Will you buy this 20 year old Lucida diamond ring?

[dragonpearl]

I was browsing at my neighbourhood jeweller's when I came across this Lucida diamond ring. 20 years old, in decent condition.
Its 1.77 carat F colour VVS2 grade. In a platinum setting. Ring size just happens to fit.
The original GIA cert and Tiffant papers are all intact.
Asking price $12500.
I am quite tempted.
Only that its 20 years old and might be someone's wedding ring
I don't quite know what to think of it

 

[Bron357]

I wear rings over 100 years old and worse than the previous owner being married, they are dead!
Seriously though, preloved is a great way of getting value for your money. The is no “bad karma” with pre loved in my book, just fabulous savings off retail and who knows, maybe the previous owner got a 5 carat upgrade!
Have you got the details of the GIA report ie the proportions?
If you post those details up the diamond gurus will be able to give you their learned opinions. Apart from colour and clarity you want to be sure it is a “sparkly performer”.
I presume it’s a princess cut, these are somewhat out of favor at the moment so better buying for the carat weight.
$12,500 is a great price as the style selling on eBay are asking between $18,000 and $20,000 for a similar size.

 

[OoohShiny]

As the carbon and platinum in it are several million to several billion years old, I personally would not worry about the blink-of-an-eye that is the last 20

 

[MarionC]

Considering a one carat Tiffany is selling pre owned for more than that, it looks like a great deal. I would buy it in a heartbeat after seeing it, and I would even try to negotiate the price.
In a word, YES.

 

[OcnGypZ]

It's a decent price from what I've seen of other Lucida resales. FYI every diamond I own comes from a line of multiple deceased prior owners.

 

[cokitty]

If that is the style of ring and diamond you wanted, go for it. That is a great price for T&Co preloved and really a good price for new unbranded. Seems like a win-win to me.

 

[diagem]

I was browsing at my neighbourhood jeweller's when I came across this Lucida diamond ring. 20 years old, in decent condition.
Its 1.77 carat F colour VVS2 grade. In a platinum setting. Ring size just happens to fit.
The original GIA cert and Tiffant papers are all intact.
Asking price $12500.
I am quite tempted.
Only that its 20 years old and might be someone's wedding ring
I don't quite know what to think of it

As someone who was familiar with the cut, Tiffany’s Lucida cut is one of the true innovative cuts of the new millennium (circa 2000). I believe it was released in Sept 98 or 99 and carried a genuine innovative pavilion facet design, new in the art which granted Tiffany a utility patent for the cut. It’s a true Tiffany Diamond, perhaps the only one.

The early cuts were really outstanding. They had a significant higher crown height and incorporated an unusual small table for the time.

Although not familiar with them anymore, I believe that through the years I have noticed a lax in their unique cut proportions. So if I would consider a Lucida, I would probably look for one early cut edition.

 

[AV_]

The Lucida is a name to remember in the historical lineage of the step cut, and the diamonds are uncommon. One of the earliest & best vintage is a find.

 

[dragonpearl]

Thank you everyone for the kind comments and insights.
Any word of advice for buying pre owned?

 

[AV_]

@dragonpearl There is always a question of condition. You could have a second pair of eyes looking for chips, dings & scratches on your behalf (an appraiser's, or a fresh lab report done on the diamond as set) but the discount is already there, and twenty years are not a long time for a fine ring.

Just a thought

 

[dragonpearl]

As someone who was familiar with the cut, Tiffany’s Lucida cut is one of the true innovative cuts of the new millennium (circa 2000). I believe it was released in Sept 98 or 99 and carried a genuine innovative pavilion facet design, new in the art which granted Tiffany a utility patent for the cut. It’s a true Tiffany Diamond, perhaps the only one.

The early cuts were really outstanding. They had a significant higher crown height and incorporated an unusual small table for the time.

Although not familiar with them anymore, I believe that through the years I have noticed a lax in their unique cut proportions. So if I would consider a Lucida, I would probably look for one early cut edition.

Thank you. That is quite informative
This shop sells a mix of stuff and I suspect the salesman has no idea about anything other than what is printed on the cert.
Is the diamond vulnerable to damage since it has relatively exposed sides?
I should also examine the laser inscription on the ring shank and on the diamond itself right to see if they correspond with the cert ? I wonder if the salesman even has a loupe

 

[AV_]

@diagem I had noticed an air of familiarity between the use of large facets on the Lucida and on the Peruzzi. The ETAS must be as distinctive as a signature - yours now.

 

[Bron357]

Yes, check the inscription on the girdle using a Loupe. Also using the Loupe check the rest of the girdle and top facets for chips (a fingernail rubbed sling the edges can also find these).
Check that the diamond is secure in the setting (no drama either way) by using your fingernail on the girdle to see if you can get it to wiggle.
If it has the original Tiffany papers with GIA report that matches the diamond, I’d be whipping out my $12,500 and taking that baby home before someone else does.
There is a definite premium to Tiffany branded rings and diamonds but even for a no name setting with that size, colour and clarity diamond it’s still a bargain buy.
We will be expecting lots of photos too!

 

[m51galaxy]

I have a Lucida (much smaller) that I got second hand. It is so sparkly in all different lighting including direct sunlight. The original purchase was in 2003.