Appraiser Search/List

[pricescope]

We are in the process of redesigning the appraiser listing/search. Consumers and expert suggestions wanted

What specific knowledge, features, tools, practices, etc, should be added into the search criteria to make it more helpful?

E.g. some basic or advanced analysis tools, specific areas of expertize.

Different appraisal and verification options?

Service fees (per item and/or per hour)?

Insured? (needed if you want a vendor to ship a diamond to the appraiser)

Mobile lab?

anything else?

 

[kevinraja]

Leo,
It would be nice if you could add the following:

1) IS or brialliance scope images?
2) Just an appraisal or would provide honest 3rd party comments on the cut of the stone

 

[strmrdr]

appraisals only or do they offer purchase consultation?

will they accept diamonds from vendors for viewing by clients or not?

Those both would be good info to have.

Maybe send a list of questions to them and have a page with the responses for each of them that reply?

 

[Regular Guy]

Appraisers:

A)

As documented pretty recently by a subscriber as something like: the one that got away, etc., and also separately, in another post, by lop who observed that having the convenience of being able to see the diamond at an appraiser without having had to lay out any cash initially, an important advantage and function for the appraiser:

Insurance in place, so that a buyer can take advantage of the vendor/appraiser relationship, and see the diamond in a convenient way.

B)

Helium, Sarin, Ogi…

Apparently in that order, for measuring the major, and in some cases, the minor facets

Also, Brillianccope, ISSE, IS, and more…, for doing direct/indirect measurements of the optical qualities of the diamond

An iteration of the various testing technologies available with the appraiser to do an evaluation of the cut of the gem in question…

And further, while at it, an iteration of the model in place to do the evaluation (i.e. which Sarin machine, exactly).

Associated with this could be an update and provision of info available here that at least presents, from the manufacturer, what the capabilities of the various instrumentations may be.

Likewise, Diamondcalc, etc.
And associated with this, if it hadn’t been laid plain already by the inclusion or lack thereof of the instruments available with the appraiser, an indication of how cut is typically addressed both in the appraisal document (ideally this is at the appraiser’s website, or as necessary, a link provided to its location in Guerilla Gemology at Pricescope), as well as in the session itself.

C)

How can the bedside manner of your appraiser be detailed?

Though this may seem trivial, it can become quite serious. It is certainly important, for the issues that have been reviewed here previously, of wanting to learn certain things from your appraiser, but not knowing how to ask the question. Of course, we can say that it is all on the consumer who addresses the appraiser, but wouldn’t it be nice, and helpful to know, that the appraiser would figure out some of these tricky areas we might not even think to ask about. In previous posts, it’s been raised that there are liability issues that attach when reviewing anything that’s not fundamental about the diamond in front of the appraiser. And so, for example, without having a second diamond in front of the appraiser, making comparisons may be difficult. Since the diamond shopper is interested in this nonetheless, the question of relativity is frequently foremost, nonetheless, and anything the appraiser can do to respond to this can only help. I have one suggestion on this (an intake document, mentioned before, and see below) but really more questions on this than an answer.

The need for this good bedside manner is present in any circumstance. But, given what can be viewed as the critical need for (B) above, it may frequently be perceived as useful to send the diamond away from you, locally, to get feedback on a diamond’s cut. In this case, when you certainly won’t be sitting with the appraiser for a long time, when you’ll have the benefit of their body language, and everything they have to say over a longer while, explicating how they will tell you whatever it is they will tell you in advance can be quite useful to know.

So, an indication that some sort of pre-work up document existed (and could be documented here), that could be forwarded to the consumer in advance of the session (or at the office, if done in person), where suggestions/questions to the consumer about what they might like to know, and a query about the particular sort of feedback on the item that may be desired…could only be helpful.

Since very few appraisers right now seem to be sharp on many of these cut details, such that Pricescope readers may be motivated to use an appraiser at a distance (and see how we now feature services from several Pricescope contributors in the information about appraisers database here, to only reinforce this idea), and helping this process along could be desirable, indeed.

 

[NoonersMom]

Leo, Hello. Great job with this site. It truly blows me away to think of the value (or lack there of) that we would of received had this site not been operating. Hats off!

Now, question at hand. I would love to see all of the above listed recommendations, plus expanding the appraiser list to include an appraiser in every state, if possible. I live in WI and don''t see a recommendation or approval for an appraiser here. The closest recommended appraiser is two hours away in Chicago area. While certainly doable, makes for a lot of running around when sourcing the diamond on the net, driving to Chicago to see stone (and hopefully make final decision) and then sending to Leon Mege for the setting. Maybe some of the other appraisers in the field can help source recommendations...possibly Dave, Josh or Neil? Personally, for me, that would be greatly appreciated. I imagine the same holds true for those that live in a state without a recommended appraiser.

Thanks!

 

[Regular Guy]

Adding on to the list of items that can help info that can help you choose your appraiser...

Inscribing machine...to put an inscription on the diamond, if none is present

...and then backing up...

Although this thread is not exactly a rolling snowball, posts like the one by Pepperell on "How do I do this thing," help to demonstrate the need to have procedures and peace of mind worked out for shoppers at a distance. If diamonds will be, for example, selected from a vendor -- either pre or post payment -- and sent to an appraiser for their review, in part, because of their expertise in judging their cut quality...on what basis can we in good conscience recommend they will be better served by the appraiser at a distance, than the local guy.

Frankly, although the appraisers here are likely a somewhat modest bunch in this regard, I think customers and appraisers will serve each other best with those protocols worked out. For example, if a customer has a diamond today, graded by anyone besides AGS, including GIA, and they're seeking to optimize in cut...could they be expected to go to any of the appraisers listed here besides those either featured now by Leonid, or who are active on this board, and expect to clarify for themselves, the diamond is either ideal, or optimized by any measure?

Another post I won't write should have the title: "Condom use and your appraiser...discuss." Imagine if you will a bloke in Tim Buck Too who wants to propose to his sweetie, and he's found a diamond at an internet vendor who has seen it themselves, and they recommend it. The diamond has a GIA cert, but no inscription, and he'd like one. He could send his diamond to, say, Oldminer, who will say: this is good. Then, diamond should go to buyer to be seen, right? If it's liked, back to Oldminer for inscription, back to vendor for putting together with ring, back to appraiser for final appraisal, and finally to the buyer. All in all, quite a process for a guy who's waiting to put his condom on.

Going back to the original question:

"What specific knowledge, features, tools, practices, etc, should be added into the search criteria to make it more helpful?"

I think there could be two categories:

A)

1) apparatus for measuring cut quality, either directly or indirectly (I think this will affect all users)
2) fee schedule (ditto)

B) miscellaneous (which will, variously affect users), to include:

1) insured, so can be pre-inspections before purchase
2) has program worked out for serving customers at a distance
3) inscription feature
4) ?

----------------

and here's one more thought...for those appraisers, who are in the main, and who feel that they are able to make diamond judgement distinctions without the benefit of some of the technology reviewed here, surely an argument can be made for this, which I'd like to hear.

Otherwise, I do find myself motivated to respond to Pepperell, to tell them to consider using the mail. While still, wanting the process by which the mails were used to have as high a level of satisfaction as possible. Maybe other shoppers who have used an appraiser from afar can comment, too.

 

[oldminer]

There are not many appraisers that have a good amount of the technical tools yet who do not have some conflict or lack of independence. When it comes to getting sound advice along with the measurements and images people have grown to request, there are appraisers listed on Pricescope who can do this for you. Those of us who can do this have quite an investment in equipment and years of practice.

As Leonid creates a better and better site, those of us who come here to assist consumers get together with sellers, will only benefit by offering the best products and services. If we don''t give you what you want now, please feel free to ask us for what it is you feel you must have. We''ll see how we can adapt to your needs.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Date: 3/29/2005 12:17:53 PM
Author: Regular Guy

All in all, quite a process for a guy who's waiting to put his condom on.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my God, Guy, you are too funny at times.

 

[Regular Guy]

Rich, thanks for appreciating my humor.

On a not so funny note, after thinking about this a while, I feel like an epiphany of sorts came to me, that drove another post of mine, noted here. For those of us who are looking for "No Gaps" in our diamond buying, it may be just the thing.

If you get a call to get assistance with it, you may have to tell them you''d need to add a surcharge of 25%. And, for the buyer to go along with it, they may have to pay an incremental cost of having their diamond set with an out-sourced jeweler that would otherwise be done at no cost by their diamond vendor. But...I''d pay those additional cost, if given the choice.

Dave, you note above:

"If we don''t give you what you want now, please feel free to ask us for what it is you feel you must have. We''ll see how we can adapt to your needs."

Dave, Rich, Neill, Rock Dock, etc...see what you think. Up to now, the vendors have been running the game. Maybe you guys can take an idea like this, and run with the mo''.

With my best wishes,