5 replies to this topic

[ClarityEnhanced]

I submit this query after having read several topics on the same subject in this and other forums. I'm in the process of making a decision on what kind of stone to buy and have recently learned about CE diamonds. This not being my 1st go around, I've had the "opportunity" to purchase an engagement ring before. At the time (10 yrs ago) money was substantially more plentiful and I had no problems dropping $25k on a GIA Certified 2.45 ct round F-VS1 stone. Wow it was beautiful... no joke. My now ex-wife got many many compliments. However, these being the days of an Obama Nation, I don't quite have that kind of cash to sling around anymore!

So here is my conundrum. One of the main arguments I've read against CE stones are that they will never have the resell of an un-enhanced diamond. Again this not being my 1st time to buy jewelry, I've come to learn that it really doesn't matter how great/un-enhanced your diamond is, the resell that you often hear so much about is a crock. In an attempt to get rid of the previously described stone when it came time for the aforementioned ex and I to part ways, I was shocked to learn that the most I could get for it was $11k. The objection I heard most often "Estate jewelry is valued differently than new". Good times. Think this is an isolated story? Read on...

About a year ago I purchased a "U-shaped" prong set eternity band for my girlfriend. 2.7 cts, 18k gold, absolutely beautiful. I got a smoking deal on it and paid $2500. Unfortunately the ct weight is way too much for my girlfriend's hand and there is no way she can wear it (she wears a size 4.75 and the diamonds are large enough that they dig into the adjacent fingers). I admit... my fault for being spontaneous, but now that it's time to try and get rid of this thing, all I hear are crickets until we get down to a $1200 price. All this despite having an independent appraisal by a GIA-Graduate Gemologist (equivalent to a Masters from GIA) stating that the ring is well made, unsued etc etc.

I could repeat this story from several other fine jewelry purchases from over the years, but I think my point has been made. With the exception of collectible watches, I've always got my ace handed to me when it's come time to sell a diamond.

So here I am, staring head long into another purchase decision (about to get engaged). Being older and wiser, I no longer have the youthful need to buy the biggest thing my budget will allow. To get the "real thing" of what I want, a 1.5ct GIA cert stone in E-SI1, the cheapest I've found is $10k (and that's rather on the low end). To get the exact same thing in a CE stone is $3400.

Other than death and taxes, the only other sure thing I know is that I'm never selling this diamond. No matter what kind I buy, it's always proven ill advised. If this marriage falls apart (please Lord, give this one a chance!!), I'm going to lose 50-75% of my purchase price right? So if NOBODY, other than a jeweler with a magnifying glass is going to know the difference, why risk the $10k?

Okay, story time is thankfully over. Time for all of you professional jewelry types (aka, the Denver guy) to slaughter me. Tell me why I'm wrong. Tell me where the flaw is in my thinking. And if you are a general consumer like myself and have any useful real world feed back on a CE purchase, PLEASE share it. Good/bad/ugly, let's hear them all!

Thanks in advance to everybody out there is diamond land!

Oh and PS, yes she knows it will be a CE diamond. She actually wants me to use a .91 round I-SI2 stone that I already have (yet another GIA stone that is near worthless as it's "estate" quality), but that's just a bit too small IMHO. Not trying to pull the wool over her eyes!

[davidelevi]

1. There are a number of dealers that will give you 70-80% of your cash back, no questions asked. But not on an enhanced diamond, and you'll pay a premium for the "cash back" in the first place.

2. You are right - never buy any piece of jewellery in the hope of getting your money back. Get what you (and your lady) enjoy, and forget about resale values. Still, no matter how poor the performance of unenhanced diamonds, at least they have a second-hand market. CE stones have even less.

3. There's CE and there's CE. GIA will not grade fracture-filled diamonds, since they view the enhancement as not permanent. Laser-drilling (and acid-washing) is permanent, but is suitable for different stones (which typically cost more). Make sure that you know what you are looking at.

4. Some other way to stretch your budget: buy a truly well cut 1.40 G SI2. It will be way below $10k, and it will be visually indistinguishable from a 1.50 E/Si1 unless you put them right next to each other (and even then). It's still way more than a CE stone, though.

My best wishes for your "second home run".

[Britani17]

Well, I think buying clarity enhanced is a waste of money. You are taking an I1, I2, filling it with a glass like substance and it supposed to make it look better. The problem is it doesn't last forever. If you get the ring worked on and or cleaned this substance can come out and make it look like what it actually is. Something you have to worry about for as long as she wears it and how much money will you spend re-filling it??? If you buy through the right jeweler they may work with you if heaven forbid you break up. More jewelers will trade up or upgrade a legit GIA graded stone versus a CE stone. We personally do a consignment for our customers on the products we sell and usually the customer gets 85% and more of what they paid, granted we have to sell it first. Also, another thing we do is a 100% upgrade on the diamond. So on the stone you purchased previously you would have only been out the setting and would have gotten 100% of what you paid for the diamond to put towards the new diamond. No restrictions on the upgrade. From a woman's perspective I would want the real thing and not something that looks like something it isn't. Hey you could always start a little smaller and keep upgrading the diamond. www.dbof.com

Edited by Britani17, 17 June 2010 - 01:23 PM.

[denverappraiser]

ClarityEnhanced, on Thursday, Jun 17 2010, 03:11 PM, said:

Okay, story time is thankfully over. Time for all of you professional jewelry types (aka, the Denver guy) to slaughter me. Tell me why I'm wrong. Tell me where the flaw is in my thinking.

I guess I’m the Denver guy you’re referring to although I’m not sure why you think I’m going to slaughter you. Never have I said that diamonds or jewelry are a sound financial investment, and that includes watches by the way. If SHE is happy with a CE stone, an outright fake, some non-diamond alternative, or nothing at all for that matter, I have no problem with it. There are LOTS of ways to do an engagement for a whole bunch less money and as long as you and she are on the same page about it, they all work just fine. The reason to buy engagement diamonds is exactly the same as the reason to buy flowers (which have no resale value either) and can be summed up in 3 words. Chicks dig 'em. If that doesn't apply to your situation, by all means look for something else.

There is a huge problem in the logistics of buying clarity enhanced stones that you should watch out for and choose your dealer carefully. Enhanced diamonds are NOT graded using the standard GIA grading scale but the people grading them use GIA nomenclature to describe them. The result is some major confusion and a significant amount of malarkey. One seller’s idea of SI1-CE will be someone else’s idea of I1-CE or VS1-CE. This makes it fantastically difficult to compare offerings from one dealer against those from another and deciding what they're 'worth' is distinctly not an easy question. Going with the biggest liar in terms of grading is unlikely to result in the best product for the lowest price. The dealers, in turn, tend to want you to compare against similarly described non-enhanced stones, which makes no sense. It’s like buying a bicycle and instead of comparing against other vendors of bicycles to show that they’ve got the best deal, they point out that they’re cheaper than a bulldozer. It’s true, but so what?

ClarityEnhanced, on Thursday, Jun 17 2010, 03:11 PM, said:

Oh and PS, yes she knows it will be a CE diamond. She actually wants me to use a .91 round I-SI2 stone that I already have (yet another GIA stone that is near worthless as it's "estate" quality), but that's just a bit too small IMHO. Not trying to pull the wool over her eyes!

Incidentally, a decently cut and properly documented 0.91/I/SI2/GIA is a pretty saleable item. If that's 'worthless', either you aren't using very good selling skills or that's not what you have. You probably won't get retail prices and I have no idea what you paid but resale prices on things like that are actually better than nearly everything you buy. Try reselling food, clothes, furniture, artwork, electronics, even cars, and then comparing with what dealers are charging for comparable new goods and see how it works out. The problem may have to do with what this 'appraiser' has led you to expect. At the same time, going with what SHE wants isn't such a bad idea, especially since you've already got it in hand.

Neil

Edited by denverappraiser, 18 June 2010 - 05:24 AM.

[HeartAndStone]

Hello CE!

Welcome!

I must admit, there are times that I'm falling in-love with CE diamonds but then when I try to re-asses myself. I realize that I'm falling in-love with the beauty of the ring, the setting, how it sits and how it glitters. With that being said, it's just an infatuation with a CE. IMO, this is the current situation of your girlfriend...
The thing is if she is the "ONE" she deserves the best, finding the best doesn't mean that the ring must cost $10K up., it means really searching.. A girl might say, I'm happy with it., but it's your final call.
It's hard to read a woman's mind. We all can never "play safe" when it comes to love.
If your praying "(please Lord, give this one a chance!!)"
The key is make her dreams come true as well.

Keep us posted!

Cheers!

[Britani17]

denverappraiser, on Thursday, Jun 17 2010, 06:45 PM, said:

The reason to buy engagement diamonds is exactly the same as the reason to buy flowers (which have no resale value either) and can be summed up in 3 words. Chicks dig 'em.

Amen!