Slipped into the pink diamond rabbit hole...help pull me out!

[lilmosun]

I don't buy loose white diamonds...much less colored diamonds. And now I am freaking a bit because I just made a totally uneducated impulse pink diamond purchase without any knowledge or idea what to do with them.

I went to visit my local bench and I wanted to buy something since I gave him no business during Covid. Great affordable bench, honest guy but his pricing is always all over the place. He was showing me stuff that he bought from an estate and these caught my eye. Unlike a lot of FCDs I've seen (which aren't many), I liked the color (good saturation, no brown modifiers, baby pink to purplish pink depending on lighting). Came with GIA reports (shown below) so I bought them. I paid $1500 for the pair. That puts them on par with the some of the rarest CS in terms of per carat price for melee size stones...yet it isn't uncommon to see pink diamond melee in settings? Now I am looking at prices on-line and they seem to be all over the place. Without knowing how to differentiate outside of the obvious, at least it seems like I didn't overpay - phew! Like other CS pricing, it's so confusing. Another rabbit hole . They don't give clarity but there are no chips, etc.

The real problem (since they are already purchased and a sunk cost) is I have no idea what to do with them as they are different sizes and small. I don't wear dainty well. Not even sure it's worth doing anything custom with them or if I just keep as one-off novelties in the gem box.

Anything you can tell me about the quality/relative value of these based on the stats and/or suggestions for setting (or not) would be most appreciated. Thank you~

 

[kgizo]

Very pretty diamonds! Would a bypass ring with halo (or double halo) give you enough coverage?

 

[yssie]

Oh my word. Don’t even THINK about returning them!!!!!!

Those inscriptions are Argyle and they both check out:
https://argylepinkdiamonds.com.au/autentication-result/?lot_no=337199
https://argylepinkdiamonds.com.au/autentication-result/?lot_no=334293

 

[yssie]

0.15 carat, Fancy Intense Purple Pink Diamond, 5PP, Oval Shape, SI2 Clarity, GIA & ARGYLE, SKU 460983

0.15 carat, Fancy Intense Purplish Pink, 5PP, Oval shape Diamond with SI2 clarity, graded by Gia and Argyle. A beautiful Australian Pink Diamond with a dominant Rose pink color face up. Original Argyle certificate and laser inscription. For more information about this item please contact our...

www.leibish.com

0.15 5PP SI2 with GIA. This stone has sold but Waybackmachine has it cached. List price was over 15k USD.

Of course price always depends on how an FCD looks but with a stone with both Argyle and GIA evaluation, well, it def ain’t the Wild West anymore!!

$1500 for them both…

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

Yup, the GIA, ARGYLE These are worth QUITE a bit.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

You are a VERY lucky lady!!!

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

Those were/are worth a lot more than 1500.00 bucks. You have yourself a deal.
What about a nice cluster or medallion cluster pendant? You could incorporate those into so many designs!

 

[LilAlex]

He was showing me stuff that he bought from an estate and these caught my eye

Amazing find and amazing story! Congratulations! And nice work by sleuths @yssie and @Asscherhalo_lover above!

And: this is what will happen to most of the carefully-curated stuff on PS.

When jewelers would rhapsodize about "passing something down," we would nod and say how great it will be when our kids sell it for drug money. (Not so funny now that they are older, though...)

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

I am DROOLING over these two, it is one of my personal jewelry goals to own a diamond this clean with "purple". The Argyle makes it "chef's kiss" with prestige.

 

[thirdrock]

Very nice! A pendant would be pretty.

 

[T L]

Lucky you!!! I’m jealous!

 

[lilmosun]

WOW. BIG THANK YOU @yssie and @Asscherhalo_lover (and others) for the info. I did not realize the inscription meant Argyle or linked to another certification.

In passing, I always thought FCDs were just out of my budget and so I figure it was a chance to own some. Online, I saw prices from $2K to crazy numbers and assumed these must be lower quality somehow. I am a little in shock...I hesitated in asking and while I hoped I got a good price wanted to be clear that if I didn't, it was OK. Never expected anything quite like this.

@kgizo @ItsMainelyYou @thirdrock - Thank you for the setting suggestions! Unfortunately, now I might be afraid to wear them

@LilAlex so true...maybe not for drugs but not having a clue what things are worth.

@T L thank you but it's how I feel every time you post one of your beauties.

Best thing about PS...having experts to help research stuff and a community to share the thrill of a find.

 

[Rfisher]

Call me crazy, but since you say you don‘t do dainty well-
what do you think about having a jeweler sneak each a seat into your
paraiba cluster pendant and ring?

pretty diamonds for sure!

 

[Grymera]

What about selling one of the diamonds to fund a bucket list project, and then bezel the other in a diamonds by the yard style necklace or bracelet?

 

[Sprinkles&Stones]

Omg that’s a STEAL. Holy crap. Those are beautiful!!

 

[Catmom]

Oh WOW, what a steal you lucky duck! I can't wait to see what you do with them. My pinks are bezeled in a set of drop earrings.

 

[lovedogs]

I am dyyyyyying over those! You got them for A STEAL! WOWWWWW.

 

[Kim N]

Oh my goodness, wow! Incredible find, and I'm excited to see how you'll set them!

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

Ooh, you could do them as little drops with your favorite CS or like a 'pebble' pendant! That way they won't take as much damage. (Yes, I am designing what I would like, you know, for when you gift those pinks to me )

 

[lilmosun]

Thank you @Rfisher @Grymera @Sprinkles&Stones @Catmom @lovedogs @ItsMainelyYou for adding your wonderful comments and ideas.

I feel like I hit the jackpot yesterday and today I did my taxes...talk about wins and losses

My gut reaction was that these are too valuable to set/wear and need to go into the safety deposit box. While I might do this for the short term, I buy gems to wear and enjoy. I know they are not investments (which are only last until the next find and/or demand stays high).

I like the idea of a cluster (and @Rfisher 's suggestion is genius) but I wouldn't want these to get lost with other stones (which makes it hard as my taste does not lean towards soft colors). If only I had a few more more FCD's haha-- NOT going there. (Although, I was really bummed that my jeweler sold the pair of GIA certified untreated blue diamonds from the lot before I came in or I would've grabbed those.). Anyway, I will take my time to get it right.

@Grymera's suggestion occurred to me. I could sell one (or both) of these and get one of those types of showcase pieces that I often lust over here on PS but would never consider for myself. But if I am honest, it's always been more a matter of what's in my comfort zone in owning and not finances. As such, I am admittedly wrestling a bit with the idea of setting and wearing these knowing their value. (I know it sound stupid and I need to get over it)

Enough of my crazy rambling when I should be (and am) doing a happy dance. THANK YOU all for helping and sharing in my excitement! When I do something, I will let you know for sure (and likely ask for feedback as these are special and deserve for me to get it right).

@Catmom I had to go back and look up your earrings - they are to die for

 

[blingmeupscotty]

I just died a little inside. Not going to lie. LOVE!!!!!

 

[Crazie4Cuts]

YES!!and Yay for you @lilmosun! I’m very happy these are yours and you didn’t pass them up! You did good and @yssie your just such an awesome PSer.

-C4C

 

[Bron357]

Congratulations @lilmosun, what a find!
Especially the .18 carat, that’s great clarity and colour.
I like the idea of selling one and keeping the other.
Tiny they might be, but in the Pink diamond world being Arygle matters and the mine is now closed.
Woo Hoo.
Go back to your jeweller and check out what else he might have picked up from that estate……….

 

[demantoidz]

Came across thing design. Its a lot of metal, but an interesting way to set something small in a non-dainty way.

 

[lilmosun]

Thanks @blingmeupscotty @Crazie4Cuts (and agree, @yssie is awesome sharing her knowledge with so many of us) @Bron357 @demantoidz

If only I had a few more more FCD's haha-- NOT going there.

Okay, I lied...not the first time

With your input, I am leaning towards a cluster piece of some sort. Wanting more FCDs without spending a lot, I went back to look at the yellow orange diamonds which I had passed on. Orange/yellow aren't my colors and they were expensive relative to the pinks (pink being more in demand/rarer)

But like the pinks, they had good saturation and no brown so I think they will go well together with a sprinkle of white diamonds. (Still crying over missing out on the blue diamonds).

Anyway, I figured it made sense to grab them as opposed to going through the angst of on-line shopping later. At least I know these looked nice in person. Plus now knowing what a bargain I got with the pinks, I didn't mind that these weren't. (And at $1200/pair, I think they would still cost me more at retail.)

Okay, I am trying too hard to rationalize what isn't rational. The truth is I am an impulse shopper with little patience in waiting for things. It's a problem.

And that completes my quick impulse foray into FCD's...I think I have enough for a nice project when the time comes and it's time to step out of the rabbit hole. Thanks for taking the journey with me!

 

[Kim N]

Thanks @blingmeupscotty @Crazie4Cuts (and agree, @yssie is awesome sharing her knowledge with so many of us) @Bron357 @demantoidz


Okay, I lied...not the first time

With your input, I am leaning towards a cluster piece of some sort. Wanting more FCDs without spending a lot, I went back to look at the yellow orange diamonds which I had passed on. Orange/yellow aren't my colors and they were expensive relative to the pinks (pink being more in demand/rarer)

But like the pinks, they had good saturation and no brown so I think they will go well together with a sprinkle of white diamonds. (Still crying over missing out on the blue diamonds).

Anyway, I figured it made sense to grab them as opposed to going through the angst of on-line shopping later. At least I know these looked nice in person. Plus now knowing what a bargain I got with the pinks, I didn't mind that these weren't. (And at $1200/pair, I think they would still cost me more at retail.)

Okay, I am trying too hard to rationalize what isn't rational. The truth is I am an impulse shopper with little patience in waiting for things. It's a problem.

And that completes my quick impulse foray into FCD's...I think I have enough for a nice project when the time comes and it's time to step out of the rabbit hole. Thanks for taking the journey with me!

Oh, how exciting! Did he just have the blues, pinks, and oranges, or were there other colors?

On a quick search on Leibish, looks like you still got a very nice deal on the oranges.

0.31 carat, Fancy Vivid Yellow Orange Diamond, Heart Shape, VS1 Clarity, GIA, SKU 485834

0.31 carat, Fancy Vivid Yellow Orange, Heart shape Diamond with VS1 clarity, graded by GIA. A beautiful Orange Diamond with a remarkable gold color saturation. The stone has Good polish and Good symmetry. For more information about this item please contact our customer service department.

www.leibish.com

Can't wait to see your cluster piece unfold!

 

[bling_dream19]

These are beautiful Halo the pinks in pink diamonds, pink gold and love your idea of the cluster!

 

[Bron357]

Shame about the blues but you also snagged the yellow/ orange ones so that’s great news.
It isn’t uncommon with deceased estates that people have no idea / can’t be bothered with researching the true value of items but it’s almost “unbelievable” that the jeweller who bought them, obviously for a pittance as he definitely made a “profit” selling to you, did not realise their true worth. It’s a pretty big rock he was living under!
Three cheers for you.

 

[Rfisher]

A new FCD cluster - how exciting @lilmosun

Are you thinking with round white diamonds or fancy shapes?
(I think of those small perfect heart shaped diamonds that I think pop up on LT from time to time, or those gorgeous little ovals someone posted elsewhere here with a lovely h/a pattern - so striking for an oval!)

I’m so excited to see where this project takes you!

 

[lilmosun]

@Rfisher @bling_dream19 I'm REALLY excited - I never dreamed of owning a non-yellow FCD much less a cluster so it's hard to believe what happened.

@Kim N - yes, that was it except for a larger brownish yellow diamond. There were a lot of finished pieces - some with certs, some without. I didn't know how to compare to Leibish pricihg as I thought they were premium

it’s almost “unbelievable” that the jeweller who bought them, obviously for a pittance as he definitely made a “profit” selling to you, did not realise their true worth. It’s a pretty big rock he was living under!

Great point. My son questioned how a jeweler could underpricing things. My jeweler is an old-school experienced bench but he has no formal training in stones (especially CS) and is not internet savvy.

It likely his real profit came from selling the finished jewelry pieces from this lot - some of it was pretty high end.

I am pretty sure the bulk of his business is repairs, high-end custom work, buying scrap gold and selling to regular clientele for a reasonable profit. Most of his inventory is stuff he bought from walk-ins or took as trade-ins -- much of which he never puts out but will show to his regulars he think might be interested (or will pull out if someone asks for something). I say this because most of his displays are empty and what's there doesn't change much.

He quotes prices on the fly and I've had him give me a significantly different prices on the same piece on different visits. I used to find his off the wall pricing frustrating until I understood it wasn't intentional. Plus having a good affordable local bench is priceless.