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I''d like to know if the jeweler was honest....

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redskins26

Rough_Rock
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Feb 18, 2010
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So I just bought a diamond to be inserted as the center stone of an engagement ring...and I know jewelers will say anything. So I was told by the jeweler, about the diamond that I ended up buying that the 53% table is a "rare find" and he has only seen 5-10 in his life (been a jeweler for 15 years). I then showed the report to a more commercial jeweler and asked if anything stuck out to him about the diamond. The very first thing he said was that the table was on the "low-end" of small and that a diamond with 55-60% would be better. Cut grade on this diamond is very good and I can provide all the measurements if that would help anyone. I''d just like a third party opinion who has no stock in this diamond...any help?

Does 53% matter? Is it good/bad?

Thanks for the help!

CS
 
There's nothing wrong with a 53% table as long as all the angles work together.

Post the proportions here.
 
Thanks again for the help - I don''t have capability of scanning the report, but the number is GIA #10700362. Is it a problem that I can''t find any information on this diamond in English?
 
what is the carat weight of the stone as given on the report?
 
1.05 - and I was able to find this report in English on the GIA website
 
I found the report in English...but I''d still like to know what a professional thinks? Comments & thoughts???
 
53% table is not a distinctly rare thing (sounds like a sales pitch). Did you see the diamond? Do you like the way it looks? Have a look at the KNOWLEDGE tab up at the top and read about the importance of cut in determining a diamond''s quality. Cut is the most important of the four C''s and many will prefer the look of an excellent cut to the extent that they''d be willing to sacrifice some clarity. Are you getting a good price for this diamond? Have you tried looking into an H, SI1''s with excellent cut grades? A carefully selected SI1 will be eye clean and the cut upgrade will make a noticeable difference to you.
 
A quick run through the HCA (clicks TOOLS on the top menu bar) results in the following:

Light Return: Excellent
Fire: Very Good
Scintillation: Very Good
Spread: Very good

An excellent cut diamond with a 55-57% table will LOOK a little bigger, even at the same carat weight. This diamond may look smaller than excellent cut diamonds of the same carat weight. However, some may like the look of this diamond. If you are getting a fair price, you really have to look at it yourself before ruling it out.
 
Angles are unconventional, being outside of both AGS'' and GIA''s top cut parameters, but HCA says the combo is "very good.
 
I did do a fair amount of research and looked around quite a bit. He had about 5-7 diamonds that I was considering (so I did see the diamond). I probably could have gone up a little in size and sacrifice the other C''s, but the way I decided this was as follows:

I looked at the diamonds available, once I decided to go with this guy.
Then I narrowed it down to four, and then two (best quality and best value).
I then asked him to put the two side-by-side when I turned around and I would choose between the two based on instinct when I turned to look at them.
I ended up going with this one, which was slightly smaller (compared to 1.08) but I thought it just looked nicer/shinier/etc.

I did want her to have a nice stone, rather just focusing on size...I know she will like anything, so I''m not overly concerned with that. Not to sound like I don''t care about her (because I have spent many many hours over the past four months trying to find the right ring/diamond combo), but I''m more concerned about the fact I got "out-sold" by a car-salemen and want to know that I made a right decision. I did get quotes from other stores and he did have the best price (by more than $500). I guess I''m just concerned he was trying to get rid of his less-wanted diamonds. When I asked him a little more about the 53% table he even went as far to say that the commercial (well respected jeweler in area for 20+ years) probably hadn''t even seen a 53% and referred me to Toltowsky''s research re: an ideal cut diamond.

Either way - I do appreciate all the comments and responses. I don''t believe I got hosed, and actually think I got a good deal - I just got a little confused/concerned when the commercial jeweler said it was a "lowe-end" table when I was told it was a "rarity" and only increases the value of the stone.
 
This might be over my head and perhaps an expert can comment. I expected this diamond to look small but the measurements are actually a bit wider ~6.65 mm than many excellent cut 1.05''s even though this diamond has a small table (53%).
 
If you are happy with the stone and feel that you have selected it from a large enough collection and got a good price, then sit back and enjoy it. If its still bugging you, perhaps letting us know what you paid can give you some piece of mind. The next step might also be to pay the $100-200 bucks to get it appraised. Check the menu bar up top for some recommendations and make sure you read about the appraisal process so you know how to go about selecting a competent appraiser.

I''m sure there are many on here that would trade the .05 carats and perhaps the VS2 clarity down to an SI1 for a more ideal cut stone but this is your decision and you have to like what you''ve picked. Peace of mind is an important part of that and that''s where an appraiser comes in handy. Hopefully the place you bought it from has a return policy that allots time for an appraisal. Best of luck.
 
Thanks for the info - I just did a search on the characteristics of the stone and found the same one on four different sites. They are basically what I paid for it (but I had to pay taxes). However, I''m 100% certain I couldn''t have bought this stone had I not seen it in person. Another bit of info that gives me piece of mind is that it is laser inscribed - makes me feel much better that I can always track the stone and ensure it''s not replaced when being cleaned, resized, set, etc.

I can''t thank y''all enough for the information you''ve given. Please feel free to continue to leave comments and I''ll check back frequently.

Hopefully others have gotten some knowledge by reading my questions and your replies...thanks again!
 
All that matters is that you like the diamond. To be honest, I don''t think a 53% is exceptionally rare - and even if it is .. it is not a rare quality that will commend more money.
 
I am starting to think more and more that diamonds should be seen as a work of art above all. Perhaps that is old school or romantic, but it is a luxury item that is meant to be looked at. Numbers are a good guide, especially for round brilliants, but if you look at it and are fascinated by it, and it speaks to you, go for it if there are no red flags.

If the small table really bothers you, though, and you can''t be comfortable with your decision (I know how that is, trust me), go right ahead and get a different stone.
 
Your jeweler wasn''t completely honest. No.
 
If you like it and you''re happy with your decision, get off this forum and go oggle it
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The numbers are unconventional.. the stone will not be a universal crowd pleaser - more of a specialty thing, if you will.



A 53% table is absolutely no problem at all - I would love a well cut stone with a 53% table!
 
I have go ogled it and found a few things here and there...mostly a lot of what has been said - conflicting opinions. I don''t mean that anyone is right or wrong, but it sounds more of a preference. I guess I decided to go with a slightly different cut and even without knowing which stone was which, I still chose this one over the very slightly larger stone in a side by side comparrison.

So you want a well cut stone with a 53% table, huh? How bad? Want to pay for it? Haha...hope all is well.
 
A 53% table on a round diamond is a tad unusual but if he’s only seen 5 in a 15 year career, he either doesn’t get out much or he isn’t looking closely at many diamonds. This means he's either not being entirely honest or he's not very well informed, neither of which I would call a compliment. As has been pointed out above, ‘unusual’ is not the same thing as either ‘better’ or ‘bad’. Being outside of the popular look is why GIA called it very good instead of excellent but it's important to remember that 'popular' isn't synonymous with either good or bad either. How you like it is the most important issue. For what it's worth, I sort of like some tall crowns and small tables but it’s definitely an issue of taste and they get routinely slammed here in the forum as 'steep and deep'.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver
 
What stands out to me is the rather aggressive selling techniques.
I agree with Neil that the bit about 53% tables being so rare is concerning me.
I am only speaking in generalities- not about any specific seller.
It seems to me that if a seller knows a statement is not true, and uses it anyway, that''s a problem.
Red diamonds are incredibly rare. Diamonds with 53% tables are not. If 53% tables were all the rage, cutters could cut them.
Someone making such statements either is not familiar with the market, or has no problem bending the truth to suit a particular selling situation.
Neither is a great situation for the buyer.

Redskins- to again stress- I don;t know the seller,and am not commenting on them specifically.
You can look them in the eye.
For sure, use your judgement
 
Date: 2/19/2010 1:20:19 PM
Author: denverappraiser
A 53% table on a round diamond is a tad unusual but if he’s only seen 5 in a 15 year career, he either doesn’t get out much or he isn’t looking closely at many diamonds. This means he''s either not being entirely honest or he''s not very well informed, neither of which I would call a compliment. As has been pointed out above, ‘unusual’ is not the same thing as either ‘better’ or ‘bad’. Being outside of the popular look is why GIA called it very good instead of excellent but it''s important to remember that ''popular'' isn''t synonymous with either good or bad either. How you like it is the most important issue. For what it''s worth, I sort of like some tall crowns and small tables but it’s definitely an issue of taste and they get routinely slammed here in the forum as ''steep and deep''.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver
same here Neil
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