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Please Help!!!! Need Advice on Price!

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neil_007

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 30, 2007
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I have a friend selling this ring to me with a platinum solitare setting for $4900. I am requesting (PLEADING actually) for your help on whether this is a good buy. This is an ideal cut with the following information below - SGL rated Excellent (Super Ideal Cut - per independent appraiser), Crown is 35.0 degrees


I am planning on buying this ring soon so I can pursue plan on proposing. I have been on pricescope for the past 2 weeks and have gotten quotes and everything looks ''reasonable'' on my end....BUT I know the people in this forum are quite discerning and know good taste from extraordinary. So my question is 1) Is this a good price, 2) Is this a good center stone (I was worried about the Girdle, but don''t know the risks too much), and 3) Will this make my girlfriend say "yes" (lol)

Specs
Cushion Diamond
Shape: Cushion Brilliant
Measurements: 5.68 x 5.64 x 3.96
Weight: 0.95 Carat
Depth: 70.2%
Table: 54%
Girdle: Thin to Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Symmetry: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Clarity: VS2
Color: E
Florescence: None

The GIA cert doesn''t specifiy laser inscription, but I suspect that GIA didn''t do this in early 2004.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!
NEIL
 
can''t say without pics. but very few cushion cutters shoot for ex/ex
 
Laser inscription is always optional. It doesn''t indicate anything to not have it.

Cushions have to be seen to evaluate them. I don''t think it sounds like a super deal at that price, but it might be fair.
 
Hi All,

Based on the message so far, I am trying to upload the pics as I can...here is the first pic...i''m trying to get pics (crops) of the HofA rendition of this stone

Thanks again for any feedback

Neil

Neil0071.jpg
 
Here is the HofA rendition
neil

neil0072.jpg
 
Okay,

Here''s the last pic of some docs I have...I''ll try to get a pic of the actual ring tomorrow...but your comments please :)

Neil

neil0073.jpg
 
SGL is Rich Sherwood''s lab. Rich is an appraiser extraordinaire who posts here. If he gives that diamond his seal of approval , then the answer to number 2) and 3) is yes. Still you might consider having another look at it for chipping etc. since it was last appraised.
 
The two major things about the rock that worry me are 1) Girdle dimensions and 2) the location of the feather (which is at the edge of the stone) [a friend who knows supposedly knows ''more'' about this indicated that this could be a bigger problem]

Thoughts?
 
This branded square H&A is a very well cut stone. I would not worry about the girdle being thin to thick because that is the nature of the cut in order to acheive the H&A in a square stone.
 
Thanks for the info from everyone so far. So it seems like this is a fair/good purchase, BUT any thoughts on the feather issue and it''s location (which is hidden under one of the prongs) -

MY thoughts: based on the research I''ve done so far on Pricescope (which is an AWESOME resource!), it seems that feathers are NOT a problem unless they surface. My FEAR is that the appraisal done by GIA and SGL were in 2004 and I don''t currently have the ability to view the physical stone (actually get it appraised in time) to see whether the feather SIZE has grown.....so my question is: Is this a possiblity? SGL (Rich S.) did the appraisal in 2004 and didn''t mention any surfacing of the feather, so am I to assume that the issue is fine (and therefore go ahead and get the ring)??

Thanks once more.
neil
 
Oh..and one last thing...the girdle is "Thin to Extremely thick, Faceted" not just "thin to thick"

Does this pose to be a problem???
 
Date: 7/31/2007 1:53:33 PM
Author: neil_007
Oh..and one last thing...the girdle is ''Thin to Extremely thick, Faceted'' not just ''thin to thick''

Does this pose to be a problem???
Not a problem at all.
 
Date: 7/31/2007 1:51:04 PM
Author: neil_007
Thanks for the info from everyone so far. So it seems like this is a fair/good purchase, BUT any thoughts on the feather issue and it''s location (which is hidden under one of the prongs) -

MY thoughts: based on the research I''ve done so far on Pricescope (which is an AWESOME resource!), it seems that feathers are NOT a problem unless they surface. My FEAR is that the appraisal done by GIA and SGL were in 2004 and I don''t currently have the ability to view the physical stone (actually get it appraised in time) to see whether the feather SIZE has grown.....so my question is: Is this a possiblity? SGL (Rich S.) did the appraisal in 2004 and didn''t mention any surfacing of the feather, so am I to assume that the issue is fine (and therefore go ahead and get the ring)??

Thanks once more.
neil
I haven''t heard of feathers "growing". If the feather does not break the surface, you''ll be fine. Can you make this purchase dependent upon everything being all right after it is checked out by an independent appraiser of your choice? Perhaps, you can contact Rich and ask him about this stone that he appraised; whether it breaks the surface or not, and the non-mention of it.
 
Actually I tried calling R. Sherwood and left a message with report number. Hopefully he can shed some light on this.
 
In response to question #1, I think $4900 is too much for a pre-owned 0.95 E-VS2 ex/ex cushion in platinum solitaire. Purchasing from a friend and if it happened to be exactly what I wanted I can see paying a somewhat higher price than otherwise. This price is more or less what a nice ex/ex modern cushion will cost from one of the vendors here. For resale, h/a in a cushion and the setting don''t add so much value, to me at least.
 
Am I missing something here? (wouldn't be the first time)
5.gif


You originally speak of a Cushion Brilliant, then you post H&A pics of a Square H&A, and then the report/plot diagram of a Flanders...
33.gif


ETA, I see the Flanders is just for plotting purposes, but still, I'm confused.
9.gif
 
Hi

It is a cushion brilliant (verified by GIA / SGL), but the ratio is 1.00 to 1.01 (hence it looks square-like)

As for the price, yeah, i know it''s not really a great price, but fair since the setting itself is about $1,200.

Neil
 
"In response to question #1, I think $4900 is too much for a pre-owned 0.95 E-VS2 ex/ex cushion in platinum solitaire. Purchasing from a friend and if it happened to be exactly what I wanted I can see paying a somewhat higher price than otherwise. This price is more or less what a nice ex/ex modern cushion will cost from one of the vendors here. For resale, h/a in a cushion and the setting don''t add so much value, to me at least. "

Thank you for the opinion. I appreciate the honesty. Would anyone else like to comment on the ''value'' of this and/or feather issue?

Neil
 
Personally, I think the price sounds about right. (If you don't include the fact that it is "used") It's not a "deal" per se, but I don't think anyone is trying to take advantage of you either.

I am looking at two cushions right now that are both 1ct I VS2, and the price ranges are from 3500-3900 with just the stone. The stone that you've posted is an E color, which jacks up the price, plus your price includes the platinum setting. So, to me it sounds right. Cushions bounce around everywhere with price thoug.
 
Thanks Luckystar112,

I just found out that the setting is platinum 900 and is a Mark Morrell.

BTW - you said you were looking at a 1.0 Cushion I / VS2....is that an ideal cut?
 
There is no "ideal cut" for cushions, but I''m pretty sure they are from Engagement Rings Direct''s premium collection.
Mark Turnowski (the big name in cushions around here) hand-picked them himself, so I am positive that they are just about the best cut that I can get.

My thread is here:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/which-cushion.66400/

It should be known though, that our cushions are completely different. The ones I''m looking at are cushion brilliants...the stone you are looking at looks to be more like a square h&a. Not sure if that makes a difference in price or not. I would think your stone would be more expensive, but don''t quote me on that.
 
Can anyone confirm that the statement below is true about cushion brilliants looking more like square H&A? Or is it just preference?


"It should be known though, that our cushions are completely different. The ones I''m looking at are cushion brilliants...the stone you are looking at looks to be more like a square h&a. Not sure if that makes a difference in price or not. I would think your stone would be more expensive, but don''t quote me on that. "
 
Neil....you are confusing the heck out of me. lol.

Your GIA cert says "cushion brilliant"?

There are two different facet plots for cushion brilliants, and I''ve linked to mine up above. Neither give off a h&a pattern, but they DO sparkle like crazy!

If you are specifically looking for the square h&a pattern, than you should look at goodoldgold.com. They offer them there.
 
It is a cushion brilliant, but due to the ratio, it''s looks very squar''ish'' (ratio is almost 1); the H&A (again I don''t exactly understand) was photocopied by me to upload here for this stone - I''m assuming that''s where the confusion is I guess....

It''s funny....I''m seriously confused now too...can anyone else help to explain this further???
 
Neil.....go to this thread and you can see the two different facet plots for the cushion brilliants. (The first two listed)
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/gia-cushion-plots-demystified-somewhat-with-pics.63323/


Why did you post pics of the h&a version of the stone? Did someone tell you that your stone is going to be h&a? Cause if so, they lied. :) And just because your diamond is square does not mean that it is going to be h&a. Cushions come in ALL ratios, but the facet plots stay the same.

Here is an example of a square h&a from good old gold....notice they look nothing like the cushion brilliants. (But both cuts are still pretty!!!
9.gif
)

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/395/
 
I LOVE square cushions!! But, I never knew cushions of any sort showed a H&A''s pattern
33.gif
Maybe GIA doesn''t have a classification for a square Hearts and Arrows??
 
Date: 7/31/2007 4:31:58 AM
Author: whatmeworry
SGL is Rich Sherwood's lab. Rich is an appraiser extraordinaire who posts here. If he gives that diamond his seal of approval , then the answer to number 2) and 3) is yes. Still you might consider having another look at it for chipping etc. since it was last appraised.

Agreed. Rich is super nice, you can call him, mention the appraisal, and see what HE has to say about it. But if Richard says it's great, I am sure it is.

And there is a premium for the Square H&A stones, so the price seems fine.


AND a Square H&A does usually say "cushion brilliant" on the cert. But a reg. cushion brilliant and square h&a stone have VERY VERY different looks. If it's a reg. cushion brilliant, the price is ok, but certainly not the deal of the century. If it IS a square H&A stone, then it's a better deal. Were the pics you uploaded THE RING? Or did you just find them somewhere?

ETA: I missed about the MWM setting. If it is the setting you are going to use, it is a MUCH MUCH better deal because his settings are not cheap. If you will change it out, then I stand by my assessment above.
 
Date: 7/31/2007 10:26:40 PM
Author: neatfreak

Date: 7/31/2007 4:31:58 AM
Author: whatmeworry
SGL is Rich Sherwood''s lab. Rich is an appraiser extraordinaire who posts here. If he gives that diamond his seal of approval , then the answer to number 2) and 3) is yes. Still you might consider having another look at it for chipping etc. since it was last appraised.

Agreed. Rich is super nice, you can call him, mention the appraisal, and see what HE has to say about it. But if Richard says it''s great, I am sure it is.

And there is a premium for the Square H&A stones, so the price seems fine.


AND a Square H&A does usually say ''cushion brilliant'' on the cert. But a reg. cushion brilliant and square h&a stone have VERY VERY different looks. If it''s a reg. cushion brilliant, the price is ok, but certainly not the deal of the century. If it IS a square H&A stone, then it''s a better deal. Were the pics you uploaded THE RING? Or did you just find them somewhere?

ETA: I missed about the MWM setting. If it is the setting you are going to use, it is a MUCH MUCH better deal because his settings are not cheap. If you will change it out, then I stand by my assessment above.

Ah....learn something new everyday! That explains it.
 
Hi All (again)

Okay, so here is Rich''s SGL report on the Stone - Thoughts again?

neil0074.jpg
 
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