*****HELP - Appraisal results not match GIA*****

[civictypesi]

we purchased a diamond from Union Diamond and placed a custom order for the ring with them.

We weren't able to get it appraised until almost a month after the purchase because we had some trouble setting up an appointment time with the appraiser listed under Pricescope. Nonetheless, the one we went to yesterday appears to be very good - an independent appraiser, nearly 60 years of experience and president of the jewelry appraisal club here in our state (very impressive resume). Very very very friendly old man.

We paid for a stone whose cut is "excellent" (per GIA report) but the appraisal report says "good" - problem?? While carat weight, color, and clarity all match, I am concerned about overpaying and wondering if we could have paid less for this "good" diamond seeing how "cut" is the most important of the 4 C's. In other words, did we purchase a "good" stone at the cost of an "excellent" cut? How is this possible? It certainly isn't due to wear and tear - during the month of trying to get an appointment wth the other appraiser, it had not been worn (sat in the box).

Should I call Union Diamond and if so, what to say? Today's my 29th day (they have a 30-day policy). Whose fault is this? GIA (it's second tier compared to AGS), Union Diamond, appraiserl, mine? Has anyone else had a diamond appraised and the appraisal did not match the GIA or AGS report? Is this common? Please share.

My other question is if you have a lot of side stones (say channel like), is it possible for the total carat weight (of the channel of diamonds) to be off? the appraisal report's description was about 0.03ct shy of what was described in my order from Union Diamond (I counted all the side stones and they are all there and appear to be the same weight).

In case you're interested, the independent appraisal value came out to be similar to that estimated by Union Diamond ($2000 shy of jeweler)

If it is a case I should open up, I am not looking for another center stone w/ the same 4cs, as I like my ring a lot (and so did the other customers at the appraisal place). I think Union Diamond did a good job with my ring - it's just I simply want to get what I originally paid for. I'm sad that my stone may not have an "excellent" cut (since that was the 1st factor I looked at)

 

[marcy]

That would bother me too but you say you love your ring and that is the most important thing. I would call Union Diamond and see what they say and I would imagine the variation in certs and carat weight can vary just due to personal judgement. Good luck.

 

[junebug17]

You may want to move your post to Rocky Talky, situations such as yours are often discussed there.

 

[gemgirl]

The first thing I would do is check the girdle inscribed certificate number on the stone to make sure the stone you had mounted matches the certificate in your hand.

Second, the best quality appraisal will happen when the stone is loose. A man with nearly 60 yrs experience has at least 80 yr old eyes. Any stone certified by GIA is certified by three or four GIA diamond graders. (Stones are not evaluated by one person) I would trust your GIA cert before I would trust an 80 yr old stranger "if" your certificate matches the number inscribed on the girdle of your stone. GIA and AGS are on par with each other. GIA is not considered second tier.

I''ve had appraisals done on finished jewelry pieces, things I wanted added to my insurance policy like bracelets, anniversary bands etc. and yes, the total carat weight in a jewelry piece made of a lot of small stones can and usually is off by a bit. In the case of one of my anniversary bands, the appraised carat weight was off by ten points, but there''s nothing that can be done about that. Melees are not necessarily cut to ideal proportions and there will be a carat weight difference when appraised as a finished piece.

Take this one step at a time and check your cert numbers.

 

[brightlight]

Date: 8/2/2009 2:14:48 PM
Author:civictypesi
we purchased a diamond from Union Diamond and placed a custom order for the ring with them.

We weren''t able to get it appraised until almost a month after the purchase because we had some trouble setting up an appointment time with the appraiser listed under Pricescope. Nonetheless, the one we went to yesterday appears to be very good - an independent appraiser, nearly 60 years of experience and president of the jewelry appraisal club here in our state (very impressive resume). Very very very friendly old man.

We paid for a stone whose cut is ''excellent'' (per GIA report) but the appraisal report says ''good'' - problem?? While carat weight, color, and clarity all match, I am concerned about overpaying and wondering if we could have paid less for this ''good'' diamond seeing how ''cut'' is the most important of the 4 C''s. In other words, did we purchase a ''good'' stone at the cost of an ''excellent'' cut? How is this possible? It certainly isn''t due to wear and tear - during the month of trying to get an appointment wth the other appraiser, it had not been worn (sat in the box).

Should I call Union Diamond and if so, what to say? Today''s my 29th day (they have a 30-day policy). Whose fault is this? GIA (it''s second tier compared to AGS), Union Diamond, appraiserl, mine? Has anyone else had a diamond appraised and the appraisal did not match the GIA or AGS report? Is this common? Please share.

My other question is if you have a lot of side stones (say channel like), is it possible for the total carat weight (of the channel of diamonds) to be off? the appraisal report''s description was about 0.03ct shy of what was described in my order from Union Diamond (I counted all the side stones and they are all there and appear to be the same weight).

In case you''re interested, the independent appraisal value came out to be similar to that estimated by Union Diamond ($2000 shy of jeweler)

If it is a case I should open up, I am not looking for another center stone w/ the same 4cs, as I like my ring a lot (and so did the other customers at the appraisal place). I think Union Diamond did a good job with my ring - it''s just I simply want to get what I originally paid for. I''m sad that my stone may not have an ''excellent'' cut (since that was the 1st factor I looked at)

I''ve also had an appraisal not match my GIA certificate. However, in my case, the difference was in the positive direction. My appraiser said that my diamond had excellent polish instead of very good. When I asked the appraiser, he said that the appraisal is his personal opinion of the stone. He thought the polish was better than very good.

 

[jet2ks]

Date: 8/2/2009 5:08:34 PM
Author: junebug17
You may want to move your post to Rocky Talky, situations such as yours are often discussed there.

Yep, if you message Admin, they can move it and the appraisers that regularly post will see it much easier.

 

[civictypesi]

gemgirl how do i check this? the only # i see on the GIA report is the GIA report # - is this what is inscribed on the girdle? wouldn''t it be hard to see b/c the stone is mounted?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 8/2/2009 9:14:26 PM
Author: civictypesi
gemgirl how do i check this? the only # i see on the GIA report is the GIA report # - is this what is inscribed on the girdle? wouldn''t it be hard to see b/c the stone is mounted?

Not all stones have the # inscribed on the stone. I''d consider the GIA appraisal more accurate because the stone was graded loose whereas this appraiser graded it set. There is no way he can get an exact weight when the stones are set in a ring. I wouldn''t worry about it at all as long as the appraiser indicated that he believes the stone is the one that goes with the cert.

 

[gemgirl]

Date: 8/2/2009 9:14:26 PM
Author: civictypesi
gemgirl how do i check this? the only # i see on the GIA report is the GIA report # - is this what is inscribed on the girdle? wouldn''t it be hard to see b/c the stone is mounted?

Look at your GIA cert and see if it says "lasar inscription registry". If it does, your diamond has a microscopic inscription of it''s cert number on it''s girdle. Most stones graded after 2000 have a girdle inscription. All stones graded after 2006 have a girdle inscription. GIA had to keep up with the "Jones", in this case, the AGS Lab.

The easiest way to see your girdle inscription is to take it to any jeweler that has a computerized microscope. They''ll put your ring under the microscope and you''ll easily be able to read the numbers on the girdle on a large computer monitor. A prong can cover some of the numbers but not all. I can still read the girdle inscription on each of my .39 pt ear studs and I''m thinking my studs are probably a lot smaller than your e-ring stone. The only way you wouldn''t be able to see anything, is if your stone is bezel set.

 

[tyty333]

Date: 8/2/2009 10:13:46 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006

Date: 8/2/2009 9:14:26 PM
Author: civictypesi
gemgirl how do i check this? the only # i see on the GIA report is the GIA report # - is this what is inscribed on the girdle? wouldn''t it be hard to see b/c the stone is mounted?

Not all stones have the # inscribed on the stone. I''d consider the GIA appraisal more accurate because the stone was graded loose whereas this appraiser graded it set. There is no way he can get an exact weight when the stones are set in a ring. I wouldn''t worry about it at all as long as the appraiser indicated that he believes the stone is the one that goes with the cert.

Agree...as long as the appraiser says its the same stone then I would go with what the GIA report says.