shape
carat
color
clarity

How much to pay based on this AGS Cert (Attached)?

austin_mck

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 7, 2014
Messages
15
Hi, I'm in the process of choosing a round cut diamond for an ER. The attached AGS cert is of a 1.51/H/SI2. How much do you think it should cost? Please assume it's eye-clean (no black inclusions, minor white inclusions that can't be seen with the naked eye). I tried looking up pricing online, but can't find a comparable diamond on PriceScope's diamond finder. BTW- it has an HCA score of 1. Any help would be appreciated.

I'm also attaching a pic comparing this 1.51ct diamond with a 1.30 diamond. My n00b eye can't compete against your trained eye. Thoughts? Thanks!

agscert_snapshot.jpg
 
How about just posting the asking price and letting people tell you if it's a good deal or fair/competitive market value?
 
austin_mck|1390031873|3595319 said:
Hi, I'm in the process of choosing a round cut diamond for an ER. The attached AGS cert is of a 1.51/H/SI2. How much do you think it should cost? Please assume it's eye-clean (no black inclusions, minor white inclusions that can't be seen with the naked eye). I tried looking up pricing online, but can't find a comparable diamond on PriceScope's diamond finder. BTW- it has an HCA score of 1. Any help would be appreciated.

I'm also attaching a pic comparing this 1.51ct diamond with a 1.30 diamond. My n00b eye can't compete against your trained eye. Thoughts? Thanks!

Part of your answer lies in which market you are using to purchase from. Are you looking with a retail store? The pricing there will often be higher than from an internet vendor and the prices from internet vendors will vary by what services they offer, i.e. are they a drop shipper or a full service vendor that offers on sight personal inspection prior to shipping the diamond to you along with buyback and trade up offers.

Or are you buying from a private party. If so, how long have they been wearing it and has the paper been updated to assure that there is not damage? Private parties will not be offering trade up or buy back policies or any further services, so typically the transactions between privates are at much lower prices (except between family numbers, and sometimes even then) than transactions between public and professional dealers.

I did a quick search and only found three unbranded diamonds in the quality and size range that you are looking for, and none of them seemed to me to be as well cut, although all three of them had AGS 0 cut grades. (To keep this an apples to apples search I only looked for AGS 0 graded diamonds from 1.50 to 1.55cts The diamond that you are asking about is at the bottom of my personal pavilion angle range and this angle will be very close to having leakage problems if the precision of the pavilion angles is too loose. It has the potential to be absolutely gorgeous and very probably is, but you will need to see it to know for sure. (Edited to add, Ironically, it is these diamonds that are close to the edges that some times have the most stunning visual looks to them. When every thing is just right they just seem to "POP" a little more. Of course, if things are not right...)

If you let us know which market you are in we can give you better advice, but without actually seeing the diamond we can only guess at where we think you might want to be price wise. It is not as easy a question as most people think.

Wink
 
Re: $10.8k based on this AGS Cert (Attached)?

It's actually a retail store and the cost is $10.8K.

Here's a side-by-side picture of that diamond (the other is a 1.3ct I'm looking at). I'm also attaching the GIA cert of the 1.3ct diamond (cost: $8.5K online). Would LOVE your expert opinion. i'm SO torn guys.


Wink|1390058476|3595428 said:
austin_mck|1390031873|3595319 said:
Hi, I'm in the process of choosing a round cut diamond for an ER. The attached AGS cert is of a 1.51/H/SI2. How much do you think it should cost? Please assume it's eye-clean (no black inclusions, minor white inclusions that can't be seen with the naked eye). I tried looking up pricing online, but can't find a comparable diamond on PriceScope's diamond finder. BTW- it has an HCA score of 1. Any help would be appreciated.

I'm also attaching a pic comparing this 1.51ct diamond with a 1.30 diamond. My n00b eye can't compete against your trained eye. Thoughts? Thanks!

Part of your answer lies in which market you are using to purchase from. Are you looking with a retail store? The pricing there will often be higher than from an internet vendor and the prices from internet vendors will vary by what services they offer, i.e. are they a drop shipper or a full service vendor that offers on sight personal inspection prior to shipping the diamond to you along with buyback and trade up offers.

Or are you buying from a private party. If so, how long have they been wearing it and has the paper been updated to assure that there is not damage? Private parties will not be offering trade up or buy back policies or any further services, so typically the transactions between privates are at much lower prices (except between family numbers, and sometimes even then) than transactions between public and professional dealers.

I did a quick search and only found three unbranded diamonds in the quality and size range that you are looking for, and none of them seemed to me to be as well cut, although all three of them had AGS 0 cut grades. (To keep this an apples to apples search I only looked for AGS 0 graded diamonds from 1.50 to 1.55cts The diamond that you are asking about is at the bottom of my personal pavilion angle range and this angle will be very close to having leakage problems if the precision of the pavilion angles is too loose. It has the potential to be absolutely gorgeous and very probably is, but you will need to see it to know for sure. (Edited to add, Ironically, it is these diamonds that are close to the edges that some times have the most stunning visual looks to them. When every thing is just right they just seem to "POP" a little more. Of course, if things are not right...)

If you let us know which market you are in we can give you better advice, but without actually seeing the diamond we can only guess at where we think you might want to be price wise. It is not as easy a question as most people think.

Wink

photo_493.jpg
 

Attachments

Are they both eye-clean?
 
Andelain|1390079648|3595651 said:
Are they both eye-clean?

Yes, both 100% eye clean.
 
Re: $10.8k based on this AGS Cert (Attached)?

austin_mck|1390078374|3595638 said:
It's actually a retail store and the cost is $10.8K.

Here's a side-by-side picture of that diamond (the other is a 1.3ct I'm looking at). I'm also attaching the GIA cert of the 1.3ct diamond (cost: $8.5K online). Would LOVE your expert opinion. i'm SO torn guys.


Wink|1390058476|3595428 said:
austin_mck|1390031873|3595319 said:
Hi, I'm in the process of choosing a round cut diamond for an ER. The attached AGS cert is of a 1.51/H/SI2. How much do you think it should cost? Please assume it's eye-clean (no black inclusions, minor white inclusions that can't be seen with the naked eye). I tried looking up pricing online, but can't find a comparable diamond on PriceScope's diamond finder. BTW- it has an HCA score of 1. Any help would be appreciated.

I'm also attaching a pic comparing this 1.51ct diamond with a 1.30 diamond. My n00b eye can't compete against your trained eye. Thoughts? Thanks!

Part of your answer lies in which market you are using to purchase from. Are you looking with a retail store? The pricing there will often be higher than from an internet vendor and the prices from internet vendors will vary by what services they offer, i.e. are they a drop shipper or a full service vendor that offers on sight personal inspection prior to shipping the diamond to you along with buyback and trade up offers.

Or are you buying from a private party. If so, how long have they been wearing it and has the paper been updated to assure that there is not damage? Private parties will not be offering trade up or buy back policies or any further services, so typically the transactions between privates are at much lower prices (except between family numbers, and sometimes even then) than transactions between public and professional dealers.

I did a quick search and only found three unbranded diamonds in the quality and size range that you are looking for, and none of them seemed to me to be as well cut, although all three of them had AGS 0 cut grades. (To keep this an apples to apples search I only looked for AGS 0 graded diamonds from 1.50 to 1.55cts The diamond that you are asking about is at the bottom of my personal pavilion angle range and this angle will be very close to having leakage problems if the precision of the pavilion angles is too loose. It has the potential to be absolutely gorgeous and very probably is, but you will need to see it to know for sure. (Edited to add, Ironically, it is these diamonds that are close to the edges that some times have the most stunning visual looks to them. When every thing is just right they just seem to "POP" a little more. Of course, if things are not right...)

If you let us know which market you are in we can give you better advice, but without actually seeing the diamond we can only guess at where we think you might want to be price wise. It is not as easy a question as most people think.

Wink

In regards to the 1.5 versus the 1.3 you are talking apples and oranges. The 1.5 will cost more per carat for the identical grade and the AGS paper will carry a slight premium over the GIA report. In the end though, you need to answer the question, is the larger size worth the extra $2,300 to YOU. You do not tell us which you prefer since you are seeing them with your eyes.

Your retailer seems to be giving you fair pricing, not rock bottom, but fair, no where near as high as many would be, that is for sure.

In the end you have to see what your eyes see and then decide if the extra money is within your range of reasonable. What extras come with the retail store? Does he offer a trade up policy? Does he have a buy back policy? Is he going to mount it for you? Is he going to then issue an appraisal for you at no charge? Is he going to clean and polish your ring and check your prongs and size if for you when she gets pregnant and gains a finger size or two. These are questions that will factor into the pricing. He is not the cheapest you can ever find, but he is close. He may actually be giving you the best value if he is providing extra services that the on line vendor is not.

Wink
 
You're absolutely right, Wink. I don't think the $2,300 price difference is such a big deal. Although I'm positive my gf wouldn't mind a diamond that falls short of the 1.5ct mark, I would hate to regret giving her a "lesser diamond" 10-20 years down the line (especially since she has no interest in trading-up). I totally understand the approach of judging it with one's eyes. BUT, I like the idea of knowing I picked a "hands down" better diamond objectively speaking (hence why I ask about ASET image, other scientific approaches, etc.)...the diamond that experts would agree is of better quality and which lits up the room. Gotta say I found it pretty tough to tell the difference side-by-side (although the 1.5ct seemed to reflect a bit more of different colors vs. pure white light). The next (and hopefully last concern) is whether the 1.3ct's crown angle is too narrow (it's 32.5 degrees). Any additional thoughts/opinions? I tend to be indecisive with major life decisions, so I appreciate the patience guys.
 
If you have the 2.3k I would get the bigger diamond. But size is important to me so if you think your GF would be disappointed by falling under the 1.5ct marker then disregard the 1.3ct and splurge. Also even though she says now that she won't upgrade just double check on the trade in policey. The vast majority of my friends over the last 5 years have all traded up or in- none of us ever considered trading in when we got engaged, only 1 still has her orginal diamond (also family heirloom diamond)....so my advise is never say never. Things change 5, 10, 20 years down the road.
 
Damn- just when I think I've my decision...

The price gets dropped to $10k for the 1.51ct AGS diamond. Then I noticed that there are two levels of SI2 on the AGS scale, 6 and 7. I was dismayed to see mine fell in the 7 category. Bummed me out. I didn't see any inclusions on the table when I saw it. But I'm concerned it might be a bit cloudier come to think of it. Can't stop worrying about this large looming purchase...I haven't paid for it...can 7 be ok?
 
AGS isn't likely to give an otherwise ideal grading and light performance report to a cloudy stone. If cloudiness negatively affected the stone in any substantial way, it wouldn't get the AGS 0 rating. Do a side-by-side comparison again (in person and in good light), but you should be fine.
 
Thanks for the peace of mind krisjon! I just got really worried when I noticed the AGS 7 is the secondary SI2 grade. Much appreciated.
 
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Top