Is this normal?

[skyline]

Hi there,
I had the chance to have a Superbcert diamond appraised in the last week by Just Appraisals. They are about 2 blocks apart in New York, so I expected that they would be quite familiar with one another on a pleasant basis.

During the appraisal process (hindered because some of the megascope measurements did not match the GIA), Superbcert phoned over to ask the appraisal if a sale was immenient. To which our appraiser stated "quite possible, if we can prove that GIA made a mistake with their measurements" in front of us. (We made no such statement).

Is this normal? I''ve heard good things about Superbcert and Just Appraisals, I wonder if their close proximity would lead to some bias, or "rigging" of the appraisal.

For the record, the diamond looks super, and I didn''t see anything majorly concerning.

GIA:5.64-5.76x3.46 (megascope gave 5.65x5.65x 3.44)
Depth: 60.7
Table: 54 (megascope gave 56.6)
Girdle: MEDIUM-FACETED
Culet: NONE
Polish: EXCELLENT
Symmetry: EXCELLENT
Clarity Characteristics: CRYSTAL-NEEDLE
Fluorescence: NONE
Crown Angle: 34.4
Crown Height: 14.5
Pavil. Angle: 40.8
Pavil. Depth: 43.0

 

[skyline]

I should also ask, when we calcuate the AGA grade of the diamond, do we use the min and max measurements, or do we use the average?
For example,
crown angle: 34.4 (33.9-34.6)
pavilion depth: 43.1 (43.0-43.3)
Would these be 1A (based on average), or 1B (based on min/max measurements)?

And finally, the megascope gave a report that said one of the facets was unmatched? Is this not a good thing, considering the stone is supposedly Hearts and Diamonds?

Sorry, I just got the report and trying to decipher the info within it. Thanks.

 

[Dancing Fire]

----------------
On 6/17/2004 10:52:24 PM skyline wrote:

Hi there,
I had the chance to have a Superbcert diamond appraised in the last week by Just Appraisals. They are about 2 blocks apart in New York, so I expected that they would be quite familiar with one another on a pleasant basis.

During the appraisal process (hindered because some of the megascope measurements did not match the GIA), Superbcert phoned over to ask the appraisal if a sale was immenient. To which our appraiser stated 'quite possible, if we can prove that GIA made a mistake with their measurements' in front of us. (We made no such statement).

Is this normal? I've heard good things about Superbcert and Just Appraisals, I wonder if their close proximity would lead to some bias, or 'rigging' of the appraisal.

For the record, the diamond looks super, and I didn't see anything majorly concerning.

GIA:5.64-5.76x3.46 (megascope gave 5.65x5.65x 3.44)
Depth: 60.7
Table: 54 (megascope gave 56.6)
Girdle: MEDIUM-FACETED
Culet: NONE
Polish: EXCELLENT
Symmetry: EXCELLENT
Clarity Characteristics: CRYSTAL-NEEDLE
Fluorescence: NONE
Crown Angle: 34.4
Crown Height: 14.5
Pavil. Angle: 40.8
Pavil. Depth: 43.0 ----------------

skyline
do a search under my name you will find a discussion on the same subject, had (5) different machine scan the same stone they all come out different specs.

 

[skyline]

Hi there,
I'd like to clarify some matters in the header in the message. I am not Skyline, but his older brother who posted the above message, and I had only done so in the interests of my brother who is currently without access to a computer while he is away.

I have been on this website once prior to tonight, so I realize that I may have posted a question that may be interpreted the wrong way. Please do not take my message to imply that there was any untowards activity occuring; my brother did not mention anything of this nature occurring. I have no knowledge of how the diamond industry works and was just asking for feedback from those in the public.

Again, my apologies to anyone whom I may have offended or mislead.

Sincerely,
Richard

 

[aljdewey]

Richard, your post sounds as though some emailed you and blasted you for posting.




Please don't apologize for posting your questions. Those sorts of questions are perfectly legitimate. I have a feeling that one of the parties involved read this and reacted, right? They shouldn't. This forum is here to help, and if you want to question if a practice is kosher, you have absolutely every right to do so. The only way we all learn what's the norm is to ASK.




There was no accusation in your post, and I can't imagine anyone here was offended.

 

[skyline]

Hi again,

I do regret posting this particular message posing as my brother on this forum, as I feel as I may have over-reacted on the telephone when I spoke to him the other day. He mentioned nothing accusatory about either party when I talked to him on the phone, he had mentioned details of the appraisal and some percentage descrepancy between the GIA and what the appraisal results were. I was concerned (rightfully so I believe) that he was spending alot of money and I wanted to make sure that all was well. I have not been to this New York district that he told me about, but it sounded like a shark pool, and I did not want him to be taken.

I did not realize that the appraiser in question was listed in Pricescope as an independent vendor, and I realize that I was not at the appraisal, so I cannot comment on what he saw. I was given permission to check his email for him and post messages while he is away on business and vacation for 3 weeks since he won't have regular email access, so I guess he can write and clarify matters once he returns from New York.

Again, sorry for the confusion.

Richard

 

[kevinng]

I wasn't there to understand the situation, so I don't know if the appraiser sounded overly friendly. I am a bank regulator, and I do have friends who work in the bank. I hope people will think that I can remain independent although some of the people I regulate are my friends. It's part of being a professional. We try our best to be impartial when we do our job, and give the most honest opinion we possibly can.

I don't think what the appraiser said put him/her in bad light. If you put both the 'correct' and 'wrong' measurements in the HCA, both come up with excellent results. So, the appraiser was merely doing his due deligence to authenticate the GIA certificate. I think he has come to a point where he is ready to conclude that the diamond is excellent, whether the GIA results were correct or wrong. However, he must prove that the certificate is real. I'm sure you appreciate his efforts.

I do not think that his independence is called into question if he has inferred that a good appraisal would lead to a sale. It is quite a natural train of thought, I think. I wonder what do the other independent appraisers in this forum think? I am not in the gem industry, so I do not know the appraisal standards/guidelines.

But this serves as an important reminder for those in the auditing/appraisal profession. Besides trying to be as independent as we can, we have to guard our 'perceived' independence as well. In this case, be extra careful what you say in front of your clients... it may be read the wrong way. Be extra careful what you say to the media. Where I work, we cannot talk to the media without first seeking clearance from the Corporate Communications office.