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OMC without any cert

Mondayschild

Mondayschild

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Oct 6, 2013
Messages
332
Hello all,

What would be your tolerance for taking a gamble on an OMC without a cert? It's clearly an antique ring (central OMC and surrounding OECs in daisy shape). It looks like it would be a bit warm i.e. perhaps J/K - set in yellow gold too which might be contributing.

No obvious abrasions/chips from pics. I have asked for a video. It's a decent size (over 1.5 for centre stone).

I suppose I'm somewhat dubious that this would come up for sale without more evaluations/certs.

What would you use to try to find a 'comp' price as a ballpark when most stones need to be taken out of a setting to evaluate properly? (and I wouldn't want to remove from setting)
 
Tolerance...

would be is it returnable?

cost...would need to be low without certs etc.

Without pics it's hard to give any more advice.
 
tyty333 said:
Tolerance...

would be is it returnable?

cost...would need to be low without certs etc.

Without pics it's hard to give any more advice.
Click to expand...

Thanks - as it is an auction link I'm reluctant to post in case it gets swooped.

I will look at return options.

Wish I could PM pics without posting.
 
Unfortunately auctions I'm pretty sure are final sale. So whatever their estimate is.. I'd probably go with 2-3 colours warmer and same with the clarity. Also carat weight is also an estimate only as it's currently set. Most people sell at auction hoping for a quick sale. Have you looked at other Daisy rings with similar ctw and see what they're going for?
 
It's probably lower down the alphabet than J/K if it looks visibly warm in photos.

It's not uncommon for auction antiques to not be graded because they're looking for a quick sale as @maryjane04 said so I wouldn't take that as a red flag, I would just be very pessimistic about the grades. For example, here's a pair of antique diamond earrings that had no reports and the diamonds were huge (2.96 and 2.83 carats):

auctions.finesf.com

Pair of Diamond, 14k White Gold Earrings

Pair of Diamond, 14k White Gold EarringsEach with one transitional-cut diamond weighing approximately 2.96 and 2.83 ct., set in a 14k white gold earring mounting.Gross weight: 5.15 grams.
auctions.finesf.com auctions.finesf.com
1755784083578.png


I would look through Gilded Lane to get a sense of pricing as she usually keeps the prices up for sold pieces. Here's a GIA-graded 1.42 M/I1 center three-stone ring that sold for around $6k:

And of course there are other sellers you can use as comps, auction items, etc.
 
Great advice above. I’ve bought many old cuts wi HR out reports. It’s pretty common in the secondary market. Just assume it’s much much much more tinted than advertised.
 
Also the other thing with auctions is sometimes they give you a very low ball price range to gain interest when they know surely it'll fetch more than that.
 
Personally I would buy from an auction without cert- but ONLY if either I could evaluate it in person or someone I trusted with a good eye for antiques that knows what my tolerances are. Auctions are final sale.

That being said, I totally threw in a bid on a Georgian pink topaz suite today to repurpose one of the stones for Lizzy, low bid… was immediately outbid :lol:
 
Me?
I have zero tolerance for diamonds without grading reports from a legit lab, like GIA

Two diamonds with VERY difference color and clarity grades can look the same to us, but can have tremendously different values.
That's why independent legitimate labs must grade diamonds.
Otherwise, without psychic powers, prayers to the right God, or magic, it's impossible to figure out at a fair price.
This nearly always results in overpaying ........ which is no surprise to the seller.
NEVER believe a seller's """"grading"""". :roll:
Conflict of interest, ya know.
And if the seller is a "dealer friend of a friend" - run fast.

But hey! Zillions of people gamble at Vegas and lotteries.

Skepticism, education, and patience are every diamond-shopper's best friends. =)2
 
Last edited:
I’ve never bought an old cut with a lab report. I’ve also never bought a diamond without a return policy in place. I also would only pay a very discounted market price for a no lab report diamond. These all go hand in hand.

You can search comparatives and get a sense of appropriate price, then make sure your’s is discounted.
 
Thanks everyone. I think the lack of any attempt at estimate/grading & no returns would make it a big gamble & one I'm not sure I willing to make without being able to see it in person. Thanks for info re colour and grading. I think even being pessimistic re colour & clarity it is still priced on lower end (currently) for the size & ctw but again - but hard to predict final $
 
Mondayschild said:
Thanks everyone. I think the lack of any attempt at estimate/grading & no returns would make it a big gamble & one I'm not sure I willing to make without being able to see it in person. Thanks for info re colour and grading. I think even being pessimistic re colour & clarity it is still priced on lower end (currently) for the size & ctw but again - but hard to predict final $
Click to expand...

Bid what you are comfortable, if you want. If you lose, you lose you lose.
 
@Dreamer_D yup, I've put a bid in that is my comfort level re unknowns (I do like the look of it - it isn't just the potential "deal") but if I get outbid, so be it !
 
Bidding has already gone way past my comfort level for stone that I haven't been able to properly evaluate in person. It is probably still a "deal" re price but I suspect it will keep going up so I'm sitting on my hands. The perfect larger older cut will eventually find me, or me finding it, but this isn't the one. Appreciate the advice because I recognise that there is this x-factor with older stones that you really need to see visually and I don't have the $$ to take a risk. Sigh!!
 
Mondayschild said:
Bidding has already gone way past my comfort level for stone that I haven't been able to properly evaluate in person. It is probably still a "deal" re price but I suspect it will keep going up so I'm sitting on my hands. The perfect larger older cut will eventually find me, or me finding it, but this isn't the one. Appreciate the advice because I recognise that there is this x-factor with older stones that you really need to see visually and I don't have the $$ to take a risk. Sigh!!
Click to expand...

Proud of you! Your stone is out there! Don’t give up!
 
Can you share some pictures now that’s it’s over?
 
Ask to see if the diamonds fluoresce with a cheap UV torch - if they do go blue they are not fakes or LGD's.
 
Screenshot_20250823-154419.png I'mScreenshot_20250823-154400.pngScreenshot_20250823-154352.pngScreenshot_20250823-154343.pngScreenshot_20250823-154324.png
 
Have posted screenshots @Dreamer_D. There isn't an estimate re colour or clarity - from side view I can see noticeable colour vs the halo stones so my non-expert guess would be L-M and with visible inclusions.
 
The shoulders have been soldered on - this is entirely hand made so your very safe that it is an older piece.
Could not say it is as old as the diamonds, but older than most people watching this thread :-)
 
Thanks @Garry H (Cut Nut) - the question is .....can I still sit on my hands or do I gamble ? I find the older rings / cuts hard to resist. I know the band has been changed towards the back (thus no hallmarks) but felt the head & sides were original.
 
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