(Closed) Would you buy a diamond you have not seen in person?

posted 6 years ago in Rings
Post # 1
Member
1039 posts
Bumble bee
  • Wedding: December 2013

Hi Bees,

Sorry for all the questions about diamonds and rings!  I have found this site to be quite helpful so I’m looking for some more advice.

Fiance and I have a diamond on hold at a jeweler down by where my parents live, around 6 hours away from where I live.  It is a round brilliant G color, SI1 clarity, very good cut, 0.96 carats and the jeweler will sell it to us for $4,500 which I think is a pretty good price from my research on the internet.  The diamond is beautiful in person as we saw it last weekend.

We went to the jeweler last night that FI’s brother got his FI’s ring from, and where my roomates boyfriend also got her ring.  I didn’t care for the jeweler himself that much as he was much more in a hurry than the other one and kind of seemed like he didn’t want to deal with us.  Anyway, he had similar diamonds but he was charging more than the jeweler back home so we were just going to go with the one by my parents.

Fiance got a call earlier today from my parents’ jeweler.  He has a 1.18 carat, J color, SI1 clarity, excellent cut diamond that he will offer us for $5,700.  Another couple had this diamond on hold and he just got the call that they are buying another diamond so this one is now available.  Obviously we have not seen this diamond in person.

Fiance asked the jeweler if he could take some pictures of it since it’s pretty inconvenient for us to make another 6 hour drive.  The jeweler did and I have not seen the pictures yet (stupid spam block on work computer) but Fiance said the diamond looks gorgeous.  The jeweler photographed it next to the 0.96 carat one we had on hold and even though there is a slight difference in size, Fiance says that the cut on the bigger diamond really looks better.  Even though that diamond was above his budget ($5,000) he said he would be willing to get it for me.

From what I could find online, this is a fabulous price.  I think it’s because he is friends with my parents.  I was going to get a platinum solitaire setting, but I feel bad asking for that since the diamond itself is over FI’s budget, so I don’t mind getting the setting in white gold instead.

I’m a little nervous buying something sight unseen; Fiance says we should go for it.  The jeweler will only hold it until Saturday because like the 0.96 carat diamond, he thinks he will be able to sell this one rather fast.

Would you buy a diamond you haven’t seen in person?  Part of my says get the 0.96 carat one then I can get platinum instead of white gold for the setting.  The other part of my says to get the bigger diamond!

Thanks again for all your help!

Post # 3
Member
242 posts
Helper bee
  • Wedding: February 2008

If you’re color sensitive, I’d be worried about the J color.  The only way I’d buy a diamond sight unseen is if I can return it.  He should be willing to send it to you and if you’re not happy with it, you can return it.  If he’s not willing to do that, I’d go with the one you’ve seen in person and loved.  The carat difference isn’t big enough to take a chance, especially with J color.  

Post # 4
Member
3625 posts
Sugar bee
  • Wedding: June 2012

If it was final sale, probably not. That’s a lot riding on that if you don’t like it. However, since it is a Ring Bearer, it’s more predictable. Fancy cuts should always been seen in person.

J, IMO, is quite a difference from G so that’s something to consider. Have you seen Js in person? If you have and are fine, then you may be okay but if you’ve never seen them before, they may be too warm for your taste. In addition, I don’t love the fact that it is SI1. The inclusions may be hard to see or it can be very obvious.

Post # 5
Member
234 posts
Helper bee
  • Wedding: August 2011

 My husband is a jeweler.  So here’s my advice – you can read all the specs all you want – but 2 stones, with the same specs, can and will look completely different.  A lot factors into what makes a great stone, and you really need to see it in person.  I second what @AP1976: said – see if he can send to you. I know my husband sends diamonds to people all the time…. And also – it’s hard to tell from a camera how the diamond looks  in person. 

He said re the J, if it’s GIA – it will look white and my hubs would sell that exact stone for $4600.  EGL or other, it should be even cheaper, and have some color to it. 

As for the G, if it’s GIA, the $4600 is also a good price. EGL or otherwise, than bad price (FWIW, i have a G SI1 myself)

Re platinum vs white gold – to make you feel better ab white gold – i have a platinum setting and it’s so soft it bends.  My round rings keeps becomming oval…it’s annoying.   

 

Post # 6
Member
3968 posts
Honey bee
  • Wedding: September 2014

J to G, as PPs mention, is a big jump. If I could buy a stone and be guaranteed that I could return it, then I’d buy it to check it out. 

Post # 7
Member
242 posts
Helper bee
  • Wedding: February 2008

If it’s a trustworthy jeweler, he should be able to tell you if the stone is eye clean.  Most S1’s actually are, if you think he’ll be honest – ask him.  I re-read your post and see that the J color stone is an excellent cut while the other one is very good.  Cut is the most important factor in performance and sparkle, so if I were you I would go to local jewelry stores that have diamonds on site and ask to see J diamonds next to G ones, and you’ll have a good idea how you feel about the color.  And also – is the diamond certified?  If it’s certified by EGL, the color/clarity grade will most likely be 2 notches down from GIA.  

Post # 10
Member
328 posts
Helper bee
  • Wedding: September 2013

The .96 is a better deal.

Post # 11
Member
242 posts
Helper bee
  • Wedding: February 2008

The same specs on Whiteflash bring up a more expensive diamond.  Which just goes to show that as @Margaritachka: said, the same stones with the same specs can and will look different, and cost different.  I’d definitely find out if it’s certified, and then would only buy it if you can return it.  

1.180 J SI1 Excellent

Virtual Selection
$6,072

Post # 12
Member
1039 posts
Bumble bee
  • Wedding: December 2013

Thank you again so much!

I checked out prices on James Allen and I thought the 1.18 carat price was a decent deal, but it looks like it may not be.  It has a GIA cert.

The 0.96 carat G, SI1 diamond also has a GIA cert. 

I went to another jeweler tonight that a coworker recommended.  They did not have any J colored diamonds in person, but they did have some I colored ones and I did not have a problem with the color.  My parents’ jeweler says the 1.18 carat J faces up very white.  It is an SI1 and eye clean and it seems like most of the flaws are near the edge where he said they could be covered with prongs.

This 3rd jeweler I went to tonight has a 1.04 carat G color SI1 that they are willing to sell for $5,200 but it has an EGL cert.  It is very pretty in person and I think it is also an excellent cut. 

I wish I could ses all 3 next to each other!

I will ask my parents’ jeweler if he would be willing to send the 1.18 carat J diamond to us to see in person.  Thanks for the suggestion!

This is much harder than I thought!

Post # 13
Member
6359 posts
Bee Keeper

Only if there is a window where I can return it for a full refund if I don’t like it.

I would ask the jeweler to ship it somewhere closer, or make the drive. Diamonds don’t photograph easily, they kind of all look the same, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Video is better but still lacking.

I would also need a GIA cert – read and understand everything on there!, but a cert is not enough that I wouldn’t need to see it in person. Especially when we are dealing with inclusions at this grade.

Post # 14
Member
204 posts
Helper bee
  • Wedding: May 2014

Great advice in this thread

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