Comments on the Certification Reports-What Does This Mean?

[Robbenz]

On my first and previous post I asked for opinions to help me decide between 4 stones. I indicated that there were comments on each of the diamonds reports. The comments referred to...clouds, pinpoints, surface ?? not being shown. What exactly do these statements mean?. Is it better to go for stones that have no comments? Just trying to cover all bases. Thanks for your help.

 

[RockDoc]

Hi Robin....

RE: Comments of lab reports.

It depends on the severeity of the type of comment made. For instance "Pinpoints not Shown" means exactly that. What the lab report doesn''t say is how many there are. If it is a minor quantity is probably has no affect on the assessment of the stone.

The person you hire should be able to judge and explain the characteristics of any comment or data at a level that you thoroughly understand the affect of any comment made.

Other comments such as surface graining not shown, is a little more serious a comment, and one should seek a professional gemologist in for interpretation of what the lab is reporting. I think both GIA and AGS suggest that a gemologiist/ appraiser who IS credentialed should be contacted so that a complete type of advice is given to the propsective purchaser.

You also need to consider the clarity grade. If the stone is a VVS-1 and pinpoints aren''t shown it could be very relevant to the stone''s value and desireability. On the other hand, take an I-2 - who would care if pinpoints weren''t shown since there are much more severe inclusions to consider.

Hope this helps answer your question....

Rockdoc

 

[Robbenz]

Thanks Rocdoc for that explanation. As green as I am at this you BET it helps

I''ll go back and take another look at the reports. Thus far, I''ve only been considering stones with a clarity grade of either VS2 or SI1. I know now this is just one of the pieces of info I''ll seek out when I have my prospective diamond appraised.

 

[elmo]

I want to add just a little to what Rockdoc said. If the clarity is properly graded which it will be the large majority of the time by GIA and AGS (and maybe even EGL USA given the survey that Pricescope did a few months back

), regardless of comments, the clarity will be consistent with that grade. So to take just a slight exception with Bill''s VVS1/I2 example, a pinpoints not shown comment on a VVS1 (probably unusual?) on a properly graded stone would mean they''re about the most insignificant and impossible to see pinpoints you''ve ever come across. And similarly at VS1, pinpoints not shown will still be consistent with a VS1 grade. As an example we looked at a VVS1 stone with the only feature being a chip. That might be the kiss of death at other grades, but at VVS1 it was a non-issue.

Very much agree with Bill that you need a trusted professional to help you understand in proper context and even see what''s described on the report.