Opinion on this 1.51 RB before we buy!!

[rkp2be]

My FF and I have been looking at diamonds and think we may have found "the one" - but I''d love some very honest opinions from all you *experts* out there! FF''s coworker ("M") is a custom jewelry designer on the side and is creating our setting as well as sourcing the diamond from his cutters.

1.51 Round Brilliant
7.49-7.45 x 4.45 mm
G/SI1
EGL USA Ideal
Depth: 59.6%
Table: 59%
Crown: 34.3 degrees / 14.1%
Pav: 43%
Culet: none
Polish: VG
Symmetry: VG
Flourescence: none
"Ideal Hearts and Arrows"
Appraisal/replacement price: $17,893
Retail price: $15,400
What M bought it for (wholesale): $7,250

HCA score: 1.2 (TIC - "excellent" on everything)

It just came in from the west coast today, so I''ll see it tonight. It didn''t come with a Sarin, but M is going to have one done on it ASAP. I have an idealscope which I''m going to use on it tonight. FF said it came with the certs, and shows the H&A images (I asked how they look, he said "umm are these for real? They look too perfect") as well as a pic of the inclusions (he said they''re really small and around the edges - none in the middle of the stone). I don''t know if that part matters.

Any red flags anyone sees in this? Because it looks like the dimensions place the diamond w/in the AGS ideal range (in HCA), what are the chances that the Sarin will show all "0''s"?

Also, it looks like it might face up a little larger than the avg 1.5... should that be a concern, or might it be due to the extra .01 carat?

Thanks so much for the help!

--rachel

p.s. we are going to have it independently appraised to verify M''s appraisal. Also, FF is calling EGL USA to confirm the certification/report # with them.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

A 1.5 carat stone is about 7.4mm, so it is close to what it should be. The depth is under 60%, so that would maybe give it a little more spread. The main concern is the EGL cet. You only get what you pay for (I am quite sure you aren't getting a wholesale price), so at that price I am betting the color and clarity are a couple of grades lower than they have represented. Going to I color might be fine in a well cut stone, but you'll really need to examine the clarity closely because it might be SI2 or I1. It is good you are having an independent appraisal.

 

[Skippy123]

I too would send it to an ind appraiser, just to verify it is what EGL cert says it is.

 

[Lorelei]

EGL USA is believed by some in the industy to be fairly reliable, I have an EGL USA diamond myself which checked out fine. The diamond you are considering may be worth considering if you love it, I would recommend you look at some AGS0 cut grade diamonds to make sure the personality of this diamond is the best for you!

www.eglusa.com You can do a report check here, click on online results on the left.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

The price is too low for the cert to be reliable. The vendors here do not have that much mark-up above wholesale even if he really did get a wholesale price.

 

[Ellen]

While I agree that we''ve seen the USA division of EGL be pretty accurate, the price he got this stone for is definitely questionable....

 

[rkp2be]

Thanks so much for the responses. We looked at it, and there is definitely a cloudy aspect to it (possibly due to the nature and placement of the inclusions), although the idealscope image was awsome. Definitely a no-go... so close but NO cigar! So M is bringing in a 1.53 H VS2...

Thanks for your help!

p.s. jeweler has cutters in CA, NY, & Chicago - not sure which location these are coming from (re. mark-up in price). also, i was wrong about the $15k retail price - FF was reading the item number printed on the paper, confused "#" for "$" apparently... hehe.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/14/2008 8:12:04 AM
Author: Ellen
While I agree that we''ve seen the USA division of EGL be pretty accurate, the price he got this stone for is definitely questionable....

I just noticed the price, I see what you mean!

I didn''t see that.

 

[honey22]

Sorry for the threadjack, but I wanted to ask a question.

How can you get ''Ideal Hearts and Arrows'' when the symmetry is only graded very good? Does someone care to explain? Thanks

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/19/2008 5:44:15 AM
Author: honey22
Sorry for the threadjack, but I wanted to ask a question.

How can you get ''Ideal Hearts and Arrows'' when the symmetry is only graded very good? Does someone care to explain? Thanks

Here you go!

https://www.pricescope.com/hearts_indx.asp

 

[Lorelei]

I forgot to add ( phone call!) that the thread above shows how true hearts and arrows meet very strict standards, some stones which are called H&A may not be in reality.