GIA Lab Grading "ERROR" on the Same Diamond

[jackoh5225]

I recently found a round 1.54 G VS2 Triple EXCELLENT H&A with a 1.0 HCA GIA#16856802. The only issue I had was that there wasn''t a laser inscription number on the girdle. The owner of the store agreed for a small fee to send the diamond back to GIA to get the laser inscription. After receiving the diamond back from GIA I was shocked to notice that the grading had changed from the original report date of March 3, 2008. The following are the characteristics of both GIA report:

March 3, 2008 Grading Report From GIA #16856802
KEY TO SYMBOLS:
Crystal
Feather
Cloud
Needle

July 30, 2008 Grading Report From GIA with the same GIA Number
KEY TO SYMBOLS
Crystal
CAVITY
Cloud
Needle

My question is why is it different from a report that was done 5 months ago? Should I be worried that there is a CAVITY located on the edge of the diamond? How does GIA determine to list under Key to Symbols? Is it done by worst to best as worst being on top? Please help I am concerned that GIA graded this same diamond differently. I haven''t yet purchased but I need to make a decision very soon. I told the jewelry store owner that I was very disappointed and they offer to take $350 off the price. After months of haggling I got them to give the diamond to me at 12% below Rap pricing when most people at the Downtown Los Angeles Jewlery District on Hill St. was on willing to provide between 5 to 8% discount of Rap for a Triple Excellent GIA diamond. Below are the Specs:

7.44 - 7.49 x 4.55 mm
1.54 Ct
G VS2
Cut: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Depth: 61%
Table: 57%
Crown Angle: 34
Crown Height: 15%
Pavillion Angle: 40.8
PavillionDepth: 43%
Star Lenght: 50%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Medium, Facted
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None

 

[denverappraiser]

Call GIA.

1-800-421-7250

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

 

[strmrdr]

hmmm I wonder if someone had some work done on the girdle which is why the report is different and the cavity disappeared from the report.
That would explain the missing inscription also.

 

[jackoh5225]

Actually there wasn''t a GIA # in the beginning but after I received it from being laser inscribed the feather on the same spot on the end of the diamond became a cavity on the new report.

Please help with your thoughts. Thanks in advance everyone.

 

[honey22]

Two possible ideas:

1. the diamond was damaged somehow between the time of the first cert and the second cert? Possibly by the vendor or maybe even when he laser inscription was occuring?

2. Diamond grading is subjective. I admit I know next to nothing regarding inclusions, but is there a possibility that the feather got worse and is now graded a cavity?

I wouldn''t just assume that GIA has made an error. Both certs are possibly accurate for that particular stone at the particular point in time. 6 months is a long time I guess and there would certainly have been opportunities for the stone to be damaged I would say. It could be possible that the stone was dropped even?

Call both the vendor and GIA and see if either of them has an explanation.

 

[John P]

Date: 8/4/2008 11:46:42 PM
Author: honey22
Two possible ideas:

1. the diamond was damaged somehow between the time of the first cert and the second cert? Possibly by the vendor or maybe even when he laser inscription was occuring?

2. Diamond grading is subjective. I admit I know next to nothing regarding inclusions, but is there a possibility that the feather got worse and is now graded a cavity?

I wouldn''t just assume that GIA has made an error. Both certs are possibly accurate for that particular stone at the particular point in time. 6 months is a long time I guess and there would certainly have been opportunities for the stone to be damaged I would say. It could be possible that the stone was dropped even?

Call both the vendor and GIA and see if either of them has an explanation.

That was my first thought. A feather is the general trade term for any break in a gemstone. A cavity is an angular opening that can be created when part of a feather breaks away (or when a surface-reaching crystal drops out). From this basic info it seems like what was called a feather the first time is now being called a cavity. I''d surmise that the break increased at the surface, or two different graders simply categorized it differently. All of this is hypothesis though - let us know what you find out.

 

[jackoh5225]

Does it matter on the GIA Report the order of listing under "KEY TO SYMBOLS"? I read somewhere that GIA list from the worst of the inclusion on top and smaller of the inclusion on the bottom. If this is true should I be worried that my report looks like this since "CAVITY" is the second item on the list:

KEY TO SYMBOLS
Crystal
CAVITY
Cloud
Needle

 

[stone_seeker]

I guess I have another issue....why would a diamond with a cavity still be a VS2? Wouldnt a cavity be easily noticeable especially on the surface?

this concerns me in general that a VS1 with a feather could break and be worth a lot less and still be a VS1???

I dont get how it changed like that unless the feather caused a break and when it went back to GIA they renamed it cavity but still graded it VS2?

 

[stone_seeker]

Date: 8/5/2008 9:55:47 AM
Author: jackoh5225
Does it matter on the GIA Report the order of listing under ''KEY TO SYMBOLS''? I read somewhere that GIA list from the worst of the inclusion on top and smaller of the inclusion on the bottom. If this is true should I be worried that my report looks like this since ''CAVITY'' is the second item on the list:

KEY TO SYMBOLS
Crystal
CAVITY
Cloud
Needle

They are order of severity. But the overall clarity must also be taken into consideration

 

[John P]

Date: 8/5/2008 10:10:55 AM
Author: stone_seeker
I guess I have another issue....why would a diamond with a cavity still be a VS2? Wouldnt a cavity be easily noticeable especially on the surface?

this concerns me in general that a VS1 with a feather could break and be worth a lot less and still be a VS1???

I dont get how it changed like that unless the feather caused a break and when it went back to GIA they renamed it cavity but still graded it VS2?

It may be VS-minor from the surface 10X view. For example, something that touches the pavilion and poses no durability issue.