Can I please get the skinny on recuts?

[ohsomethingshiny]

I have two potential recuts that I would like to do but I don’t know where to start, who to go to, or even a general idea on costs. I would love to hear from some PSers that have been down this road and had a successful journey.

1) 1.24 MRB (my original stone from my current husband). I’d love to have it recut to more ideal proportions and set back into the current setting which is designed for a 1 carat, so losing weight is fine. It’s a G color stone but I think a recut could really bring her to life.

2) .75 MRB I color uncert (my stone from my late husband). I want to have it recut, again to bring it to ideal proportions. Then I would like to find a match and have them put into studs. I want to have the stud that holds the engagement diamond marked somehow, so I know (and eventually my daughter who will get these later will know) which stone was the gift from my late husband (and her father).

Thanks for the help!

 

[BlingDreams]

You can read about my experience here: https://www.pricescope.com/communit...recut-by-brian-gavin-before-and-after.242389/

 

[kindred]

I have not decided whether to recut my diamond yet, but I can tell you what BG's office told me. They said that if you have a grading report they might be able to get some idea from that.

Otherwise, you'd have to mail your diamond in for them to look at.

They told me that the process is:

• Insure diamond (I suppose this one is optional)
• Get RMA # from BG
• Mail diamond USPS registered mail with insurance
• Call BG to give them tracking #
• BG receives diamond, assesses recut potential and e-mails SARIN report
• You decide whether to proceed or not
• If you don't proceed with recut, you only pay return shipping
• If you do proceed with recut, you pay $450 per ct. based on diamond's starting weight (plus FedEx priority overnight shipping and insurance back to you)
• They can send to AGS for report if you would like

Edit - I forgot to mention that your diamond does not have to be sent in loose. If it is mounted in a setting: you can mail in the setting and they will remove it for you and mail the setting back to you when they mail back your diamond. Most insurance companies won't cover loose diamonds, so it's probably better to send the diamond in a mount if you have it insured.

 

[ohsomethingshiny]

You can read about my experience here: https://www.pricescope.com/communit...recut-by-brian-gavin-before-and-after.242389/

I will look into this, thanks!

I have not decided whether to recut my diamond yet, but I can tell you what BG's office told me. They said that if you have a grading report they might be able to get some idea from that.

Otherwise, you'd have to mail your diamond in for them to look at.

They told me that the process is:

• Insure diamond (I suppose this one is optional)
• Get RMA # from BG
• Mail diamond USPS registered mail with insurance
• Call BG to give them tracking #
• BG receives diamond, assesses recut potential and e-mails SARIN report
• You decide whether to proceed or not
• If you don't proceed with recut, you only pay return shipping
• If you do proceed with recut, you pay $450 per ct. based on diamond's starting weight
• They can send to AGS for report if you would like

That’s good to know. I appreciate all of this. Neither are AGS or GIA. The 1.24 is IGI (before I knew better). So I knew I would have to send them in. I just wasn’t sure who would be recommended and generally how it works. Your response answered a lot in those bullets. Thanks!

 

[kindred]

@ohsomethingshiny - If the report contains measurements and angles they might be able to get some idea from that info.

And I edited my post because I forgot to mention that your diamond does not have to be loose to send it in. In fact, it's probably better insurance wise if it is mounted. I am able to get a policy from JM for a loose diamond but they still won't cover it during cutting.

 

[ohsomethingshiny]

@ohsomethingshiny - If the report contains measurements and angles they might be able to get some idea from that info.

And I edited my post because I forgot to mention that your diamond does not have to be loose to send it in. In fact, it's probably better insurance wise if it is mounted. I am able to get a policy from JM for a loose diamond but they still won't cover it during cutting.

I have my jewelry insured through USAA. That’s sufficient, right?

 

[kindred]

@ohsomethingshiny, I would guess that USAA wouldn't cover loose diamonds, but you can check with them. BG told me to check with my insurance to see if it covers it while in transit, so I would check that also.

 

[ohsomethingshiny]

@ohsomethingshiny, I would guess that USAA wouldn't cover loose diamonds, but you can check with them. BG told me to check with my insurance to see if it covers it while in transit, so I would check that also.

Both are in settings and would return to me set. Hope that helps.

 

[WinkHPD]

I have two potential recuts that I would like to do but I don’t know where to start, who to go to, or even a general idea on costs. I would love to hear from some PSers that have been down this road and had a successful journey.

1) 1.24 MRB (my original stone from my current husband). I’d love to have it recut to more ideal proportions and set back into the current setting which is designed for a 1 carat, so losing weight is fine. It’s a G color stone but I think a recut could really bring her to life.

2) .75 MRB I color uncert (my stone from my late husband). I want to have it recut, again to bring it to ideal proportions. Then I would like to find a match and have them put into studs. I want to have the stud that holds the engagement diamond marked somehow, so I know (and eventually my daughter who will get these later will know) which stone was the gift from my late husband (and her father).

Thanks for the help!

You have received some good advice above, and I will recommend that you send the diamonds to the cutter of your choice so that they can inspect the diamonds and give you their best estimate of the finished weight when cut to ideal proportions.

Your 1.24 ct. may well finish at a carat or over, depending upon the existing proportions. You do need to be aware though of the extreme drop in value if the weight drops to 0.99 cts. If the estimate is below 1 ct., then you will need to make a decision as to whether or not the high loss of value is going to be important to you.

Wink

 

[kindred]

@ohsomethingshiny, Just check with USAA on coverage while in transit.

And I forgot to mention that I don't think there is anyone who will insure a diamond during a recut, so there is some element of risk to to this. It sounds like it is very uncommon, but a diamond (or any other stone) could be damaged or destroyed while being recut.

 

[Wewechew]

@ohsomethingshiny, Just check with USAA on coverage while in transit.

And I forgot to mention that I don't think there is anyone who will insure a diamond during a recut, so there is some element of risk to to this. It sounds like it is very uncommon, but a diamond (or any other stone) could be damaged or destroyed while being recut.

JM insures during recuts.

 

[kindred]

@Wewechew, I was told that my diamond would not be covered during a recut. I wonder if mine is excluded due to the tiny chip on the girdle.

 

[ohsomethingshiny]

JM?

 

[kindred]

Yes.

Oh sorry, JM = Jewelers Mutual

 

[ohsomethingshiny]

Yes

What does JM stand for?

 

[Wewechew]

@Wewechew, I was told that my diamond would not be covered during a recut. I wonder if mine is excluded due to the tiny chip on the girdle.

That’s weird. I sent an email to them in May of this year to make sure it was covered if I decided to recut it, and they confirmed it would be.

 

[kindred]

Can anyone else comment on whether JA has provided coverage during a recut?

I had read here before that they do cover recuts and that was a big factor in my applying for insurance through them. It's also a pretty big consideration as to whether to go forward with having my diamond recut. I have not paid the premium yet as I am still mulling it over.

It could just be me because I was told in an e-mail that "The policy has been issued with a damage exclusion for the existing chip on the girdle. We will not cover the stone to be recut." Of course the chip is one of the (lesser) reasons that I would want to recut the diamond.

@ohsomethingshiny, Not sure if you saw this above. JM = Jeweler's Mutual Insurance Co.

 

[Dancing Fire]

You guys worry too much. When I had my wife's stone recut (in 2004) it wasn't insured. TBH, it is still not insured today.

 

[Wewechew]

You guys worry too much. When I had my wife's stone recut (in 2004) it wasn't insured. TBH, it is still not insured today.

You may be in a slightly different financial position than some of us

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I had BG recut a family diamond that started at 1 ct and ended up .80. I have ZERO regrets because the diamond is vastly better and worthy of wearing! The end value meant nothing to me as it was a sentimental piece like yours are. I sent mine in for evaluation and would recommend that anyone do so, regardless of whether it's graded or not. Mine wasn't insured and I think I just got shipping insurance based on an old appraisal my mother had. Send USPS Registered mail unless they offer you a shipping label with their insurance which would be added to the bill.

 

[Dancing Fire]

You may be in a slightly different financial position than some of us

I can't afford to pay the high insurance premium every yr. The pieces we don't wear are kept in the safety deposit box. What I have saved on insurance premiums for the past 15 yrs I can buy a very nice diamond with the money. plus every few yrs the insurance co. will ask for updated appraisals on every pieces? = more $$$.