Opinions on my pick. 2.5 carats

[SilverLily]

Date: 9/12/2008 9:37:49 AM
Author: vespergirl
I understand that EGL does not have the same reputation as GIA or AGS

Which is why this fact, along with the very low price, led people to tell John to be wary of this purchase. We tell people often on here to be wary of "too good to be true" e-bay purchases. How is this any different? You have a stone graded by a lab that is known to be soft and it is being sold at a low price, so we are just saying to have the stone appraised to make sure the stone is really what it is graded as being.

And besides, most of the comments on this thread were when we thought he was getting a GIA stone at a price that wholesalers can''t even get it for. Now that he has said it is EGL, the price isn''t so outrageously low anymore. It may be a very nice stone, he should just get it appraised to be sure.

And I think your stone is beautiful, vespergirl!

 

[johnn]

FACTS:

I am exactly who I say I am. I am not lying about anything in any way, shape, or form to try and trick anyone here in anyway possible. I swear on this fact on my life. I am alive and typing this LOL. I also dont want to die anytime soon.

On to more important things. lol

To remind you guys, he said I can bring the ring back anytime I want to get my money back, the minute I hand him over the other $10K I owe him, (I already paid $3800), to 10 years from now. He will swap back for the same money NO MATTER WHAT at anytime. I can tell him it looks like dogshit, or I''m broke and need to cash out on some stuff. He''ll take it back and give me $13,800.

Knowing that he''ll give me my money back anytime, I am going to take the stone AFTER it''s set and have it apraised. I''ll obviously post here because I will be very curious as to what you guys think. I will also get the certificate from him today and let him know her ring size and post up all facts on the certificate as soon as I can, probobly tomorrow morning.

I now most EGL Isreal stones are graded much less than GIA. Most probobly are. I starred at the stone for a long time with the magnafying glass thing and only noticed an insanely SMALL difference to a much higher quality GIA graded stone that was selling for MY COST $23K just for the stone. I think it was 3.1 carats.

Is that small magnafying glass thing called an Idealscope?

I just got off the phone with him. It will be ready 100% by Tuesday or Weds. of this coming week. I''m excited. The deal is done. Lets hope the apraiser loves it as much as I do, or I''ll be buying a stone from a different guy. It''s a 2.59 carat H/SI2 ideal cut, VG polish and symetry, no floure, EGL USA stone for $13,130 without the setting. This is from one of my closest friends fathers who owns a jewlery shop in the diamond district in NYC.

Thanks sooooooooo much for the help guys. Like normal, I''ll keep you updated as things happen, and the more replies the better. We''ll see how it all turns out.

 

[glitterata]

John, is this your father''s brother (your uncle)? Or is it a close family friend? Or is it your close friend''s father? You''ve described this guy all three ways, which has me confused.

In any case, congratulations on your upcoming engagement!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 9/12/2008 1:40:58 PM
Author: johnn
FACTS:

I am exactly who I say I am. I am not lying about anything in any way, shape, or form to try and trick anyone here in anyway possible. I swear on this fact on my life. I am alive and typing this LOL. I also dont want to die anytime soon.

On to more important things. lol

To remind you guys, he said I can bring the ring back anytime I want to get my money back, the minute I hand him over the other $10K I owe him, (I already paid $3800), to 10 years from now. He will swap back for the same money NO MATTER WHAT at anytime. I can tell him it looks like dogshit, or I'm broke and need to cash out on some stuff. He'll take it back and give me $13,800.

Knowing that he'll give me my money back anytime, I am going to take the stone AFTER it's set and have it apraised. I'll obviously post here because I will be very curious as to what you guys think. I will also get the certificate from him today and let him know her ring size and post up all facts on the certificate as soon as I can, probobly tomorrow morning.

I now most EGL Isreal stones are graded much less than GIA. Most probobly are. I starred at the stone for a long time with the magnafying glass thing and only noticed an insanely SMALL difference to a much higher quality GIA graded stone that was selling for MY COST $23K just for the stone. I think it was 3.1 carats.

Is that small magnafying glass thing called an Idealscope?

I just got off the phone with him. It will be ready 100% by Tuesday or Weds. of this coming week. I'm excited. The deal is done. Lets hope the apraiser loves it as much as I do, or I'll be buying a stone from a different guy. It's a 2.59 carat H/SI2 ideal cut, VG polish and symetry, no floure, EGL USA stone for $13,130 without the setting. This is from one of my closest friends fathers who owns a jewlery shop in the diamond district in NYC.

Thanks sooooooooo much for the help guys. Like normal, I'll keep you updated as things happen, and the more replies the better. We'll see how it all turns out.

While this sounds different than your dads brother, I'm going to let it go.

Just a heads up, a stone in a setting cannot be graded as accurately as a loose stone. So there may well be a discrepancy between what the appraiser gets vs. what it actually is on paper/supposed to be. The good news is, EGL USA is said to be the most reliable of the EGL divisions.

 

[purrfectpear]

Ummm, guys he''s saying if THIS stone doesn''t work out, he has a DIFFERENT stone from a DIFFERENT guy (friends dad), not that this stone is from the friends dad. This stone is from his uncle. Different cert, different carat weight.

Got it?

I''d have it appraised first, then set. But you haven''t taken any of our advice yet...guess you''re not going to start now

 

[Ellen]

Date: 9/12/2008 2:08:01 PM
Author: purrfectpear
Ummm, guys he''s saying if THIS stone doesn''t work out, he has a DIFFERENT stone from a DIFFERENT guy (friends dad), not that this stone is from the friends dad. This stone is from his uncle. Different cert, different carat weight.

Got it?

I''d have it appraised first, then set. But you haven''t taken any of our advice yet...guess you''re not going to start now

Oops, yes. Thankies p.

 

[vespergirl]

John, I''m looking forward to seeing the ring once you have it - please post pics. Sounds like it''s going to be lovely!!!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 9/12/2008 8:54:52 AM
Author: Ellen
Futuremrss,

I think John came here because he doubted himself, not his uncle. He has never bought a diamond before, he wants to get his girl a great stone at a great price. That''s why most people come here. I wish I could have known about this place when we got engaged (and no, I''m not a vendor either). I bought with my eyes, not knowing a thing about diamonds, or even the diamond in my ring (jeweler didn''t tell me ONE thing). I ended up with a very so so stone. I now have a killer stone, and realize just how much I missed for 24 years. I would like to help people get that right off the bat (if that''s what they want), instead of making the mistake I did. Because I was uninformed.

We want people to get the best for their money, and cut IS important to us. But I personally understand that sometimes size over rides cut with a customer, and that''s fine. I have never said John''s uncle was trying to rip him off. But as far as ''friend of a friend''/friend of the family'' goes? Do a search, there are many stories with not so happy endings. Rarely does it turn out well. And it makes for an uncomforatable situation when it doesn''t. That''s why we tend to steer people in another direction when we can. It''s just not worth it, especially because those people usually get a better cut stone at a better price somewhere else (and that can be/has been from a jeweler in their hometown, not online). Sad but true.

We have no idea exactly how well cut the stones are John is looking at, all we can go on is what info we do have. And part of that is the grading report from EGL. And we all know what that can mean. Posters want John to know that too, so he makes as informed a decision as he can. THAT is why he came here. I''ve never heard him say anything to all the posters that have tried to help except thank you, he seems to appreciate the help, even if it''s not all positive. We''re not here to tell a person what they want to hear, we''re hear to tell a person what they need to hear, then they can decide for themselves, after being well informed.

And as someone else asked, if you don''t like it here, why are you staying?

Ditto every word.

 

[johnn]

Purfectpear, I have taken a lot fo advice from this forum.

I understand that you guys think it''s better to have tohe rock apraised before it''s set. I cant exactly ask my uncle to take the stone before it''s set without calling him a liar. Make sense? He knows if I tell him I want to take it home and stare at it he''s gonna call BS. If the cert/apraisel is a little off becasue it''s set, I could care less. It will tell me more or less if I paid a good number and if it''s not what he says it is. The only reason I can think that I would do this is becasue he mixed up the certification company a few times and I want to make sure everything else he''s saying and telling me is 100% and to have it insured as well.

I think Ellens post is also on the money.

 

[purrfectpear]

Since your uncle is in the business he would never assume that someone wanting to have an appraisal was in anyway "calling him a liar".

He certainly would understand that the preferred method of appraisal is unset. He would also understand that your insurance company would want an appraisal, not just a certificate and a sales order. At least that''s what State Farm wanted.

You just don''t seem to get what an appraisal is when you say "if it''s a little off it''s OK". It''s not OK. You want to pay for exactly what you have. A 2.50, I, SI1 EGL stone is worth $11,471, or $11,500 according to two that are currently available. What if it''s really a J? Then it''s worth $10,635. You see where this is going?

 

[Ellen]

Date: 9/12/2008 1:40:58 PM
Author: johnn
FACTS:

I now most EGL Isreal stones are graded much less than GIA. Most probobly are. I starred at the stone for a long time with the magnafying glass thing and only noticed an insanely SMALL difference to a much higher quality GIA graded stone that was selling for MY COST $23K just for the stone. I think it was 3.1 carats.

Is that small magnafying glass thing called an Idealscope?

John, sorry, I forgot to answer this. I think what you are referring to is a loupe. An Idealscope is a device that measures light return.

 

[MMT]

Good luck with your purchase and please post pics.

 

[lovegem]

Date: 9/11/2008 9:34:20 PM
Author: Futuremrss
John, I am sorry, but I bet your uncle will never offer you another deal again. I certainly wouldn''t. The craziest part to all of this is if the uncle was NOT giving you a deal then no one on this ''vendor owned site would'' be trying to talk you out of it. No, I take that back, they would...because that is what they seem to do, here...shocking that a bunch of vendors on a vendor sponsored site would be trying to talk you out of buying a ring from your uncle.





You know what? I question John now too....I do not think John is a legitimate poster. No one would look at a stone that they liked that much, that they are buying from their uncle and then come on some random vendor owned site and question this deal THAT much. This is probably some vendor, who made up this thread to ''teach'' or ''scare'' people not to trust their family or local jewelers.



Then John if you are real...please do not buy that ring. Pay the $33000.00 and get it from someone on line and on this site because I am not sure you are confident enough to ever like or trust that this ring was legit. Just don''t buy it (I think that is what you want to hear.)

Hey, I am not a vendor. I, like many people who post in this thread, just want to give John our honest opinion. Yes, we could be wrong about the whole situation, but we are making judgment based on John''s own account. I am a consumer, and I believe in "consumer first". I don''t get a dime whether John or anyone buys from anyone here or there.

BTW, you sound bitter.

 

[Kelli]

I will never understand why people get so worked up over this stuff. I read this whole thread, just for its entertainment value! Johnn did not once seem upset by anything said here, yet some nutcase lets it ruin her whole day. Good stuff!

Anyway, I agree with the others. I would have NO PROBLEM buying an EGL Israel stone I had seen in person and loved. Do I think you should get it independantly appraised before setting it? Absolutely. Does that mean you''re calling your uncle a liar? No. Not in my opinion anyway. Is it gonna hurt me in some way if you choose not to? Again, no, and I still wish you the best of luck. While I personally have come to LOVE this community and want cut perfection in my stones, my family and friends think I''m crazy. They say "it''s just a ring." To each her/his own!

I certainly hope you and your gf are happy with your purchase, and I look forward to seeing some pictures!

 

[johnn]

OK guys, here''s my final choice on what I picked. I went with a 2.52 carat, G color, SI2 clarity, ideal "plus" cut, VG polish/symetry, EGL USA stone. I saw the cert. The price of just the stone was $13,650. The band is a six prong white gold with 16 diamonds all around the entire thing. The small stones are .15 carat each and G VS1 totaling 2.4 carats. Her ring size is a 3.75. That makes a total of 4.92 carats! I paid $2550 for the setting. So total is $16200. I get the ring tomorrow! I will post pics for you guys to see. I''m sooo excited to give it to her!!!!!!!!

Thanks so much PS for helping me out. In the end, I decided to stay away from EGL Isreal, even though that stone wasn''t bad looking. THANKS SOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!

John

 

[somethingshiny]

Well, I don''t know how I missed this thread for so long seeing as how "popular" it is and all....

But, JOHN, I''m glad you got a ring you love, and good luck for the proposal!!

 

[LD]

Oooops I''m late to the party too!

John, when you posted originally (and throughout your posts) you were only asking if the price you paid was fair. You didn''t ask about the cut so I''m assuming that this was something that hadn''t really occurred to you and you''re not necessarily "into" diamonds - if you know what I mean.

More importantly yousaid that you''d seen the diamond and loved it. Seeing a diamond and loving it is what it''s about! I''m glad you got a diamond and I wish you every luck with the proposal.

 

[vespergirl]

Sounds gorgeous - can''t wait for pics! Your girl is going to love it!!!

 

[Ellen]

Congrats John, that sounds like quite a ring!! Can''t wait too see pics.

 

[:)]

Johnn, sounds like a whopper of a blingfest!
Please post pics!
When is the proposal?

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 9/25/2008 7:26:45 PM
Author: Ellen
Congrats John, that sounds like quite a ring!! Can''t wait too see pics.

HI:

Ditto! Sounds fabu!

cheers--Sharon

 

[johnn]

Guys, I did it yesterday!!!!!!!!!!! I did it at "Top of the Rock" observatory deck. It''s on top for Rocafellar Center in NYC. We then had reservations at our own private room in Rainbow Grill, a nice high end bar/restaurant at the top of the Rocafellar Center and had dinner and champagne. My brother who lives in NYC stopped by and her sister and brother in law stopped by as well. It was so exciting and such a great feeling. I cant wait for the future.

I still have to get pics of the ring. She was beyond blown away. I think she''s going to be too scared to wear it out. It was apraised for $36,575 by another dealer this morning!!!!!!!!!!! She going to be waay to scared to wear it around. We are going to get it insured today as well.

John

P.S. Thanks so much PS. I leanred soo much here in the last month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[stone-cold11]

Well Done!

Pics please?

 

[Ellen]

Date: 9/29/2008 11:39:47 AM
Author: johnn
Guys, I did it yesterday!!!!!!!!!!! I did it at 'Top of the Rock' observatory deck. It's on top for Rocafellar Center in NYC. We then had reservations at our own private room in Rainbow Grill, a nice high end bar/restaurant at the top of the Rocafellar Center and had dinner and champagne. My brother who lives in NYC stopped by and her sister and brother in law stopped by as well. It was so exciting and such a great feeling. I cant wait for the future.

I still have to get pics of the ring. She was beyond blown away. I think she's going to be too scared to wear it out. It was apraised for $36,575 by another dealer this morning!!!!!!!!!!! She going to be waay to scared to wear it around. We are going to get it insured today as well.

John

P.S. Thanks so much PS. I leanred soo much here in the last month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John, it all sounds fabulous!

And we definitely need pics!

But one important thing. You said "dealer" in referring to your appraisal. Please, have it appraised by an independant appraiser, one who is NOT in the jewelry business. The value the dealer gave it is WAY inflated, by over 20,000 dollars. You do not want to be paying on that, because that is not what the ins. company will pay to replace it (because that is not what it really cost, not even close), unless you have a cash out policy. And even then, you're paying on an overly inflated premium....

 

[johnn]

Good advice. That''s exactly what I''ll do.

John