GAI Labs

[babs23r]

Has anyone out there ever heard of a GAI lab for grading diamonds? Is this a legit lab or BS??? I think I already know the answer but just wanted to hear if anyone has heard of them.

 

[babs23r]

The jeweler is a " friend" and I know that the number one rule is never to get anything from a friend . Just need do hear it again from you guys since I am distraught.

 

[kenny]

I've never heard of GAI, and never buy from a friend.

A lab naming itself GAI, so it can be mistaken for GIA by the unwashed masses, is pretty low.

Shop for stones graded by GIA or AGS from a reputable vendor like goodoldgold, whiteflash, briangavindiamonds, Crafted by Infinity from highperformancediamonds, jamesallen.

Stones graded by off labs may seem like they are cheaper but they are not.
They are just incorrectly graded so the color and clarity grades are basically lies.

You can believe the grades issued by GIA and AGS, and therefore know what the price should be.
You know you are getting what you are paying for.

Do this and you won't be distraught.

 

[Christina...]

Hi babs23r. I'm sorry if you have found yourself in a difficult situation. I've never heard of GAI labs, in fact it's not unusual for these 'fake' labs to use acronyms that are similar to reputable labs in order to cause confusion to consumers. I'm guessing that this is the case for this 'lab'. Have you already purchased the stone from your 'friend'?

 

[babs23r]

Thanks guys. No, I didn't buy the stone. I am just disappointed that this jeweler would try to sell me a stone from that bogus lab.

 

[Christina...]

Thanks guys. No, I didn't buy the stone. I am just disappointed that this jeweler would try to sell me a stone from that bogus lab.

I'm sorry. . Maybe it isn't a total loss though. You were informed enough to know not to buy from a bogus lab but without more information it's hard to say that your 'friends' intent was to rip you off. Did he imply that the grading was as accurate as GIA or AGSL? Perhaps he was planning to explain to you that often/most times these no name labs are inaccurate and intended to offer to either have the stone independently appraised, sent to GIA or make the sale contingent on you doing one of these? I don't automatically believe that just because a vendor sells EGL or similarly graded stones means that they con artists. A reputable vendor though will explain the differences in grading and how it will impact both price and value. I hope this was your 'friends' intent.

 

[babs23r]

Hi Christina ,
When I asked about the "specs", he took out the certificate and I am the one who pointed out that it was GAI as opposed to gia. He agreed that it would not be an accurate grade, ( stone was listed as G but I saw a yellow tint and it looked to me like a J, or maybe lower... who knows. He disagreed with my J assessment , staing that I was wrong. I have gotten jewelry from him in the past, but lately I have been catching him in these inaccuracies . It is just disappointing when you have dealt with someone and considered them a friend, and then they try to pull a fast one on you. If I hadn't caught the GAI bogus certificate, I really don't think that he would have said anything.

Buyer beware.....