OMC - private seller... worth looking at?

[Ninama]

Description in ad:

"This is a 2.75ct. roundish cushion Old Miner cut diamond. The diamond has been cut in the 1920''s. It has a great brilliancy, very nice clarity and faint color."

What questions would be the best to ask via email in deciding whether or not to go look at this diamond? It''s listed at $9800 with this photo:

 

[Ninama]

*oops*

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Date: 9/5/2007 10:21:43 PM
Author:Ninama
Description in ad:

'This is a 2.75ct. roundish cushion Old Miner cut diamond. The diamond has been cut in the 1920's. It has a great brilliancy, very nice clarity and faint color.'

What questions would be the best to ask via email in deciding whether or not to go look at this diamond?

Question #1: Please translate "very nice clarity".
Question #2: Please translate "faint color".
Question #3: Please supply all measurements.

That's an off-round Old European Cut, by the way, cut around 1900-1905.

 

[chrono]

It is a VERY off round OEC, not an old mine cut.

 

[Ninama]

Thank you Richard and Chrono*

 

[Ninama]

I received some specs on this stone:

2.75 ct

Meas. 9.15 x 8.62 x 5.62mm
Table: 52% aprx.
Color: K-L
Clarity: VS2.

The face up of the stone is I color.


Seller states "I can always work with you on price".

Whadya think?

 

[ericad]

I purchased my OMC from a private seller and we arranged for her to ship the stone to an appraiser near me, who would hold it in escrow. I paid for an appraisal and was able to see the diamond in person and verify specs before making a decision. Once I saw it, drooled on it, and decided to buy it, I simply paid the seller and she let the appraiser know when it was ok to release the stone to me.

Really simple and a good way to see it for yourself, which is the best way to judge antique stones. You''ll only be out the cost of the appraisal and return shipping (use USPS Registered Mail - takes a tad longer but is WAY cheaper and the most secure way of shipping valuables).

Sounds like a gorgeous stone if you don''t mind the off round shape. My OMC is also off round, more so now due to polishing out a couple of chips, but I love it just the same and it doesn''t bother me one bit. There are lots of settings that can help disguise this fact too.

Do you know if the diamond has any fluorescence? Mine is a K with strong blue and that''s a killer combo

 

[ericad]

PS - Mine is a 2.09 OMC, K color (w/strong blue), VS clarity, measuring approx (from memory) 7.5mm x 8mm x 5.5mm. I paid $6k for it, then an additional $400 to have the chips polished out and the entire stone re-polished (the facets were a tad dulled, likely from banging around with other diamonds in it''s previous life as a brooch). It already looked amazing, but I''m told the re-polish really brightened it up (though I don''t have it back yet)!

I believe I got an exceptional deal on mine, so I hope this info helps you evaluate the price. I''m no expert, but if the stone is beautiful in person, the price seems ok (once you negotiate down with the seller) for being such a HONKER!

Good luck!

 

[denverappraiser]

Question #4 What’s the source of this grading information?

Not that it matters all that much but the table measurement is clearly wrong, you can measure it in the picture but it does beg the question why you should believe the others. For example, the difference between an L/VS2 and an M/SI1 is usually pretty important to the pricing.

The above advice of making the whole deal contingent upon your showing it to a trained advisor is good. Make sure the seller offers 100% refund for ANY reason within some sensible amount of time. Make sure to include in the process that YOU look at it as well.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Jewelry Appraisals in Denver

 

[Ninama]

Date: 9/13/2007 12:29:05 PM
Author: ericad
I''m no expert, but if the stone is beautiful in person, the price seems ok (once you negotiate down with the seller) for being such a HONKER!


Good luck!

LOL! Just seeing it referred to as a HONKER makes me more interested. I''m not terribly refined, am I!

 

[ericad]

HA! I suppose it''s relative - 2.75 carats measuring at 9mm is REALLY BIG to me, but might well be small to others

 

[Ninama]

Date: 9/13/2007 12:58:01 PM
Author: denverappraiser
Question #4 What’s the source of this grading information?


Not that it matters all that much but the table measurement is clearly wrong, you can measure it in the picture but it does beg the question why you should believe the others. For example, the difference between an L/VS2 and an M/SI1 is usually pretty important to the pricing.


The above advice of making the whole deal contingent upon your showing it to a trained advisor is good. Make sure the seller offers 100% refund for ANY reason within some sensible amount of time. Make sure to include in the process that YOU look at it as well.


Neil Beaty

GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA


Professional Jewelry Appraisals in Denver

Thank you, thank you, thank you...

Honstly, the only thing that would make me take real action on this diamond would be a *thumbs up* from an expert. Like a "Grab someone in-the-know and go look at it NOW" thumbs up.