So I bought the setting first and now I need Diamond help

[mtex22]

Hello my name is Mike and I have been lurking awhile and finally need some help.

I found a wonderful Jack Kelege channel mount (see pic) setting that I really liked and now I need to find a diamond. I have looked everywhere and I found a local jeweler who buy''s from the public.

1). My first question is it ok to give a diamond that was once owned and sold probably due to a failed engagement or marriage? If so I think I found a great deal. (see specs below)

2). The second question is the GIA report is from the year 2000. Is this good or bad? Does it matter? It does not have a cut grade and is inscribed BBS which I was told is Ben Bridge Signature. Does this mean it is an ideal cut? ( I looked at it and it really has a lot of fire)

3). The third question is I have looked at Pricescope''s Diamond Finder and I have found other VS2 H Diamond''s anywhere from $1800 to 5,000+ Are all the dealers listed reputable? If not which dealers should I focus on? I have seen a lot of talk about Whiteflash but was wondering about the others like Soloman Bros or USA Certed

4). Is it worth even trying to buy an EGL graded diamond or should I just stick with GIA or AGS?

Here are the specs and any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

GIA Cert Specs
Round Modified Brilliant
Measurements: 6.49 - 6.54 x 4.02mm
Weight: 1.02
Clarity: VS2
Color: H
Depth 61.7
Table 55
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted
Cutlet: None
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Flouresence: None
Price: $3800 cash

thanks for any help

Mike

 

[yssie]

If you bought the setting first, go to a jeweller and get mm ranges for stone diametre and depth that the setting can hold. This must be the main factor in your search - a setting and an un-fittable stone is a useless combo, and those acceptable size ranges can be surprisingly small.


1. I have no problems getting/using a previously owned diamond, regardless of its "karma", but not all women feel this way - there was a thread on this in RT a couple of days ago.

2. The 2000 cert would bother me only because the diamond may have acquired chips/scratches since then, that a private seller may not check for and a not-completely-forthright seller may not disclose - take it to an independent appraiser to be sure there are no problems.

3. People have had good results with USA certed, I believe... don't know about SB. Price can vary hugely depending on grading lab, cut quality, vendor, etc., but going for the lowest bracket is generally not a good idea - you get what you pay for, and there are very few legitimately 'amazing deals' to be had

4. EGL is known to be lenient on colour and clarity - 1 to 2 grades lower. If you find an F VS1 EGL that you like and that has great numbers, and you were aiming for a G/H SI, and you'd be paying the appropriate amount...

. Sticking to GIA/AGS makes it easier to find a good stone that you know has been reliably graded in all respects.


You need the crown and pavilion angles on this stone to know if it's cut well - you'll want a Sarin, which will also give you variances. Or, alternatively, buy your own idealscope and check it out

. GIA certs at that time would note if it had poor crown and pavilion angles.. The price is very low for those stats for a GIA ex or vg cut, so do have it checked out by an independent professional.

 

[mtex22]

Yssie,

Thanks for the info. Actually I can choose any stone because I am sending the ring and the stone back to Jack Kelege and they are remaking the ring to size it down a couple sizes and then set the diamond at a very minimal cost.

I never thought about that being an old cert. I will definitely have it checked for damage before I buy it.

Would it be safe to say EGL is lenient on color and clarity but would you say they are accurate on the cut?


thanks,

Mike

 

[tyty333]

Do you have the crown and pavilion angle for this stone?

It would not bother me to have a previously owned stone. I would want to have it re-certed to make sure
there was no damage.

 

[mtex22]

tyty333,

I don''t have those but can that be optained from the measurements? I took a pic of the cert and don''t remember seeing it.


thanks,

Mike

 

[Dreamer_D]

Get the crown and PA angles. I would make the sale contingent on an appraisal and get it in writing that you can return it for *any* reason at all within 2 weeks or so. Alternatively, tell the vendor to send it to GIA again, it only costs a few hundred dollars to get it certed.

It says "modified round brilliant", makes me think it is not a regular RB and is some other type of proprietary cut.

BTW if the diamond is actually being sold as an estate piece, the price should be 30-50% lower than diamonds being offered on the regular market. Until you know cut quality, which means getting the crown and pavilion angles and determining if it is a regular RB or another cut, then you cannot easily determine fair market value. That is why you would need a *good* independent appraisal.

 

[mtex22]

I finally figured how to take pictures of my setting with my camera. (macro mode) I can''t wait to find a diamond to put in this setting.

 

[mtex22]

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[mtex22]

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[mtex22]

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[mtex22]

dreamer_dachsie,

Great information. I live close to GIA Carlsbad so it should be easy to do. I know the diamond is a great deal but maybe I should look elsewhere. Too many factors that might be out of my control.

thanks for the info,

Mike

 

[mtex22]

I talked to Bob from Whiteflash earlier and all I can say is great service and very informative. I am considering going for a .90ct Round thru Whiteflash versus the 1.02ct I discussed earlier to fit my budget.

This stuff is very confusing but I think it will come together nicely.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/28/2010 8:55:45 PM
Author: mtex22
I talked to Bob from Whiteflash earlier and all I can say is great service and very informative. I am considering going for a .90ct Round thru Whiteflash versus the 1.02ct I discussed earlier to fit my budget.

This stuff is very confusing but I think it will come together nicely.

Whteflash is a very reputable company and you would do well the buy from them. Their ACAs are *extremely well cut.

If you are considering other PS vendors, then here are some more if you like:

www.goodoldgold.com
www.briangavindiamonds.com
www.highperformancediamonds.com

 

[mtex22]

thanks for the info dreamer

 

[mtex22]

So I understand that EGL is very lax on color and clarity compared to GIA. Would that be accurate for cut too? Is an EGL Hearts and Arrows really an ideal cut? or should I expect a discrepancy as well?

thanks,

Mike

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/30/2010 9:15:33 PM
Author: mtex22
So I understand that EGL is very lax on color and clarity compared to GIA. Would that be accurate for cut too? Is an EGL Hearts and Arrows really an ideal cut? or should I expect a discrepancy as well?

thanks,

Mike

I''m not sure about this one, but you can check the cut yourself by checking the numbers and running them through the HCA, and then making sure to obtain hearts images and arrows images to post here to verify that it is a true H&A.

I know it is tempting to buy and EGL diamond because the prices seem *so* good for the carat weight, but when you adjust for the difference in color and clarity, the diamond from EGL actully costs the same as the diamond from GIA. You are not buying the cert, you are buying the diamond itself and whatever its inherent clarity and color is. There are no true deals out there. You get what you pay for most of the time.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/30/2010 9:15:33 PM
Author: mtex22
So I understand that EGL is very lax on color and clarity compared to GIA. Would that be accurate for cut too? Is an EGL Hearts and Arrows really an ideal cut? or should I expect a discrepancy as well?

thanks,

Mike

Hi Mike

It is possible the diamond could show a h&a pattern, however it might not meet the standards as we know them here of being a ' true' h&a cut. Also for me, no images = no h&a, so if you could get images of both hearts and arrows, that would be helpful.
Below is a very informative article from the Pricescope tutorial which explains how a diamond is cut to h&a standards and how to evaluate the precision of those hearts and arrows.

http://journal.pricescope.com/Articles/65/1/Hearts-and-Arrows-Diamonds-and-The-Basics-of-Diamond-Cutting.aspx

If you want to buy this diamond then make any sale final on it checking out to your satisfaction with an independant appraisal, here is a tool you can use to find an appraiser in your area.

 

[mtex22]

Good stuff Dreamer and Lorelei. Thanks for the info. I will post when I finally choose.