to tell or not about blue stone being irradiated

[calvet]

A friend and his fiance were showing me the e-ring at a party. It was a blue diamond, about 1/2 carat, and they were proud of it because of "its rarity". It was a medium sky blue and almost certainly an irradiated stone. It was eye clean, and I didn''t have a loupe with me. They bought it in South America, so no chance of returning it. I didn''t ask the price, but they don''t have a lot of cash, and it''s unlikely they could afford a naturally blue stone of that size.

I didn''t want to rain on their parade, so said nothing about irradiation or having it checked for color enhancement.

I still wonder if keeping silent about it was the best course. Some day they may want to sell it or have it insured or appraised.

 

[denverappraiser]

Date: 8/2/2006 6:27:51 PM
Author:calvet
A friend and his fiance were showing me the e-ring at a party. It was a blue diamond, about 1/2 carat, and they were proud of it because of 'its rarity'. It was a medium sky blue and almost certainly an irradiated stone. It was eye clean, and I didn't have a loupe with me. They bought it in South America, so no chance of returning it. I didn't ask the price, but they don't have a lot of cash, and it's unlikely they could afford a naturally blue stone of that size.

I didn't want to rain on their parade, so said nothing about irradiation or having it checked for color enhancement.

I still wonder if keeping silent about it was the best course. Some day they may want to sell it or have it insured or appraised.

Stay out of it. If they want to insure or sell it, they can get it appraised and the appraiser will tell them, assuming that they don't already know. If they want to know what it's worth, send them to an appraiser. Congratulate them on their engagment and their beautiful ring and leave it at that. Be their friend, not their gemologist.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 8/2/2006 6:32:47 PM
Author: denverappraiser
If they want to know what it''s worth, send them to an appraiser. Congratulate them on their engagment and their beautiful ring and leave it at that. Be their friend, not their gemologist.

Couldn''t have said it better myself.