is this rough diamond polishing cost overpriced?

[lasugar]

Hi there,
so I have the perfect Indian diamond supper on board. he's a senior gemologist and diamond grade/assorter/cutter-polisher. But here's the thing...


-He says that rough diamonds cost $100-250 a carat ROUGH!
-his top notch diamond cutter+polisher want $25 a hour just to cut the rough (he says that each of the 8 carats of the rough is charged, so thats 200)


Like these prices seem to be high, right?
What are reasonable rates in India, like what these prices be?

I feel that I'm getting led down the garden path, so I wanted to check in with you guys about this.
thanks

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

Sure, there is rough costing $100 to $250 per carat, but it will either be small, heavily included, bad colour or very badly shaped. The connection to 8-carat rough, probably of good quality, is ludicrous.

Live long,