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Bought a 1.01 Carat Engagement Ring - i think i've been ripped off

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scarymovie4

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 8, 2021
Messages
5
Hello to this wonderful forum.

I bought my first (and last) diamond ring to my fiancee.
I didn't have so much knowledge on this subject until i came across this forum.
I think I've been ripped off.
my questions, ladies and gentleman, are:
A. how decent is the ring in your opinion?
B. how much do you think a ring like this should cost.

No sugar coating please, tell me the truth straight to my face. For now, I prefer not to publish the price I pay for it, because i don't feel so well with that, maybe later.


Diamond Certificate - EGL International( located in Israel)
Diamond had clarity enhanced.

as far i understand, those details have great impact on the value (Enhanced Treatment, EGL Cert - Below GIA Standards, Measurement - not ideal 6.5 / Total depth is too big, Fluorescence

I would like to hear your opinion. thanks a lot.

CamScanner 01-12-2021 18.32_2.jpg
 
Unfortinately this is a pretty bad stone (trying to be honest). Clarity enhancement is a nightmare and is never recommended. And the cut is not good. Can you return it? I dont even know how to price it due to the clarity enhancement.
 
Return if possible.
 
I’m sorry OP I’m not an expert on the matter but those that chimed in before me are. I was going to say I was definitely ripped off on my ER but I also purchased from a brick and mortar store. Thankfully I don’t hate my stone at all. I think it’s lovely...on most days. Lol

If I were you I’d return if possible. Just from reading here and what was already mentioned.
 
@lovedogs can you explain why clarity enhanced stones are so bad? Assuming of course the buyer knows & pays accordingly. Can it wear off? Or ruin the stone? I would think that if it's much cheaper, it can be a way to get a clearer stone at a low price?
 
How much is the diamond?

EGL is less strict than GIA. Apply two downgrades for color and one downgrades for clarity. The diamond is GIA SI1 K equivalent. Now, it is clarity enhanced, meaning it was probably I1 or lower before the enhancement.

So at best, it is GIA 1.01 K I1, which has value about $1500. If it were I2 or I3, it basically has no value.

Also, it is poorly cut.
 
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Feel like I’m playing the Price is Right. My guess is $1,200-1,400. What I think it is worth is totally different - and much, much less.
 
Polabowla said:
@lovedogs can you explain why clarity enhanced stones are so bad? Assuming of course the buyer knows & pays accordingly. Can it wear off? Or ruin the stone? I would think that if it's much cheaper, it can be a way to get a clearer stone at a low price?
Click to expand...

It can wear off (most don't have a lifetime guarantee with the exception of yehuda which I've heard good things about). Also the issue is that people wildly overcharge for them. I have personally never seen a clarity enhanced stone sold for a reasonable price (IMHO). In literally all the cases I've seen, the buyer could have gotten a much better stone that was natural. I have no issue with MMD, moissanite, etc, but CI enhanced diamonds are just bizzare because people charge so much for something that is (honestly) pretty terrible. Also every CI stone I've seen is very poorly cut, so that makes it even worse.


OP: I can't estimate a price accurately because I wouldn't personally buy one of these even if it were $100. But *maybe* 1500? At most?
 
Rfisher said:
Did you knowingly purchase it as being clarity enhanced? Or realize that after purchase?
Are we talking about laser drilling a carbon/black spot to become clear, or is it a filling?
Click to expand...

Yes, i just didn't know it's so dramatic. it's was eye clean to me though. as for your second question - Filling.
 
I just googled similar specs and found a natural (not enhanced) stone in that size is about $4500 USD. Clarity enhanced is about 1800.

I suppose prices would be higher for both outside the US.
 
Polabowla said:
@lovedogs can you explain why clarity enhanced stones are so bad? Assuming of course the buyer knows & pays accordingly. Can it wear off? Or ruin the stone? I would think that if it's much cheaper, it can be a way to get a clearer stone at a low price?
Click to expand...

Good question.
lovedogs said:
It can wear off (most don't have a lifetime guarantee with the exception of yehuda which I've heard good things about). Also the issue is that people wildly overcharge for them. I have personally never seen a clarity enhanced stone sold for a reasonable price (IMHO). In literally all the cases I've seen, the buyer could have gotten a much better stone that was natural. I have no issue with MMD, moissanite, etc, but CI enhanced diamonds are just bizzare because people charge so much for something that is (honestly) pretty terrible. Also every CI stone I've seen is very poorly cut, so that makes it even worse.


OP: I can't estimate a price accurately because I wouldn't personally buy one of these even if it were $100. But *maybe* 1500? At most?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the explanation!
 
MrsBlue said:
I just googled similar specs and found a natural (not enhanced) stone in that size is about $4500 USD. Clarity enhanced is about 1800.

I suppose prices would be higher for both outside the US.
Click to expand...

The issue though is that you also have to keep cut in mind. OPs stone is not well cut, and has an EGL certificate rather than GIA/AGS. Both of these factors significantly reduce price.
 
Well
If you knew in advance and did any price comparison to any other 1ct I/VS2 on the market from any other vendor -
I don’t think it’s fair to say you’ve been ripped off.
buyer’s remorse? Sure.
As it’s been said- they are priced all over the place - there’s different levels of stability in the different methods - and they exist to provide a ‘look’ to a customer who otherwise couldn’t /doesn’t want to purchase those specs at the market price.
quality of cut is a separate /but still related topic.
diamonds (unless something high in demand and the buyer is readily there) rarely retain your full purchase price for resale anyways - clarity enhanced just increases the less desirability on the second market.

What things are ‘worth’ is strongly attached to what amount a seller can actually receive from an available and willing buyer.
 
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Thanks a lot for your help.

One thing to mention - I live in Israel, and it's seems like impossible to find an honest seller here. Just to clarify - i bought this diamond from a store who sits in one of the Israeli bourse buildings. We can only dream on sites like James Allen or Blue Nile where you can cherry pick best VFM diamonds. here is an example from an israeli website that publish GIA diamonds for sale online :
GIA 1.03 M VS2 VG None fluorescent costs 4800$ - isn't it a bit overpriced?
 
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lovedogs said:
The issue though is that you also have to keep cut in mind. OPs stone is not well cut, and has an EGL certificate rather than GIA/AGS. Both of these factors significantly reduce price.
Click to expand...
I understand. OP seems shy about specifics so I plugged the weight, color, depth and table size into JA for the comparison, just to have some sort of number as a jumping off point for an untreated stone comparison:

www.jamesallen.com

1.01 Carat round diamond

This 1.01 carat round diamond I color vs2 clarity has Very Good proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA
www.jamesallen.com www.jamesallen.com

Do you think this is wildly off base? Thanks in advance.
 
scarymovie4 said:
Thanks a lot for your help.

One thing to mention - I live in Israel, and it's seems like impossible to find an honest seller here. Just to clarify - i bought this diamond from a store who sits in one of the Israeli bourse buildings. We can only dream on sites like James Allen or Blue Nile where you can cherry pick best VFM diamonds. here is an example from an israeli website that publish GIA diamonds for sale online :
GIA 1.03 M VS2 VG None fluorescent costs 4800$ - isn't it a bit overpriced?
Click to expand...

If that market you mention is what strictly is only available to you -


I’m not quite sure what any answers or opinions you get here are going to help you change course or feel better about your current situation?

maybe I’m misunderstanding your intent or wishes?
 
scarymovie4 said:
Thanks a lot for your help.

One thing to mention - I live in Israel, and it's seems like impossible to find an honest seller here. Just to clarify - i bought this diamond from a store who sits in one of the Israeli bourse buildings. We can only dream on sites like James Allen or Blue Nile where you can cherry pick best VFM diamonds. here is an example from an israeli website that publish GIA diamonds for sale online :
GIA 1.03 M VS2 VG None fluorescent costs 4800$ - isn't it a bit overpriced?
Click to expand...

You may also be paying higher taxes or other costs that can vary widely between countries. That makes comparisons even more difficult.
 
MrsBlue said:
I understand. OP seems shy about specifics so I plugged the weight, color, depth and table size into JA for the comparison, just to have some sort of number as a jumping off point for an untreated stone comparison:

www.jamesallen.com

1.01 Carat round diamond

This 1.01 carat round diamond I color vs2 clarity has Very Good proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA
www.jamesallen.com www.jamesallen.com

Do you think this is wildly off base? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

that's actually not a bad looking stone for the stats (e.g. being slightly too deep, etc). There's just so much variability in how "very good" type cuts look that I worry OPs looks much less nice.
 
Different countries have their own pricing so you really can’t compare. I’m in the U.K. and with the higher taxes, it can be up to 25% more expensive than the US if you go via BN or James Allen. However, if you go into many shops, you’ll be charged double for some real duds. So I can see you’re frustrated and angry if you paid thousands for the stone above but it’s no use crying over spilt milk if you can’t return the diamond and start again.
 
Rfisher said:
If that market you mention is what strictly is only available to you -


I’m not quite sure what any answers or opinions you get here are going to help you change course or feel better about your current situation?

maybe I’m misunderstanding your intent or wishes?
Click to expand...

1. I could use your price estimations and project it to the Israeli market to try and understand how much i over-payed. it could make me feel a bit better knowing i didn't pay 3X more price but "only" 1.5X for example.

2. I wasn't really sure how bad or good is the diamond regarding the report it self (Very good Cut, excellent PO & SY, H&A, Comment regarding Platinum Cut).
 
So sorry you're worried that you didn't get a good deal on the diamond.

I can't weigh in on its value without seeing the stone and without knowing the extent of the filling. My understanding is that a treated diamond is worth whatever it would have been worth without the treatment, and we don't know that.

However, most jewelry is not an investment and not worth anywhere near what it cost new. And of course those who aren't very knowledgeable about diamonds or whatever usually pay more for what they get than those who are. Your story is very typical, if it makes you feel any better. I'd say it's the norm. And I don't even want to think about what I've spent on jewelry through the years and not gotten back anyway. Nope, not even going there!

But if you're not happy with the deal after learning more and can get your money back, you might want to consider that. Otherwise, you can sell it for what you can get and try again. Or just proceed with it, enjoy it, and maybe get a bigger and better one some time down the road as many of us on here have. Good luck.
 
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