Appraisals in detail

[gzagenius]

1) If I take my AGS-certified diamond ring to get an appraisal, do I need to get it appraised by someone accredited by AGS? Could a GIA-affiliated appraiser give an accurate assessment of the ring, report, etc?

2) And can someone please explain the differences between all the certifications an appraiser has? (i.e. GG, CGA, NGJA, FGA, ISA, NAJA, etc). I could look them up myself, but it would mean nothing to me.

 

[WinkHPD]

1) If I take my AGS-certified diamond ring to get an appraisal, do I need to get it appraised by someone accredited by AGS? Could a GIA-affiliated appraiser give an accurate assessment of the ring, report, etc?

2) And can someone please explain the differences between all the certifications an appraiser has? (i.e. GG, CG, NJ, FAG, ISA, BAJA, etc). I could look them up myself, but it would mean nothing to me.

Just a quick answer.

Technically your diamond has an AGS grading report, it is not certified. Certified has a definite legal definition and implies certain warranties that AGS does not make.

Appraisers may be educated by GIA, but they are not actually affiliated with GIA. GIA does not accept any liabilities from the actions of its former students. Any one who has graduated from GIA should be able to determine the color and clarity grading (provided they have the right equipment) just as AGS or GIA would, but will not have the advantage of seeing the diamond loose, which will affect their ability to fully grade the diamond.

They will need to have either studied the AGS cut grading system to fully understand the cut grade as expressed on the AGS Diamond grading report.

Wink

 

[denverappraiser]

2) And can someone please explain the differences between all the certifications an appraiser has? (i.e. GG, CGA, NGJA, FGA, ISA, NAJA, etc). I could look them up myself, but it would mean nothing to me.

Here's a few:

GG = Graduate Gemologist. This is a credential issued by GIA for completion in their gemology program. GIA has quite a few other credentials that you may come across as well but this is their top gemological diploma.

FGA = Fellow of the Gemmological Association. This is a full member of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain who has taken courses in gemology and passed an exam on the same.

CGA=Certified Gemologist Appraiser. This is a title issued by the American Gem Society. It requires either a GG or FGA (described above), a course in appraising offered by AGS, a test, an eye exam, a peer review of several appraisals for different purposes and annual recertifications.

ICGA=Independent Certified Gemologist Appraiser. Another AGS title. It requires a CGA and all it’s prerequisites as well as some additional coursework and testing. This also requires annual recertification.

ASA=Accredited Senior Appraiser. Issued by the American Society of Appraisers. It requires completion of their training program in appraising, a GG or FGA as discussed above, 5 years of documented appraisal experience, peer review of appraisals and continuing education. This credential is also used by appraisers of other types of property ranging from business valuations and equipment to Asian art and intellectual property rights.

MGA*=Master Gemologist Appraiser. Another credential by the American Society of Appraisers. It requires an ASA above and all it’s prerequisites and some additional coursework and testing.

NAJA= Member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers. It requires gemological and appraisal training from a variety of eligible schools including NAJA, documented experience, peer review and continuing education. NGJA is an obsolete acronym that NAJA no longer issues and they have several new ones including CMA (Certified Master Appraiser), CSM (Certified Senior Member) and CM (Certified Member). The differences have to do with the amount of experience, the amount of education and the amount of testing.

ISA=Member of the International Society of Appraisers. It requires completing a course in appraisal theory and practice, gemological training from a short list of schools.

ISA-CAPP=Certified Appraiser of Personal Property. Another credential issued by ISA that requires the ISA credential above as well as some additional training by ISA. This is also available to appraisers of other types of property like fine art, cars, etc. In fact, the vast majority of ISA-CAPP's are certified in other disciplines.

All of the above except the GG (which is not an appraisal credential by the way) require maintaining a membership with the appropriate organization. Most have an online lookup system for their members.

Details on the various organizations mentioned above are available at:
www.gia.edu
www.gem-a.com
www.americangemsociety.org
www.appraisers.org
www.isa-appraisers.com
www.najaappraisers.com

Appraisers may be educated by GIA,
Wink

GIA doesn't issue any sort of diploma in appraising. If fact, they don't even teach it as part of the curriculum for their gemology program. Lots of appraisers (most actually) have taken training from them in other areas, usually gemology, but it's a misnomer to describe an appraiser as being GIA trained.

 

[WinkHPD]

Appraisers may be educated by GIA,
Wink

GIA doesn't issue any sort of diploma in appraising. If fact, they don't even teach it as part of the curriculum for their gemology program. Lots of appraisers (most actually) have taken training from them in other areas, usually gemology, but it's a misnomer to describe an appraiser as being GIA trained.

See, this is why you are a great appraiser and I am not. I was only attempting to say that appraisers may have obtained gemological training from the GIA but that they are not affiliated with the GIA. I know exactly what you are saying and certainly did not mean to imply that they had received appraisal training from GIA and yet what I said was open to more than one interpretation. I probably should not be a lawyer either!

Wink

 

[denverappraiser]

No worries. I knew you knew, I was just trying to be clear because there's LOTS of confusion out there about this. I dare say that the vast majority of 'appraisers' in the US present as their ONLY credential a GG diploma from GIA, which isn't even an appraisal credential. A fair number don't even have that.

Neil

 

[WinkHPD]

No worries. I knew you knew, I was just trying to be clear because there's LOTS of confusion out there about this. I dare say that the vast majority of 'appraisers' in the US present as their ONLY credential a GG diploma from GIA, which isn't even an appraisal credential. A fair number don't even have that.

Neil

True, which is why we see so many horrific "appraisals". I just had a lady in wanting to sell me a $12,000 diamond. It might have been worth $2,000 - $2,500 at full retail if you can find anyone who wants such an ugly stone. It was easily an I2, AGS 6 or lower cut grade, with a brownish color of L-M.

Came with an "appraisal" as an H-SI1 1.09ct valued at $12,000. If you or I wrote that we would probably go to jail, but when XYZ chain store writes it, well, nevermind.

Wink

 

[Modified Brilliant]

Great comprehensive list, Neil. Thanks!

Often overlooked is the very important NAJA requirement of color vision testing.

The Munsell-Farnsworth 100 Hue Test is available to NAJA members at their conferences and

I believe, must be taken every 3 years. It's difficult, but essential for professional appraisers.

 

[kenny]

It's disappointing even vendors use the phrase "certified by GIA".

I wish they just stick to "graded".

 

[Modified Brilliant]

Another is "GIA Certified Appraiser" which sometimes shows up in the telephone yellow page ads.

It IS frustrating but I've seen this for over 30 years and it doesn't appear to be getting any better.

 

[kenny]

Another is "GIA Certified Appraiser" which sometimes shows up in the telephone yellow page ads.

It IS frustrating but I've seen this for over 30 years and it doesn't appear to be getting any better.

I blame the public, well, in part.
They are not informed that the labs do not "certify" diamonds.
They only grade them, and even the grading is subject to all the fine print disclosed on the reverse.

Buying a diamond is scary and I think when customers hear the word "certified" or "certificate" they feel safer.

If vendor A uses the C-word their customers feel warm and fuzzy.
If vendor B does not use the C-word too then she is at a competitive disadvantage.

Perhaps PS educating the public will help a little but probably 90+% of diamond shoppers will not get the message.

 

[oldminer]

The day that grading color and clarity become objective and repeatable the users of that technology would be able to "certify" the results. Until then the only way to certify color and clarity is by a subjective human opinion which would be: I (we) certify to the best of my (our) ability that the diamond is "x" color and "y" clarity. This is obviously not a true certification and why the use of the word "report" is a better fitting word. One cannot dispute the more positive effect of the mis-use of the word certify, certificate, and certification has over report, opinion, or any number of similar less important sounding terms.

So long as consumers recognize that opinions are a bit subjective in color and clarity grading it lessens the impact and importance of the problem words. I doubt we will ever get those who successfully mis-use the terms to stop the practice.