Do I need GIA certification for earrings?

[stagedr]

Hi - I am comparing earrings to buy for my wife. Briefly, one merchant has loose .61 carat (total wgt 1.22) matching stones that are GIA certified and would need to be set. Slightly less expensive (which I know has to do with many factors) are a set pair total weight 1.48 that look beautiful but do not come with GIA certification. Is it terrible to get the ones without GIA? I was told that I would need GIA if I ever decided to upgrade the earrings for her in the future. Thanks for your help!

 

[Dreamer_D]

I would never buy diamonds without a cert because that is the only way to know that you are getting what you are paying for! Doesn't have to be GIA, other labs can also grade. For me it is about paying the right price for the diamond you are buying, and you can't assess that without a cert.

There are so many diamonds out there with certs that you can have set into diamonds there's no need to take a risk.

ETA to clarify, you can also take your purchase to an independent appraiser to verify that the diamonds are as presented, as long as you purchased them contingent on the appraisal matching the jewelers representation of the stones. I doubt, however, that the jeweler selling uncerted diamonds has provided information on the cut quality -- the most important part -- and so all you could verify is the color and clarity grades. I still say get certed stones. We can probably help you find some for a better price with better cut.

 

[stagedr]

So here is some better information for you about these. I would be purchasing in NY's diamond district on 47th, if that makes a difference. the GIA cert loose stones are .61 each VS1 and VS 2, F color ( I don't see where it says cut on GIA cert. - round brilliant?) for total cost of $3800 including I think a white gold setting. The Non-GIA cert are certified by the gemologist who owns the store and are 1.48 total, G color, ideal cut, round for $3000 set in 4 prong white gold. Gemologist states retail value $5850. Was hoping to pay $3000 or less for my final purchase. Which do I go with (assuming I can negotiate either vendor down to $3000). VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/4/2009 11:27:02 AM
Author:stagedr
Hi - I am comparing earrings to buy for my wife. Briefly, one merchant has loose .61 carat (total wgt 1.22) matching stones that are GIA certified and would need to be set. Slightly less expensive (which I know has to do with many factors) are a set pair total weight 1.48 that look beautiful but do not come with GIA certification. Is it terrible to get the ones without GIA? I was told that I would need GIA if I ever decided to upgrade the earrings for her in the future. Thanks for your help!

Hi staged,

Well it depends on you. If you did ever want to upgrade them in future, this can be difficult enough even with a GIA report let alone without, so that is definitely something to factor into the decision. Also even earring stones need to be well cut in order to sparkle, normally if the GIA report is recent the proportions of the diamond will be noted on there, so if no report then it might not be possible to tell how well cut these stones are unless the seller has a Sarin report on them which would give detailed measurements.

If you want to proceed with the ungraded diamonds then definitely make the sale final on the diamonds checking out to your satisfaction in all ways ( and get this in writing) with an independant appraiser.

Here is a tool you can use to find an appraiser in your area

https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx

 

[Pandora II]

I would want a report on anything over 0.50ct.

I just helped my brother buy a pair of earrings that were 0.75 cttw - I was offered AGS reports and turned them down as I didn''t want to add to the cost when I trusted the person I was buying the stones from to provide exactly what he said he was. At 1.00 cttw I would have got the reports.