- Joined
- Aug 18, 2013
- Messages
- 11,661
Was just on the phone with BN ordering a new stone for a small project I'm doing. Got into conversation with the sales person who told me that BN phased out drop shipping some years ago and that EVERY stone now goes through QA in front of 3 certified GG's (Graduate Gemologists).
It seems to me that BN is slowly but surely removing all the barriers and complaints they've previously encountered regarding their product. Each stone is checked for match to the GIA or AGS cert attached to it, but also for general features like structural integrity.
I push BN with a lot of people on these boards, simply because they seem to offer the best deal. But they've had some issues that have made them less attractive for buyers - especially nervous buyers. The removal of drop shipping overcomes a huge hurdle in my opinion, making them a far more attractive option for those looking for a specific stone at a lower price. I don't believe they'll ever offer ASETs or ISs. But they're slowly adding 360 degree video to every stone, and when that's been achieved, and given that every stone now goes through a multi-point QA evaluation, I think they've turned themselves into a far safer option for those looking for a stone on a budget.
So - just a thought.
Having said that, they would still not be my first choice for fancy cuts - tho I *have* bought princess cuts, cushions, hearts and pears through them, and most of them were lovely. But these were for small projects and I'd go with GOG for something larger. And Victor Canera is, in my opinion, emerging as a fabulous vendor for branded round brilliants, while you still can't go past BGD, GOG, and of course, White Flash.
But BN has access to a huge stock with a lot of wonderful quality stones, so, with their new checks and balances, they're worth reconsidering.
Just an FYI.
It seems to me that BN is slowly but surely removing all the barriers and complaints they've previously encountered regarding their product. Each stone is checked for match to the GIA or AGS cert attached to it, but also for general features like structural integrity.
I push BN with a lot of people on these boards, simply because they seem to offer the best deal. But they've had some issues that have made them less attractive for buyers - especially nervous buyers. The removal of drop shipping overcomes a huge hurdle in my opinion, making them a far more attractive option for those looking for a specific stone at a lower price. I don't believe they'll ever offer ASETs or ISs. But they're slowly adding 360 degree video to every stone, and when that's been achieved, and given that every stone now goes through a multi-point QA evaluation, I think they've turned themselves into a far safer option for those looking for a stone on a budget.
So - just a thought.
Having said that, they would still not be my first choice for fancy cuts - tho I *have* bought princess cuts, cushions, hearts and pears through them, and most of them were lovely. But these were for small projects and I'd go with GOG for something larger. And Victor Canera is, in my opinion, emerging as a fabulous vendor for branded round brilliants, while you still can't go past BGD, GOG, and of course, White Flash.
But BN has access to a huge stock with a lot of wonderful quality stones, so, with their new checks and balances, they're worth reconsidering.
Just an FYI.
It throws incredible fire and rainbows, and it's the liveliest cut princess I've ever seen. 
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