Chipped Culet--Appraisal question

Sharon,

A chipped culet is a clarity characteristic. It should be present on the plot and the clarity should be graded accordingly.  This may or may not alter the final clarity grade depending on what else is going on in the stone and how small ‘small’ is. 

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

There's never a crowd when you go that extra mile.

"People who possess great qualities, do not need to show off".

David S. Atlas

GG(GIA), ASG, Sr. Mbr. NAJA

www.datlas.com

Jeff Averbook, G.G.
Graduate Gemologist since 1986. Member NAJA. Life Member AIN.

Some appraisers offer less than excellent work.  Some appraisers are retailers in disguise and have buried agendas while others are very upfront about it.  There are a few who go through a fair amount of effort to be able to use the word ‘independent’ with good conscience and we tend to be seen as unique services. I think the problem is improving as people become more aware of the differences but this is a battle that will be fought long after I’m gone.  I see no reason so far to believe that Sharon’s appraiser has done anything less than conscientious, excellent and unbiased work.

If the insurance company chooses not to bind a policy based on a factual report, this is their decision.  The client can select another insurer.  Appraisers using the GIA grading approach should call a chip a chip, a nick a nick, and a big honking gouge a chip, because that’s what we’re trained to call them.  Altering the grading procedure to accommodate the client or their insurance company while still claiming that you’re using the GIA scale is a giant leap down the road to hell. If they want stones graded on some special scale designed for them, they can request it but they can’t be both standardized and custom at the same time.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

There's never a crowd when you go that extra mile.

Bill Leiberum
1948-2007
Thanks for everything and Rest In Peace,Bill.

Dave,

I  disagree that what you have mentioned above is a "common practice." I don't feel that most of us use "scare tactics." We do, however, tell it like it is. Combining retailers with independent appraisers (who don't buy or sell) is unfair.

www.metrojewelryappraisers.com
Jeff Averbook,G.G. (G.I.A.) since 1986. NAJA (member)GIA Alumni Association (member)
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Jeff, when I say a common practice, I speak from the experience of having been the Ethics chairman of NAJA for more than a decade and the Ethics chair of the Accredited Gemologists Association for several years before that.  I also have training as a mediator and act in this capacity often in my jewelry district.  I did not imply that it was a common practice among those great guys and gals who are independent appraisers on Pricescope, but there are sure a lot of other appraisers with much less credibility and experience holding themselves out to consumers as "experts".  You may simply not know how to judge what is common in this arena and it is just as well if you can manage to avoid this problem by keeping yourself and your business clean.  I think RockDoc and I may be closer on this subject and the harm it does to the entire business.

Nevertheless, I don't mean to discredit anything good about you or your business. The posting was not made to reflect on anyone here who has enjoyed a good rep with so many of the consumers who have come to rely upon us.  My hope is to stimulate the occasional appraiser or appraiser/retailer to measure what they say and write carefully so as to do no harm to their customers, their own credibility and the entire jewelry business. 

David S. Atlas

GG(GIA), ASG, Sr. Mbr. NAJA

www.datlas.com

Jeff Averbook, G.G.
Graduate Gemologist since 1986. Member NAJA. Life Member AIN.