Is this a good deal? 1.60c H VS1 cert

[ambo]

Hey guys,

I was at a jewelry exchange yesterday and spoke with one of the vendors there. They just got a diamond in (certified, but not sure through who) on AUg 9th, 2009.

Stone: 1.60 carat Round H Vs1 "Tolkowsky Ideal Cut"

Setting: 18kt, 0.45ct (white gold)

The price on the setting was $1,850 and the "list price" for the stone was somewhere around $13,000 if I can recall correctly.

After talking to the vendor for near an hour, he came up with $8,500 for the setting and stone and I was told the price was practically "a gift". Is it?

I wanted to keep my budget around 6k, but I don''t think I''ll get something in the 1.5 carat range in VS1 and H.

Thanks guys!

 

[stone-cold11]

Need to know which lab graded this and the table, depth, crown and pavilion angles before saying if this is a good deal or not.

 

[ambo]

Okay, I''ll get all this information for you first thing tomorrow morning.

Is there specific labs which are better than others that I should know about while shopping? I know GIA is a big one.

 

[stone-cold11]

ya, in the diamond trade, GIA/AGS are considered top tier labs and will command a premium over the other labs, for comparable graded stones as their color and clarity grading are considered more consistent.

 

[ambo]

Thanks StoneCold! I''ll get the dimensions of the stone tomorrow first thing in the morning. You''re a life saver!

 

[ambo]

Here''s what I got guys:

Carats: 1.60
Color: H
Clarity: VS1
Cut: Round ("Tolkovsky Ideal-Cut")
Certified through EGL
Depth %: 62.3%
Table %: 56
Crown Height: 16%
Pavilion Depth: 43%
Girth: Medium

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 10/27/2009 10:55:40 AM
Author: ambo
Here's what I got guys:

Carats: 1.60
Color: H
Clarity: VS1
Cut: Round ('Tolkovsky Ideal-Cut')
Certified through EGL
Depth %: 62.3%
Table %: 56
Crown Height: 16%
Pavilion Depth: 43%
Girth: Medium

Hi ambo

It isn't a badly cut stone, but it is a decent level of cut, could be an attractive diamond - but you could do better certainly. Do you have the diameter measurement please and polish and symmetry grades? Also do you know which EGL lab graded this diamond, some overseas labs are said to far less strict than others so this is important to know. If you post the report number we can probably tell.

If you want to buy this ring, get it in writing that you can return the ring within an agreed time should it not check out to your satisfaction in any way with an independant appraisal, this is really essential if you want to purchase this ring,here is the appraiser list for you. Bear in mind if the diamond was in fact of lower grades than stated ( say J colour and SI clarity) then the price does not make it such a deal compared to actual GIA graded stones of J colour and SI clarity....If you do a search for similar size of lower colour and clarity with a GIA lab report you will see what I mean, the prices are similar.

This page explains how the grading labs rank.

 

[ambo]

Thanks for your reply Lorelei!

Polish was EXCELLENT grade
Symmetry was EXCELLENT grade

Now, remember that he''s giving me this stone AND a .45 carat setting (priced at $1,950) for a TOTAL of $8,500. So this means he''s basically giving me this stone for around $4,000-5,000

Would this change your mind on this diamond?

I''m going to call and try to get the Report # and where it was graded (US vs. Overseas)

 

[ambo]

Okay, got it.

Report #: EGL2907259943
Dimensions: 7.42-7.38x4.61mm

And yes, the do accept returns if an independent appraisal shows that it doesn't match the EGL ratings.

Edit: He said it was "EGL International"

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 10/27/2009 11:46:36 AM
Author: ambo
Thanks for your reply Lorelei!

Polish was EXCELLENT grade
Symmetry was EXCELLENT grade

Now, remember that he's giving me this stone AND a .45 carat setting (priced at $1,950) for a TOTAL of $8,500. So this means he's basically giving me this stone for around $4,000-5,000

Would this change your mind on this diamond?

I'm going to call and try to get the Report # and where it was graded (US vs. Overseas)

Ok thanks! So lets say the stone is $6500 total with the cost of the setting, I would still want an independant appraisal. Looks like it could be EGL Israel from the info given, they are thought to be one of the least accurate grading labs unfortunately, if it is an EGL Israel graded stone an appraisal is essential.

 

[ambo]

About how much does an independent appraisal go for? Any ideas?

He did say that if the appraisal shows it doesn''t match the grades of the EGL cert, he''ll gladly accept it as a return.

Do I get it appraised before going in the setting or after?

 

[stone-cold11]

Best to get it appraised unmounted. Appraisal cost around 150USD depending on the appraiser.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 10/27/2009 12:02:12 PM
Author: ambo
About how much does an independent appraisal go for? Any ideas?

He did say that if the appraisal shows it doesn't match the grades of the EGL cert, he'll gladly accept it as a return.

Do I get it appraised before going in the setting or after?

It depends, around $100 and up depending on the type of appraisal you want, it is preferable to have the stone removed from the setting but a skilled appraiser can still perform a detailed inspection if you don't want to have the diamond unmounted.

Make sure you get it in writing that this seller will accept the diamond back should it not check out in any way as a result of the appraisal or should you change your mind within the return period.

 

[ambo]

Okay, I absolutely will do.

Now, on the flip side, the girlfriend has already seen the ring in the setting and on her finger and was absolutely mesmerized by the stone and fell in love. What a dilemma!!!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 10/27/2009 12:18:34 PM
Author: ambo
Okay, I absolutely will do.

Now, on the flip side, the girlfriend has already seen the ring in the setting and on her finger and was absolutely mesmerized by the stone and fell in love. What a dilemma!!!

Get that appraisal, but think of it this way, if the diamond did grade much lower than the grading report states, say J colour and SI clarity, you can still get J SI clarity in 1.5 cts with a GIA report, are you sure you wouldn't want to consider some before you commit to this one?

One more thing, check the stone out away from any store lights to make sure you both like how it looks in plain daylight, bright jewellery store lights can be very deceptive, once you get some diamonds away from these lights they can go flat.

 

[ambo]

I''m going to take a look at the diamond again on Thursday. I''ll try to look at it in the regular store lighting and not under the bright flourescents as much.

I looked at the J Si on JA and they want $6,500 and the stone looks "flat" and borderline yellow. This stone didn''t look anything like that

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

If the seller tells you that the price is actually a ''gift'' to you, you can be sure that it is far from a gift. At best, it is a correct price, but who knows?

Live long,

 

[ambo]

I''m going to go look at it Thursday and show my dissaproval at the EGL International certificate and see what his reaction to it is.

Also, the diamond was graded Aug 9th, 2009. So it''s a newer diamond. The first one he showed me was from 3/2008 and even my gf spotted an imperfection in it (it was an SI1) with her own eye. Yuck.

 

[tyty333]

Date: 10/27/2009 11:46:36 AM
Author: ambo
Thanks for your reply Lorelei!

Polish was EXCELLENT grade
Symmetry was EXCELLENT grade

Now, remember that he''s giving me this stone AND a .45 carat setting (priced at $1,950) for a TOTAL of $8,500. So this means he''s basically giving me this stone for around $4,000-5,000

Would this change your mind on this diamond?

I''m going to call and try to get the Report # and where it was graded (US vs. Overseas)

How are you calculating 4-5k for the stone? I must of missed something or the stone is more like
8.5k - about 2k for setting = 6.5k? Just curious?

 

[ambo]

crap, i missed the word "off" should be "4,000-5,000 OFF" I think list price for 1.6 ct H VS1 was 11,000ish

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 10/27/2009 1:22:18 PM
Author: tyty333

Date: 10/27/2009 11:46:36 AM
Author: ambo
Thanks for your reply Lorelei!

Polish was EXCELLENT grade
Symmetry was EXCELLENT grade

Now, remember that he''s giving me this stone AND a .45 carat setting (priced at $1,950) for a TOTAL of $8,500. So this means he''s basically giving me this stone for around $4,000-5,000

Would this change your mind on this diamond?

I''m going to call and try to get the Report # and where it was graded (US vs. Overseas)

How are you calculating 4-5k for the stone? I must of missed something or the stone is more like
8.5k - about 2k for setting = 6.5k? Just curious?

Thats what I calculated it at, must have been a typo.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 10/27/2009 1:34:08 PM
Author: ambo
crap, i missed the word ''off'' should be ''4,000-5,000 OFF'' I think list price for 1.6 ct H VS1 was 11,000ish

I wouldn''t give that any credence, these so called '' discounts'' are often used to get you in the door or make you feel you are getting a stupendous deal....Which you aren''t regrettably.

 

[tyty333]

Date: 10/27/2009 1:34:08 PM
Author: ambo
crap, i missed the word ''off'' should be ''4,000-5,000 OFF'' I think list price for 1.6 ct H VS1 was 11,000ish

Ok, I got it now, Thanks

 

[ambo]

Thanks for the honesty guys. This allows me to not feel so pressured to buying asap bc of this "deal". I''ll now shop around more

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 10/28/2009 1:59:36 PM
Author: ambo
Thanks for the honesty guys. This allows me to not feel so pressured to buying asap bc of this ''deal''. I''ll now shop around more

We are glad to help!