{"id":5687,"date":"2014-06-27T09:29:39","date_gmt":"2014-06-27T13:29:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/?p=5687"},"modified":"2023-04-17T11:01:14","modified_gmt":"2023-04-17T15:01:14","slug":"should-you-buy-a-diamond-from-ebay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/should-you-buy-a-diamond-from-ebay\/","title":{"rendered":"SHOULD YOU BUY A DIAMOND FROM EBAY?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Should<\/div>\n

The question comes up often about buying Diamonds on eBay<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Should you do it?<\/h2>\n

\nPeople are under the impression that you can get a really good deal on eBay<\/strong>, and that you’ll be able to save a ton of money on a Diamond (Loose or Mounted), as well as an Engagement Ring or Wedding Set.<\/p>\n

\nBut from what I’ve seen and heard, I would advise being very careful about this purchase<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nI feel like eBay can be a good place to shop and save money, but you have to be smart and read all of the fine print and details.<\/p>\n

\nLet’s take a closer look at whether you should, or should NOT buy Diamonds from eBay…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\"Should<\/p>\n

\nThese are things you should consider…<\/strong><\/p>\n

1) You can’t see the item close up!<\/h2>\n

\nThe images you see on eBay are usually not very good. They are often really small, low-res (short for low resolution), and many times just stock sample photos<\/strong>, or a picture of the certificate that doesn’t even show the actual stone. It doesn’t show you what you’re getting for anyone to make a real buying decision.<\/p>\n

\nWhen you’re purchasing Diamonds, you’ll want to see them close-up and in magnified detail<\/strong>. Seeing what’s inside the stone is very important. These are things you want to view before you buy the stone. And a blurry image taken from 3 feet away<\/strong> just won’t do!<\/p>\n

\nCompare the two Diamonds below to see what I mean…<\/p>\n\n\n
\"Hard<\/a><\/td>\n\"VS1<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

If you look at the prices of these two stones above, you’ll see that the eBay stone<\/a> is selling for $3,591 LESS<\/strong> than the stone from James Allen<\/a>… The quality listed appears the same, and it seems like a great deal to buy the one from eBay… but is it? NO!<\/strong> And we’ll get into this soon enough…<\/p>\n

\nSome sellers, like the one above, show the actual stone<\/strong>, but not all sellers do. Some may show an image of a Diamond, NOT the actual Diamond, just a stock photograph that they use for all their stones (no matter what the Clarity or Color is). See the screenshot below to see a seller using the SAME stock photo for each and every Diamond…<\/p>\n

\n\"eBay<\/p>\n

Would you have caught this?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nNow, one of the biggest reasons why that Pear Shaped Diamond above is selling for thousands less than James Allen is because of this…<\/p>\n

\nIt’s been Clarity Enhanced!<\/strong> (See image below)<\/p>\n

\"Diamond<\/a><\/p>\n

2) Clarity Enhanced Stones!<\/h2>\n

\nA good portion of Diamonds sold on eBay are stones that were sent to a lab to be Clarity Enhanced. This is where a Diamond had an ugly large, visible inclusion in the stone (usually in the center where it stands out like a sore thumb) and they drilled a hole into the stone<\/strong> (usually through the pavilion, or base of the diamond) into the flaw itself, where it was then burnt out or dissolved. Then often, it’s also filled with a clear substance<\/strong> or epoxy so it blends in with the rest of the stone. This is enhancing the Clarity and making it seem better than it really is (so instead of the stone appearing like an I2 Diamond, it’ll face up like a VS stone!)<\/p>\n

\nThis practice is frowned upon in the jewelry industry, and most jewelry stores in the states don’t carry them, nor sell them.<\/p>\n

\nThese stones often become weaker because of these drill holes as well<\/strong>. Plus, you’ll also have a difficult time in reselling that stone later, or even trading it in. Many jewelers won’t buy them<\/strong>, they don’t even want to be associated with them in the least. Clarity Enhanced stones could hurt a store’s reputation if the word got out.<\/p>\n

\nAnd, if the store selling these stones doesn’t clearly disclose this fact (that they’re enhanced), it’s actually illegal! FRAUDULENT! <\/strong><\/p>\n

\nIn doing a quick search for diamonds on eBay, almost all of the top choices came back with stones that have been enhanced (some say so in the description, others on the report itself), or they may say that were lab created<\/strong>, aka not natural diamonds from of the earth!<\/strong> (see image below of a Clarity Enhanced Stone that is NOT mentioned in the title!<\/strong>) <\/p>\n

\"Clarity<\/a><\/p>\n

This stone appears better, more like an SI Diamond, but it’s not. The original Clarity is low (probably an I2 or I3), and because it’s been enhanced, it will be much cheaper than an equal quality stone (like half the price<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

\nIf the Diamond is Clarity Enhanced, I would suggest you skip it! Don’t buy it!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nAnd trust me, you’ll have to look at EVERYTHING that is listed<\/strong>. Because here’s another Diamond that’s been Enhanced, and it doesn’t say so in the TITLE<\/strong> (they all should, eBay should enforce this), nor does it say so in the Diamond Specifics. It only briefly (in parenthesis<\/strong>) lists that it’s been enhanced in the info block on the right. See the screenshot below…<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\nSo be careful and READ EVERYTHING! <\/strong><\/p>\n

Lab Created Diamonds<\/h2>\n

\nHere’s a Diamond that’s listed as a Diamond, but in fact it’s a Simulant<\/strong>, a Lab Created Diamond! And unless you read every single word, you’d probably miss it! But hey, the price is cheap! <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"eBay<\/a><\/p>\n

3) Warranties!<\/h2>\n

\nJust about every Jewelry Store across the country offers Warranties, or some kind of great policies on their products. From Diamond Guarantees<\/strong>, to Service Plans, to Return\/Trade-In Policies, you name it. They often cover the stone and protect the consumer (but I would still also advise getting the ring fully insured no matter what<\/strong>). <\/p>\n

\nWhen you purchase from eBay (or even Craig’s List<\/strong>), you usually get no Warranties whatsoever. Nothing! <\/strong><\/p>\n

\nYou buy it, it’s yours!<\/p>\n

\nEnd of story!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nSo 6 months down the line, if you hit your Diamond and chip or break it, you’re SOL!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nBut, if you bought your Diamond from a national retail jeweler, who does guarantee the stone against chipping or breaking, then they’ll cover the cost of replacing that stone<\/strong> FREE OF CHARGE! <\/strong><\/p>\n

\nThat’s a warranty that you just can’t beat. It’s worth every penny… even if it costs you a little bit more.<\/p>\n

\nSome eBay sellers do offer some warranties, but I would read them fully to understand exactly what they cover. Most are just stating that the Diamond is Genuine (authentic<\/strong>), and some do give you a 30 day money back guarantee. Read all the fine print before you hit the BUY button! <\/strong><\/p>\n

4) You don’t really know what you’re getting!<\/h2>\n

\nMany people who shop with eBay are only looking for the lowest, bottom line price<\/strong> there is. They’ll see a Diamond Ring that looks nice (from the tiny little photo), and they’ll buy it because the price is dirt cheap<\/strong>. Sadly, most people don’t even read the full description before they commit to doing so. And even if they do read it, they usually don’t research any of it to see what it really means. They’ll see I1 Clarity and think it’s good because the seller says "it sparkles<\/strong>"… And it’s NOT good Clarity! <\/strong><\/p>\n

\nSome descriptions listed don’t even cover all the 4C’s. Some just say “good quality<\/strong>“… Whatever that means!<\/p>\n

\nSome Diamonds listed will say the “Cut<\/strong>” is “Round, or Princess, or Oval<\/strong>“, and not what the actual CUT of the Diamond is (Good, Very Good, Excellent…). <\/p>\n

\nSome descriptions won’t state if a stone has Fluorescence<\/strong> or not (which can drastically alter the appearance of the stone). <\/p>\n

\nThese little details can change the price of a stone by thousands (THOUSANDS<\/strong>)!<\/p>\n

\nSo leaving out little bits and pieces of detail can really change the entire image.<\/p>\n

\nPlus, a lot of goods listed on eBay are listed by people who don’t even know what they are. You’ll read things like “My Grandma told me the Diamond was Flawless!<\/strong>“… This means nothing. Without actual proof of this claim, it’s pretty worthless. Do NOT accept it!<\/strong> You’ll want to see proof of these claims, like a Diamond Report (GIA Certificate<\/strong>), or an actual Appraisal from a real Jewelry Store.<\/p>\n

5) Fraud!<\/h2>\n

\nFraud is everywhere! <\/strong>And while eBay does a great job at weeding out fraud, it still could happen to anyone at anytime. <\/p>\n

\nYou could buy a certified stone that’s been laser inscribed, and later on discover that the Diamond Report does NOT match the actual Diamond<\/strong>. The Diamond you got is much lower in Clarity and Color! <\/p>\n

\nThis is because anyone (especially thieves<\/strong>) can get a Diamond etched with whatever numbers they want (to make it seem legit and authentic). That way they can fool people and make a ton of money. When you look at such a stone and see the inscription on the side of the diamond, you’d believe it was true too! <\/p>\n

\nSo unless you actually buy your stone from a reputable place<\/strong>, you’ll really never know. <\/p>\n

\nA stone being sold from India for 1\/4 of the price would be very suspect. Because if you find out in 2 years that the Diamond isn’t what they said it was, what can you do about it?<\/strong> (from a foreign country)<\/p>\n

\nNOTHING!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nYou can’t do a thing.<\/p>\n

\nYou just got taken!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nSo when you’re spending that kind of money, I would only buy it from a reputable source in the USA!<\/strong><\/p>\n

6) You can’t Compare Stones!<\/h2>\n

\nThe hardest thing to do online, is to compare stones side by side<\/strong>. Being able to see them next to each other is priceless<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nThis is because every diamond looks different, and every diamond faces up differently in the light.<\/p>\n

\nOne SI2, G, Diamond could look way better than another SI2, G, Diamond. Compare these two stones below… <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
\"SI2<\/a><\/td>\n\"James<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

\nThey are both identical<\/strong> as far as paperwork goes, but the stone on the left looks better. This visual difference is something that simply can’t be done easily online.<\/p>\n

\nIf you can see the stones close up, and in high-res detail (like you can with James Allen<\/a> – as in the two images above), then it’s great! But if you can’t, then I wouldn’t advise buying it<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nWith Diamonds, you want to see what’s inside<\/strong>, like looking under the hood so to speak. <\/p>\n

7) Is it really a Deal?<\/h2>\n

\nAt first glance, it does seem that eBay prices are cheaper<\/strong>. But, if you dig in and really look at what the items are, you’ll see that the prices (comparing apples to apples) are either comparable to other Jewelry Stores, or even higher!<\/p>\n

\nI did a quick search for a VS1, D, 1.00 Carat Round GIA Certified Diamond on eBay. I found one listed for $9,220.52<\/a>. I did the same search on James Allen, and found their stone selling for $9,470<\/a>. See for yourself…<\/p>\n\n\n
\"eBay<\/a><\/td>\n\"James<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

\nThe eBay stone looks like a better deal… (note that they’re using a stock photo and not showing you the real diamond) BUT…<\/p>\n

\nThe eBay stone also has STRONG Fluorescence<\/strong>, while the James Allen Diamond (which IS showing you the REAL stone) has NONE!<\/strong> Which makes the James Allen Diamond a much better deal! :)<\/p>\n

\nIf you look further on eBay, for a similar Diamond (VS1, D) without Fluorescence (again, comparing apples to apples), you’ll find that the next closest stone sells for $10,319.10<\/a> (Which is $800 MORE than James Allen<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

\nSo you may, or may not, get a better deal. But I would bet that the answer would be no, you wouldn’t<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nAnd there’s a very good reason for that… Here’s why… <\/strong><\/p>\n

Diamonds Hold Their Value!<\/h2>\n

\nThis is so true! <\/strong>Diamond prices are usually dictated by a Rapaport Sheet<\/a> that averages out prices for Diamonds in specific qualities across the country. So an SI1, G Diamond will always sell for around the same price, regardless of where you buy it. Sure, prices may fluctuate a bit, but it’s still going to be in the same ball park. <\/p>\n

\nSee what a Rapaport Diamond Price Sheet<\/strong> looks like below…<\/p>\n

\"Rapaport<\/a><\/p>\n

\nAs long as everything else is equal as well, like Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat Weight, Polish, Symmetry, Culet and Girdle Thickness, and even WHO certifies it<\/strong>, then yes, the diamond will hold it’s value and will pretty much sell for what other SI1, G Diamonds do. <\/p>\n

\nSo if someone is selling an SI1, G (just using this as an example<\/strong> – it could be any Clarity or Color) for way less than another store. Look deeper!<\/strong> There is always a reason WHY that stone is selling for less. It could be the cut is off (9 times out of 10), the Diamond could be chipped. It could have strong blue fluorescence. It might not even be certified…<\/p>\n

\nThere’s always ALWAYS a reason why<\/strong>. You just need to look hard enough to find out why. Usually it’s not a GOOD reason!<\/p>\n

\nI would guess that the stone will appear larger (spread), it will probably lack brilliance and sparkle, and may even appear dark or dull in the middle. <\/p>\n

\nThe stone could also be brown in hue. It could be enhanced… ANYTHING!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nSomething is making that stone cheaper<\/strong>. People aren’t just going to sell it to make less money than they could have. It won’t happen. <\/p>\n

Understand this:<\/h2>\n

\nYou really do get what you pay for!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nIf you just want a cheap price, and you don’t care about quality or warranties, then jump in, and have fun! Shop and spend your hard earned cash where ever you like. <\/p>\n

\nBut I wouldn’t do it! <\/strong><\/p>\n

\nI’ve found that the best deals are still, either in the Jewelry Stores (because of their buying power<\/strong>), or with huge online distributors like Blue Nile<\/a> and James Allen<\/a> (I recommend James Allen the most because you can actually view their stones with 10x magnification BEFORE<\/strong> you buy them!)<\/p>\n

The Point is: Check Around! Shop and Compare!<\/h2>\n

\nIf you’re interested in a stone on eBay, this is what you do:<\/p>\n

\nCompare it! <\/strong><\/p>\n

\nPrint it out. Plug in the info with James Allen<\/a> (making sure you select all the advanced info, like Polish, Symmetry, Cut, Carat Weight, Fluorescence, Certificate…), or even just call them (877-826-9866<\/strong>) and inquire (Their prices really are GREAT!<\/strong>) Or take the printed out sheet into a Jewelry Store to compare for yourself. See what they have that’s comparable and what their price is.<\/p>\n

\nYou may be surprised!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nPlus, you’ll be able to get a professional opinion about the stone you’re looking at. You’ll hear the good points and the bad. And you’ll see first hand what a stone like that actually looks like in person. <\/p>\n

\nYou may not want it!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nAnd don’t forget, with a real Jewelry Store, you’ll always get Warranties, Service, possibly Interest-Free Financing, and other such goodies. All this comes in handy…<\/p>\n

The Last Word<\/h2>\n

\nI would only advise buying GIA Certified Stones<\/strong> (Not IGI, EGL or AGI). And if you do buy online, whether it be through eBay or James Allen or wherever, make sure to get the stone checked out when you get it, just to make sure it is what the paperwork says it is (Take it to a local Gemologist or Certified Diamond Appraiser).<\/p>\n

\nAnd above all else, do make sure the place or person you buy it from gives you a full 100% refund policy<\/strong> (usually this is a week, a month, or something that allows you enough time to check the stone out).<\/p>\n

\nYou may need it! :)<\/p>\n

\nI’m not fully saying Don’t Buy from eBay<\/strong>… I’m just saying that if you do, proceed with caution, read, and compare! <\/p>\n

\nYou’ll be happy you did! <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The question comes up often about buying Diamonds on eBay. Should you do it? People are under the impression that you can get a really good deal on eBay, and that you’ll be able to [Read More…]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5700,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,3,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5687","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diamond-guide","category-diamonds","category-guides"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5687"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5687"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5687\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5687"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5687"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5687"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}