Opportunity to buy VS2/F/ 1.26 ct Round......Advice Needed

[High Cotton]

Hey all....

I have the opportunity to buy a ring from an individual. She got divorced last year and is now trying to sell her diamond. I have yet to see the ring & won''t be able to for another 2 weeks (she will be out of the country). She faxed over the GIA report and a Appraisal. The info is as follows.

Date of report: 9/15/80
Shape & Cut : Round Brilliant
Measurement : 6.99 - 7.10 - 4.18 mm
Weight : 1.26 carats
Depth : 59.3%
Table : 63%
Girdle : Medium to thick, Faceted
Culet : Small
Polish : Good
Symmetry : Very Good
Clarity Grade : VS2
Color Grade : F
Flourescence : Strong.......Blue

The appraisal is dated Feb 14, 1998 and is from Colorado Gemstone Brokerage, Inc......Total Retail Replacement Value $12,825.

I will be able to get if for significantly lower than this. I plan on getting in appraised by someone else, how would I go about getting a Sarin Report on this diamond???

I appreciate any insight on this matter. Given I am a novice about diamonds.

Thanks In Advance

 

[abradabra]

I would be concerned about the 63% table, that's awfully high (in the AGA 2A cut class range). That being said, if a tip-top cut is not all that important to you and can get the stone below market--it might be a great deal. (The pricescope price stats show a 2A F-VS2 running about $6174/carat, in the 1-1.5 range.)

I would think many appraisers (or, if not, a local jeweler) could run a Sarin report on the loose stone for you. If this is an engagement ring stone, you probably want a new setting anyway for sentimental/superstitous reasons, so pulling it from the setting wouldn't be such a big deal.

 

[High Cotton]

By no means am I an expert, but I thought the Table 63% seemed a little high.

The stone would be for an engagement ring & yes I would be getting a new platinum setting. I can get this stone for way below the value of it, but I want to make sure that it is a good stone first.

Any other thoughts????

 

[Bagpuss]

It 'might' be a good stone, even with a table of 63. If you go to the cut adviser and use a pavillion angle of 40.5 and crown angle of 34, it comes up as a quite a 2.1, a good buy, with 'very good' light, fire and scintillation and with an excellent spread.

So, to decide if this is a well cut stone, you really need to know the real angles for the pavillion and crown.

 

[denverappraiser]

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On 10/4/2004 11:44:09 AM High Cotton wrote:

By no means am I an expert, but I thought the Table 63% seemed a little high.

The stone would be for an engagement ring & yes I would be getting a new platinum setting. I can get this stone for way below the value of it, but I want to make sure that it is a good stone first.

Any other thoughts????----------------

I would not recommend using the declaration of value as a basis for comparison unless you know exactly what the author means by ‘retail replacement value’. This term can be very misleading for both consumers and members of the trade. You will be much better off using the pricescope engine to select comparable stones that are for sale at various dealers and use those for a basis to decide if you are happy with the price. If the store that is selling this offers a better support package, you may be willing to pay a little more. If they offer less, you may not be willing to pay as much. Each dealer with stones listed here has a website that explains the details of their offers and why they think you should buy from them instead of their competitors. Some offer upgrade programs, some have financing, some will giftwrap it for you, some will offer rock bottom prices with very little additional value. The selling dealer is undoubtedly prepared to do the same. This makes the process of choosing a dealer that suits your requirements fairly easy. All you have to do is to listen to what they are offering and decide if it's valuable to you.

Many independent appraisers have Sarin machines and you can buy a report for a reasonable price. The dealer who is selling it may also have access to one either in their own store or through one of their suppliers. Since you are going to be seeking an independent appraisal anyway, now would be a good time to choose one because they may be able to give you information that will be helpful in your shopping exercise. There is a directory at the top of the page under 'appraisers'.

Neil Beaty, GG ISA
Independent Appraisals in Denver

 

[High Cotton]

So it is safe to say.....a Sarin Report is most definitely needed and pretty much any jeweler/appraiser will have access to this.

Should I be concerned with the Strong Blue flourescence??

Thanks

 

[Bagpuss]

Not per se. It depends on if it makes the diamond look cloudy or milky. Then it is bad. Strong fl. can make stones look whiter, but with an F grade that shouldn't be much of a consideration. I assume the appraiser would advise you as to whether the fl. is, in this case, a problem or not.

Gary H talks about fl. in his tutorial at the top of the page (click on the KNOWLEDGE) He says strongly fl blue stones are often discounted slightly by the trade, though consumers often like the look.

 

[High Cotton]

I got you.....I just need to get this stone in hand & get it appraised.....then the truth will be told.

Thanks

 

[quaeritur]

Yes, you should absolutely get a Sarin report if you want to have an idea of how this stone might perform. Not every jewelry store or appraiser has one, so check before you take it in. An important thing to note though -the Sarin can only be run on an unmounted stone, so the seller will have to agree to have the stone removed.

As for the fluorescence, you will only know by seeing it in sunlight whether it will be a problem. It's rare, but there are stones with strong fluor that look milky or oily in sunlight.

Personally, I'd hesitate to buy this stone based on the numbers so far. It IS possible that the angles will be great and still make for a lovely diamond, but I tend to think the odds of that are a bit low. Just make sure you cover all your bases before any money changes hands!

 

[Bagpuss]

I'd second that. You might be lucky and have found a good stone with out of the box numbers, but don't be suprised if it's not a great cut.

On the other hand, you may love its look and the price might be so good that it's too good to pass up.

The final decision will be yours, but you've done the right thing in checking out its quality before buying and not after, as so many new diamond buyers do, to their cost.

 

[alexah]

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On 10/4/2004 11:23:29 AM High Cotton wrote:


Measurement : 6.99 - 7.10 - 4.18 mm
----------------

Isn't that a bit high of a spread - 6.99-7.10? That's a bit out of round, no?

 

[High Cotton]

My Bad....The measurements are 6.99 - 7.10 x 4.18 mm.

Hopefully that is better.

Now my delimma continues....after calling all appraisers in Charleston, SC. They said they do not nor do they know of anyone in the state that has the machine in order to give me a Sarin Report.

I called GIA Gem Trade Laboratory, Inc and provided them with the grading report # and they said they cannot provide me with the Crown or Pavillion angle. They recommended that I get it sent out of state to have it done. I do not know if the seller will agree to this. What do y'all think about this???? I am clueless, I can get this stone for $5,000, but I do not want to sacrifice billiance because I am trying to save a little money.

Please provide feedback.......

 

[aljdewey]

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On 10/4/2004 4:51:04 PM High Cotton wrote:


What do y'all think about this???? I am clueless, I can get this stone for $5,000, but I do not want to sacrifice billiance because I am trying to save a little money.

----------------

High Cotton....at 5K, your budget is healthy enough to get you a beautiful stone without going to less than safe channels like this. If the stone were exceptionally well cut, then it might be worth it to take a chance contingent on an appraiser's favorable report.

But this diamond is likely only so-so to begin with, given the little information you have. I personally don't think it's worth the risk.

Here's an example of what you could get...this lists for $5185 on the PS search engine.
1.131, I, SI1 for $5185

This one looks like an *exceptionally* clean SI2!
1.19, G, SI2 for $5326

With such amazing, FULLY DOCUMENTED options available, why mess around with might be/could be/maybe?

 

[High Cotton]

Yeah you are right....... I just thought that maybe, just maybe I would be able to get a brillant cut larger stone for the same amount of money I was going to spend on a 1.05 carat. So much for wishful thinking.......

 

[phoenixgirl]

My stone has similar table and depth percentages and looks fine. I clean it a lot to keep the sparkle up. Granted, it's an heirloom, and I probably would have gone with a better cut if I had the choice.

Here are some comparable stones online that indicate to me that you're getting a good price:

1.25 F VS2 GIA 59.6D 60T for $8500-$8800 (The range of price is for the listed price of the numerous vendors listing this same stone)

1.31 F VS2 GIA 59.5D 63T for $9300

Buying a stone from a divorced woman is just about the best way to get a steal, which I honestly think you could be getting in this case. She didn't pay anything for it, and she just wants cash for it now that it has no sentimental value. You would easily be asked for twice as much at most local jewelry stores. So do your homework, make sure the stone is what she says it is, and enjoy the good deal you were lucky enough to find!

Frankly, I think the sarin report is a waste of time. Go to a jewelry store and become acquainted with what a diamond looks like (just remember those lights are designed to make dull glass sparkle). Then take a look at the stone . . . see if you like the cut and if you see any negative effects from the flourescence. As long as you like the stone and it matches the cert, it sounds like a good deal. (Just remember the stone may have suffered damage in 24 years, so make sure the cert is accurate)

 

[valeria101]

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On 10/4/2004 4:51:04 PM High Cotton wrote:



They recommended that I get it sent out of state to have it done. I do not know if the seller will agree to this.

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Oh well, as far as I now, GIA will send those extra numbers to whoever ordered the initial report on the stone in the first place. That could be the seller, his supplier or, well, some random third party. So, if anyone, the seller can obtain those Sarin numbers. And you can always get your own Ideal Scope.

Otherwise, it's G-SI (Link) for the money and size!

 

[denverappraiser]

Cotton,

$5k is a pretty good price unless there is something lurking in the cut and depending on what they mean by 'strong' fluorescence.

Where are you? Perhaps we can assist in finding a Sarin equipped appraiser in your neighborhood. Will the seller allow you to have the stone removed from the setting? If you do this, have a professional remove it and make sure to do it in the presence of the seller so that there are not claims of shady dealing by either you or the jeweler. Pull and reset of a prong set stone should be less than $50 total.

Neil Beaty, GG ISA
Independent Appraisals in Denver