Lab report on stud earrings: no depth measurement

[less_confused]

I am thinking of buying secondhand diamond stud earrings and I''d like them appraised first.

I was told by a local master gem appraiser that she won''t provide depth information unless the stones are removed. Which she won''t do.

I wanted to run a HCA check on the proportions, and the only thing missing is depth information.

If she doesn''t remove the stones:
How will she be able to do a quality inclusion mapping?
How will she be able to do the other tests to measure cut?

 

[Richard Sherwood]

If you have the seller's permission to remove the stones, I would do so. If the appraiser won't do it, I'd take them to your local jeweler to remove them and then have her do it. It's a pretty easy thing to do for the person who has the right tool.

One crucial piece of information you want is the exact carat weight. Then, in addition to that everything else is much easier to gauge when the stones are loose versus mounted.

I think I would make a purchase contigent upon having the stones analyzed loose. If the seller won't go for it, you might consider passing on the purchase.

By the way, you might want the seller present when the stones are removed, so she doesn't accuse you of switching them. If she observes the dismounting, and sees the exact carat weight of the diamonds, and maybe even observes them under a loupe or microscope, it will make it far less likely that she will accuse you of any funny stuff.

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 7/25/2009 10:37:17 PM
Author:less_confused
I am thinking of buying secondhand diamond stud earrings and I''d like them appraised first.

I was told by a local master gem appraiser that she won''t provide depth information unless the stones are removed. Which she won''t do.

I wanted to run a HCA check on the proportions, and the only thing missing is depth information.

If she doesn''t remove the stones:
How will she be able to do a quality inclusion mapping?
How will she be able to do the other tests to measure cut?

How big a purchase are we talking about here? How big are the stones supposed to be?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/25/2009 10:53:42 PM
Author: Richard Sherwood
If you have the seller''s permission to remove the stones, I would do so. If the appraiser won''t do it, I''d take them to your local jeweler to remove them and then have her do it. It''s a pretty easy thing to do for the person who has the right tool.

One crucial piece of information you want is the exact carat weight. Then, in addition to that everything else is much easier to gauge when the stones are loose versus mounted.

I think I would make a purchase contigent upon having the stones analyzed loose. If the seller won''t go for it, you might consider passing on the purchase.

By the way, you might want the seller present when the stones are removed, so she doesn''t accuse you of switching them. If she observes the dismounting, and sees the exact carat weight of the diamonds, and maybe even observes them under a loupe or microscope, it will make it far less likely that she will accuse you of any funny stuff.

Ditto Rich.

 

[oldminer]

Removing diamonds from earrings is not commonplace although if the stones are really big, like above 1.50ct each then maybe it is justified. The represeented quality should be I or better and the clarity VS1 or better. This would eliminate most diamonds from needing to be removed for an appraisal. Of course, if misrepresentation is highly suspected, then removal will make the outcome potentially more accurate for any size stone.

I and many others can estimate the depth percentage of most diamonds well enough to evaluate them. Most earrings are quite a compromise on overall quality. Few would require grading unset. If such grading accuracy is now questioned, why would you have purchased them without proper documentation? Tell us more about the size, quality weight and circumstances.