This thread is giving me life! And making me feel like a fool but that's another matter! An update of sorts: I know a diamond proportions chart is not exclusive to GIA but the specific font and formatting of the pic i was provided look just like gia. Someone above mentioned sarine? I can't find an output from sarine or any other cert (ags, egl, igi, etc) where the diagram matches the gia one exactly. So I pressed for more info. I was told there is no report but that the seller's agent went to the "<country name> insurance jewelry appraisals" place (which I can't find online...) to get the measurements because I had asked for them. I was told that it is not gia but if I want a gia diamond, the price for the same-ish stone is about double.
Again he has offered to let me see and check the stone when it arrives. There is no obligation. But I am now fully suspicious that, as all have mentioned, the colour and clarity are probably way inflated and I am honestly concerned maybe this is a lab stone?
Now with all that being said, this guy has 20+ years of selling in our small community. Word would have gotten around if he was a fraudster. And my ring is chump change to him - he sells pieces 10 and 20x the value of my stone to sheikha and sheikhas. This is the reason I am still somewhat interested despite all the red flags. I fear if I press any further he will lose his patience with me. But 15K is also a lot of money for me and I need to do due diligence. I like the idea of offering to pay for gia cert ... will try that technique and report back!
In the meantime, those who have commented the cut isn't great and the facets are splintery - can you please elaborate? I know table size preference can be subjective, but is there anything specific to the shown dimensions that make this look like a poor cut? I put the specs in the gia facetware app and it liked them
Firstly, you’re not a fool, you’re very intelligent for coming here and checking and making sure this guy’s story checks out amongst a bunch of strangers who don’t know his reputation. Much better to cross your Ts and dot your Is.
I just want to comment on the bit that I bolded: if your jeweler truly believes that this stone with a GIA cert would sell for $30k as opposed to $15k, why on
earth would he leave that extra $15k on the table? Something is definitely not right. $30k would be much more in line what I would expect for F VVS 2ct. I agree the proportions picture you posted also looks exactly like a GIA report. I wonder if the stone does actually have a GIA report that is not being disclosed because it’s actually a K SI2 or something. Or, god forbid, treated in some way. Or if the proportions are not actually for this stone..
Tbh I don’t understand the buying culture where you are entirely so maybe I am being overly suspicious. I will say that for example in India prices in stores/through dealers for certed stones are definitely lower, but they’re more in line with the prices you’d get for certed stones online. It’s not like there aren’t well known dealers selling uncerted stones here too, I know of some and they also manage to offer “excellent deals” (though not this much lower as compared to online comps). But I also don’t know a single person who has bought through them and has then tried to sell the stones or get them certed post fact. It’s entirely possible that your guy does sell natural stones but just much lower colour and clarity than what he claims, or sells lab stones, or (and this is really a vanishingly small chance in my opinion) sells stones that live up to the grading he gives them,
and no one knows the truth because no one has actually been in a position to challenge his claims. Also maybe he is selling a mix of certed and uncerted stones, and you never know which stone is a bad apple in the bunch. I mean even if we take him at his word you’re also taking his suppliers at their word and there’s no oversight from an independent party here.
It would be interesting to see what he says about getting it certed on your dime! Best of luck. The ideal situation would be if it comes back natural and F/VVS (or more plausible would be G/H VS) - 15k would still be a fair price for the latter and you’d have peace of mind too!