I've been lurking here for some time, absorbing as much knowledge as I can. I also have some experience, having taken 2 years of gemology courses many years ago (I wanted to become a gemologist then). Anyway, today a neighbour came by to show me the e-ring he had just bought, and asked me to look at it. I asked him if it was okay if I used my loupe (my eyes are bad!!). He said definitely. The first thing I noticed was the colour. He said it was H, I said I didn't think that was quite right. It was definitely yellowish, without using the loupe, and from a distance. It is a WG setting. Looking through the loupe, there was a large inclusion on and slightly to the side of the table at one corner. He said it was VS2--I said I didn't think so. I asked him about the cut grade, and explained that I couldn't possibly assess that on my own. He said it was "Good". He asked me the ballpark price he should have paid. I didn't want to say, and good thing, as my guess was $1K less than what he paid for the .59 ct stone. I did ask him if he looked at more than one stone, and if this was the best looking one to him, and he said yes, so I feel at least he made some good effort there. ETA- there were also other visible inclusions besides the big one.
He is getting it appraised independently, and I told him that if it didn't come back as what he was told he was buying, that he should either seek a refund, or a discount. The advice I gave him before he went to look at loose stones was get the best CUT possible, and go down in colour and clarity if necessary. He had a very small budget. But I feel bad because my husband told me after that I should have just lied or something. He said that's what was "expected". I am not comfortable with lying, obviously. And of course I said that he did good, and that it's a nice ring and she will love it. (I also made sure that he had an upgrade option, which he has at least). I wish he'd consulted me earlier or given me more time. Or that I hadn't been asked for an *honest* opinion! Just venting, and wondering if I did the right things. He immediately told another neighbour that I "didn't like the ring", and her response was "Hmpf! I have a VVS2 and *I* can clearly see the inclusions in mine, what does she know!". Well, that's a whole other conversation...
He is getting it appraised independently, and I told him that if it didn't come back as what he was told he was buying, that he should either seek a refund, or a discount. The advice I gave him before he went to look at loose stones was get the best CUT possible, and go down in colour and clarity if necessary. He had a very small budget. But I feel bad because my husband told me after that I should have just lied or something. He said that's what was "expected". I am not comfortable with lying, obviously. And of course I said that he did good, and that it's a nice ring and she will love it. (I also made sure that he had an upgrade option, which he has at least). I wish he'd consulted me earlier or given me more time. Or that I hadn't been asked for an *honest* opinion! Just venting, and wondering if I did the right things. He immediately told another neighbour that I "didn't like the ring", and her response was "Hmpf! I have a VVS2 and *I* can clearly see the inclusions in mine, what does she know!". Well, that's a whole other conversation...