Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Inherited ring didn't sell/other options

fel

fel

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Nov 4, 2011
Messages
498
I have had an inherited mid-century modern diamond ring (main stone 1.59 carats) on consignment for the last 6 years. No interest in either the diamond alone, or the whole ring. I finally decided to pull it and I am having it sent to Brian Gavin to evaluate for a re-cut. Center stone is a rather wonky round brilliant, J color, clean table, a natural on the side that puts it at SI1, The issue is, even if it can be recut, the diamond and even the ring is not really to my taste. I like bezeled diamonds (really bezeled everything) and I prefer old cuts. It seems like selling this diamond is not an option, so do you all have any suggestions on what to do? Should I try to adapt the ring and add a bezel to the main stone? Any other creative ideas?diamond_er1.JPGdiamond_er2.JPG
 
If you would still rather sell it, I'd suggest getting a GIA or similar certification if you haven't already and lowering the price.
 
seaurchin said:
If you would still rather sell it, I'd suggest getting a GIA or similar certification if you haven't already and lowering the price.
Click to expand...

I got GIA cert when it was consigned. If it is recut, of course that would have to be redone.

Also the consigner basically lowered the price as much as she was willing.
 
I recognise this ring!

I am wondering if you reset it into a plain solitaire that it would attract more buyers. This design is quite unique and it might not be to everyone's tastes?
 
When it was consigned the option was open to just buy the diamond. One person had an interest in 2016, but then chose something else. No bites since. Do you think if it is recut I can learn to like it? I am very pessimistic about its ability to sell.
 
Recut and sell as a pendant? Seems it might be easier bc you don’t have to worry about ring size.
 
I'd think the two main reasons a diamond doesn't sell are lack of a solid cert or a price that's too high.

Six years is a long time! Can you get it out of consignment? Taking out the middleman means you could lower the price by that amount and still get the same profit.

Also, I agree with the setting being somewhat unusual and not to everyone's taste so it would probably also make a big difference to sell the stone on its own. In other words, not just offering the stone alone as an option but actually removing the center stone and offering it for sale alone, and take the setting out of the equation completely.

I'd do these things rather than sink any more money into it, especially since you don't seem to really want to keep it. Good luck!
 
@newdiamondworld That would be my ideal but I don't think this shape lends itself to an OEC recut. Of course if Brian comes back saying he could do it, I'd be very happy. He could also come back and say it is not a candidate for a recut.
 
@seaurchin I did just take it out of consignment. Between the appraisal, GIA, and consignment fees, I have sunk $500 into this diamond and gotten nothing back. Before consignment I tried to sell it myself on loupetroop (at a much lower price) and there was no interest.
 
fel said:
@seaurchin I did just take it out of consignment. Between the appraisal, GIA, and consignment fees, I have sunk $500 into this diamond and gotten nothing back. Before consignment I tried to sell it myself on loupetroop (at a much lower price) and there was no interest.
Click to expand...

Hmm... Was that a long time ago? I don't know but maybe try again?
 
I don’t know how much you want but I think that ring can find a new home.
It’s lovely, I actually really like the style.
If you’re in the US there are two long time sellers on eBay who do consignment, they do both auction style and fixed price. They get ALOT of traffic, I’ve seen items with over 200 watchers!
The eBay sellers are DoverJewelry and sflmaven.
Ive bought from both as they are reputable sellers who ship worldwide so that increases the pool of potential buyers / bidders.
I wouldn’t recommend selling on eBay yourself unless you have good, high feedback.
 
i'd try Bron's idea
i quite like its setting
im not just saying that either
i could see ut on my hand
i like the more unusual
but unfortunately im not in the market for a diamond ring right now

i gotta say i also like the size
id try again before a recut or a resetting or sinking any more money into it
if you did take the diamond out i bet the setting would sell on its own

i just dont beleave no one wants it
its a really lovelly ring

....or maybe its just the universe telling you to keep it ....for the next generation perhaps

does it fit you ?
have you worn her out and about ?

btw i love bezels the best too so i do get its not your style
 
I also feel like the setting might be hampering sale, I know you said you indicated that you were happy to remove it from the setting but I wonder if you’d be better off removing the stone and trying to sell it loose?

In any case, you lose nothing by relisting it on loupe troupe and the preloved section while you think about your next steps, since listing is free :D best of luck!
 
If you can recut the center I would do that. Then keep or try to sell. Maybe make a band out of the marquis or try to sell loose. I think there are definitely options.
 
I actually love this just as it is, the diamond looks bright and clean. It’s obviously a quality piece of jewelry.

The trick is finding the right person at the right time with the right price. It does make it a little harder when you have a unique design that may not appeal to everyone.

I know you had this on consignment for many years but maybe consider giving it another go on LT, you could also try EBay or Etsy as well, the more platforms the better. You have a GIA report, if you price it well with maximum exposure then the right person may very well find and buy it.
 
So I do think one issue I had with selling it is that the consigner had it upside down in most of the pictures, and it didn't lay right upside down so it looked awkward. The large diamond has to go down, not up. In most of the pictures the model couldn't even get it on her finger because they were too big and it was oriented incorrectly. I do not think that helped sales.

It does fit me, and I tried wearing it but it is just completely inconsistent with my life-style. I am always using my hands, and need a ring that will allow me to do so. Even if I am about to go out on the town (back before this pandemic), I might do one more check to the chicken coop, for example, or one more quick jaunt to fix something in the garden. I have forgotten I was wearing rings and plastered walls wearing my engagement ring and my star sapphire --- took a long time to get the plaster out of the sapphire.

There are some good ideas floating around, both about the ebay consigners, and making it a pendant, and reselling.

In terms of price -- I don't know -- what do you think it is worth? Any thoughts are welcome. To be honest I would just want enough to get a comparable sized OEC. Maybe someone out there wants to trade?
 
I would not put any more money into this ring. You already have the GIA cert proving the specs of the diamonds as is. Popping them out and putting them into a solitaire as is [for the side stones and individual center] is cheap. What I would do is some marketing creative brilliance. Take it off of social media for a while. Christmas is coming and the online world will be flooded with deals and second hand items filled with vendors trying to make money for Christmas.

Marquise lovers are diehards. The possibilities if the price is right are endless. You just have to price it right. Because if people are going to reset, the face value of the diamonds themselves sans gold is all it's worth.
possible reset.jpg
 
Mostly I don’t recommend consumers get in the recutting business is the plan for sale. It's a more complicated transaction than it sounds at first blush and you usually don't get your money back. This problem is almost always a matter of pricing. At the right price, diamonds ALWAYS sell. You said you got a GIA. Is there something on there that's a problem? (like damage) How did you set your price?
 
denverappraiser said:
Mostly I don’t recommend consumers get in the recutting business is the plan for sale. It's a more complicated transaction than it sounds at first blush and you usually don't get your money back. This problem is almost always a matter of pricing. At the right price, diamonds ALWAYS sell. You said you got a GIA. Is there something on there that's a problem? (like damage) How did you set your price?
Click to expand...

I had an appraisal from David Atlas, and then the Gia. Attaching a redacted version of the GIA (just so my identifying info isn't online.) Can. you see what the problem is from the GIA?

I don't remember how much I listed it for on loop, and the consigner set the price for her site.
 

Attachments

If it was mine, I would re-purpose the stones into a piece of jewellery that I would wear, like a bracelet or pendant.

That's what I did with my mum's 1.94ct MRB when she finally decided to give it to me.

I am not a fan of MRBs as rings, and do not wish to have another significant diamond that would trump my own earth-mined 1.19ct E VS1 EC that I bought as a 40th birthday present to myself in a ring.

Hence I had it re-set in a bangle bracelet on its own in platinum, and I love to wear it as often as I can.

DK :))
 
I really like the setting, but do not care for the center stone at all (cut and color) ... perhaps least expensive option is to maybe split it up and put a pretty but inexpensive colored gemstone in the ring setting and sell the center diamond separate?
 
marymm said:
I really like the setting, but do not care for the center stone at all (cut and color) ... perhaps least expensive option is to maybe split it up and put a pretty but inexpensive colored gemstone in the ring setting and sell the center diamond separate?
Click to expand...

I was actually thinking of putting the tourmaline from my avatar in the setting -- What do you think? That has been sitting a box for 6 years and was never set.
 
fel said:
I don't remember how much I listed it for on loop, and the consigner set the price for her site.
Click to expand...

Diamonds are of course wildly popular so if it wouldn't sell for six years, there must be a reason. I think in the above, you've pinpointed the reason. It was most likely just priced higher than the going rate for a secondhand diamond with its specs.

I would not get in any deeper with spending more money on this. It seems just throwing good money after bad. Instead, as has been mentioned, I'd remove the diamond from the setting and put the diamond up for sale alone on loupetroop, at a price maybe one fourth to one third (?) off the current going retail rate.

If it doesn't sell right away, re-list it every month so it goes to the top of the page again and drop the price a bit each time if you want to.

If you like the setting and will wear it, seeing if your tourmaline will work with it sounds perfect to me. (But if you don't love the idea, try selling the setting separately, or if that fails, in its component parts).

After your diamond sells, put that money towards the type of diamond you really want, if getting a different diamond is in your plans. I am no expert at all but have just seen a lot of people on here compound a jewelry problem by trying too hard to salvage a potential loss or make something fit when it just didn't, if you know what I mean... JMHO
 
Last edited:
fel said:
I had an appraisal from David Atlas, and then the Gia. Attaching a redacted version of the GIA (just so my identifying info isn't online.) Can. you see what the problem is from the GIA?

I don't remember how much I listed it for on loop, and the consigner set the price for her site.
Click to expand...

Have you talked to David about it? Did he help you set your price? If not, do it. (note: he may charge you for this. Ask first. I would if you were my client but he's sometimes nicer than me).

Yes, cut, symmetry, ex-thin girdle, crown and pavilion angles, and indented naturals. To some extent color. Good means bad in this business. I STILL wouldn't point you to a recut. Let your buyer do that if they want. You risk paying to lose the 1.50+ weight point, which is your biggest feature right now.
 
Just want to say you all have been incredibly helpful in allowing me to think about this. I'm going to see what Brian Gavin says, and then decide if it is worth a recut or not. Obviously if it could be recut into a diamond that is more my style, that would be ideal and make all the expenditure so far worth it. I'm also going to consider the pendant idea -- I think I could design a neat midcentury modern pendant that might work with that diamond once recut, even if it is not an OEC.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top