Would you buy an uncertified oec?

[tigian]

Hello PSers!
It’s been a long time but I’m back. Hopefully!
I think the last time I posted was in 2017. Since then I’ve had two kiddos, made some real estate investments, gotten busy with work, yada yada yada. I’ve still been purchasing jewelry but haven’t had time to really research and post. (Sometime I’ll have to post my purchases for size references which I find to be so helpful on PS.)
Anyhow, my question for you is would you purchase an uncertified oec? Dolly from xo has posted some pretty ones and I’m tempted. Has anyone regretted it when it came time to resell? (I’m not planning to sell it but as many of you, the wheels are always turning jewelry wise.) Has anyone been thrilled with their uncertified purchase because they got a beautiful stone for less?
Thanks in advance!

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

Lol I just bought an uncerted OEC a month (or maybe two months?) ago. Seller described it as N-O. My jeweler said it was more of W-Z. I returned it and got full refund. The seller just reached out to me a couple of days ago to let me know they had the stone graded by GIA. It came back as Q-R!

Guess the point of my story is, I'd make the sale contingent on a GIA report that matches the specs given by the seller. Otherwise, it could be an expensive roll of the dice.

ETA: just realized I didn't actually answwr your questions. No, I don't think have been happy with the purchase regardless of the GIA report findings. Once I saw the stone in person, it was just too warm in every lighting for me. But I think if the seller knew it was a Q-R and had advertised it as such in the first place, we could have saved ourselves time and money from shipping back and forth. Plus, the purchase price was no longer as great of a deal as it first seemed.

 

[kgizo]

I have twice. Both from a local vendor so I could see them in person. One fit a setting and the price was a very good deal. Later decided to sell and needed a GIA report in order to sell it and thankfully it came back 1 grade higher in color and the same clarity as the vendor estimated. The other one I had appraised during the return period and it was not as described so I returned it. For me I need to see it in person, it has to be at the lower end of my budget, and would still be a good deal if the color and clarity were 1-2 grades off in the wrong direction. I don’t think I would be comfortable doing a large purchase online without a report.

 

[HollyJane]

Yes

 

[lurkie91]

I just bought uncerted 1ctw OEC studs from OWD, so yes, I would in certain cases. I think it can make sense to buy uncerted for smaller purchases where resale risk is less of a concern (and the "savings" is bigger proportionally). I saw the OECs Dolly posted today and they are gorgeous and well-priced for the size, but personally I would want a cert before buying something in the five-figure range. The cost of getting a GIA cert + insured shipping is pretty negligible in comparison. And I would never buy uncerted via wire transfer

 

[marymm]

Yes, from a vendor who I trust and who has a reasonable and reliable return policy.

(and, yes, I have bought more than one uncerted OEC/OMB)

 

[Mreader]

I have before and I was good with it but there was a return policy and I think mine was a really good deal. I also just assume the stone is warmer than they say it is haha. I guess it depends on price, return policy, and what you’re comfortable with. I don’t know why but for some reason I’m just more forgiving of uncerted vintage stones than mrbs. It’s not rational but just how I feel.

 

[tigian]

Yes, from a vendor who I trust and who has a reasonable and reliable return policy.

(and, yes, I have bought more than one uncerted OEC/OMB)

Yes, from a vendor who I trust and who has a reasonable and reliable return policy.

(and, yes, I have bought more than one uncerted OEC/OMB)

Good to know! I’m leaning towards purchasing and returning if it’s really not what I was expecting. I’m pretty sure dolly takes returns.
by the way, mary, I think I purchased those WF huggies from you in 2017. That was you, wasn’t it? I still love them and wear them often.

 

[tigian]

I have before and I was good with it but there was a return policy and I think mine was a really good deal. I also just assume the stone is warmer than they say it is haha. I guess it depends on price, return policy, and what you’re comfortable with. I don’t know why but for some reason I’m just more forgiving of uncerted vintage stones than mrbs. It’s not rational but just how I feel.

I just bought uncerted 1ctw OEC studs from OWD, so yes, I would in certain cases. I think it can make sense to buy uncerted for smaller purchases where resale risk is less of a concern (and the "savings" is bigger proportionally). I saw the OECs Dolly posted today and they are gorgeous and well-priced for the size, but personally I would want a cert before buying something in the five-figure range. The cost of getting a GIA cert + insured shipping is pretty negligible in comparison. And I would never buy uncerted via wire transfer

What do you think of the bezeled stone she posted a few weeks ago? That’s the one I think I’ll be sad about if I lost out.

I just bought uncerted 1ctw OEC studs from OWD, so yes, I would in certain cases. I think it can make sense to buy uncerted for smaller purchases where resale risk is less of a concern (and the "savings" is bigger proportionally). I saw the OECs Dolly posted today and they are gorgeous and well-priced for the size, but personally I would want a cert before buying something in the five-figure range. The cost of getting a GIA cert + insured shipping is pretty negligible in comparison. And I would never buy uncerted via wire transfer

 

[Mreader]

The one for 16k? That I would have to run some comps on because that is a lot for an uncerted.

 

[caolsen]

Vendor dependent & price notwithstanding - I have done, both an OEC and an OMC.

 

[tigian]

The one for 16k? That I would have to run some comps on because that is a lot for an uncerted.

Yup. That one.‍ It seems priced ok. But scary without a gia reports But ultimately, I’d want to make it into a ring with side stones. Not sure if I could just buy something in few years with 20k or so.

 

[marymm]

What do you think of the bezeled stone she posted a few weeks ago? That’s the one I think I’ll be sad about if I lost out.

That diamond I don't consider "loose" since it is in a bezel ... OECs in particular I want to see/know about the girdle, how thin/thick, feathers, bites, grizzeled edges ... for that kind of money and because it is in a mount and and without diamond report, I'd just keep looking ... or if very interested approach Dolly about buying it dependent upon her obtaining GIA report of certain color/clarity range, with full refund if GIA report doesn't comport ... YMMV.

 

[lurkie91]

Yup. That one.‍ It seems priced ok. But scary without a gia reports But ultimately, I’d want to make it into a ring with side stones. Not sure if I could just buy something in few years with 20k or so.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLzXIF_FG5i/?igshid=67s23uxzpkrq

Here's what I think are the clearest videos of the bezeled OEC she's posted... there are definitely a few dark inclusions under the table (granted, the video is 20x but I think you could find them pretty easily if you looked for them). I would also be concerned about whether the bezel was hiding any chips to the girdle, and potentially causing damage to the girdle during the removal of the bezel. It seems unlikely, but also not a fun situation to deal with. Plus, I'm a little wary of the K/L grade since ostensibly that grading was done with the stone in the bezel setting. I'm new to OECs so I imagine I am more skittish than the seasoned pros and aficionado/as.

 

[kenny]

I'd NEVER ver buy any diamond without a grading report (there's no such thing as a cert, or certification) from one of America's 2 most-reputable gem-labs, GIA or AGS.

Why?
Because reputable gem labs presents MUCH less conflict of interest - compared to trusting the "grades" generated by the seller.

 

[tigian]

Yes- I think my judgement is clouded because I liked the idea of purchasing a stone that I could wear as a pendant and later turn into a ring when I had more time to devote to a ring project.
thank you PSers for being a voice of reason.

 

[missy]

I'd NEVER ver buy any diamond without a grading report (there's no such thing as a cert, or certification) from one of America's 2 most-reputable gem-labs, GIA or AGS.

Why?
Because reputable gem labs presents MUCH less conflict of interest - compared to trusting the "grades" generated by the seller.

I agree with this. Of course it does depend on the price. But generally, without a reputable grading report how do we know the price is fair?

For a smaller OEC(s) I would consider it from a trusted vendor but even still I am going to assume it is much lower in color and clarity than stated and I will also take the price into account.

But for any significant (size and priced) stone I want a report from GIA or AGS.
But take it for what it is worth. I am not, by nature, a gambler.

 

[tyty333]

I have and would again. Granted the two I bought were under $2k and I had my own stones to do color comparisons with.

If it were a larger more expensive stone I would be more cautious. Perhaps have them get it graded or take it to a reliable appraiser. Really depends on what they are asking for it. I dont part with my money very easily!

 

[whitewave]

I probably wouldn‘t these days with man made diamonds coming online and also with cutters making new old cuts.... I think at this point it’s too much of a risk unless it’s a price I‘m willing to lose if it turned out to be not a diamond or a lab diamond.

My official answer is no, I wouldn’t.

 

[MillieLou]

I have, from a trusted seller, for an item that was around 2000 USD (a beautiful 0.70ct OEC). I am in the UK and a lab report would have easily added 25% onto the price of the item - and that would not have been GIA or AGS (so not that reliable either). The cost/benefit was not worth it to me in my situation. And this was a number of years ago, before manmade diamonds were mainstream, so my local jeweller was able to reliably verify that it was what I had bought it as.

For a 16K USD item? Absolutely not. Independent verification required IMO.

 

[chrono]

Yes, an uncerted OMC but I had an independent and very reputable (well known on PS) appraiser's paperwork on it.

 

[Roselina]

Yes.

 

[lurkie91]

@tigian I'm so glad you posed this question as it's given me a lot to think about. I hadn't considered this in the abstract before--only on a case-by-case basis. It's really interesting to read the responses, as the level of perceived risk and willingness to take on risk depends so greatly on the individual. I still feel okay buying stones from a reputable dealer without a grading report below a certain cost/size/expectation level (isn't this something we all "have" to come to terms with, if we own any melee?), but I think PP's bring up great points with larger purchases (especially @whitewave touching on the prevalence of MMD).

I totally understand your interest in the bezeled OEC that Dolly posted. I think that shopping for deals on beautiful stones via IG is a fundamentally different thrill compared to methodically sifting through available graded inventory or being notified of something becoming available within your specified parameters. And personally, I could see myself faced with a tough decision if I came across a true antique in a perfect setting without a grading certificate--I think at least for some of us, we might be willing to rely on provenance to keep an exceptional setting intact.

 

[LilAlex]

Probably only from one person in the world -- whom I've known for many years -- and only if it were neither a high-color or true colored diamond. By that I mean if it were an appealing low-color (K on down) colorless diamond but not billed as a "fancy," I would take that plunge and only from this person. I almost did, many years ago.

 

[yssie]

Yes.
But not this OEC.
Based on the photos and videos - I think it’s exceedingly unlikely that GIA would call this stone a K or L; the vendor’s colour estimation is not based on GIA’s scale.