Please Help! I''m A Little Worried Because I Found My Beautiful Dream Engagement Ring But It Doesn''

[Asscher102]

Please Help! I''m A Little Worried Because I Found My Beautiful Dream Engagement Ring But It Doesn''t Come With Any Certificate/Grading Report! Is That Bad?
Hi everyone. I found my beautiful dream engagement ring that I love in the New York Diamond District. My boyfriend has even put some money down on it already. But it doesn''t come with any certificate/grading report so I''m a little worried. Why would a natural diamond, that seems of eye-clean and good quality, NOT come with a grading report/certificate? Is that possible? Or do you think the jeweler is trying to hide something? I''ve had a jeweler already lie to me once before about not mentioning that it was an enhanced diamond. So I''m worried. She didn''t mention that it is enhanced or treated or that anything is wrong with it. It is a round center diamond that is supposedly 1.10ct and set in 18k white gold pave setting with a total of 0.80ct that looks very similar to the Ritani Endless Love setting. Center diamond and setting diamonds are supposedly G color and SI clarity. The price she gave me is $4500. Do you think that is good and fair price for this without any grading/certificate????
Also, again, why would a natural diamond, that seems of eye-clean and good quality, NOT come with a grading report/certificate? Is that possible? Or do you think the jeweler is trying to hide something? I''ve had a jeweler already lie to me once before about not mentioning that it was an enhanced diamond. So I''m worried.
I know I repeated myself. LoL! I apologize for that!!!
Any other information would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to reading all of your advice and I thank all of you in advance for your wonderful responses! Thank you!

 

[tberube]

Well, you said it yourself...it "seems of eye-clean and good quality." But without a certification, how can you be sure? You're not a gemologist, so you may not notice the low color or a less than high quality cut, etc. The certification is really meant to protect the buyer from any funny business, and when there is no cert, I for one am a little wary of what the jeweler might be trying to hide. Not to mention the possibility of illegally obtained diamonds, conflict diamonds, etc. The business of diamonds is a scary one in some parts of the world...

With that said, you may completely fall in love with this diamond, regardless of its carat weight or color or whatever, and have no specific standard for trade-in quality, because this is your one diamond that you'll have forever and that's that. Which is totally fine, if that's what makes you happy.

My advice is to weigh the possibility of the diamond not necessarily being what the jeweler calls it, versus your feelings for this diamond. If it suits your fancy and having no cert doesn't bother you, then go for it.

 

[Lorelei]

It can be preferable to buy a diamond with a reliable grading report such as GIA or AGS, so that you know exactly what you are buying. Generally a cutter/ supplier will send a diamond off to one of the labs for grading, as he or she can usually sell a diamond for a higher price with a report than without. The problem is with a diamond that does not have a well known report, is that you only have usually unknown persons opinion on the colour and clarity of the diamond, and who knows their skill and experience where grading diamonds are concerned...

If you really want this ring, I would make the sale final on it checking out with an independant appraisal, but I would recommend you look at some GIA or AGS graded diamonds so you know what you are buying, and concentrate on getting the best cut diamond you can. We would be pleased to help you with this. Have you considered buying online? If you are in NY, Mark at www.engagementringsdirect.com is located in the diamond district on 47th Street I believe, and there is also Jon at www.goodoldgold.com in Long Island, both these vendors have an excellent rep here.

 

[Asscher102]

Tberube - I know exactly what you mean. I completely agree with you and feel exactly the same way. Thank you so much for your advice. I really appreciate it. It is such a tough decision! LoL

Lorelei - Thank you so much for your advice as well! When you wrote "If you really want this ring, I would make the sale final on it checking out with an independant appraisal", what exactly does that mean?

 

[Asscher102]

My other concern is do you think that the diamond could be a fake one or moissanite? =-O

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 7/6/2008 11:27:38 AM
Author: Lorelei
It can be preferable to buy a diamond with a reliable grading report such as GIA or AGS, so that you know exactly what you are buying. Generally a cutter/ supplier will send a diamond off to one of the labs for grading, as he or she can usually sell a diamond for a higher price with a report than without. The problem is with a diamond that does not have a well known report, is that you only have usually unknown persons opinion on the colour and clarity of the diamond, and who knows their skill and experience where grading diamonds are concerned...


If you really want this ring, I would make the sale final on it checking out with an independant appraisal, but I would recommend you look at some GIA or AGS graded diamonds so you know what you are buying, and concentrate on getting the best cut diamond you can. We would be pleased to help you with this. Have you considered buying online? If you are in NY, Mark at www.engagementringsdirect.com is located in the diamond district on 47th Street I believe, and there is also Jon at www.goodoldgold.com in Long Island, both these vendors have an excellent rep here.

DITTO. Either make the sale contingent on an appraisal or go to Mark at ERD or Jon at GOG and save yourself the headache. Unfortunately it seems that there are many more unhonest vendors than honest ones out there...

 

[Asscher102]

Hi Neatfreak! Thank you!! When you wrote "Either make the sale contingent on an appraisal", what exactly does that mean and how exactly do I get a ring appraised before I purchase it? Please forgive me for sounding naive.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 7/6/2008 11:53:55 AM
Author: Asscher102
Hi Neatfreak! Thank you!! When you wrote 'Either make the sale contingent on an appraisal', what exactly does that mean and how exactly do I get a ring appraised before I purchase it? Please forgive me for sounding naive.

No problem. Find a PS recommended appraiser, and BEFORE the ring is purchased in full, take the ring to the appraiser. If it checks out as what the dealer claims, then pay and it can be yours. If not, then you get a FULL RETURN without questions. If the dealer is honest he should have no problem with this. If he isn't, he'll have a problem with it and/or try to get you to believe that one of his buddies is an appraiser, etc.

YOU pick the appraiser. NOT the dealer. David Wolf is one name that comes to mind in NY...but I don't know any others. Maybe someone from NY can chime in here.

 

[arjunajane]

I''m sorry, its late where I am so I will be blunt.
Why take all the risks? There are already too many unkowns, and thats just the bits you Have thought about. If you''re even concerned a vendor would sell you a fake or enhanced diamond, just walk away. Its not an uncommon style of ring from what you''ve described, most good vendors will be able to get you a Ritani or simliar style.
You''re in NY with access to very reputable and trustable vendors, please don''t take the gamble!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/6/2008 11:42:21 AM
Author: Asscher102
Tberube - I know exactly what you mean. I completely agree with you and feel exactly the same way. Thank you so much for your advice. I really appreciate it. It is such a tough decision! LoL

Lorelei - Thank you so much for your advice as well! When you wrote 'If you really want this ring, I would make the sale final on it checking out with an independant appraisal', what exactly does that mean?

Hi Asscher!

What I meant was, if you had really fallen in love with this ring as you say it is your dream engagement ring, that I would make the sale final on having an independant appraiser check the ring/ diamond over before the sale is made final - and get the vendor to agree to this in writing. Otherwise in my opinion, it is such a risk as you have no real way of knowing what you are buying. I would again recommend that you take a look at what Mark at ERD and Good old Gold have to offer, so you can make an informed decision.

As Neat says, David Wolf is a known NY appraiser, here is a tool you can use which has his contact details and that of others listed. NeatFreak also gives good advice on the process.

https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx