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Need advice on 1.5 ct round diamond upgrade!

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kimberlisco

Rough_Rock
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Apr 6, 2012
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My fiance and I decided to trade in my 1.03 ct round I SI2 diamond for one that is around 1.5 ct. Although it's not the best quality stone, I think it's pretty. Back when we were engaged, we were both so excited that we did zero research. Now that we know more, we want to make a good decision that is still in our budget.

Two places quotes us a fair retail value. Here are the 2 diamonds we are considering (prices are before trade-in):

A) 1.50 ct J SI2, excellent cut/symmetry/polish GIA Certified $8400
B) 1.54 ct J S12, excellent cut EGL-USA Certified $7800

Both stones look pretty eye clean (enough that I'm happy with them). I haven't seen B under the scope, but I will go back and do so with my fiance next week. I know GIA certification is more reliable. But, the lady who helped me at store A was kind of mean. When I said 8500 was too expensive, she tried to show me a 1.39 I SI2 EGL Israeli graded stone that had a huge inclusion on the side and when I said I liked the other stone better she kept saying "Yes, but that is too expensive for you". So I'm not in a huge hurry to buy from her haha. I REALLY wanted it, but decided to think it over.

The other guy was a lot nicer, and the stone is both bigger & cheaper. But I am concerned about the EGL certification. I'm sure I'll know more once I look under the scope, but I'm concerned about the J color graded on EGL-USA without seeing it in sunlight. Can I ask to see it outside or will he think I'm going to run off with it?

I'm so excited to be getting a new diamond but I'm having a hard time choosing. On top of that, I get nervous that the stones I like will be sold and I'm nervous to make a bad decision. Do these seem like fair prices?
 
I would only consider the GIA stone. You would be overpaying for the EGL stone because it is probably equivalent to a K or L GIA stone. It is priced too close to the GIA stone to even consider it. Do not buy a stone unless it is really eye clean or I think you might be sorry later, and a non-eyeclean stone might be hard to resell.
 
Thank you for the input. Does the GIA diamond seem like a fair price? It was eye clean and the only thing I saw was a small cavity on the far side of the table, which can be covered with a prong. Even under the scope, it looked pretty clean. This lady was just mean and I don't want to get taken for a ride and over pay.
 
You would need to post the specs from the GIA cert for us to tell you about the cut of the stone.
 
Just to judge price alone, check out the diamond search on PS and look at comparisons - at least it gives you a rough idea. Resources tab above, then diamond search. put in your parameters from the ones you are interested and see what you come up with. Also, if you purchase via PS, there could be a slight price reduction as a PSer. And dealing with someone mean or who gives you the creeps or makes you feel put down ---- walk away. Their item is not so unique you couldn't get one elsewhere. Think how she'd treat you if there was an issue down the road, cuz if she's nasty now, she won't get any nicer if there is a problem later!

As for GIA vs an EGL stone - I'm GIA or AGS all the way. If you are investing money, invest in the best. Or, put another way "you get what you pay for" (usually!)
 
When you say "cavity" do you mean inclusion? As in, some impurity inside the stone? The word cavity can refer to a hole in the stone like in a tooth, and you wouldn't want to buy a stone that had a cavity on the top of the stone! The table is the top, flat surface of the stone and the part surrounding it is the crown. So if the inclusion is near the edge where it could be covered by a prong, then it would likely be on the edge of the crown. Be sure it is not a feather. Try to post the whole report here and we can better advise you.
 
Enerchi is 100% right! A 1.5 J SI2 is by no means unique enough to buy from someone who was rude, offensive, or just other wise nasty. Besides that I believe that we can find a better J SI2 for a similar budget.

Because you mentioned that in your excitement, you and your DH made a quick decision that you regretted later, I'm going to suggest that you stay far away from EGL stones, unless you are in a position to have the stone independently appraised so you know exactly what you are getting, and then can go back to where you purchased the stone and make an offer based on the advice from the appraiser. We have seen much too often EGL stones that have been graded J SI2 and have really been a KL I1 or worse. EGL is notorious for its soft grading. So the reason the EGL SI2 is cheaper than the GIA J SI2 is because the EGL isn't graded as harshly as the GIA stone, which has the most consistent grading in the world.

Your going to make a very large investment, you've been disappointed once, it would be silly to make the same mistake twice. Would you like somewhere here to make some suggestions within your budget for you?

Also, if you just called Miss Nasty and told her that you wanted the GIA report #, and then posted the report # here, we could give you better advice regarding the stone, I'd walk away from the EGL though....others might disagree, but unless you loved it, louped it and they brought the price down significantly, I wouldn't consider it at all.

Oh, and yes you should be evaluating the stones in many many different lighting environments, store lighting is set up to make even the worst diamonds sparkle, however, that doesn't mean that they will allow you take it outside. I have had a couple jewelers allow me to do this, but don't be surprised or offended if they don't. Ask for a window, it will be the next best thing, and make sure that no matter where you purchase the stone that you have a very good return policy!!!!
 
 
Wow, thank you guys so much for the responses :) You guys have been super helpful. This site is amazing- so much info. I've become a little obsessed with stones (glad to know I'm not alone!)

Good to know about EGL. Now that I'm aware I'll definitely spend a little extra to make the smarter purchase. I've heard varying things- sometimes I've heard it's a big difference (even with EGL-USA) and other times I've heard that GIA is lowering their standards to compete so they are maybe 1 grading scale off but no more. But based on looking at the stones myself, I can see there is a pretty big difference. I don't want to ever re-sell it, but I don't want to get ripped off either. On top of the $8400, she was also going to charge me tax... which I've never heard of anyone doing when purchasing engagement jewelry.

I think I may have misspoke when I said cavity. It was a black spec that was on the girdle.

I can't remember the measurements, except the table was 7.33.

As far as buying stones online goes, how do I know what I'm getting? The GIA J SI2 was eye-clean (except for the black spec that I could live with) but the plot diagrams on sites such as blue nile are difficult to read.

Any advice on buying an S12 online? I'm scared to do this, but tempted but it makes me nervous too!
 
Sales tax is charged at any brick and mortar store, on any item that is taxed by you state. Engagement jewelry would be no different than any other purchase. The only way you'd not pay tax is if you state doesn't tax jewelry.

Buying SI2 stones online: You have to get the vendor to look at it and see how eye clean it is, and be sure that you understand how that particular vendor defines eye clean. Eye clean at arm's length is different from eye clean at 4".

Trade-ins: Not every vendor will take them. But your original diamond is over 1ct and that helps make that more attractive to the vendors to take on trade. But they give you the wholesale value of it, at best. Don't be surprised when you get low offers. You might be better off consigning it or shopping it around to various jewelers locally and taking the best offer.

Definitely know the specifications and details and cut quality of what you're trading, and what you're looking at to buy.
 
Most of my friend's husbands/fiances brag that the guy "took off the tax", which I guess really just means 10% off.

We were offered $3000 trade in at 3 places, $2000 at one place. The places that offered us $3000 trade in said it would have a $2500 cash value. So, if I were to sell it outright and purchase online, I'd be losing $500 of value in my current stone. I'm not sure what the actual value is, but my fiance purchased the stone and the setting (18k white gold pave setting with .25 ct in the setting total) in cash for $3800.

I'm starting to feel like the places I've looked at are overpriced but I'm afraid to purchase online since I can't physically see the stone, plus I'd have to pay for it to be set and lose $500 of value. On the other hand, with tax, we'd be paying $6000 out of pocket for the 1.5 ct which just seems high for a J S12, but maybe I'm wrong. Other places said I couldn't get a GIA certified stone at 1.5 ct in that quality for less than $10k.
 
The table couldn't be 7.33mm unless it was a very huge stone, so I think that is the diameter of the stone. The table is just the flat part on the very top of the stone. It should be something like 56% or so. Yes, sales tax when bought locally and not when you order from out of state, usually. And I wouldn't have a high opinion of a jeweler who says that GIA is lowering their standards to "compete" with EGL because I think that is absurd!
 
Oh yes, that's what I meant! Diameter is 7.33. So many little details...

Thank you all for your advice. I had no idea there was such a difference between EGL & GIA cert diamonds. I want this to be my forever ring, so I want to make a good, educated decision and not get ripped off!
 
kimberlisco said:
Oh yes, that's what I meant! Diameter is 7.33. So many little details...

Thank you all for your advice. I had no idea there was such a difference between EGL & GIA cert diamonds. I want this to be my forever ring, so I want to make a good, educated decision and not get ripped off!
Click to expand...
stick with GIA then.
 
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