Questions about working with a broker

[rdf7777]

Hello all, this is a great forum and resource, I''m glad I found it!

I am currently working with a broker to get some initial ideas of the quality I can expect to get on a 1ct RB enagement ring with a $5000 budget. I''ve done business with her in the past so I know she provides a quality product. I do trust her opion but I would also like to compare her diamond prices with some of the online retailer mentioned on this site. In order to do the comparision I emailed her to ask for the detailed specs and idealsope images (if availible) on 2-3 of the top diamonds she would recommend and this is the response I received.

"....and since I''m a GIA graduate, I am quite selective about choosing only the very best diamonds. The spec information you requested below can be difficult to get for diamonds 1 ct and above. These parameters are all found on the GIA dossier, but dossiers are for diamonds
I can probably get the manufacturer to check out the details for me though.. and I will do my best. I have a hearts and arrows scope here, but no way to take photos of the image. Also.. just know that when you do receive images of diamonds.. that is not always a good way to select a diamond. .. better to go by the values and the eye in my opinion.

this is a breakdown of my automatic restrictions.... I use these guidelines for all my round brilliant searches...

Carat Weight
Dimensions ( a one carat should be a minimum of 6.4 - 6.5mm)
Color
Clarity
Polish (vg or ex)
Symmetry (vg or ex)
Depth (between 59.5 and 62.8 to be best...)
Table (between 55 - 58 to be best)
Crown (not always on GIA) *replaced by CUT GRADE on GIA after 2006
Pavilion ( not always on GIA) *replaced by CUT GRADE on GIA after 2006
Girdle (thin, medium, slightly thick - all considered excellent) eg. thin to med or med to stk
Cutlet (99% are none.. rarely will you find anything else) GIA allows none or small for the VG / EX cut.
Flour (none or faint is best)
Cut grade - should be VG or EX only for a ''Brilliant Choice'' diamond. "

Will these parameters results in a great quality diamond?
Also,can brokers really get a better deal than an online retailer?

Thanks so much for any feedback.

 

[stone-cold11]

There are plenty of stones with those ranges, just look at the online database.

Have she even looked at a recent GIA report???

The crown and pavilion angles are in there. Report check will list these numbers and facetware requires them to work... I am not trusting her on knowledge.

Depth is a little deep, 62.3% is GIA''s cut off for Ex.

Fluor is not necessary bad thing, depends on your personal preferences as long as it is not an overblue.

 

[tyty333]

Unless I am mistaken about what you are/she is talking about the crown and pavilion angles are on there.
Here is a GIA report date May 2009 Its a 1.01 carat diamond.


http://www.goodoldgold.com/show.php?image=6061/gia.jpg

 

[oldminer]

I don''t see any dishonety, but I do see some limitations that you don''t need to accept. This boker may proved a fair and good service to you, but it likely is not as high-tech as others offer. If you are into math or engineering, more high-tech may suit you better than the romantic side of the choosing process. It is up to your personality and there are choices of all sorts.

A GIA Excellent is going to be a pretty diamond. It may not be the very best in every case, but to the average consumer, it is not a poor choice overall. An AGS top cut stone will be a more safe choice for finding a diamond closer to the top end with consistency, and a slight premium will be asked for this type of report/stone. If you want to judge cut details with parameters, then insist on getting this data. You don''t need it, but if you want it, then I see no harm in being insistent.

Overall, chck what the broker can do, price-wise, against the search here on Pricescope. A few bucks won''t matter, but if it is hundreds or thousands more, I doubt there would be reason to buy it for a huge amount over the market value no matter what the broker offers as added value. Most diamonds are still sold by stores and in-person, but a substantial swing is happening which allows you to buy on-line with a great deal of ease and assurance, too. It is still your choice, but use Pricescope as a resource to know where you stand.