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would you buy a diamond with a chip?

nala

nala

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Oct 23, 2011
Messages
7,237
So...I have the chance to buy a .90 oec diamond in antique setting for $1000...but it does have a small chip by the prong....should I go for it or pass on it? Would it be risky to wear it?
 
img_20130614_150713_0.jpg
 
I can't tell anything from your photo and I'm not an old cut expert by any means, but I think that chips along the girdle are quite common for these cuts and that many people purchase and wear them proudly. That said, can you get the stone independently appraised to see if their the stone is at risk of breaking or cracking? I assume that you plan to insure the stone? Will you be re-setting the stone?
 
I have 30 days for full refund but the dealer is a 4 hour drive from me. I plan to leave it in the setting.
 
I would not buy a diamond over $500 without a GIA or AGS report.
I would not buy a diamond with a chip unless it was selling for a nickel on the dollar.

Re-polishing a diamond is risky.
If the stone explodes on the wheel ALL my money goes POOF!
You aren't buying a diamond; you're buying a gamble.
 
kenny|1371253299|3466121 said:
I would not buy a diamond over $500 without a GIA or AGS report.
I would not buy a diamond with a chip unless it was selling for a nickel on the dollar.

Re-polishing a diamond is risky.
If the stone explodes on the wheel ALL my money goes POOF!
You aren't buying a diamond; you're buying a gamble.
Click to expand...



This is a very good point and I would want to make absolutely sure (in writing) that your insurer would cover the stone during any polishing or re cutting....assuming of course that you were planning to insure the ring. Does the stone have a report? I agree with Kenny ie, purchasing a stone with a GIA or AGS report, however I believe that it is quite rare in the case of old cuts. If it has an EGL report, which is more common with antique diamonds, then you should research EGL and decide whether or not you are comfortable with them.
 
Yes, I would buy an old stone with a chip. It's very common and most don't pose an issue. We can't tell anything from the picture you posted.

I am a little skeptical, though. If it's a B/M jeweler, this is very low pricing. What are the stats? Please have this checked out by an appraiser and not one affiliated with a jewelry store that sells diamonds.
 
I would not purchase a diamond with a chip, even in an old cut. For me it is a mind clean issue and I view the stone as "damaged". I might consider buying a chipped stone if the price was a steal and the chip was tiny and could be polished out. Then I would have the stone re-certed. In general I prefer old cuts that have not been polished or altered, so I usually pass on the chipped ones.
 
I think it is really really common to have old cuts with chips and nicks in them. As to buying them, it depends on what the chip is like is it a big one, could it be polished out, will it impact on the durability of the stone ie will it be fine to just wear it or is there a chance it can spread and result in a cracked diamond, it is near a feather or other inclusions that again can impact on the stone possibly breaking if it is bumped or dropped. These are all things to consider....
 
Chips are very common in older cuts. I've taken the chance on several and had them repolished with no issues, but I've made sure that the chips are small or on the very surface only. If they are deeper, I would pass.

That's a very pretty ring, and if it is indeed 0.90ct with minimal chips, it's a fantastic price.
 
I would and have bought a stone with a chip and/or some damage. The chip was a 'mouse bite' on an OEC and I did not have it repolished. Old cuts have character and they've seen a lot in their time. Having said this, my tune would change depending on how much I was paying for it and what it was going to be used for (ring, pendant, rhr or e-ring, daily wear versus occasional, setting type).
 
Can you re-verify that the ring has a .9 as the center stone and is not ctw? It looks pretty large on your finger but I don't know your ring size.

If you do go through with the sale, please get a return policy in writing and pay with a credit card (amex preferred).
 
My cushion has a teeny tiny chip in the girdle and it is stated on the GIA report. I love my diamond and it is over 100 years old so I kind of expected it to have one. I was given the option when I had it set in the temp setting to have it polished but decided not to at this time because the GIA report would not be accurate then. I think if you love it, go for it.
 
I would not recommend buying a diamond with the expectation of recutting it any more than I would recommend buying a car with an expectation of swapping out the engine. Some people do it, and some even make out pretty well at it, but it's not a job for amateurs.

That said, minor chips are not the end of the world and, as pointed out they're common in older stones. As long as there's no misrepresentation and you love it for what it is, there's very little problem. I would, however, recommend having it checked out by a pro to confirm that the damage isn't the sort of thing that's likely to increase with wear. Some will and some won't (most won't).
 
I would go for it, assuming you can verify the stats (I.e. you are getting what they said you're getting). If its verified, I'd take it and RUN!!! :naughty:
 
If you can take a very good close up of the top and bottom of the chip, we can tell you a lot more. Right now, we don't even know the size of the chip. Some tiny chips are quick fixes and don't even lose .01ct to fix. Generally speaking a chip is minor, but you might not be getting the real scoop on how damaged the diamond is now. Short of a good set of photos, seek out a professional adviser to look at it.
 
Hi...I wanted to thank everyone and post an update. I went back with digital calipers and measured it. The stone measures 5.9 by 5.8 mm. My finger is a size 6 for reference. The chip is about .9 mom long. I love the sparkle but that said...I am still confused esp. BC it appears like a .75 carat. Open to suggestions. It would be a right hand ring and I don't know if it looks too much like a solitaire.
 
nala|1371316420|3466510 said:
Hi...I wanted to thank everyone and post an update. I went back with digital calipers and measured it. The stone measures 5.9 by 5.8 mm. My finger is a size 6 for reference. The chip is about .9 mom long. I love the sparkle but that said...I am still confused esp. BC it appears like a .75 carat. Open to suggestions. It would be a right hand ring and I don't know if it looks too much like a solitaire.
Click to expand...

A lot of old cuts are deep and so face up smaller for weight compared to a well cut MRB of the same diameter. One of the experts like Dreamer or Charmy might be able to tell you more exactly what to expect diameterwise, but I think I've seen where old cut 1cts can face up in the low 6mm range instead of the 6.4-5mm you would expect out of a MRB so it may really be in the ballpark for an old cut .9.

I don't think it looks like a solitaire at all.
 
The pricing is still good for a .75 carat stone. The seller could be slightly inflating the stone size or it's deep. What are the other specs? If you're still on the fence about it, have them take more pics (esp of the chip) and have them sent to you.
 
Wait, the chip is almost 1mm long? Is it 0.9mm wide along the surface? or is it chipped 0.9mm into the diamond?
 
Honestly no. Chips are a deal breaker for me. However, I have read quite a few times where people bought old cuts and had them repolished to get the nicks out of the girdles and such. It is not terribly expensive- I believe it can be done for about $400. Anyone can correct me if I am wrong about that. Also- the setting of the ring is very pretty. That alone is worth half the price of the ring. You will incur costs to remove the stone and remount it if you get the chipped polished out- that is assuming the chip is not that big. So it is a gamble that may or may not pay off for you if you take the risk. Hope that helps.
 
Final update: I took a gamble (I was in Vegas, after all) and I bought the ring. I just got back from my jeweler and he said the ring was an awesome deal! He told me that I can leave the ring as is, with no worries about the chip. If I want to reset it, however, he suggested that he could polish out the chip for a minimal amount. As I am happy with the ring as it is for now, I plan to leave it be. Thanks to all of you for your advice!
 
denverappraiser|1371299892|3466401 said:
I would not recommend buying a diamond with the expectation of recutting it any more than I would recommend buying a car with an expectation of swapping out the engine. Some people do it, and some even make out pretty well at it, but it's not a job for amateurs.

That said, minor chips are not the end of the world and, as pointed out they're common in older stones. As long as there's no misrepresentation and you love it for what it is, there's very little problem. I would, however, recommend having it checked out by a pro to confirm that the damage isn't the sort of thing that's likely to increase with wear. Some will and some won't (most won't).
Click to expand...

I agree with this.

As to your original question, I have bought OECs with chips.
 
nala|1371685953|3468965 said:
Final update: I took a gamble (I was in Vegas, after all) and I bought the ring. I just got back from my jeweler and he said the ring was an awesome deal! He told me that I can leave the ring as is, with no worries about the chip. If I want to reset it, however, he suggested that he could polish out the chip for a minimal amount. As I am happy with the ring as it is for now, I plan to leave it be. Thanks to all of you for your advice!
Click to expand...


Final update? Are we going to get pics???? :naughty:
 
Taken with my phone, but promise I will put up better ones later.

img_20130615_011552_2.jpg
 
Purdy. Can you see the chip with the naked eye? Is it on the girdle or on the crown or pavilion?
 
No, you can't see it with the naked eye. It is located right by the prongs, on the crown.
 
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