Trading my 1.5 carat mined diamond for a 3-carat diamond

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Most people want a sparkly diamond and that is why people are asking you to post the GIA number or a picture of the report for your natural diamond. If the cut is good it probably isn't going to sparkle as much as an excellent cut diamond and the resale value will be lower. But it still might be nice enough for you to get close to what you paid for or even more. People can advise you better when they see the report.

The trade you have planned has too many risks IMHO. It would be better to sell your diamond then search for your lab diamond. We have experts here like @Kim N and @DejaWiz who have helped many of us pick out the best lab diamonds and will help you with your search.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

Yes, I confirmed with GIA that they do not certify diamonds. I guess once diamond is identified as being a diamond, that’s its certification. I do have the GIA report number which is 13688236. Do I need to actual certificate? Or is this sufficient? Thank you all.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

Most people want a sparkly diamond and that is why people are asking you to post the GIA number or a picture of the report for your natural diamond. If the cut is good it probably isn't going to sparkle as much as an excellent cut diamond and the resale value will be lower. But it still might be nice enough for you to get close to what you paid for or even more. People can advise you better when they see the report.

The trade you have planned has too many risks IMHO. It would be better to sell your diamond then search for your lab diamond. We have experts here like @Kim N and @DejaWiz who have helped many of us pick out the best lab diamonds and will help you with your search.

Yes, that really is my preference. I’d be more comfortable selling my diamond and then purchasing a lab-grown diamond. But folks have a lot of opinions on this and I might change my mind and not do this at all.

 

[tyty333]

Interesting...do you have any upclose pictures of your stone?

https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=13688236

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Yes, I confirmed with GIA that they do not certify diamonds. I guess once diamond is identified as being a diamond, that’s its certification. I do have the GIA report number which is 13688236. Do I need to actual certificate? Or is this sufficient? Thank you all.

This is sufficient. Ritani sells very similar diamonds for about 8k. I think you can recoup what you paid for the diamond if you listed it on Loupetroop.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

Wow. That’s much more than I expected. Thank you.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

Why don’t you keep your natural stone as a pendant and buy this 3 ct?

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That is a bit bigger than I think is practical. Plus I want something better than an SI. But that sure is cheap.

 

[lulu_ma]

That is a bit bigger than I think is practical. Plus I want something better than an SI. But that sure is cheap.

I thought you wanted a 3 ct? Before you pull the trigger with a lab, I recommend buying a cz in the size you want and wearing it for a bit.

DSS (diamond shrinkage syndrome) seems to set in quickly in the LGF.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

This is sufficient. Ritani sells very similar diamonds for about 8k. I think you can recoup what you paid for the diamond if you listed it on Loupetroop.

I thought you wanted a 3 ct? Before you pull the trigger with a lab, I recommend buying a cz in the size you want and wearing it for a bit.

DSS (diamond shrinkage syndrome) seems to set in quickly in the LGF.

Yes, I was considering a 3 carat lab-grown. What I originally wanted was a 2-carat lab grown, and two 2-carat lab-grown eternity bands. But when I first mentioned trading my 1.5 carat mined diamond to the jeweler in California, he said he would trade it for a 3-carat lab. I didn’t even get to tell him about a 2-carat diamond and the two eternity bands. As far as being able to tell what diamond is from the Earth and what diamond it is from a lab, what difference would that make? I’m not asking that rhetorically. I’m genuinely interested. Someone made a good analogy of a baby being conceived via in-vitro fertilization versus being conceived the natural way. Probably no one ever questions people where their babies came from! I just don’t even know why that would matter, if a diamond is a diamond, regardless of where it was sourced. Cubic zirconia and moissanite are not diamonds.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Yes, I was considering a 3 carat lab-grown. What I originally wanted was a 2-carat lab grown, and two 2-carat lab-grown eternity bands. But when I first mentioned trading my 1.5 carat mined diamond to the jeweler in California, he said he would trade it for a 3-carat lab. I didn’t even get to tell him about a 2-carat diamond and the two eternity bands. As far as being able to tell what diamond is from the Earth and what diamond it is from a lab, what difference would that make? I’m not asking that rhetorically. I’m genuinely interested. Someone made a good analogy of a baby being conceived via in-vitro fertilization versus being conceived the natural way. Probably no one ever questions people where their babies came from! I just don’t even know why that would matter, if a diamond is a diamond, regardless of where it was sourced. Cubic zirconia and moissanite are not diamonds.

well, it depends on you what difference it makes. There's certain practical differences - e.g. natural diamonds won't have certain types of inclusions like growth stria, they won't have blue nuance; while lab grown diamonds would not have fluorescence. But sure, to the naked eye, a majority of lab grown diamonds would be indistinguishable to natural. A grading lab however would have the specialised equipment required to distinguish a lab from natural.

In terms of future value? Anyone who says they know what will happen is lying. In my opinion the likeliest situation is that over time the prices of natural and labgrowns will diverge and will not impact each other; lab grown will decline further making resale at a decent price difficult to impossible, graded (by a reputable lab) natural prices will likely stabilise in line with long-term trends; but ungraded stones and/or melee will either crash in prices or stop being produced in favour of lab grown. But this is just my opinion.

I think if I were you, I'd either hold on to your natural or sell it today; but not tie it into the procurement of a lab grown. This way you have a chance to buy exactly what you want, namely the 2ct lab + 2 eternity bands.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

Why don’t you keep your natural stone as a pendant and buy this 3 ct?

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What would cause a lab-created diamond to be an SI1 clarity? As opposed to VVS1 or VVS2 like I’ve seen elsewhere? I assume I am mistaken in thinking that there would not be flaws in lab-created diamonds? But why WOULD there be flaws?

 

[lovedogs]

What would cause a lab-created diamond to be an SI1 clarity? As opposed to VVS1 or VVS2 like I’ve seen elsewhere? I assume I am mistaken in thinking that there would not be flaws in lab-created diamonds? But why WOULD there be flaws?

There are flaws in MMD just like natural. In the growth process inclusions happen (although not the same ones necessarily)

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

well, it depends on you what difference it makes. There's certain practical differences - e.g. natural diamonds won't have certain types of inclusions like growth stria, they won't have blue nuance; while lab grown diamonds would not have fluorescence. But sure, to the naked eye, a majority of lab grown diamonds would be indistinguishable to natural. A grading lab however would have the specialised equipment required to distinguish a lab from natural.

In terms of future value? Anyone who says they know what will happen is lying. In my opinion the likeliest situation is that over time the prices of natural and labgrowns will diverge and will not impact each other; lab grown will decline further making resale at a decent price difficult to impossible, graded (by a reputable lab) natural prices will likely stabilise in line with long-term trends; but ungraded stones and/or melee will either crash in prices or stop being produced in favour of lab grown. But this is just my opinion.

I think if I were you, I'd either hold on to your natural or sell it today; but not tie it into the procurement of a lab grown. This way you have a chance to buy exactly what you want, namely the 2ct lab + 2 eternity bands.

Thank you. That was very helpful. Would you know of a reputable site where I could browse 2-carat lab-created diamonds and 2-carat lab-created eternity bands? so far I’ve only looked on Blue Nile. I have a lot of jewelry from Blue Nile. But if there are other recommendations, please suggest some. Thank you again.

 

[lulu_ma]

Thank you. That was very helpful. Would you know of a reputable site where I could browse 2-carat lab-created diamonds and 2-carat lab-created eternity bands? so far I’ve only looked on Blue Nile. I have a lot of jewelry from Blue Nile. But if there are other recommendations, please suggest some. Thank you again.

For ready made jewelry, definitely check out Alex Park's lab IG. His pricing will be significantly better than BN.

Alex has a good reputation on PS. I have personally bought a 4 ct from him. But, fyi, he's not a "hand holder."

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[lulu_ma]

Yes, I was considering a 3 carat lab-grown. What I originally wanted was a 2-carat lab grown, and two 2-carat lab-grown eternity bands. But when I first mentioned trading my 1.5 carat mined diamond to the jeweler in California, he said he would trade it for a 3-carat lab. I didn’t even get to tell him about a 2-carat diamond and the two eternity bands. As far as being able to tell what diamond is from the Earth and what diamond it is from a lab, what difference would that make? I’m not asking that rhetorically. I’m genuinely interested. Someone made a good analogy of a baby being conceived via in-vitro fertilization versus being conceived the natural way. Probably no one ever questions people where their babies came from! I just don’t even know why that would matter, if a diamond is a diamond, regardless of where it was sourced. Cubic zirconia and moissanite are not diamonds.

I have heard this argument several times and personally find it kind of offensive. I would NEVER equate a human being with an inanimate luxury item-but that is just me.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

Would that be https://alexparkjewelry.com?

 

[Inked]

I have heard this argument several times and personally find it kind of offensive. I would NEVER equate a human being with an inanimate luxury item-but that is just me.

I agree. I like the ice analogy better, does it matter if you got it from the top of a mountain or your freezer? It's still ice.

Personally I would think you could sell your natural diamond yourself for that price and then buy a gorgeous perfect lab diamond for less than $3500and then have some money left over for an eternity band.

I STRONGLY recommend you spend a little time educating yourself about diamonds, both natural and mined, because some of your questions show you don't know much about mined or lab diamonds, and i would hate to see you being taken advantage of.

A little knowledge will go a long way and will help you navigate both of the transactions, where you get the most for your natural diamond and the best lab for the best price!

 

[Inked]

Would that be https://alexparkjewelry.com?

Yes. I have purchased 5 lab diamonds from him. I always go through his instagram, i feel like it's more up to date.
He has a few pages for lab jewelry

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

I agree. I like the ice analogy better, does it matter if you got it from the top of a mountain or your freezer? It's still ice.

Personally I would think you could sell your natural diamond yourself for that price and then buy a gorgeous perfect lab diamond for less than $3500and then have some money left over for an eternity band.

I STRONGLY recommend you spend a little time educating yourself about diamonds, both natural and mined, because some of your questions show you don't know much about mined or lab diamonds, and i would hate to see you being taken advantage of.

A little knowledge will go a long way and will help you navigate both of the transactions, where you get the most for your natural diamond and the best lab for the best price!

This is why I’m asking all these questions. This is why I’m not making a decision yet. This is why I appreciate everybody’s input. That’s exactly why I posted here. Because I’m not an expert like so many of you clearly are. I’m not doing anything yet. I’m simply asking questions so that I become better educated.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

Interesting...do you have any upclose pictures of your stone?

https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=13688236

I don’t, and I can’t take a good-enough resolution photo.

 

[Inked]

This is why I’m asking all these questions. This is why I’m not making a decision yet. This is why I appreciate everybody’s input. That’s exactly why I posted here. Because I’m not an expert like so many of you clearly are. I’m not doing anything yet. I’m simply asking questions so that I become better educated.

I am definitely not an expert! But we have plenty who are! They can definitely help you find a perfect lab for way less than $3500 when you're ready.

I just think you can probably sell on your own for $3500 or maybe a little more if you're not in a rush.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

I am definitely not an expert! But we have plenty who are! They can definitely help you find a perfect lab for way less than $3500 when you're ready.

I just think you can probably sell on your own for $3500 or maybe a little more if you're not in a rush.

Thank you. I’m not in a rush at all. The only rush I would’ve been in is if natural diamond prices are going to fall, but the consensus seems to be that won’t happen just yet. I don’t know how to sell a diamond though. I know there’s better ways than others, but because I am not educated on the art of diamond-selling, I don’t know where to begin with that. Someone mentioned someone called loupetroop I think? I will look them up later and see what I find. I do appreciate everyone’s input. This is exactly why I’m doing this.

 

[MamaBear]

I sold a diamond to Abe Mor so I could then buy an ACA. It was an easy process!

Abe Mor | Buy & Sell Diamonds and Jewelry in NYC

abemor.com

 

[Dreamer_D]

True! I love antiques myself. I love YOUR antiques. But you do not strike me as someone who's using her diamonds to show off her wealth. I certainly wasn't arguing that nobody will want natural diamonds, just that diamonds may lose their power to proclaim their wearers' wealth.

(I apologize if I'm coming off as argumentative. I'm enjoying discussing the question and looking at its different, um, facets. But I know not everyone finds discussions that involve disagreement fun, so please let me know if you'd like me to stop. A wink or an eye-roll emoji will do it.)


How everyone will envy me my S/T color I1 CBI!

No I’m enjoying hearing your thoughts especially as we share some common interests.

I don’t explicitly wear diamonds to show wealth but it’s very hard to tease apart personal motivation from cultural meaning and the fact remains that diamonds are a show of wealth, today and historically. I think I read somewhere that young people aren’t necessarily spending less on engagement rings they are just using their money to get larger and better quality lab diamonds. So the metric for what a diamond of a given size might cost may be shifting but it remains a show of wealth. There is research showing, for example, that people assume a woman is more worthy and her fiancé more in love with her when he buys her a larger diamond. Gross, but there it is — symbolic meaning that is unlikely to change anytime soon. And class signifiers are complex. People don’t need a machine to point at someone’s jewels to known their class. But it is one piece of the puzzle. I’m thinking about how the old money class in Britain dresses fairly drab but all their clothing is by brands no mere mortals have heard of which cost an arm and a leg. Meanwhile the nouveau riche wear LV branded hats and jackets etc. Anyway, I digress. I can very much see natural diamonds somehow fitting into that mix, and people assuming a diamond is natural or not based on other class signifiers.

And to OP @Chelsea Palmer I detest that so-called argument about natural and synthetic diamonds that equates it to ways of conceiving human children. Humans are not material objects and so the comparison is not only inaccurate but also objectifying, particularly of children conceived through IVF who do not exist for anyone’s “gotcha” in this or any other argument. Naturally occurring minerals and metals and other earthly phenomenon are different than their manufactured counterparts, if not materially (though with diamonds they are different in some essential ways like type of inclusions and body tint) but more importantly in the cultural value and meaning ascribed to them. Yes the dreaded “social construction” rears its head. I am not arguing one is better then the other per se, but it seems weird to argue they are exactly the same. It removes the cultural context which is never a good way to proceed.

 

[togal]

Oh my Lord...lol... Chelsea!...back to your question. I have a suggestion for you. I sold my 1.33 carat GIA certified diamond to WP Diamonds (MyGemma.com) in New York. I'm in Canada, and they couldn't have made the process easier, and gave me, what I think was a very fair price. I was nervous about selling a diamond this way, but believe me, they made the process seamless.

This is the diamond I sold, which by PriceScope standards is not the best cut (what they refer to as a 60/60):
https://www.stonealgo.com/diamond-details/GIA-number-2196823120

Regardless, I was offered and accepted $7,400 USD 2 years ago. I'm not sure if prices have gone down for diamonds in the past 2 years since I sold my stone, but it's worth reaching out to them to at least get a quote. They're always looking for GIA certified stones in the 1 carat range, as this seems to be a hot commodity for natural diamonds in the marketplace. I actually made back more or less what I paid for the diamond originally.

I dealt with Emre Kocahasan: [email protected] (The website used to be called WP Diamonds, but it's now called My Gemma)

https://mygemma.com/​

About halfway down the page, on the left-hand side is a "Sell" box, where you can click to fill out the requisite info on your stone, and they will give you a quote within 24 hours. They will want your GIA certificate number, and the original (or even a copy) of the GIA certificate if you accept the quote. Emre is a pleasure to deal with. I think you can get back your $3,500 and start your lab diamond hunt.

I, personally, am a believer, that if you're not purchasing diamonds as an investment for resale, then it doesn't make a difference if it's a lab diamond, or a naturally mined stone. Once it's on the finger, no one knows...only you. Besides, with the price of lab diamonds, which are ever decreasing in price, one can have a whole diamond wardrobe for the price of a single mined diamond. That's how I look it anyway. Good luck with it all!

 

[togal]

This is a balanced article (see link below) about lab diamonds and their perception for consumers. Consumers are being told in the media that the there are no inherent differences in the mined stone vs. the lab grown variety. I agree, at least for this 'boomer', that It's a matter of personal choice, budget, and the love of all sparkly things that make ones heart sing... Beauty is beauty...or in the words of William Shakespeare, "That which we call a rose, by any other word, would smell as sweet". A diamond is a diamond... (I was going to write: a diamond is a diamond, as a baby is baby...and then thought better of it...lol ). I think for newbies who come here in earnest to seek out advice, the admonishments over innocent comments/queries can be a little heavy-handed. Just a thought.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/lab-grown-diamonds-1.7066621#:~:text=In%202018%2C%20the%20U.S.%20Federal,standards%2C%20from%20independent%20gemological%20organisations.

 

[togal]

Oh my Lord...lol... Chelsea!...back to your question. I have a suggestion for you. I sold my 1.33 carat GIA certified diamond to WP Diamonds (MyGemma.com) in New York. I'm in Canada, and they couldn't have made the process easier, and gave me, what I think was a very fair price. I was nervous about selling a diamond this way, but believe me, they made the process seamless.

This is the diamond I sold, which by PriceScope standards is not the best cut (what they refer to as a 60/60):
https://www.stonealgo.com/diamond-details/GIA-number-2196823120

Regardless, I was offered and accepted $7,400 USD 2 years ago. I'm not sure if prices have gone down for diamonds in the past 2 years since I sold my stone, but it's worth reaching out to them to at least get a quote. They're always looking for GIA certified stones in the 1 carat range, as this seems to be a hot commodity for natural diamonds in the marketplace. I actually made back more or less what I paid for the diamond originally.

I dealt with Emre Kocahasan: [email protected] (The website used to be called WP Diamonds, but it's now called My Gemma)

https://mygemma.com/​

About halfway down the page, on the left-hand side is a "Sell" box, where you can click to fill out the requisite info on your stone, and they will give you a quote within 24 hours. They will want your GIA certificate number, and the original (or even a copy) of the GIA certificate if you accept the quote. Emre is a pleasure to deal with. I think you can get back your $3,500 and start your lab diamond hunt.

I, personally, am a believer, that if you're not purchasing diamonds as an investment for resale, then it doesn't make a difference if it's a lab diamond, or a naturally mined stone. Once it's on the finger, no one knows...only you. Besides, with the price of lab diamonds, which are ever decreasing in price, one can have a whole diamond wardrobe for the price of a single mined diamond. That's how I look it anyway. Good luck with it all!

I should add also, that I did try various routes, including trying to sell my diamond to local jewellers, and other online buyers, including Abe Mor, who I see that someone else recommended...but no one matched what WP Diamonds (mygemma.com) offered. Again, good luck!

 

[togal]

I guess timing IS everything... Just looking, via a Google search and realizing that, unwittingly, I sold my diamond at the all-time height of the diamond price market. According to this article (link below), prices of naturally mined diamonds have really plunged...and continue to do so... I still can't believe that I made back what I paid for my stone...

Purchasing diamonds now, as an 'investment'....or with potential future trade-ups in mind, is a bit a mugs game, it seems... Go for the beauty and the look...and take advantage of the low price-point of lab grown, is my suggestion. Unless the natural diamond is large and/or of extreme quality, spending $20K on a 2 ct doesn't seem worth it in this current environment... The times....they are a changin'...

And yes, I really did sell my 1.33 carat that's currently valued on StoneAlgo at less than what I received by selling it through WP Diamonds... Unbelievable!

What I thought at the time was rhetoric, proved to be true...(see attached email from WP Diamonds... Some good information there regarding the market-place)...

Again, they paid me 7,400 USD for my stone:
https://www.stonealgo.com/diamond-details/GIA-number-2196823120

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/22/dia...heir-peak-and-analysts-predict-more-pain.html

 

[togal]

Another good article of interest...
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/05/dia...-lab-grown-gemstones-tank-prices-further.html

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

Most people want a sparkly diamond and that is why people are asking you to post the GIA number or a picture of the report for your natural diamond. If the cut is good it probably isn't going to sparkle as much as an excellent cut diamond and the resale value will be lower. But it still might be nice enough for you to get close to what you paid for or even more. People can advise you better when they see the report.

The trade you have planned has too many risks IMHO. It would be better to sell your diamond then search for your lab diamond. We have experts here like @Kim N and @DejaWiz who have helped many of us pick out the best lab diamonds and will help you with your search.

Thank you. This is exactly the advice I was seeking.