Mailing diamonds

[that_someone_special]

OK I really have a billion and a half diamond related questions... so I try to space them out a bit.

I recently "got" a new ring. It''s a GORGEOUS 3 stone. I don''t know if I want to keep it a 3 stone and thing the side stones detract from the GORGEOUS center stone

... Anyways so I''ve been thinking about resetting the main stone sometime this year, and either turning the side stones into studs, or at least one into a pendant.

Now, my question is.. HOW DO YOU MAIL DIAMONDS TO VENDORS?? Just thinking about putting one of these babies in the mail makes my heart stop a little. How do you mail it? (fed ex? usps?) How do you know if it''s insured enough.. or how do you insure it,.. AND if you do and it''s lost, is everything ok?? These diamonds have extremely non-replacable valube on them ... I got them from my grandma who just passed.

I''ve thought of going local, but again, how do I know they aren''t taking my diamond and replacing it with something a little "less"??? Ahhh my anxiety is through the roof with this! Please help

 

[mrssalvo]

Most of us send it USPS registered mail which is considered to be the safest way to go. there are other methods as well though. If you''ve got something that you consider non-replaceable than I would probably try to find someone local just for the peace of mind. Plus, there is something to be said for supporting a local business.

 

[Moh 10]

Harry Winston donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958, sending it through U.S. Mail in a plain brown paper bag while the insurance company executives were discussing the safest way to ship it.

I'd use USPS registered.

 

[Phoenix]

Have you asked your vendor if they could help you with the courier and insurance? I also face this problem all the time, since I live overseas and my insurer (or rather ex-insurer) wanted to charge me 5% of the valued amount in transit premium. I believe vendors (since they send and receive diamonds and diamond jewellery all the time) have an arrangement with an insurance company and a courier that they use and trust, so why not ask them to help?

Now, this gorgeous 3-stone ring, do you have pics of it and would you post them for us to drool over, please?

Incidentally, I'm thinking of doing the exact opposit of what you're thinking of. The ugly DSS is still plagueing (?) me and; and as hubby and I can't yet afford to upgrade to a larger diamond, I'm thinking of putting the two 1 caraters which I'm currently not wearing as side stones to my 3 carater and turn it into one blingy 3-stone ring. I was planning on selling one of the 1 caraters but the re-sale value is just so horrible, I might as well not sell it at all. Are you sure you want to change yr blingy 3-stone into a solitaire? You did say it was a GORGEOUS 3-stone ring!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 6/29/2009 10:52:59 PM
Author: mrssalvo
Most of us send it USPS registered mail which is considered to be the safest way to go. there are other methods as well though. If you''ve got something that you consider non-replaceable than I would probably try to find someone local just for the peace of mind. Plus, there is something to be said for supporting a local business.

true,but don''t expect to get paid if somehow your ring got lost.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/30/2009 2:43:53 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 6/29/2009 10:52:59 PM
Author: mrssalvo
Most of us send it USPS registered mail which is considered to be the safest way to go. there are other methods as well though. If you''ve got something that you consider non-replaceable than I would probably try to find someone local just for the peace of mind. Plus, there is something to be said for supporting a local business.

true,but don''t expect to get paid if somehow your ring got lost.

You know this concerns me, a mail method where you can get insurance for items up to 25k and you can''t expect them to pay out if the item gets lost??? I know our dear friend here has had trouble and I ache for her and wish there was something I could do to help....I just don''t see how if an item is sent registered mail and it gets lost in the postal system that an insurance claim can be denied.

 

[Todd Gray]

Date: 6/30/2009 1:19:43 AM
Author: Moh 10
Harry Winston donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958, sending it through U.S. Mail in a plain brown paper bag while the insurance company executives were discussing the safest way to ship it.

That''s right, it made me shudder the first time I read that years ago...

I consider the safest method of shipping diamonds or jewelry to be USPS Registered Mail and (knock on wood) to date, we''ve yet to have a single package go missing - so I can''t comment on whether the USPS pays their claims or not, but I can tell you that I''ve never heard of a USPS Registered & Insured package containing jewelry or diamonds go missing. The
Jewelers Security Alliance might have some statistics on that however. I did hear a story once about a jewelry store clerk being sent to the post office to return $225,000.00 worth of diamonds to a vendor packed in a single box and when confronted with the statement "we can only insure the package for $25K" said "sure, why not" and the store owner spent the next five days losing his mind - they were returning diamonds from a trunk show. Oh, the package arrived safe and secure, no worries.

I can tell you from personal experience that Fed Ex does NOT actually sell insurance for packages they transport, when you buy "insurance" you''re only providing them with a sum to consider in the event of loss or damage - I learned that lesson when they dropped a $50K inscription machine off the back of a truck and then denied the claim!

As vendors we have arrangements with third party insurance companies to provide coverage for our USPS, Fed Ex, UPS, packages while in transport and the provisions are very strict for how things must be packaged, the type of boxes, the number of boxes based on the value of the contents, the labeling, etc. and the claim can be denied if any of those factors is not "right" per the small print of the policy. If the value of your diamond is less than $25K I would be inclined as a consumer to ship USPS Registered Mail, there isn''t much room for small print on their submission form.

 

[chrono]

If in the US, registered mail with the USPS. Keep the receipt issued by the post office in addition to the tracking paper you are given. You WILL need both papers to claim insurance if the package is ever stolen. A cutter sending the stone to me lost it and got his money refunded after 2 weeks. It was the first time in his life to have a stone lost and he''s been in the business for over 10 years.

 

[BCEagle03]

For what it is worth.....my boyfriend sells electronics online and he "insures" things through USPS sometimes when the buyer requests it. He has had things lost or not delivered and USPS will not pay. They have a very very difficult to navigate claims department which can take months to get through. I do not know if they have ever actually paid a claim. With that said, he has shipped thousands of packages and only has had a few damaged or lost.

 

[Indylady]

I''ve shipped diamonds using USPS, but they were around $200 and I didn''t really stress that much about. So basically, even if you insure a package, it doesn''t necessarily mean they''ll ''make up for it'' if they lose your package?

 

[chrono]

So far, it seems like only one person (the cutter who cut my gemstone) received the full insured payment from the post office? He had to provide quite a bit of paperwork but at least he got his money back.

 

[denverappraiser]

I HAVE seen registered packages lost and I HAVE seen the USPS pay a claim. That said, the claims process is not the fast, cheerful and friendly customer experience you enjoy at your local post office. Unlike FedEx and UPS, it really is insurance but the terms and conditions of the policy are stacked against you and you should be prepared to defend your value if you ever need to file a claim. Like most of the dealers, I carry 3rd party insurance that includes shipping coverage.

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

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 6/30/2009 4:00:57 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 6/30/2009 2:43:53 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 6/29/2009 10:52:59 PM
Author: mrssalvo
Most of us send it USPS registered mail which is considered to be the safest way to go. there are other methods as well though. If you''ve got something that you consider non-replaceable than I would probably try to find someone local just for the peace of mind. Plus, there is something to be said for supporting a local business.

true,but don''t expect to get paid if somehow your ring got lost.

You know this concerns me, a mail method where you can get insurance for items up to 25k and you can''t expect them to pay out if the item gets lost??? I know our dear friend here has had trouble and I ache for her and wish there was something I could do to help....I just don''t see how if an item is sent registered mail and it gets lost in the postal system that an insurance claim can be denied.

easy my Brit GF...they''ll ask you for proof that there was a 25K item in that package.

 

[JDam]

I just sent off a ring to New York to be worked on by registered insured mail. It arrived at the post office and delivery was attempted twice and notices were left. I just found out that the vendor is on vacation for about 2 weeks. The tracking says that it will be held for 30 days and returned to the sender if it is not claimed by then.

Now I am not quite sure what to do. Any Thoughts?

 

[that_someone_special]

I have posted this ring before... well.. before it wasn''t mine. It will be exchanging into my hands this month.

The center is 3.14 ct and the sides are 1.46cttw. AGS Ideal all around (0) ... I color for the main stone, sides are g or h... and I believe they are all si1...?? I can''t remember exactly.

I still have no idea where to start on this. I might just get it sized and have to think about it for awhile.....

Here is the best picture I have of it (the rest are sooo dirty)

 

[that_someone_special]

Date: 6/30/2009 2:19:26 PM
Author: szh07
I''ve shipped diamonds using USPS, but they were around $200 and I didn''t really stress that much about. So basically, even if you insure a package, it doesn''t necessarily mean they''ll ''make up for it'' if they lose your package?

Which has me sooo nervous......

 

[stone-cold11]

Is it possible to employ an independent appraiser for this? As in asking him to send it for you? Probably cost alot more, but since he has more legal standing than you and did the documentation on the ring, claiming a lost package should be easier, and has additional third party coverage? Just throwing out ideas...

 

[that_someone_special]

Date: 7/1/2009 5:23:21 AM
Author: Stone-cold11
Is it possible to employ an independent appraiser for this? As in asking him to send it for you? Probably cost alot more, but since he has more legal standing than you and did the documentation on the ring, claiming a lost package should be easier, and has additional third party coverage? Just throwing out ideas...

That is a good idea!!!