How to get the best price for natural diamond?

[KingsDude]

I have a natural diamond I purchased in 2010 that I'm planning on trading up for a lab grown 3.5 ct.

I've had some local jewelers review this but I'm curious what everyone thinks this diamond is worth and where is the best place to sell it?

 

[lovedogs]

EGL is notorious for having inaccurate grading. So my guess is that it's at least 2 color/clarity grades lower than written. I can't see the total depth on the cert, but it's not a "true" hearts and arrows diamond by most standards (again, EGL is notorious for being inaccurate).

If you want to look at prices, search for GIA SI1/SI2 clarity and I/J color stones with similar proportions. Then subtract around 30%(ish) for selling it as a private party.

 

[vintageinjune]

Exactly what @lovedogs said.
As for where to list it, DiamondBistro or LoupeTroop are options, as well as I Do Now I Don't.

 

[lovedogs]

Edit. Depth is 60.7 (shown at the top).

Iooked on james allen for close equivalents.

So let's say retail is 12k (to be honest, that seems high to me, but let's go with it). I'd estimate that you wont get more than 8-9k for it (realistically I'd say more like 6-7k).

 

[lovedogs]

Ps. Blue nile shows stones with the size/depth/table/clarity I outlined for between 12-15k, so I think my estimates above are pretty decent

 

[Karl_K]

In this case getting a GIA report for it would be my first step.
EGL-usa was the best of the egl labs but is now considered discredited like the other egl reports.
Even if the GIA grading comes back lower the value would be higher.

 

[KingsDude]

In this case getting a GIA report for it would be my first step.
EGL-usa was the best of the egl labs but is now considered discredited like the other egl reports.
Even if the GIA grading comes back lower the value would be higher.

This seems like the best path forward bc of the issues with EGL. I'll research on how to get this done and then ship it in for a GIA cert. Such awesome replies! Thx!

 

[Rockdiamond]

Please be aware that dealers can buy diamonds wholesale anytime.
This means a consumer trying to sell to a dealer has to substantially beat the wholesale price.
That means that the price a dealer offers will be a fraction of the retail price....
Sell it privately if you can....
Or, maybe try to find a dealer willing to accept your stone in a trade for the Labn Grown you seek

 

[KingsDude]

Please be aware that dealers can buy diamonds wholesale anytime.
This means a consumer trying to sell to a dealer has to substantially beat the wholesale price.
That means that the price a dealer offers will be a fraction of the retail price....
Sell it privately if you can....
Or, maybe try to find a dealer willing to accept your stone in a trade for the Labn Grown you seek

Very insightful for sure. Should I attempt to sell the whole ring or better price if it's just the loose diamond?

 

[Rockdiamond]

Very insightful for sure. Should I attempt to sell the whole ring or better price if it's just the loose diamond?

Probably betteer to try and sell the ring complete if you're selling to a consumer.
The number matter...a lot......meaning how much you paid, and how much you expect to get.
The greater the disparity, the better your chances of doing better on a trade in.
IOW- if a consumer has a ring they paid $10k for and the new item they are looking at is $11k.....the consumer's in a weak position.
If the new items was $50k, the seller will have a lot more room to make a better offer on the sale.
Something which has always bothered me in this business is that most of the dealers who buy, simply try to intimidate the seller, as opposed to dealing honestly.

 

[KingsDude]

Probably betteer to try and sell the ring complete if you're selling to a consumer.
The number matter...a lot......meaning how much you paid, and how much you expect to get.
The greater the disparity, the better your chances of doing better on a trade in.
IOW- if a consumer has a ring they paid $10k for and the new item they are looking at is $11k.....the consumer's in a weak position.
If the new items was $50k, the seller will have a lot more room to make a better offer on the sale.
Something which has always bothered me in this business is that most of the dealers who buy, simply try to intimidate the seller, as opposed to dealing honestly.

Been meaning to reach out to you for a 3.5 - 3.8 lab grown G - VS2+ - XXX.

I think I paid almost $15k for the ring + diamond in 2010 (ring has smaller diamonds around the whole band in size 6.5).

I doubt someone on a private sale is going to want this specific ring in this specific size so that may be more difficult then just keeping the same ring, adding a lab grown to center stone and being done, but not sure that's even possible going from a 1.8 -> 3.5 either. Probably will have to remake the whole ring.

Below is a dirty picture of the diamond + ring but you probably can't tell what it is.

 

[KingsDude]

Edit. Depth is 60.7 (shown at the top).

Iooked on james allen for close equivalents.

So let's say retail is 12k (to be honest, that seems high to me, but let's go with it). I'd estimate that you wont get more than 8-9k for it (realistically I'd say more like 6-7k).

Wouldn't mine be closer to the I-SI1 in GIA so retail would be $17k?

 

[KingsDude]

More pics and video (hasn't been cleaned in months)

New video by Ryan Stomel

photos.app.goo.gl

of ring

 

[TXwidow]

perhaps put a colored stone in the setting since you probably won't be able to use it for the 'new' lab stone.

 

[KingsDude]

perhaps put a colored stone in the setting since you probably won't be able to use it for the 'new' lab stone.

that's EXACTLY what I told my wife but she doesn't believe me lol. she has sentimental value to the ring and i said she can just get the new one with the exact same design w/ the new LGD.

trying to convince her to put that ring on ebay / facebook and get rid of it!

 

[Rockdiamond]

perhaps put a colored stone in the setting since you probably won't be able to use it for the 'new' lab stone.

Actually....this is another positive point for Lab Growns, versus Natural.
There are a plethora of stones available, at prices so much lower than EM diamonds.....it makes finding a stone by measurement relatively easy.
Plus, the type of heavy setting we're looking at here will likely be able to withstand the work.....

 

[lovedogs]

Actually....this is another positive point for Lab Growns, versus Natural.
There are a plethora of stones available, at prices so much lower than EM diamonds.....it makes finding a stone by measurement relatively easy.
Plus, the type of heavy setting we're looking at here will likely be able to withstand the work.....

But if OP wants to go all the way to 3.5ct from 1.77 I think it's going to be super hard to reuse the setting

 

[KingsDude]

But if OP wants to go all the way to 3.5ct from 1.77 I think it's going to be super hard to reuse the setting

That's the $1000 question right (approx price to remake ring?)

 

[DejaWiz]

Take to a couple/few highly reputable private jewelers in your vicinity and ask if it's possible that your setting can take a 3.5+ carat diamond.
It might be able to, it might not. So many variables that need to be assessed and confirmed by an experienced jeweler.

 

[Rockdiamond]

But if OP wants to go all the way to 3.5ct from 1.77 I think it's going to be super hard to reuse the setting

I totally missed that!
...thanks for pointing that out....as Deja advised, have it checked out by a competent bench...still might be possible

 

[Karl_K]

post a side view of the ring please.

 

[tyty333]

ditto @Karl_K needing a side view of the ring/setting. If its a peg head then it should be relatively easy to replace with a new
bigger peg head.

 

[KingsDude]

ditto @Karl_K needing a side view of the ring/setting. If its a peg head then it should be relatively easy to replace with a new
bigger peg head.

Jewelers said it's possible to reuse setting so that's a plus!! Few more here