Diamond Appraisal - Cut Grade Not What I Expected

[ssc5174]

I purchased the following stone and had it appraised prior to setting:

2.31 carat
G Color
Vs2 clarity
Polish = Excellent
Symmetry = Excellent
Girdle = Medium, Faceted
Culet = None
Fluorescence = None
Depth = 62.1%
Table = 56%
Crown = 34.5
Pavilion = 40.8

I paid $31,000 for the stone, the e-dealer appraised it for $45,000 and the B&M jeweler I took it to to appraise it appraised it for $49,000! All in all I think I got a pretty good deal (B&M indicated that they''d probably sell it for $6,000 more than I paid). What I can''t understand is that on the appraisal the local B&M gave me, it indicates only "Very Good" cut. I''ve ran this stone through HCA (score = 1.3) and GIA''s Facetware (Excellent). The "Megascope" scores all had 0''s which I thought was good.

What''s the deal? How can this stone just get a "very good" cut grade?

 

[Mara]

did you ask them what qualified the stone for VG? they''d know best.

is this a GIA graded stone? if so what is the cut grade on the GIA cert.

 

[ssc5174]

I just picked it up today and didn''t notice the VG on the appraisal until I got home.

It is a GIA stone but the cert is from 2005. I don''t think GIA started incuding cut grades on their certs until 2006

 

[JulieN]

Date: 9/20/2006 7:31:11 PM
Author:ssc5174

What I can''t understand is that on the appraisal the local B&M gave me, it indicates only ''Very Good'' cut.

Are they qualified to do appraisals?

 

[ssc5174]

They are a very reputable jeweler. The appraiser signed "Graduate Jeweler Gemologist Gemological Institute of America"

 

[Mara]

hmmm that's odd. i was going to say that maybe some of the facets have been brillianteered so maybe the B&M is using the GIA cut grading for their appraisals (??), but who knows really. i would ask them why the stone got dinged. from a pure 'specs' perspective the stone looks like it'd be a winner, so very curious.

 

[:)]

Date: 9/20/2006 7:41:08 PM
Author: ssc5174
They are a very reputable jeweler. The appraiser signed ''Graduate Jeweler Gemologist Gemological Institute of America''

I would want more than ''just'' a GG for an actual appraisal - although GG is nothing to sneeze at, I would want someone with specific appraisal credentials to do my appraisal - perhaps this is the problem with this appraisal. Perhaps Dave Atlas may chime in on this.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Date: 9/20/2006 7:31:11 PM
Author:ssc5174

I purchased the following stone and had it appraised prior to setting:

2.31 carat
G Color
Vs2 clarity
Polish = Excellent
Symmetry = Excellent
Girdle = Medium, Faceted
Culet = None
Fluorescence = None
Depth = 62.1%
Table = 56%
Crown = 34.5
Pavilion = 40.8

I paid $31,000 for the stone, the e-dealer appraised it for $45,000 and the B&M jeweler I took it to to appraise it appraised it for $49,000! All in all I think I got a pretty good deal (B&M indicated that they''d probably sell it for $6,000 more than I paid). What I can''t understand is that on the appraisal the local B&M gave me, it indicates only ''Very Good'' cut. I''ve ran this stone through HCA (score = 1.3) and GIA''s Facetware (Excellent). The ''Megascope'' scores all had 0''s which I thought was good.

What''s the deal? How can this stone just get a ''very good'' cut grade?

1. the grader may use VG as his highest grade - there are few rules and lots of different practices.
2. the numbers do not ad up - with those proportions the girdle must be slightly thick to thick.
3. if you have the gIA report # and ct weight enter it here and you should be able to get GIA''s proportions and their grade.
http://www.gia.edu/reportcheck/

 

[ssc5174]

Garry,

I followed your direction and entered the cert number and carat weight. The numbers produced are exactly what''s on the cert. There was also a cut grade given of Excellent.

 

[Rhino]

Interesting. You should find out this appraisers nomenclature and/or reasoning for the VG grade he gave. Since the stone is indeed a GIA Ex I would want that pointed out and emphasized in the written appraisal. God forbid you ever have to use the appraisal to replace the diamond, the insurance company is only obligated to replace what is described in the appraisal and if they see "very good" along with a GIA Report that''s what your diamond will be replaced with. I''d ask them to alter the appraisal it to the correct cut grade and bring him a print out of the GIA Report check on your stone.

Peace,

 

[denverappraiser]

Ring up your appraiser and ask ‘em. It may be as simple as an error in producing the final report. In any case, they should be prepared to explain it.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver