30 replies to this topic

[SharonReid]

Hello Denverappraiser

Thank you for the instructions. Will note them for my next postings.

The diamond I have enclosed here is GIA certified. This is not to belittle EGLUSA and AGS, as they are known certification standards too, but when it comes to recommending, I stay with GIA.

Though, when you go through [url="http://b2cjewels.com/Search-Diamond.aspx"]B2CJewels[/url] Diamond Search link, you can find EGL and AGS diamonds too.

Thanks again

Sharon

[SharonReid]

denverappraiser, on 27 October 2010 - 07:29 AM, said:

Hello Denverappraiser

Thank you for the instructions. Will note them for my next postings.

The diamond I have enclosed here is GIA certified. This is not to belittle EGLUSA and AGS, as they are known certification standards too, but when it comes to recommending, I stay with GIA.

Though, when you go through [url="http://b2cjewels.com/Search-Diamond.aspx"]B2CJewels[/url] Diamond Search link, you can find EGL and AGS diamonds too.

Thanks again

Sharon

[diamond noob]

Thank you Jan and David for finding this! Looks like it is the same exact diamond. It has the same Cert#. Definitely printing this page and bringing it in with me in order to negotiate the price down.

I did call and confirm that they will have it available on Saturday to view. They had to call it in from somewhere so it does make sense that it is a shared diamond.

I can't believe how much cheaper it is than the AGS diamonds. It has a much better cut and clarity, but there is a drop in color I guess.

[davidelevi]

Sharon - sorry, but I still cannot understand which specific diamond you are referring to...

(And incidentally I disagree with your putting AGS and EGL - albeit US - on the same floor when it comes to grading colourless/near colourless diamonds, but that's another story)

[davidelevi]

diamond noob, on 28 October 2010 - 06:07 AM, said:

[snip]
I can't believe how much cheaper it is than the AGS diamonds. It has a much better cut and clarity, but there is a drop in color I guess.

Bear in mind that the way colour is graded and the way it is "seen" in normal conditions are radically different.

Grading happens with the loose stone against a white background in diffuse, steady lighting with limited UV component and looking at the stone from the side. This maximises the ability to distinguish even small variations in colour.

Normal viewing is with the stone set, seen face up in a highly variable lighting and colour environment - which makes fine variations in colour very difficult to detect unless one has a "reference" right next to the stone in exam.

[jan]

diamond noob, on 27 October 2010 - 01:23 PM, said:

Haven't seen it in person yet.

I have seen a J color diamond before (of my recently engaged friend) and I wouldn't have guessed it was a J at all. It's beautiful (1.70ct, J, VS1, VG cut - GIA).

Going to see this one in person Saturday.

Where are you seeing the "same" diamond for less?

Actually I went into the trade network and that is where I found the stone at. However there is another stone in the same trade network that is the same, color, clarity and cut grade for 12% less and has less in the plot.

I might add also that even though you don't seem to be sensitive to color, is your fiancee"? Some are.

Edited by jan, 28 October 2010 - 09:45 AM.

[diamond noob]

All I know is my soon-to-be's best friend has a ring with a J color diamond and neither of us ever noticed anything about the color.

Do you see any diamonds similar in size, cut, clarity and price with higher color?

[davidelevi]

It reminds me of the joke of the extremely rational guy who sees a $100 note on the street, and refuses to pick it up saying "if it were genuine, chances are someone else would have already picked it up".

Yes, you may be able to find stuff that is underpriced, but it will be a rare animal indeed. And in general price differences between stones are always due to something - remember that grading is not an exact science, and anyway all grades are a range (there are H that are almost G, and H that are almost I).

[diamond noob]

Just saw the diamond. It was really nice. I actually liked how it looked in sunlight more than I did in the store lighting.

Showed the jeweler a printout of the link showing the diamond for $800 less. She played dumb and was like "I don't know what that is. This is our diamond. That's really weird."

I'm calling BS on that. I told her I would talk to her early this week again and come back.

Turns out the website that Jan posted (ID Jewelry) is for a store a few blocks from where I work. Going to call them and see if they can get the diamond back/if it is indeed available for them to sell as well for that price.

[davidelevi]

If it were "their" diamond (as opposed to something they have on memo) they would have had it in the store... which doesn't mean, as you realise, that the other jeweller can get it or that they can sell it at the price.

Good luck with the negotiations!

[denverappraiser]

It may be her diamond now. One of the annoying features of the big Internet sites is that they are listing thousands of stones that they don't own. Some dealer made their inventory list available to them and they just republish it to you. When you pick a stone, they then call up the supplier and buy it. That's ok for what it is but it means that the procedure for keeping the data fresh is terribly important and you're relying on both the seller and the supplier to do this sensibly. Problems abound. One thing is clear. If your jeweler has the stone in hand and you try to buy it from someone else, you're not going to get it unless your jeweler cooperates. Maybe they own it, maybe they have it on consignment from whoever does but they have it, the other guys don't.