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confused about blue fluorescence- medium

bigsparkles

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 8, 2012
Messages
90
I called a local jewelry store and spoke with their GIA gemologist (called about getting an appraisal) who said that my diamond should have been discounted 2-3% because of the blue fluorescence. I sent her my GIA cert and she told me that the market value is 3K less than what I paid for the stone from JA. Given that JA is the best priced diamond site and their prices being so competitive I am surprised by this news. Did I get the wool pulled over my eye? should my stone have been discounted by the blue fluorescence? I have a J color stone.....
 
You're talking to an appraiser who works for a local jewelry store though. Pick an independent appraiser and see what she/he says. Yes I believe currently the market marks down stones with blue fluor. I own a blue fluor stone (from Brian Gavin) but I think JA's prices are very very competitive. With that said I did see stones with same carat size, color and clarity listed on JA with 10 - 15% price discrepancies. I believe it's because most of their stones are not in-house. They source their stones from vendors. I see similar pricing discrepancies on Blue Nile (even though JA's pricings seem more competitive than BN's).

Regardless I'll still see what an independent appraiser says. It's hard to guess whether an appraiser who works for a jewelry store have a hidden agenda/try to sell you on their products.
 
sounds like a upset, local G.G (possibly?) who didnt make a sale on a stone he has or can make a commision on. What did you get for a stone, size, etc. and we'll see what or how things are. The flourescence issue is debated quite a bit around here these days, One group say its a detractor and should decrease value, another camp believes it is a stone enhancer, and that blue or any flurescence is a added bonus (so long as it does not detract from the stone normally) I mean look at BGD BLUES for one.

So, with all that said, what size stone, cut, etc. Link the GIA report for all thats worth. We'll give you our as unbiased opinion we can
 
I think blue fluor. is a bonus, and it usually does mean a discount on the stone. James Allen has good prices. I very seriously doubt you overpaid. If you want to tell us the specs and price you paid, I guess we can find comps.

That link doesn't work for me. Did you add the webpage to your favorites?
 
I have attached the cert as a pic. The appraiser also told me the the "insurance value" is 10 % less than the retail value or the value you paid. Apparently this is a common practice for the insurance appraisal? Is this common from your experience?

NR3443-27cer.jpg
 
That "appraiser" is just jealous that you got your stone from James Allen instead of him. This is why we do not recommend getting appraisals from anyone who sells diamonds. James Allen is competitive in pricing. I don't think you have a thing to worry about.

Who set your diamond for you? If it was James Allen, you need to insure with your sales receipt and the GIA report. That is all you should need and the correct amount to insure it for.

(Didn't realize you had a 3 ct. stone! That may complicate trying to find comps!)
 
I have not set the stone yet. It is still loose as I thought it would be best to keep it loose for appraisal sake.
 
All you needed was verification that the stone was the one in the cert. You can do price comps here and know that you are getting a good price. The three 3 ct. ex cut J SI1's James Allen has listed right now range from $32-34k+. So unless you paid more than $34k, I think your price was fine. 3% is only $1000, so the stone could have cost anywhere between $31k and $34k and still be fairly priced as far as I am concerned. (I also checked Eternity Diamonds who lists a lot of virtual stones, and they had several 3.01 J SI1's from $32k-36k.)

Who is going to set the stone for you? Are you going to get Jeweler's Mutual insurance so it can be covered while being set? If so, you can use the valuation that James Allen gave you as well as a statement from the jeweler who is selling the setting to get it insured.
 
Thanks for all your help Diamondseeker2006...geez what would I do without you pricescopers?????!!!! <3<3 I am still up in the air about the setting...? I dont know if I want to do the 6 prong tiffanys replica or something from whiteflash... I will keep you guys posted as soon as its set.


So what is the value of getting an independent appraisal if you know the market value? Is the main purpose just to confirm that the diamond I paid for is the diamond I got?
 
I personally see no reason to get an independent appraisal on a new stone with a recent GIA or AGS report. GIA and AGS are providing an independent assessment of the diamond, and we all can compare prices on 100's of virtual and in-house diamonds right from this website. I guess there is a minute chance of the wrong stone being sent with the wrong cert, so it can be good to just have a jeweler confirm that the stone is the one in the report and in the condition stated in the report. (Example of when you need an appraisal...an older stone with older report could have been damaged and might need a new GIA report OR a reliable independent appraisal.)

Most insurance valuations are inflated (contrary to the strange info that jeweler told you), and that is why I don't like using appraisals for insurance when I pay retail for a diamond. I know I can replace that diamond for some period of time for approx. what I paid, so why insure for thousands more when the insurance co. is only going to allow what the stone is actually worth (or what they can replace it for barely above wholesale)??? I have insurance with Chubb, and I always send my sales receipt with the diamond grading report, and that works well for me. From time to time, they offer me the opportunity to increase my coverage by 10% or more without even getting a new appraisal which is wonderful! I can follow current prices easily here, so I know how much my things should be insured for.
 
I'll tell you what I'd do about the setting. I would choose a Vatche setting and send it right back to James Allen to set. Then you can hopefully end up with all the values you need from James Allen to insure your stone. Obviously I am biased and love the Vatche U-113, but my daughter has the Vatche Caroline which is gorgeous with a larger stone as well, if you prefer 4 prongs instead of 6. The Caroline also comes with a pave shank, if you didn't want plain shank. Those are my two favorite Vatche solitaires and they both fit well with a wedding band.

Here ya go...(pics compliments of WF since JA doesn't have the pics on their site)

The Vatche U-113 pictured with a 3 ct. diamond:

http://www.whiteflash.com/gallery/solitaire-engagement-rings/vatche-6-prong-knife-edge-solitaire-engagement-ring-24302.htm

Vatche Caroline (has tiny diamonds on basket only):

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/caroline-solitaire-engagement-ring-by-vatche-288.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/gallery/solitaire-engagement-rings/caroline-solitaire-engagement-ring-17002.htm (This is actually my daughter's ring! I think it would look amazing with a large diamond!)

Vatche Caroline with pave on shank:

http://www.whiteflash.com/about-diamonds/jewelry/sweet-caroline-all-about-the-caroline-by-vatche-966.htm
 
bigsparkles|1330483111|3136921 said:
I called a local jewelry store and spoke with their GIA gemologist (called about getting an appraisal) who said that my diamond should have been discounted 2-3% because of the blue fluorescence. I sent her my GIA cert and she told me that the market value is 3K less than what I paid for the stone from JA. Given that JA is the best priced diamond site and their prices being so competitive I am surprised by this news. Did I get the wool pulled over my eye? should my stone have been discounted by the blue fluorescence? I have a J color stone.....
I would say "Great! Why don't you bring in a comparable stone, I'll return my JA stone, and buy the comp for 3K less."
 
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