Help! Drilled but natural color FCD

[Rockdiamond]

I own a stunning intense green colored diamond, over 1 carat clarity close to salt and pepper but still transparent and with life. The color! I am smitten. People love this stone and my ring more than the expensive diamonds I own. It was tons of fun because we had it cut too.

OK- Interest peaked....
Are you saying you have a GIA graded, Fancy Intense Green ( no modifiers) diamond?

 

[kb1gra]

There has not been one person on this thread who has been able to explain to me why a natural, FCD with a single drill should rightly sell for significantly less money than a lab or irradiated diamond, and at a fraction of the price of a drilled non-FCD.

There is a relatively simple answer here.

Relative to a hypothetical perfect stone - a natural of exactly the same color, hue, saturation, clarity, and overall make as the stone in question (if one existed), the stone has the following detractors:

1. it is presently ungraded, so the statement about color/clarity/etc is the vendor's opinion only and not substantiated by, well, anything;
2. It is going to be graded by a lab with limited consumer acceptance, where the stones setting the market will be graded by GIA, likely also for a reason;
3. it is being sold by a reputable vendor, but not one specializing in FCD, which does in fact affect how much the stone can be sold for by someone else. Leibish's opinion, for example, is a different breed entirely from a local jeweler, who may sell beautiful colorless diamonds but not know colored diamonds from his own elbow (I am not saying that is the vendor in question);
4. it is clarity modified, which immediately devalues ANY stone, how much it devalues is difficult to substantiate but in my experience the answer is significantly.

If any one of these factors was the only detractor, then your point would be substantiated. It should sell for more than it is. However, it has all these detractors, which multiply, and therefore it is worth what an uncerted, laser drilled, colored stone without verification of natural color or modifiers is worth. In other words, very little, which is why it is priced the way it is.

 

[Rockdiamond]

However, it has all these detractors, which multiply, and therefore it is worth what an uncerted, laser drilled, colored stone without verification of natural color or modifiers is worth. In other words, very little, which is why it is priced the way it is.

True that....and we didn't even get to the part where GIA is extremely careful grading green diamonds.
The color is caused by natural radiation, in the earth.....but it's also possible that the stone was exposed to radiation that was man made.
For this reason, cutters are submitting rough, and or partially polished green diamonds to avoid the "Undetermined" label- as opposed to "Natural."
We had a really lovely green a while back which GIA would not call natural- it came back undetermined.
IN that case, a diamond which would have been worth about $150k if it was classified as natural, was being offered at around $15k if memory serves me. Which it generally doesn't

 

[pokerface]

2. I do not know yet if the vendor will send it for a GIA cert instead. My decision on keeping the stone may well depend on the answer here.
3. I have not made any comment on the vendor, other than to say this is a universally PS-accepted vendor who can be trusted to represent stones accurately.

 

[kb1gra]

3. I have not made any comment on the vendor, other than to say this is a universally PS-accepted vendor who can be trusted to represent stones accurately.

in re: this point, that is fine within the limited scope of this forum, but the price of the stone is determined by the outside market, where this vendor is likely one of many - trustworthy or not - in a market that is dominated by specialty FCD dealers.

 

[Demon]

Ok I am trade and clueless as to who the vendor is. I will be totally honest: I would totally buy such a stone for a low price to enjoy if it was a color I love! Especially a stunning green! I am saying this because first and foremost I am an avid collector, just a more informed one and a designer and I love diamonds, FCDs in particular, more than anything, a true passion of mine. PS has become quite snobby and most people here own such “deal” stones but will never show them here for the fear of being flamed. But why do you care what others think? It is about you enjoying your diamond. Clearly at that price point and a report thrown in for free you cannot get ripped off, if still in doubt send it to Denverappraiser! Will be a cool lesson for us all and we would love to have this thread continue. BTW, I own a stunning intense green colored diamond, over 1 carat clarity close to salt and pepper but still transparent and with life. The color! I am smitten. People love this stone and my ring more than the expensive diamonds I own. It was tons of fun because we had it cut too. Such stories and the history add to the enjoyment. You have nothing to lose, you love it, try it have it go to the lab and then for appraisal. It will be fun no matter what you decide at the end. Life is too short not to enjoy right?

I'd love to see it!

 

[petrock<3]

I mean for $1000 I’d take a chance if it ticks a lot of boxes I’m looking for. But ya know it’s $1000 spent on enjoyment and possibly nothing more and that’s fine. I’ve spent more on the same! Sure it has a value of something no matter what I bought a nice CZ for $100. It’s not 0 surely.

I think you’re not getting the answers you want because the unknown factors would change the advice wildly. So if you’re ok with spending $1000 on something that makes you happy just go for it.

 

[pokerface]

Updating here to let everyone know that the vendor was Langerman Diamonds - yes, a supposedly reputable company that advertises 100% natural diamonds. I am very glad that I pushed for the GIA cert, because they refused and gave me my money back. Guess we all know now whether or not Langerman stands behind its diamonds. I gave them every chance to make this right after 1) not disclosing the drill; 2) calling GGTL "the best lab in the world for green diamonds;" and 3) continuing to advertise 100% natural diamonds when some of the diamonds are drilled. Langerman chose to give me my money back rather than submit to GIA and that tells me everything I need to know about this diamond and the company. Buyer beware.

 

[Rfisher]

I’m glad you updated. Bummed it didn’t work out for you.

Not to stretch this out - but isnt it weird that they offer GIA as an option on other stones? And they didn’t for this one.
Without knowing more - that’s just a bad look on them.
IMO. I guess it’s maybe related to a purchase price threshold cutoff, but if the consumer is paying for it - why would they care? Back to it being a bad look on them.

 

[pokerface]

I pointed out a whole bunch of times how bad this makes them look. Guess they decided it would be better technically left unknown rather than send to GIA with unfavorable results. The stone has now been taken off the website. I of course was welcome to pay for the GIA cert myself (and then lose that money), but I wasn't going to put more money into this transaction when IMO Langerman should have been bending over backwards to clear the air here.

 

[Rfisher]

I pointed out a whole bunch of times how bad this makes them look. Guess they decided it would be better technically left unknown rather than send to GIA with unfavorable results. The stone has now been taken off the website. I of course was welcome to pay for the GIA cert myself (and then lose that money), but I wasn't going to put more money into this transaction when IMO Langerman should have been bending over backwards to clear the air here.

By the consumer willing to pay for it *
I mean I’m assuming Langerman would refund or heavily discount if GIA came back with color treated. (Undetermined origin of color would be more of a nightmare I think)
Isn’t that what a reputable vendor would do - instead of refusing /refunding/cancelling the purchase?

Bah!

 

[pokerface]

They are obviously not willing to stand behind the stone. The whole thing is ridiculous, made all the more absurd by the fact that Langerman is a specialty FCD diamond with a generally good reputation. The part that got me good was where they told me in writing that GGTL was the best lab for green diamonds. That's just a lie, no way around it. They must have a relationship with GGTL where they get discounted certificates, hence why GGTL and not GIA. But in this case, I would think $150 is a small price to pay to preserve their reputation. Now I know anything at Langerman without a GIA cert is not to be taken at face value, and I question whether GGTL is a neutral/trustworthy agency.

 

[SandraLynn]

I’ve been following this thread and it’s been interesting. Sounds to me like they knew about it and it was not an oversight. I’m sure they know the GIA report would come back unfavorable and therefore make it harder to sell once the GIA “deed was done”.

 

[yssie]

They must have a relationship with GGTL where they get discounted certificates, hence why GGTL and not GIA […] I question whether GGTL is a neutral/trustworthy agency.

That’s pretty much where I’ve ended up too, after reading the updates here.

Bah humbug, indeed But pokerface, now you’re $1000 richer! Upside?

 

[kenny]

I've never bought from Langerman.
After looking around their website something just didn't feel right.
Lots of less-attractive and ungraded FCDs, and FCDs graded by labs that are less reputable than GIA, especially when it comes to FCDs.
FCDs are expensive so I must be sure what I'm buying is the real deal.
That means GIA.

Then another poster here told me about a bad experience they had with Langerman about a mis-represented FCD.

I think it's sad, so many must be buying "mis-represented" "FCDs" from Langerman.
They think they got X, when they actually got Y.
Like the saying goes, "If it sounds too good to be true, it ain't".

I'll stick with Leibish and GIA, thank you very much.
Being confident of what I'm getting gives me peace of mind.

I don't gamble at Vegas either, where the odds are also with the house.

BTW, diamonds (FCD and D-Z) sold without a GIA report MAY have actually gotten one, but the vendor doesn't disclose that because the truth from GIA made that diamond challenging, if not impossible, to sell for any price.

Fortunately for some vendors, a sucker's born every minute.

 

[petrock<3]

Ah well that’s a bummer! Sorry it didn’t work out, thanks for updating. On to the next!