pros.

But, if I recall correctly, Finchuck isn't proposing for quite a while. He does have the time. So, maybe he can luck out.

 

[Mara]

Also Fin you may want to start haunting DT or similar since it seems some people sell their rings on there and some have gotten great deals. Classifieds as well. But try to get those crown and pav angles for ANY stone you are serious about.

 

[fire&ice]

----------------
On 12/19/2003 1:40:25 PM Mara wrote:


Also Fin you may want to start haunting DT or similar since it seems some people sell their rings on there and some have gotten great deals. Classifieds as well. ----------------

That's a good idea. Also, keep your ears & eyes here too. I still dream about the guy with the antique style sapphire & diamond ring.

 

[finchuck]

Thanks a lot guys, you're causing some deep consideration for me. And fire&ice is right, there are no plans for proposal for at least another year and a half. That's why I'm browsing ebay, because I have so much time.

But you guys have a great point about dropping down the size a bit and getting something from a reputable jeweler. I am going to talk to this seller a bit more and see what escrow terms we can do. He seems very accomodating, because he knows nobody else on ebay will pay $2,800.

 

[aljdewey]

----------------
On 12/19/2003 12:27:04 PM Mara wrote:


Aww girls let the guy get his stone appraised. You never know...it could be a winner.


If you don't have to pay until AFTER the appraisal, you aren't losing anything but the $100 for the appraisal.


That's fine, Mara, except that he's already said he doesn't want to be out $100 bucks. In order to gamble on getting a deal, you have to be prepared to possibly take a hit. He expressly said he doesn't want to be out the $100. If the margins are that tight, then he's not really in a position to take the gamble.

 

[Mara]

Fin...another point is that if you have a year and a half, then why seriously be looking now? Who knows what the market will be like then...there could be some new cuts out, better superideals, lower prices, etc. Also by then you may have a better budget to get that 1c stone that you want....what is the thought behind searching now? Curious.




One option that I think is pretty sweet is that if you want a stone to play around with now....get a smaller one from a reputable vendor who has a lifetime upgrade policy. Then in a year or so if something better comes around (e.g. you can only get a G VS now but in a year there is a stunning H SI that is .15c bigger for slightly more), you can trade it up. That way if you are worried about prices going up or similar, you can get in now...and then keep a watch and upgrade later before the proposal or similar. Just a thought.

 

[canadiangrrl]

Fin, Mara makes a good point. If you have a year, I'd wait. Lots of things can change in a year. Hopefully for the better.

 

[fire&ice]

----------------
On 12/19/2003 4:27:50 PM canadiangrrl wrote:

Fin, Mara makes a good point. If you have a year, I'd wait. Lots of things can change in a year. Hopefully for the better.

----------------

But, for some reason, that is not what he wants to do. He's got an agenda. Fin, I've yet to figure it out. Could you enjoy the whole diamond buying process? Could it be some kind of commitment in your head to have the stone? Could you want the diamond just in case you need it?

I dunt no. Men sometimes are harder to figure out than women.

 

[canadiangrrl]

"Men sometimes are harder to figure out than women."

Sometimes. But to their everlasting credit - not usually.

 

[fire&ice]

----------------
On 12/19/2003 4:47:18 PM canadiangrrl wrote:


'Men sometimes are harder to figure out than women.'

Sometimes. But to their everlasting credit - not usually.

----------------

This cracked me up. Ahh, how true. Maybe it has something to do with the other brain.

Just kidding - just the gals humor Fin.

 

[glitterata]

You know, I've gotten some awesome deals on ebay. I've never spent as much money as we're talking about here, but I've taken a risk with a private seller or someone liquidating an estate, and I've wound up with something I loved for a lot less money than I would have had to pay for it elsewhere--if I could even have found it elsewhere. I've also occasionally ended up with something worse than I hoped for, but that was the risk I took. There ARE bargains out there.

If this guy really wants to sell his ring, maybe you could make an appointment with a reputable appraiser and arrange to meet him there. If the appraiser likes the ring, you hand over the money and take your ring. If the appraiser doesn't like it, you both go home.

 

[fire&ice]

----------------
On 12/19/2003 5:32:38 PM glitterata wrote:

You know, I've gotten some awesome deals on ebay. I've never spent as much money as we're talking about here, but I've taken a risk with a private seller or someone liquidating an estate, and I've wound up with something I loved for a lot less money than I would have had to pay for it elsewhere--if I could even have found it elsewhere. I've also occasionally ended up with something worse than I hoped for, but that was the risk I took. There ARE bargains out there.

---------------

But, you have to be willing to take that risk. That's the key to buying on ebay. I've bought some real dogs; but, the good outweigh the bad. Fin may end up with a bargain. You have to know what you are looking at & be able to read between the lines & ask questions. And, stay somewhat focused. If Fin has a willing seller, then glitterati has some good advice. But, I get the feeling he is not willing to take the risk with being stuck w/ something.

I have to say though, of all the "markets" on ebay, I am least impressed with the diamonds. If one is looking for a 1/4 carat to 1/2 carat, I think there are bargins. It's when you move up to the more expensive diamonds that it becomes really tricky. These ebay vendors are not going to supply the very basic of information let along a sarin.

 

[finchuck]

I DO enjoy the diamond buying process. I checked out the NYC Diamond District and it's so much fun. There's something about hunting down good deals that thrills me. I love looking at everything, comparing them, watching the sellers try and rip me off, stuff like that.

I can't say exactly what it is that compells me to complete this mission of mine.

Also, my budget isn't entirely because of finances, I have more than enough money to buy something three times as much as this while maintaining a decent sum in my proverbial nest-egg. I also have a pretty good job secured. For my age, I'm far ahead of the game. For some reason I can't personally justify spending more than $3,000 on this though. I'd rather put that money to more useful things such as a place for us when we gradute. I have my "plan" as I call it. I have enough cash right now to buy a brand new car, a new computer, and an engagement ring. These are the big purchases that I plan on making within the next couple of years. Once I get these out of the way, then I can start working and saving for a place for my girlfriend and I. I figure two years of working and living at home after college and I'll have enough to seriously start looking for somewhere to live, perhaps an apartment.

I'm a weird person for my age. That's about all I can say. I'm a junior in college and I feel like I'm about to spring-board into life. I'm just trying to plan everything, it makes me feel comfortable.

And I have thought about the diamond market and have heard that prices may be going up or even down. Of course it's all speculation, but I figure if I could get one now and hold onto it, I don't have to worry about any of that.

Although these new synthetic diamonds are making me worry a bit. I don't want to buy something and have the market saturated with man-made real diamonds that are half the price.