Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

wait... diamonds cost how much?? 2.5ctw+

P

pkh106

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 14, 2012
Messages
23
Gosh, i'm glad i stumbled upon this site based on the hours and hours of reading i've done just gathering and reading the wealth of information that this site has available. Like many others, i've enjoyed all the commentary, opinions of all and extend an advanced thank you for advise. Now, hopefully i'll receive the same, warm responses as others... this is my first post.

Now, onto the fun stuff. I think i got a good handle on the basics of what to look for. So pouring over the many sites that members here have recommended, i've actually called around to wholesalers and "dealers" available across the country. I've narrowed some of my selections down and can use a hand doing a "compare" between dimensions, depth, table% , symmetry that may not be so apparent to a novice like myself.

I'm a spreadsheet junkie, so i've tabulated my research below... thoughts? Please yell at me and smack me around a little to set me straight! This is what i was offered from a dealer all in the mid $18k range... is this a scam?

Contestants:

Shape Weight Color Clarity Measurements Cut Grade Lab Depth % Table %
#1 B 2.54 H VS2 8.6-8.71-5.47 VG GIA 63.2 58
#2 B 2.5 H SI1 8.61-8.65-5.34 VG GIA 61.8 62
#3 B 2.92 H SI2 9.18-9.12-5.68 EX GIA 62.1 57

Girdle Thin Girdle Thick Polish Symmetry Fluorescence Intensity
#1 M STK VG VG N
#2 M TK EX EX N
#3 TN STK EX VG N
 
Yup, $18K is too good to be true if those stones really have GIA grading reports.
The seller may just be telling you what cut grade GIA would give if they graded it.
If they actually have lab reports at all, I'll bet they are from those labs that have color and clarity grades that are usually a few grades too "generous", such as EGL.

I'd only consider buying a diamond graded by GIA or AGS, since you can believe their grades and, you are NOT going to find a H VS2 2.5 ct well cut one for $18K.
Diamonds graded by GIA or AGS are not more expensive; you are just not being lied to about color and clarity grades.

Also if someone is willing to talk to you and sell you a diamond they are not a "wholesaler".
In fact they are a big fat liar and I'd run away screaming from such a vendor.
Who knows what else they are lying about.

You have not mentioned quality of cut and that is more important to a diamond's beautiful light peformance than color or clarity.

Here is how to pick a round diamond that is well cut.
https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca
Plug four numbers from the GIA report into the HCA.
Reject diamonds scoring higher than 2.0.

Next get Idealscope pics on those scoring under 2.0.

https://www.pricescope.com/tools/ideal-scope
Compare them to this chart:

using_IS_Reference_Chart_72.jpg
 
perfect, thanks for that tool, that sort of guidance helps a lot. i'll give it a shot.

i'll request the GIA reports, but i was able to find it in the pc search tool. i'm thinking the price that was quoted was the "price per carat". Or $/carat. Would that make more sense?
 
pkh106|1337031705|3195122 said:
i'm thinking the price that was quoted was the "price per carat". Or $/carat. Would that make more sense?
Click to expand...

Yes.
Well cut GIA/AGS diamonds in those weights and clarities and colors are in the $30k to $45K neighborhood.
 
Yes, the price is way out of line and I would guess these are not GIA graded stones. You will want to stick with GIA Excellent cut ONLY (or AGS Ideal). It is a broad range and we'll likely tell you that there are problems with any "very good" stone. The other thing is, you didn't give us the crown and pavilion angles on these stones, so we don't have a clue whether even the excellent cut one is worth looking at further (although I would be afraid of SI2 unless I was buying from a vendor I trust).

Also, you can't buy from a true wholesaler. People who name their businesses that when they sell to the public make me very leery, and I would not even get quotes because I would be concerned about their honesty.

If you tell us your budget and preferences, we can help you find some stones.

(Edited to add: just saw your most recent post. Maybe price per carat would make a lot more sense. But there's no way I'd be contacting random places that I didn't have references for, all the same!)
 
yup, i pretty much copied and pasted the information that came to me via email. i should stick with the normal avenues that all the successful members had around here.. or next thing you know i'll be posting a horror story of wiring much dineros and not being able to get in touch with the seller.

i'm understanding that all resellers (apologies if i use the wrong term) have access to the same inventory? they do a slight markup and sell online... store fronts and B&M's places probably have a harder time due to the retail pricing and overhead they incur?
can you purchase directly from http://www.virtcert.com/???


[edited to add: sorry, i'm looking for a round-brilliant cut engagement ring (w/o setting is fine, we can decide later). 2ctw would be nice. can i get away with SI1/H?]

diamondseeker2006|1337031942|3195126 said:
Yes, the price is way out of line and I would guess these are not GIA graded stones. You will want to stick with GIA Excellent cut ONLY (or AGS Ideal). It is a broad range and we'll likely tell you that there are problems with any "very good" stone. The other thing is, you didn't give us the crown and pavilion angles on these stones, so we don't have a clue whether even the excellent cut one is worth looking at further (although I would be afraid of SI2 unless I was buying from a vendor I trust).

Also, you can't buy from a true wholesaler. People who name their businesses that when they sell to the public make me very leery, and I would not even get quotes because I would be concerned about their honesty.

If you tell us your budget and preferences, we can help you find some stones.

(Edited to add: just saw your most recent post. Maybe price per carat would make a lot more sense. But there's no way I'd be contacting random places that I didn't have references for, all the same!)
Click to expand...
 
I recommend checking the in-house stones at a few of the PS-sponsoring vendors like Whiteflash, GoodOldGold and JamesAllen.
Blue nile is good but they refuse to provide Idealscope pics.

I've been reading PS for going on 10 years now and the above 3 seem to be the most popular PS dealers.
They give you lots of information, pics and tools to help pick a well-cut stone, have good money-back policies, trade up policies, buy back policies but read the fine print very carefully.
I have personally bought from all three and was very happy with the diamonds, price, and service.
Briangavindiamonds and winkjones are two other's I'd trust too, but have not bought from them.

They all 3 have been called onto the carpet here when a customer has a complaint, which is inevitable at the best of vendors.
They know they must behave well or they will get a public flogging here that can hurt their sales.
That alone offers a HUGE sense of security IMHO.
 
 
 
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top