5.19 ct yellow oval - advice please!

Dee*Jay · Jun 7, 2008

Date: 6/7/2008 7:52:44 AM
Author: elmo
DeeJay, for something like this you want a GIA report first and an appraisal second. The appraisal shouldn't take the place of the GIA report. There are a couple of reasons. First, unlike colorless stones, I don't think even the best appraisers have GIA-graded master stones for color grading. So someone can give you an educated opinion about how this faces up but it won't be the same as formally color grading the stone. Especially with the stone mounted. The GIA effectively has a monopoly on colored diamond grading, and the report is pretty much expected on something like this unless there's some sort of issue. Second, and I think this is at least as important as the color grade, I'd want the GIA to determine whether the stone has been enhanced in any way. No appraiser has the equipment to make this determination, and the GIA is the best resource for this.

dkodner said this much better than I could, you want to protect the value of your purchase...a missed color grade or some sort of color enhancement will affect value far more than let's say getting an I-SI1 instead of H-VS2.

This is a very good point, and an item that I specifically asked the jeweler about yesterday. He said absolutely not, but really how do I know? Pro Gem is in the same building and they may have the ability to give an opinion on treatment/enhancement. I will call them on Monday and ask.

diamondseeker2006 · Jun 7, 2008

A 5 ct. stone that is not GIA graded is a red flag in itself. A GIA cert should enhance the value of the stone and make it more attractive to a buyer, IMO. I'd tell him to send the stone to GIA or else you aren't interested. If he wants to sell it to you, he will. If he has something to hide, he won't. Of course, you have little to lose by having the local appraiser take a look at it. But I'd want the GIA grading to be sure I was paying the right amount for the stone.