OK. Just got back from the diamond dealer. Help please.

[PeteyPauls]

OK. I just got back from the diamond dealer. Know him through my father. He showed me 2 and will have more next week. But here are the two.

1) Uncertified
2.10 Ct.
G-H
SI2
Very Good cut
Obviously this is all from what he tells me

2) GIA
2.20 Ct.
H
VS2
Very Good polish and symmetry
It had 2 percentages, think it was Depth 58% and table 61%
Girdle thin to medium
Flourescence - None


OK. So obviously I like the price of the first one, but everything else about the 2nd. When I looked at the SI2 under the loupe I did see what I thought to be a number of inclusions. I didn't know if this was normal since the only other diamond I have ever looked at was #2. THe VS2 looked pretty much flawless except for 1 inclusion.

Both were clean to the naked eye though, and the first actually looked whiter. The SI2 had a larger table as well.

So here I am. I wanted to get thoughts on these prices, whether they were standard, good deals, etc. I know there is more to it than that, but just wanted to get an idea. I know it looks higher compared to the Pricescope prices, that's why I ask.

Second, I wanted to know if it was oK to buy a SI2 where you couldn't see inclusions with the naked eye (but see a number with the loupe) He did tell me it was a very good deal, but he wanted me to be sure before I bought anything.

I would like to spend 20K at most. He is looking for a G-H, SI1 for me, around 2.1 - 2.2ct. Hoping it would be around my price range.

 

[perry]

One very simple piece of advice: Spend a few dollars to get the tools you need to tell if it is a good diamond.

Click on "Tools" "Ideal Scope" On the upper right header.

You can buy the professional model, a backlight, your own tweezers, and a good loupe for about $100 (or at least that is what I got them all for last year).

You do not really need a lab report or a sarin report to see if the diamond has good light return.

Just learn to use the IdealScope.

You are planning to spend $20,000. Why don''t you spend a hundred or so to get the tools, and learn to use them, to tel basically what you are getting.

Then study the tutorials, etc.

Perry

 

[strmrdr]

If you use the price search you can compare your diamond selections to online prices.
You will see simular h vs1 stones 3k cheaper.
Honestly id look for better cut diamonds.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Petey
why bother with these 2 stones? for that kind of money.

here's a 2ct H VS2 branded "Infinity" H&A cut from Wink.....link below

http://www.winkjones.com/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=16244&cat=255&page=1

 

[perry]

I do not have a problem with someone who wants to buy from a local jeweler, and am not concerned if they pay the appropriate markup, as long as they know what they are getting.

Some local jewelers are in fact competitive. Winfields, GOG, NiceIce, and several other promenant "web" jewers here on the forum are in fact local stores.

It may be that this local jeweler has actual nice looking diamonds, and the quickest way to see that is with an Ideal Scope.

On the other hand, these diamonds and others the local jeweler may offer might be dud''s. Then Petey has a reason to say I''ll shop elsewhere armed with that knowlede.

Perry

 

[Maxine]

We got my diamond through someone we know well.........and I think he was probably somewhat taken aback when we asked, but we took the stone to an appraiser before we bought it....I didn''t know how he would react to the idea, but if he had said no, I probably would have thought he was trying to hide something!!!!!
Make sure you tell him what you want.....ask him to show you why he believes it is a well cut stone.....so far, he is not giving you enough information,,,,,most local jewelers aren''t used to having to answer the kids of questions asked by people here....That''s nothing against him/them...it''s just like it''s a "different world."

Good luck....come back and ask more after you see some stones!!!!!

 

[valeria101]

Date: 6/8/2005 8:42:23 PM
Author:PeteyPauls

Second, I wanted to know if it was oK to buy a SI2 where you couldn't see inclusions with the naked eye (but see a number with the loupe)

Yeah... such SI2s are lucky. This one is not the only, of course. If that diamond turns out to be nearly as brilliant as they get, it would be a great find, IMO.

Now, seeing diamonds in person is the ultimate test of brilliance (most of what "cut quality" is about, as far as I understand) if there are enough diamonds to compare and some refference for what is the best possible (or close). Two diamonds are not all that many and there was no standard offered for comparison.

Be it the Ideal Scope - if you are confortable with the idea - or something else, such a standard of quality is very useful, as usual. 20k seem well worth some investigation.

Just my 0.2

 

[PeteyPauls]

Thank you all for your help. I will get the Idealscope. In terms of the discounts from online vendors, yes I do see the savings. Just having a hard time in buying such an expensive piece from a webtailer, and not somebody I know, even though I believe there have been many good reviews on them.

I did forget to mention that the total cost includes the setting and the appraisal. But I did say I would want to get this appraised from a third party and of course he said that was fine. I did not ask about a guarantee if it is not appraised as I thought though.

Finally (someone said it) I have only looked at 2 stones, so I really don''t have much of a comparison, which is an issue as well. This guy keeps telling me that he gets the diamonds from 3 cutters that work for him and he is looking out for stones in the 4C range that I have asked for. THis is my first time, but I just thought a diamond dealer like this would have a bunch of diamonds. Could me just being naive though.

I do know someone else that I am going to as well. Will allow me to have more of a comparison.

 

[perry]

Very few diamond dealers have much of a selection over 1.5 carat (and many of them do not have much of a selection of good quality stones at 1 carat).

Good diamonds are expensive; and the cost raises exponentially with weight (carat). It would be really easy to dump 1/2 to 1 Million into inventory on stones over 1.5 carats if you wanted to stock a good selection. Given that not that many of them are sold - it is not worth it for most jewelers to have such a stock of stones.

Perry

 

[codex57]

Not that it''s gonna affect the price much, but are you saying that he''ll pay for the appraisal made by someone else? Seems kind of odd.

 

[PeteyPauls]

No. He actually said that he would include his own appraisal. I guess he said that because he told me that he would be selling this a little bit above cost and then appraise it higher...? Not quite sure. I always thought the appraisal had to be by a 3rd party.

Sounded odd. He could tell me that i would pay $25,000 and then appraise it for 30,000 while someone else says it is only 20K.

 

[denverappraiser]

It''s likely that what he means by ''appraisal'' is not the same as what you mean. Here are some thoughts on the whole appraisal process. What he is offering you is an item that includes a description of your ring for the purpose of securing an insurance policy. This may or may not be what you are hoping for.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ISA NAJA
Independent Appraisals in Denver