34 replies to this topic

[denverappraiser]

Sarin makes good equipment but no piece of software can evaluate more than what it has to work with in terms of data. In the case of Sarin files, this includes things like the callibration of the individual machine that did the scan and even things like dust on the stone. Things that aren't scanned, like color, clarity, polish and symmetry are obviously off the table for this sort of evaluation.

I suspect he's right, it's surely a lovely stone but bear in mind, Patrick works for AGS, and AGS is a network of jewelry stores. Part of his job is to help his clients to sell diamonds. Like me, he has never seen it.

Edited by denverappraiser, 14 November 2011 - 07:27 AM.

[barry]

Let us know what you "see".

[momof3]

I will let everyone know what I see when i receive it in a few weeks! I will post pictures in all lighting because I have 30 days to decide if it is a keeper!

[momof3]

Getting nervous! The stone should be here before the 10th. I guess the holidays slowed things down as i thought I would have it by now! It was sent to Precision set from Since1910.com for them to set it so a week added. If i haven't elaborated why I am so nervous it is because I have helped my son in law to be to pick out a stone for my daughter. I know she wants a spready stone so this fit what she wanted. I wish I had found all the tools prior to ordering it like HCA. Anyway as soon as I get it I will post pics taken in several lighting stituations. I know my SIL to be will send it back if not pretty but prices have gone up. The stone was 13,300 less 5% discount and if he had to find another he is looking at spending at least 2,000 more then early Nov prices!

[jan]

Looks like they are going to give it a 4 cut grade at AGS. Definitely not a 0.

[denverappraiser]

jan, on 06 December 2011 - 08:00 AM, said:

Looks like they are going to give it a 4 cut grade at AGS. Definitely not a 0.

The '4' came from Patricks estimate of polish and symmetry without any real data available. He may not have even known that GIA had previously graded them as 'excellent'. The PGS software REQUIRES that an entry be made to these fields so he picked a plausible answer and moved on. The light performance looks like a good candidate for a '0' and '0' would have been an entirely possible if less conservative choice for what to enter as p&s if he had chosen to do so. Assuming light performance of '0' and applying p&s of '0' it would get a final cut grade of '0', not '4'.

[Vern 2]

Hi,

I have a 3.5 carat European cut, excellent color diamond in a large gold ring setting. It was passed down to me. I may want to sell it.

I’ve gotten price estimates from 60k to 300K. Who should I talk to about getting the best price for it?


Thanks, Clint

[denverappraiser]

Hi Clint.

Apparently you didn't like the answers you got on your last post about this but I see you got some higher numbers quoted. Congratulations. Talk to the person who quoted you $300k and ask them how and where you can get that.

[Vern 2]

The 60K was quoted from a dealer in Nashville, but the 300K was from comparing to what I see on the internet. If you google 3.5 carat diamonds, you get those price ranges and higher. I am absolutely no expert on diamonds, I only own one. I just don't want to sell this for less that what is a fair price. I'll be happy to pay you, or someone else a fee, to broker it for me. Thanks

[denverappraiser]

<sub>Start by getting it appraised. You absolutely MUST know what you have in order to design a marketing plan and to set your price. Tiny details make a big difference in this business and you're missing a ton of important data. Choosing a broker is not the first, or even the second, step of this process.

Some good places to look are:
www.najaappraisers.com
www.appraisers.org
www.ags.org

When you choose an appraiser, make sure that they understand that what you're doing is trying to sell the stone. It matters and this is not the 'normal' set of questions appraisal clients ask. It both affects the value conclusion and the sorts of documentation you'll require (among other things). Also make sure that what you're getting is an appraisal, not a bid. 'What do I have and what is a reasonable strategy for selling it' is a very different question than 'What will you pay me for it'. 'What's the highest asking price by someone on Google' is interesting and worth doing but not really applicable even if you knew what you had and could reasonably shop it.

FWIW, typical resale prices on a 3.5ct Euro are going to range from about $5k to, perhaps, $30k depending on the details mentioned above as well as your marketing plan. Was the $60k quote from Nashville a bid to buy or something else? Did they actually see the stone? If so, what else did they tell you about it?</sub>

[davidelevi]

Vern 2, on 10 December 2011 - 07:14 AM, said:

The 60K was quoted from a dealer in Nashville, but the 300K was from comparing to what I see on the internet. If you google 3.5 carat diamonds, you get those price ranges and higher. I am absolutely no expert on diamonds, I only own one. I just don't want to sell this for less that what is a fair price. I'll be happy to pay you, or someone else a fee, to broker it for me. Thanks

The problem is that while there are 3.50 ct diamonds selling for $300k or over (D/IF), there are those selling for $30k or under (L/SI2). At the very least you need to know what colour and clarity your stone is before attempting comparisons.

It would also help if you started your own thread...

[momof3]

In Europe they use HRD diamond certificates. Are they compoarable to GIA in the USA?

[davidelevi]

Yes and no. For colour and clarity HRD uses the same scale as GIA, but there are people that feel they are not reliable as GIA. For cut, although it uses the same words as GIA, the assessment method is very simplistic and in my opinion totally useless.

[denverappraiser]

'Comparable' is the key word. For the most part, I think they are but it's a tricky question that's full of other issues. GIA graded stones are available in Europe and HRD graded stones are available in the US for those who want them. I find HRD to be consistent in their grading, which is the big issue with labs and I find their clarity and color grades to be similar to GIA's. To me that makes them worth relying on although that doesn't make their stones any better or worse than anyone elses. I agree that their cut grade for round brilliants is less useful than GIA and AGSL for shoppers but it's significantly better than most of the other labs out there with the exception that they offer a report on 'hearts and arrows' quality, which is something GIA and AGSL don't do at all. For customers who are looking for that it's very useful.

Edited by denverappraiser, 10 December 2011 - 10:17 AM.

[denverappraiser]

davidelevi, on 10 December 2011 - 07:54 AM, said:

[The problem is that while there are 3.50 ct diamonds selling for $300k or over (D/IF),

It's certainly possible that there's an undocumented 3.50/D/IF/Euro out there where someone is asking $300k but I think it's unlikely that they're having much luck getting it. Asking for the moon is easy. Getting it is an entirely different thing.