Certified or uncertified?

[alex314]

I''m looking to get an e-ring. I have found one (it''s actually an anniversary ring - with 7 .36 carat stones each). The ring would consist of 3-ring set, the center band is the 7-stone, surrounded by 2 small bands that have diamonds all the way around the two rings. Total diamond weight is 3.25 (for all 3 rings). The stones on all the rings are VS2, color G. All this is about $4,200.

Can someone please tell me if this is a good value? This is the first jeweler I went to (I spent 2 hours talking to her). The only reason I''m uncomfortable buying the ring is that the diamonds are not certified. To get the certification on these, they would charge $100 extra, per stone. I would get only the 7 big stones certified so my end price for the certified diamond ring would be about $5,000. I would like to know:
a. if most people end up buying certified or non-certified diamonds?
b. if most people end up insuring the ring

Thanks a million in advance.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I would not buy .36ct diamonds without certs. The Cert tells you the color and clarity of the diamonds, and the ct weight, and without it you cannot know with certainty what you are getting. The cert also tells you the cut proportions of the diamonds and thus allows you to better assess cut quality. That is a lot of money to spend, and I suspect you could do close to that price online for better product.

Will they make you a 7 stone ring with diamonds they call in based on the certs and then you can assess the cut quality?

And finally, are you sure they are .36ct each?? Most people can only fit 5 diamonds of that size accross their finger, I wonder how 7 diamonds of that size would even fit.

 

[alex314]

Thanks for the reply.

They don''t have a 7-stone ring, but they can make one (custom made).

I''m not sure what you mean by: Will they make you a 7 stone ring with diamonds they call in based on the certs and then you can assess the cut quality?

I have looked at various online retailers, but none have an option for the 7-stone setting.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

$4,200 is a lot to spend for diamonds that may or may not be VS2 G color. What if you're paying that amount and the stones are actually H/I SI1? Most places can get away with selling diamonds that are a color grade/clarity grade off without customers being able to tell.

If you don't want to spend the $700 or so extra, you have the option of making sure there is a 30-day return policy and then taking the ring to an *independant* appraiser to see if the stones look like what were sold to you. (Be sure to check return policy on custom made and see if there are restocking fees, etc.)

Also, for $25, you can purchase an ideal scope that will help you determine if the stones are well cut or not.

 

[Tom Gelb]

The other thing that I would point out is that a cert for a .36ct diamond runs something like $40 per stone, not $100. There are some shipping costs, but that is way too much for the certs. I would question the jeweler about the costs associated with the certs.

Good luck.

 

[Rockdiamond]

There's a lot of reasons most sellers would not send .36ct stones to the GIA.
As Tom Pointed out, it's $40 for a Diamond Dossier, and $59 for a standard GIA Diamond Grading report.
Add shipping to this and the expense does add up.
But it's more than just the cost.
Sometimes a G/SI1, matches an H/VS2 better than another H/VS2. This can be due to the cut, or other factors.
So, if a company is making five stone bands, it makes the most sense to pick the stones based on visual cues, as opposed to strict grading.
Most parcels of diamonds in this size range are going to have at least two color and clarities variance ( ie G-H/VS2-SI1)
Bottom line is that finding .36ct+- stones in a band with GIA reports is quite rare.
Most buyers will not get GIA reports in this size

Of course this does leave the buyer open to mis-graded diamonds, making selection of vendor crucial.

In terms having people comment on the price you were quoted, were the bands in platinum , 14 or 18kt gold?

Insurance- one key aspect I suggest is NOT using an inflated appraisal if you do decide to get a rider on your homeowners policy.
It makes a lot of sense to check with your agent to see if there's some amount of jewelry covered automatically.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/14/2010 3:38:04 PM
Author: alex314
Thanks for the reply.

They don''t have a 7-stone ring, but they can make one (custom made).

I''m not sure what you mean by: Will they make you a 7 stone ring with diamonds they call in based on the certs and then you can assess the cut quality?

I have looked at various online retailers, but none have an option for the 7-stone setting.

I meant can you ask them to call diamonds into the shop off the virtual lists that are in the size you want so that you can make sure they have certs and the cut quality that you desire, and then set them into the ring.

But I would personally just work with a company that offers certed stones.

 

[Firestone]

I would not consider purchasing any diamond that did not have a GIA certification. Without a valid certification, you have no way of knowing what the grades actually are. I personally would not take the word of a jeweler who is trying to make a sale and I would be skeptical of a jeweler who wanted me to pay for the certifications.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Just a few points...
* If .35ct diamonds cost ( for example) $700 each, and the cost of GIA reports, including shipping is $55 per stone, the seller has to add those costs to the final price. I
If it''s a five stone band, you''re looking at about $275 in additional costs
* as I mentioned earlier, stone matching is not always accomplished by using the same color and clarity.
In terms of colorless stones, they are graded through the pavilion. ( the back) sometimes an H matches a G better than another G ( if we''re using GIA style color grading)
But a consumer confronted with G''s and H''s in the same ring might balk.

By all means, buy from a seller that makes you feel comfortable.
I make those points to assist in giving a more complete picture of why you won''t see a lot of five stone bands with GIA reports.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 3/14/2010 3:38:04 PM
Author: alex314
Thanks for the reply.

They don''t have a 7-stone ring, but they can make one (custom made).

I''m not sure what you mean by: Will they make you a 7 stone ring with diamonds they call in based on the certs and then you can assess the cut quality?

I have looked at various online retailers, but none have an option for the 7-stone setting.

call BGD...they stock 1/3ct AGS graded stones.

 

[Rockdiamond]

great point DF
there are certainly .35ct diamonds with reports available, and a vendor could surely do the matching, and have the band made for you.

I don't see a lot of sellers offering five stone rings already made with the reports, but it might be a very good item!

Alex- I'd suggest that for value, choose a seller who you are comfortable with, and if they offer you a ring with colorless, or near colorless third of a carat diamonds without GIA or AGSL reports, don't take that, in itself, as a sign of anything wrong as it's not all that common to find this type of ring with 5 ( or 7) GIA reports.