Quality of this diamond - PLEASE HELP!

[jcl725]

Hi everyone,

I'm in need or some urgent assistance. I'm currently shopping for a engagement ring but I'm a diamond newbie. I've been reading this site and other's to educate myself over the past few weeks, but feel like I should come to the experts before making my purchase.

Here's the diamond I need to decide on when I view it in person in the next few days. I wanted to get your feedback as to how it looks on paper. Here's the only info I have (sorry i dont have any ASET or Ideal Scope pics as this jeweler didnt provide any):

Certification: EGL
Shape: Round Brilliant
Weight: 2.5 Cts
Measurements: 8.73 - 8.66 - 5.40mm
Cut Grade: Excellent
Total Depth: 62.1%
Table Width: 55%
Crown Height: 15%
Pavilion Depth: 43%
Girdle Thickness: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Culet: None
Clarity Grade: VS2
Graining: Very slight
Color Grade: F
Flourescence: None
Comments: 8 Hearts and 8 Arrows
Price: ~$27,000

So I did a search similar diamonds on PriceScope and I found several in the low $20000 range. However, I don't know if I'm missing something - i.e. looking at diamonds that are not truely similar. So, a few questions come to mind:

1. Why are these 2.5ct diamonds so cheap? I know it's EGL so that automatically lowers the price. But still, this is cheap for a 2.5ct with these specs - F, VS2, excellent cut, symmetry, polish, no flourescence etc. I know the table and depth percentages are on the low and high side, respectively, but when i used the HCA tool, I get a 0.9 rating. Isn't that supposed to be really good (note - I put 1% for culet becuase I didn't know what "none" equates to)? So are these diamonds so cheap becuase of the table and depth %'s? Will that make this is visually less appealing diamond?
2. Is my diamond overpriced at $27k?
3. The ultimate question - is this a good diamond to purchase!? For $27k, will I be better off getting another diamond that might weight less but be better proportioned?

Finally, what should I be looking at/for when I go view this diamond in person?

Thanks for the help!!!!

-Jonathan

 

[slg47]

Hi everyone,

I'm in need or some urgent assistance. I'm currently shopping for a engagement ring but I'm a diamond newbie. I've been reading this site and other's to educate myself over the past few weeks, but feel like I should come to the experts before making my purchase.

Here's the diamond I need to decide on when I view it in person in the next few days. I wanted to get your feedback as to how it looks on paper. Here's the only info I have (sorry i dont have any ASET or Ideal Scope pics as this jeweler didnt provide any):

Certification: EGL
Shape: Round Brilliant
Weight: 2.5 Cts
Measurements: 8.73 - 8.66 - 5.40mm
Cut Grade: Excellent
Total Depth: 62.1%
Table Width: 55%
Crown Height: 15%
Pavilion Depth: 43%
Girdle Thickness: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Culet: None
Clarity Grade: VS2
Graining: Very slight
Color Grade: F
Flourescence: None
Comments: 8 Hearts and 8 Arrows
Price: ~$27,000

So I did a search similar diamonds on PriceScope and I found several in the low $20000 range. However, I don't know if I'm missing something - i.e. looking at diamonds that are not truely similar. So, a few questions come to mind:

1. Why are these 2.5ct diamonds so cheap? I know it's EGL so that automatically lowers the price. But still, this is cheap for a 2.5ct with these specs - F, VS2, excellent cut, symmetry, polish, no flourescence etc.

since it's EGL, you can't be confident that it is a F VS2.

I know the table and depth percentages are on the low and high side, respectively, but when i used the HCA tool, I get a 0.9 rating. Isn't that supposed to be really good (note - I put 1% for culet becuase I didn't know what "none" equates to)? So are these diamonds so cheap becuase of the table and depth %'s? Will that make this is visually less appealing diamond?

2. Is my diamond overpriced at $27k?


3. The ultimate question - is this a good diamond to purchase!? For $27k, will I be better off getting another diamond that might weight less but be better proportioned?

I would get a slightly smaller diamond like this one for 24K http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2329037.htm.. comes with great upgrade policy, IS images, ASET images, hearts images so you know what you are getting.

Finally, what should I be looking at/for when I go view this diamond in person?

if at all possible see if you can compare to some AGS0 stones. look at the diamond in different lighting and see if it appeals to you. also since it is advertised as H&A you should ask to see hearts images

Thanks for the help!!!!

-Jonathan

 

[yssie]

have you seen it in person, and do you like it?

There's nothing wrong w/ egl - they are known to be more generous than GIA or AGS w/ colour and clarity, but a well-cut stone can be sent to any of the labs, perhaps the manufacturer felt the colour and clarity boost would selling price more than a good cut grade..?

 

[jcl725]

Thanks for the help!

I'm not too concerned about the EGL certification, I know they are more "generous" with their rating. What I am confused about is why a 2.5ct, F, VS2, triple-X is so cheap? Is the table% and depth% of this diamond that bad?

Compared to other EGL diamonds with the same specs but different proportions (e.g. 57% table), this diamond is very cheap.

So, can you please advise as to whether there is something about this diamond that I should avoid. Even if this is truely a G, SI1 by AGS or GIA standards, it still seems like a bargin for a 2.5ct.

I'm going to take a look at the diamond this week, but wanted your advice based on the information I have available.

Thanks again!!

 

[yssie]

Honestly? The market is pretty good about self-pricing. And the paper never tells the whole story.

What does your vendor say? For that kind of money I'd get an independent appraisal done too.

 

[Dancing Fire]

So, can you please advise as to whether there is something about this diamond that I should avoid. Even if this is truely a G, SI1 by AGS or GIA standards, it still seems like a bargin for a 2.5ct.I'm going to take a look at the diamond this week, but wanted your advice based on the information I have available.

Thanks again!!

a G SI1 2.5 ct GIA/AGS H&A stone will cost more than $30k.

 

[jcl725]

Yeah, I plan on getting an independent appraisel. But I'm still confused as to why this diamond, and diamonds that are similar to this diamond (namely, the high/low table/depth %), are so cheap.

In other words, this diamond is cheap compared to diamonds where all else is the same on paper (2.5ct, EGL F or AGS/GIA G, EGL VS2 or AGS/GIA SI1, excellent cut...) EXCEPT the table/depth % (e.g. 56.5%/61.5%).

So, I guess the ultimate question is whether I should avoid a diamond with these proportions and look for a diamond with the same specs, but smaller and with better proportions.

I know the best thing to do is to compare the diamonds in person, but unfortunately the jeweler only has a handful of diamonds that fall within my preferred spec and price range for me to compare at a time.

Your help is greatly appreciated!!