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What do you think of this 5.54 J VS2 on eBay?

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massarchers

massarchers

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
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12
This is a big stone, but I''m not excited about the color (J-K). Can anyone tell me what they think and if this is a good value? And is EGL cert ok? I am shopping for a ring for my girl and have just got my pricescope account! Thanks in advance for your advice!

Wyatt
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http://cgi.ebay.com/5-54-CT-Round-J-VS2-Natural-Loose-Diamond-EGL-Cert-NEW_W0QQitemZ220255306413QQihZ012QQcategoryZ110741QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
Welcome!

Please pass on this diamond, it is what we call a steep deep, it is likely this diamond won't perform well ( sparkle) and it will leak light and not be as attractive as it could be. You have a healthy budget by the sound of it, I would recommend you don't buy from Ebay, but from a known vendor or other online vendor. That being said, that price is incredibly cheap for 5 plus carats, also it has an EGL Europe grading report, EGL USA is said to be the strongest of the EGL labs, and in a stone that big, a J colour may show more warmth than you find acceptable possibly, so you are right to be concerned about the colour. I would recommend you look for a smaller diamond with an excellent cut, and contact one of the vendors here, tell them what you are looking for, and let them help you! Some EGL graded diamonds may be a way to help you get additional size for the money, but you need an expert vendor to be your eyes and to find likely diamonds. A reliably graded J can look fine even in a larger diamond, but with a stone that large, it is possible it may show some tint. Also take a look at GIA and AGS graded diamonds, these 2 labs are considered to be the industry standard.

See this info concerning grading reports - http://diamonds.pricescope.com/grading.asp

I would MUCH rather have this diamond for that budget if it was verified eyeclean!

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4527/
 
I don''t even think that''s a real photo of the diamond they''re selling. It looks like a stock diamond photo. PASS!!!!
 
thanks for the prompt replies! can anyone comment on the Tolkowsky "Ideal Cut" that this stone is supposed to have? is 62% too deep? sorry i am new at this
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Yes, it''s a big stone. No, it''s not a good stone. And frankly, if you''ve got that kind of money to throw around, why are you shopping on ebay? Stay there, and you WILL get taken for a ride.

Educate yourself on good diamonds, then find a vendor you can trust. Until then, keep your money in your pocket, or the bank. Or in investments for cryin'' out loud . . . we are talking about $50K+.
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IMHO, spending that on a stone, a good one or not, is ridiculous. I know there are PSers who will disagree; but it is. I also wouldn''t spend that on a car. That''s a good downpayment on a home in my area of the country.
 
I think it''s very risky to buy something that expensive on ebay. If you can afford this stone, you have an excellent budget that can buy you a gorgeous stone from a trusted vendor like whiteflash, jamesallen, goodoldgold.com, etc.
 
Date: 7/13/2008 5:04:54 PM
Author: HollyS
Yes, it's a big stone. No, it's not a good stone. And frankly, if you've got that kind of money to throw around, why are you shopping on ebay? Stay there, and you WILL get taken for a ride.

Educate yourself on good diamonds, then find a vendor you can trust. Until then, keep your money in your pocket, or the bank. Or in investments for cryin' out loud . . . we are talking about $50K+.
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IMHO, spending that on a stone, a good one or not, is ridiculous. I know there are PSers who will disagree; but it is. I also wouldn't spend that on a car. That's a good downpayment on a home in my area of the country.
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With all due respect, Holly, there are loads of $50k+ stones on PS, and if they all have the discretionary income to easily afford to buy a diamond with it, there's really no need to pass judgement on how they spend their money.
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They know what is reasonable for their financial state.

I'm with everyone else, though - I would absolutely pass on the Ebay diamond.
 
If it were me and I had that kind of a budget to work with, I would definitely be looking into the Solasfera "Birth of a Star" program. I stumbled onto it on their website. For those not familiar with it, basically the way it reads to me is that you gives them your color/size/clarity specs and they will custom cut a diamond for you according to your specs. Ok, so I am just itching to see a 3 carat Solasfera instead of just imagining it! It may be worth looking into if you turn into a perfectionist on quality.

www.solasfera.com (under "experience Solasfera" and then "Birth of a Star")

As far as actually buying a stone though, I would stick to a vendor that has a good reputation here on Pricescope as opposed to buying one off of eBay. It is super easy to rip people off through eBay. Just reading through the ad there would make me nervous. The seller is insistant on dealing the diamond face to face in the ad. That would be a real red flag to me. Just my 2 cents worth. Good luck in your search for a diamond!
 
Don''t go there! Please purchase from a reputable PS vendor, you will get a killer stone at a great price. If it seems to good to be true, then it usually is!
 
thanks for your many comments. i agree with your evaluations on how to spend 50k. personally i would rather donate the money to a charitable cause (and i do realize that many people are having some tough times now) and propose with a ring pop, but i think that would fall flat on it''s face. my girl said that she wanted something 4+ct (her sister got something in that range), and i don''t want to spend the 100k or so it takes to get something nice in that size category. i''m kind of at an impasse. i have to do a lot of shopping around before i''d be willing to plunk down 50 k
 
No matter what precautions you take Ebay can still be a bit of a gamble. And that''s a lot of money to gamble with. Many get lucky some not so much. There are some wonderful honest sellers on Ebay and some crooks there too. If I were you I would be very careful and in all honesty would prefer to go with a very trusted well known vendor where you can really get the red carpet treatment and peace of mind through the whole process. If you come here with a budget and what you are looking for the good people here will help you find something to knock her socks off. And congrats are in order too on getting engaged soon!

Mrs.2Artists
 
Date: 7/13/2008 4:06:11 PM
Author:massarchers
This is a big stone, but I'm not excited about the color (J-K). Can anyone tell me what they think and if this is a good value? And is EGL cert ok? I am shopping for a ring for my girl and have just got my pricescope account! Thanks in advance for your advice!
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Dude, if you just got a PS account, then you haven't read up enough here to be buying off of Ebay. Please, dont buy until you know what you're doing, or call someone like Jon at GOG and have them do the work for you. But that isn't even a real photo of a real stone, let alone what you'd be buying on Ebay. Take your time and before you go any further, read 2Artists saga of buying off of Ebay. Your GF and your accountant will thank you.

ETA: I just re read your posts and see that your GF expects 4+cts or better? Seriously? It's your life of course, but if you cannot afford that price range, dont go into debt over it, it's so not worth it. If you can, then great for you, but I say this because we see guys here that think they have to spend way too much money, and too many girls think they have to have what their friends have, and that's just not a good way to live life, IMO. Good luck shopping!
 
That''s very nice of you to take the time to research and find a ring she will be pleased with. That''s so sweet to put time and thought and research into it. To me the time, thought, research and love put into it are the most meaningful parts with it''s cost not being important. So are you open to different shapes like cushion etc. or are you looking for a round like the Ebay one? Also are you are going for a 4+ct one for sure? Just trying to get a good idea of what style you are looking for. Oh yeah just read Surfgirl''s comment. Heck yeah we did make a massive enormous mistake when we bought a ring- yeah don''t do what we did LOL.
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Mrs.2Artists
 
Date: 7/13/2008 5:16:39 PM
Author: LaurenThePartier















Date: 7/13/2008 5:04:54 PM
Author: HollyS
Yes, it''s a big stone. No, it''s not a good stone. And frankly, if you''ve got that kind of money to throw around, why are you shopping on ebay? Stay there, and you WILL get taken for a ride.

Educate yourself on good diamonds, then find a vendor you can trust. Until then, keep your money in your pocket, or the bank. Or in investments for cryin'' out loud . . . we are talking about $50K+.
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IMHO, spending that on a stone, a good one or not, is ridiculous. I know there are PSers who will disagree; but it is. I also wouldn''t spend that on a car. That''s a good downpayment on a home in my area of the country.
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With all due respect, Holly, there are loads of $50k+ stones on PS, and if they all have the discretionary income to easily afford to buy a diamond with it, there''s really no need to pass judgement on how they spend their money.
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They know what is reasonable for their financial state.

I''m with everyone else, though - I would absolutely pass on the Ebay diamond.
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Oh, yes, there are some people on PS who believe that if they have 50K lying around, it''s okay to spend the $$ on one piece of jewelry. I acknowledged that we would disagree.

And I believe the OP''s remark that his girlfriend ''expects'' a 4+ carat ring says it all. He''s shopping for discounts because he doesn''t want to disappoint her. NO ONE DESERVES OR SHOULD EXPECT A 4+ RING. You might earn the money to contribute to such a purchase, you can even buy it yourself, but you don''t deserve it, and you don''t need it, and you don''t demand it. Where do you suppose she learned such values? From people who think it''s no big deal to spend that kind of money on a ring. If it isn''t a big deal, why shouldn''t she expect it?

Yes, you can have plenty of disposable or discretionary income. Yes, you can do whatever with the disposable income. It doesn''t change the values behind some of the choices, does it? And, really, no one should think that $50K is disposable. No matter how much money you have, $50K should never be ''petty cash''.

"With all due respect", most of us live ordinary lives. I dare say none of us are celebrities or billionaires masquerading as just an average PSer. There are probably relatively few PSers who have spent money like that . . . percentage wise.
 

to the Op, it really is crazy to spend that much cash on a stone from ebay that you haven''t even seen. If you''re comfortable spending that much money online, check out the vendors here. Beautiful stones and you can get something something pretty damn big with that budget.


HollyS, while I understand what you''re saying, and you may not agree with 50k being disposable income- but if the Op or anyone else chooses to buy a diamond with it, we really have no right to judge their choice. I mean what is ok? 10,20,30,40k? None of us can make that decision for someone else. Some people can spend 3k for a ring and others would still think it''s too much. Hell, you can even buy a used (granted not a very good) car with that money instead. Does it mean it''s better spent?
To each their own.
 
Date: 7/13/2008 8:50:22 PM
Author: HollyS




Date: 7/13/2008 5:16:39 PM
Author: LaurenThePartier





Date: 7/13/2008 5:04:54 PM
Author: HollyS
Yes, it's a big stone. No, it's not a good stone. And frankly, if you've got that kind of money to throw around, why are you shopping on ebay? Stay there, and you WILL get taken for a ride.

Educate yourself on good diamonds, then find a vendor you can trust. Until then, keep your money in your pocket, or the bank. Or in investments for cryin' out loud . . . we are talking about $50K+.
20.gif


IMHO, spending that on a stone, a good one or not, is ridiculous. I know there are PSers who will disagree; but it is. I also wouldn't spend that on a car. That's a good downpayment on a home in my area of the country.
Click to expand...
With all due respect, Holly, there are loads of $50k+ stones on PS, and if they all have the discretionary income to easily afford to buy a diamond with it, there's really no need to pass judgement on how they spend their money.
2.gif
They know what is reasonable for their financial state.

I'm with everyone else, though - I would absolutely pass on the Ebay diamond.
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Oh, yes, there are some people on PS who believe that if they have 50K lying around, it's okay to spend the $$ on one piece of jewelry. I acknowledged that we would disagree.

And I believe the OP's remark that his girlfriend 'expects' a 4+ carat ring says it all. He's shopping for discounts because he doesn't want to disappoint her. NO ONE DESERVES OR SHOULD EXPECT A 4+ RING. You might earn the money to contribute to such a purchase, you can even buy it yourself, but you don't deserve it, and you don't need it, and you don't demand it. Where do you suppose she learned such values? From people who think it's no big deal to spend that kind of money on a ring. If it isn't a big deal, why shouldn't she expect it?

Yes, you can have plenty of disposable or discretionary income. Yes, you can do whatever with the disposable income. It doesn't change the values behind some of the choices, does it? And, really, no one should think that $50K is disposable. No matter how much money you have, $50K should never be 'petty cash'.

'With all due respect', most of us live ordinary lives. I dare say none of us are celebrities or billionaires masquerading as just an average PSer. There are probably relatively few PSers who have spent money like that . . . percentage wise.
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He hadn't posted that she requested a 4 ct. diamond at the point I posted, so on that point, you're absolutely right. It speaks volumes that he'd rather donate the money to a charitable cause, and any women who wouldn't happily accept a proposal with a zip-tie - well, I would rethink if I actually wanted to marry her.

I would stop right there and have a talk with her about her "expectations".

It's a tough position for men - wanting to make their beloved happy, while also establishing an appropriate budget, and then trying to do this all as a surprise (like so many men who come here asking for help tend to do). However, he's drawn the line at a budget for himself, and we can only assume (HOPE) he's taken care of all of his other needs to arrive there. We can only hope to help him spend his budget in the best way possible.
 
Date: 7/13/2008 6:30:25 PM
Author: massarchers
my girl said that she wanted something 4+ct (her sister got something in that range), and i don''t want to spend the 100k or so it takes to get something nice in that size category. i''m kind of at an impasse. i have to do a lot of shopping around before i''d be willing to plunk down 50 k
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I think you should honestly take her diamond shopping to look at some 3+ carat stones. They are MASSIVE! And honestly, just because her sister had a 4 carat, it doesn''t mean it''s a "size" stone. It may be full of visible inclusions, or may not be a good cut.

I''ve seen a 10+ carat oval that was eye clean, but was UGLY. It not only looked fake, but it had no "life" or sparkle.

I think if you showed her some smaller stones that were amazing, she might quickly change her mind. :) Good luck!
 
Thanks for you many inputs! This is an awesome forum! Just an update - Right after I saw the ad in Ebay, I called a friend who is in the jewlery business who will meet the seller at the EGL-USA and check out the stone in person. I''m not sure I would have even gone that far after reading all of your inputs, but I''ll let everyone know what his opinion was. My diamond related concerns a (aside from the authenticity ones) are whether the J color is going to be too yellow, and if the cut is good, and if the stone looks okay overall. Any comments on this?
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Date: 7/14/2008 4:11:55 PM
Author: massarchers
Thanks for you many inputs! This is an awesome forum! Just an update - Right after I saw the ad in Ebay, I called a friend who is in the jewlery business who will meet the seller at the EGL-USA and check out the stone in person. I''m not sure I would have even gone that far after reading all of your inputs, but I''ll let everyone know what his opinion was. My diamond related concerns a (aside from the authenticity ones) are whether the J color is going to be too yellow, and if the cut is good, and if the stone looks okay overall. Any comments on this?
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Keep in mind that an EGL "J" may not be the same as an AGS or GIA "J." EGL is a little softer in grading and the stone might actually be closer to a K or even L...and yes these will show warmth. It is also important to keep in mind because you want to get what you are paying for instead of a lower grade.

Please focus on cut quality, this is really what makes a diamond sparkle. This particular stone isn''t that well-cut and although I think it''s cool you can see it in person I would suggest getting more knowledge about cut and contacting respected vendors.
 
If you want a big diamond with a deep cut and J color, then this one fits the bill -- it will be bigger than her sister has! I think that will probably make your girlfriend happier than if you spent that amount of money on a stunningly beautiful 3 carat diamond of excellent quality. Give her what she wants. Just remember that the ebay stone was sent to that particular lab for a reason -- that was the only way to make it sound halfway descent! But it is huge, and plenty bigger than her sisters. Lots of people are happy owners of ebay diamonds, nothing wrong with that.
 
What an interesting eBay item.

Usually I spray disinfectant on my computer when I see an eBay link from Pricescope but this is worth another look. Diamonds of this size are quite rare and if genuine the price is attractive for what it is.

It''s to be expected that the EGL grading is softer: The J/VS2 may well be a K-L/SI1-SI2 if sent to GIA or AGS. With that said, the price is competitive with similar options. Here is info from a public PS sift.

5.30 ct EGL J SI1: $56K
5.52 ct EGL J VS1: $88K

5.01 ct GIA M VS2: $74K
5.50 ct GIA J SI2: $80K
5.59 ct GIA K VS2: $97K

Cut quality will be the sticky wicket around here and perhaps in your own mind. By the measurements on the grading report this diamond has a 58T 61.7D 41.3PA and 35.5CA. It would receive a HCA score of 4.8. GIA would give it a VG in cut (due to finish) and it''s predicted as an AGS4 in light performance - depending on cut consistency and minor facets.

If it is the real McCoy, it does not look to be a bad deal for the money. Dedicated cut enthusiasts may not applaud it in technical terms, but it''s extremely difficult to find elite cut quality in large sizes because many manufacturers will take the rough and just "bang it into shape," retaining as much weight as possible.

A practical question may be: Do I want the largest rock my $60K will buy? - or - Do I want a diamond (still large, though not this large) with a grading report from a top lab and a level of cut quality superior to most of the world''s diamonds? Or, in human terms, cut quality so elite it''s more rare than D is rare in terms of color. That aspect is what pricescopers often focus on - even more than most jewelry professionals.

If you''re motivated to investigate this diamond further please involve a qualified independent appraiser. The first order of business would be to verify that it is the one in the EGL report. With a 2004 grading report I would want to be sure there is no unreported damage: Chipping, scratches, etc. Rather than a "friend in the jewelry business" I suggest someone who is a full-time independent appraiser with the tools, equipment and credentials to thoroughly analyze the stone with Sarin or Ogi scan, clarity microphotographs and hopefully ideal-scope or ASET photography. This for insurance purposes as much as anything else.

Good luck and keep us informed.

Diamond111-ebay.jpg
 
Hmmm....just curious to see that you have a friend in the jewelry business yet you still went the ebay route.....

Nothing wrong with that - I was very tempted to go that route until I found this site........
 
My friend in the jewelry business deals mainly in colored stones. He''s kind of sceptical as well. He told me to keep on looking around :P I''ll post an update tomorrow. Maybe I''ll have to start a new thread about my new search! i can''t believe how helpful everyone on this forum is!
 
Please note that the seller is going to charge you $2800 to return this stone (within 7 days).

I would second John''s caveat that the stone MUST be sent to an independent appraiser (not someone suggested by the seller). I would make any sale contingent upon that, and that the 5% return charge does not apply until it''s been appraised, and then purchased.

Here are a list of California appraisers
 
Hi everyone! just an update - my friend saw the diamond and felt that it was a "pretty good" deal for such a large stone. eyeballing it his impression was that it was a deep cut (as Lorelei had pointed out) and under causal loupe examination it was an SI (not VS as in the certificate). it was eyeclean though. color wise it was a bit yellow.

my friend''s advice was to forget about that stone and to look for something with better color/clarity/cut, which is pretty much what everyone on this forum had told me in the beginning. that just shows what a newb i am at this
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so the bottom line is that i''m gonna pass, and i learned a valuable lesson, courtesy of you nice folks and my friend, who got a free tour of the e.g.l. grading facility (j-k)

oh, and one more thing

i''m gonna make a new thread on building the 40-50k e-ring
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thanks all!

wyatt
 
Date: 7/16/2008 12:17:13 AM
Author: massarchers
Hi everyone! just an update - my friend saw the diamond and felt that it was a ''pretty good'' deal for such a large stone. eyeballing it his impression was that it was a deep cut (as Lorelei had pointed out) and under causal loupe examination it was an SI (not VS as in the certificate). it was eyeclean though. color wise it was a bit yellow.

my friend''s advice was to forget about that stone and to look for something with better color/clarity/cut, which is pretty much what everyone on this forum had told me in the beginning. that just shows what a newb i am at this
19.gif


so the bottom line is that i''m gonna pass, and i learned a valuable lesson, courtesy of you nice folks and my friend, who got a free tour of the e.g.l. grading facility (j-k)

oh, and one more thing

i''m gonna make a new thread on building the 40-50k e-ring
41.gif


thanks all!

wyatt
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It sounds like you had a great learning opportunity!! How cool you got to look at it in person and it sounds like your friend gave you some great advice and you are on the right track. I look forward to seeing what you end up with, it''s going to be an incredible ring with your budget!!
 
Date: 7/16/2008 12:17:13 AM
Author: massarchers
i''m gonna make a new thread on building the 40-50k e-ring
41.gif
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I find your approach interesting but I dont understand it. Instead of setting out to spend $40-50k, why not find out what your girl loves, then go find a really great quality stone/ring, knowing what your upper limit it? Just because you can spend X amount, doesn''t mean you have to, you know?
 
Date: 7/16/2008 12:17:13 AM
Author: massarchers
Hi everyone! just an update - my friend saw the diamond and felt that it was a ''pretty good'' deal for such a large stone. eyeballing it his impression was that it was a deep cut (as Lorelei had pointed out) and under causal loupe examination it was an SI (not VS as in the certificate). it was eyeclean though. color wise it was a bit yellow.

my friend''s advice was to forget about that stone and to look for something with better color/clarity/cut, which is pretty much what everyone on this forum had told me in the beginning. that just shows what a newb i am at this
19.gif


so the bottom line is that i''m gonna pass, and i learned a valuable lesson, courtesy of you nice folks and my friend, who got a free tour of the e.g.l. grading facility (j-k)

oh, and one more thing

i''m gonna make a new thread on building the 40-50k e-ring
41.gif


thanks all!

wyatt
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Glad to be able to help Wyatt, hehehe...love the new avatar!
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