Questionable or real certificate?

[jraem]

I apologize up front if a similar question has been posted. I performed a search on the forum, but did not find this topic. I am new to this site and forum, but need help quick! My fiance purchased a diamond from a friend's partner who is has a small diamond exchange/brokerage business, thinking he'd get more for the money than if he bought from a retailer. As it turned out, neither of us were happy with it; it was not the cut we wanted, was a little smaller than expected, and did not exhitbit the fire and brilliance we expected to see, especially for the money we invested. As a result, the broker has obtained another diamond and is shipping it now for us to look at for an exchange. Of course, it is a much better grade and larger than what we have now, so of course it will cost more. The problem is that I tried to verify the certificate (EGLI), and it can't be found. I did a little research and discoverd that EGLI cert numbers usually begin with 2; this cert begins with the letters EGL and the number starts with a 3. I was told the stone is from Israel. Also, in searching diamond exchanges today, I discovered many other diamonds from Israel that grade higher and are larger than what is being sent, yet for much less money. HELP!

 

[Statefan42]

I apologize up front if a similar question has been posted. I performed a search on the forum, but did not find this topic. I am new to this site and forum, but need help quick! My fiance purchased a diamond from a friend's partner who is has a small diamond exchange/brokerage business, thinking he'd get more for the money than if he bought from a retailer. As it turned out, neither of us were happy with it; it was not the cut we wanted, was a little smaller than expected, and did not exhitbit the fire and brilliance we expected to see, especially for the money we invested. As a result, the broker has obtained another diamond and is shipping it now for us to look at for an exchange. Of course, it is a much better grade and larger than what we have now, so of course it will cost more. The problem is that I tried to verify the certificate (EGLI), and it can't be found. I did a little research and discoverd that EGLI cert numbers usually begin with 2; this cert begins with the letters EGL and the number starts with a 3. I was told the stone is from Israel. Also, in searching diamond exchanges today, I discovered many other diamonds from Israel that grade higher and are larger than what is being sent, yet for much less money. HELP!

Most people here are going to tell you to stay away from EGL. What specs are you looking for in a diamond? You may be able to find an AGS or GIA stone in your budget online.

Is it a 10 number certification number? I looked online and it seems that EGL Israel uses 10 numbers.

 

[jraem]

Yes, it is a 10 digit number, but in looking at a sample of an EGLI cert, it only shows the numbers, not the EGL in front of them, and starts with the number 2. I registered on the EGLI site and submitted just the numbers - nothing came up. The diamond requested and thought we paid for was to be at least a 1.0 ct cushion, at least color G, no less than SI2, and sparkle like a disco ball. My fiance was told she could do much better than that for the money he was investing. What we got was a 0.92 ct. Radiant, Color G or H, depending upon which cert you like best - AGS or GIA - SI2; however, this diamond's pavillion and crown angles seem to fall in a fair or poor range; changing angles of the diamond causes each fourth of the stone to appear almost opaque as you turn it, and the only sparkle you see is when I'm in my bathroom at home. We feel we got scammed, and know we didn't get our money's worth. We have found, in a retail setting, a 1.23 ct cushion, Color H, SI2 IGI cert. that blows the existing stone out of the water in appearance, yet we would have to fork out another $6K, and consign the existing stone...and wait, and hope we really will get our money back. I have pointed this broker toward several diamonds I found on the internet that are either GIA or AGS certified, yet she is proposing something else that I can't even verify, and for more cost to us I don't mind paying a little more as long as we get what we are paying for. Perhaps her commission is just really high?

 

[tyty333]

So how much did you pay? Can you get your money back? Cushions are hard to buy without pictures and asset images.
Get your money back if you can. Tell us what you paid and we'll give you an idea of what you should/can get for your money.

 

[jraem]

Thanks all for your replies. We paid $5k for what we requested and expected to receive. The only way to get our money back (we can't seem to get the broker to put this in writing, though), is to return the diamond for consignment in her store. She has verbally told us she will get all of the $5k back, but no idea how long that will take, and neither I or my fiance want to be in the position of explaining where my ring went; especially if it is months down the road. The alternative, as I stated, is to let her find another diamond. Since her spouse is a friend of ours, we do not want to sound like we don't trust her, or that we feel she took advantage of us before, and appears to be doing so again by sending this diamond from Israel (cost is higher, at $6250, so another $1250 out of our pocket; 1.2 ct. cushion, color F, SI2), with a certificate that can't be verified. How stupid we feel.

 

[mandasand]

This sounds like a sticky and odd situation. Looking at the breakdown, this is what I think:
1. You should not pay for a fancy-cut diamond IN FULL with NO return policy without being able to see images, ASETs and Ideal Scopes AND review and evaluate the certificate first. If that is not an option, then your only protection is a return policy.
2. Return policy - if buying a stone sight unseen, you must choose a vendor that has a return policy. Maybe images, ASET and Ideal Scope images are not available, so you should be able to have the option to look at the diamond once it's delivered and have the option to return it for something better.
3. Don't buy a stone based on a range of criteria and see what you end up with (for example, cushion cut, 1 ct +-, VS1-SI2, F-H color). This is especially true with cushion cuts or other fancy varieties, there are several different shapes and faceting structures of cushion cuts. You can end up with a real dud if you just leave it up to chance.
4. Don't buy a diamond that is NOT GIA or AGS certified unless it's an antique stone (100+- years old), then EGL may be acceptable.
5. Return policy, return policy, return policy

Next steps - file a claim with your credit card company. Say that you received a product other than what you thought you were purchasing. Get your bank to reverse the charge. Then tell your friend to take the stone and shove it. And make sure she gives you your money back. She has an opportunity to do the right thing.

 

[Christina...]

Did you make the purchase with a credit card? It may be your only option at returning this stone.

If not, we may be able to help you locate a stone through an online inventory that she may be able to access.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Thanks all for your replies. We paid $5k for what we requested and expected to receive. The only way to get our money back (we can't seem to get the broker to put this in writing, though), is to return the diamond for consignment in her store. She has verbally told us she will get all of the $5k back, but no idea how long that will take, and neither I or my fiance want to be in the position of explaining where my ring went; especially if it is months down the road. The alternative, as I stated, is to let her find another diamond. Since her spouse is a friend of ours, we do not want to sound like we don't trust her, or that we feel she took advantage of us before, and appears to be doing so again by sending this diamond from Israel (cost is higher, at $6250, so another $1250 out of our pocket; 1.2 ct. cushion, color F, SI2), with a certificate that can't be verified. How stupid we feel.

rule #1...never to purchase diamonds from friend of a friend.