mydiamondexperience.com (Chicago) Can anyone tell me about them?

[Swirl]

Hello, I am looking for a loose diamond for I setting that I recently purchased and have been just a lurker until now. I was wondering if somone out there would be so kind as to give me some information?

While researching on pricescope I found a link to this site - mydiamondexperience.com.

I have however, found nothing else on the web about them. All I can find when I google it is a link to their site and that is it. Their website says thay are diamond cutters and suppliers and have been in business for 35 years. They are in Chicago. 35 years and not a carat of information on them to be found.

They have been extremely helpful with emails and pictures. I am seriously considering buying my diamond from them, but it seems weird that I can find nothing out there on the web about them.

 

[newed]

Hi
I can totally understand where you are coming from and I think that you are right , I was researching over the weekend for a diamond and came across MDE, after reading your comment about years in the business I was eager to know who is behind this so called 35 years old company , a short search solve the mystery … MDE was established few month ago and taking diamonds from wholesalers around the country as a broker.
As for the quality of the diamonds I was surprised to discover that most of their E.G.L certificates are not what they say they are , I did email EGL and learned from them that these certificates are not coming from the Israeli laboratory and they are not responsible for them!

My bad experience in online business tells me that if I’m making an online purchase from them I will take it to an independent appraiser just to make sure that I really get what I’m paying for .

I would check more into it and will keep you posted

Good luck

Alex

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 1/27/2010 10:59:12 PM
Author:Swirl
Hello, I am looking for a loose diamond for I setting that I recently purchased and have been just a lurker until now. I was wondering if somone out there would be so kind as to give me some information?

While researching on pricescope I found a link to this site - mydiamondexperience.com.

I have however, found nothing else on the web about them. All I can find when I google it is a link to their site and that is it. Their website says thay are diamond cutters and suppliers and have been in business for 35 years. They are in Chicago. 35 years and not a carat of information on them to be found.

They have been extremely helpful with emails and pictures. I am seriously considering buying my diamond from them, but it seems weird that I can find nothing out there on the web about them.

Swirl,

Post the link to the diamond you are considering and we can comment on it, I would assume also that MDE is a drop shipper and that they have never seen the diamonds they are offering.

There is rarely such a thing as an "incredible bargain" in the diamond business, most of the PS vendors work on a 10 - 25% margin on diamonds and any offering what seems like a better deal, with more information you will see you may be comparing apples to oranges.

I did notice they are on the PS search and they only list a small number of diamonds but seem to offer them at a slightly lower price (2% lower) for the same stones as other PS vendors.

MDE registered its website in July of 2009 so I'd say they are very new to the internet business. There is very little information on their website, but they do offer a 30 day money back guarantee and free shipping both ways.
One thing that bothered me is they only provide report checks for diamond certificates not a scan of the actual certificate so there is less information available than from other vendors, perhaps upon enquiry they would provide more information if you ask.

Good-Luck,
CCl

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 2/15/2010 11:03:25 AM
Author: newed

Hi
I can totally understand where you are coming from and I think that you are right , I was researching over the weekend for a diamond and came across MDE, after reading your comment about years in the business I was eager to know who is behind this so called 35 years old company , a short search solve the mystery … MDE was established few month ago and taking diamonds from wholesalers around the country as a broker.
As for the quality of the diamonds I was surprised to discover that most of their E.G.L certificates are not what they say they are , I did email EGL and learned from them that these certificates are not coming from the Israeli laboratory and they are not responsible for them!

My bad experience in online business tells me that if I’m making an online purchase from them I will take it to an independent appraiser just to make sure that I really get what I’m paying for .

I would check more into it and will keep you posted

Good luck

Alex

Welcome to Pricescope Alex.

There are many EGL labs (Example EGL USA) if it is a genuine certificate one of them graded the diamond.
Your statements are really hard to understand.

 

[newed]

Hi Pricescope ,

Thanks for the help, I did check and you are right there are two EGL laboratories that will confirm their certificates online or by phone these are EGL USA and EGL Israel , unfortunately non of them could confirm these certificates.

I truly believe that the best way to make sure that we get what we paid for is through a third party independed appraiser , after all we do have 30 days to decide.

Thanks again

 

[Swirl]

I emailed Pricescope admin. about this company and received a response from Audrey saying that it was a legitimate business in business for over 32 years in the trade, but was fairly new from an online perspective.

The vendor said that they are actually a diamond company not just a computer company using industry inventories to post on the net. He said that he did use the inventories of other companies that they have a relationship with but they have their margin already in it and then he has to add a couple of points for himself. On his own stock it is just him, so I could get a little better price on those diamonds.

I did purchase a diamond from them and I am very happy with it! I haven't got it set yet, but I've carried it around all over creation looking at it from different angles and in different lights. I got the appraisal back today (local guy)- he didn't mention any problems and it appraised very well.

I must say that I received excellent service from them. They were super quick answering emails and sending pictures. I had a limited budget and wanted the biggest and best I could get for the money. Honestly for the price, I don't think I could have done better. Based on my experience I would recommend them. I worked with Mark Van Berschot.

 

[doctranod]

I just recently purchased a diamond from this site. The whole process took nearly a month as they did not have every diamond in stock that I was interested in (even though on the website they said they owned all the diamonds). I, too worked with Mark VanBerschot. He was extremely helpful, and even gave me a discount on the diamond. (I noticed that the prices of the diamonds I was interested in went up in price as each week passed and he locked me into a price that I was comfortable with). I purchased an EGL certified 1.51 Brilliant, E VS2 - slight blue fluorescence. We took the diamond to an independent appraiser and it was verified as a 1.51, I-J, SI-1, strong blue fluorescence. I am not happy with the results and will take it to another appraiser for a second opinion. If the second appraisal does not go well, I will be returning the diamond. I realize that EGL is sometimes off a grade or two in color and clarity, but to be 4-5 grades off and strong versus slight fluorescence REALLY bothers me. I am hoping that the first appraisal was just a poor one. Does anyone have any good advice on how to buy online?

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 2/27/2010 9:42:20 PM
Author: doctranod
I am not happy with the results and will take it to another appraiser for a second opinion.

Since there''s a lot of "fish in the sea," I question the value (i.e., cost to you) of shopping for a better opinon.

Does anyone have any good advice on how to buy online?

Yes...use vendors who are vetted extensively, and referenced repeatedly here on Pricescope. Reading threads for only one to several days should make it obvious who hundreds or thousands have gone to with satisfaction.

 

[doctranod]

ote>

Yes...use vendors who are vetted extensively, and referenced repeatedly here on Pricescope. Reading threads for only one to several days should make it obvious who hundreds or thousands have gone to with satisfaction.

I wish I would have found pricescope before I bought a diamond! Lesson learned! Getting a second opinion on the appraisal is not to seek a better value for the diamond, but rather, I want to make sure that the diamond "is what it is". I want to trust in those I do business with - -especially when there was so much time and effort involved in the purchase, but also want to make sure that I am getting what I have paid for.

Back to the original post: mydiamondexperience.com was extremely helpful in helping me with my purchase. They also have a 30 day guarantee and will pay for return postage if you are not happy with the diamond. The owner himself helped me and said that he has never had a diamond returned to him. I think that this particular diamond was just "OFF" graded by EGL. He seemed very nice, but is EXTREMELY new to selling online.

I may be buying a diamond...not the certificate, but the grading must also be accurate. In my case, I lost my original engagement and wedding ring--and buying a new one has been an emotional nightmare

. For insurance purposes, I need to make sure that the diamond is truly what it is supposed to be in case I lose it AGAIN (Heaven forbid!)

I''m not sure I''m up for buying online again (this was actually the second stone I may be returning). I think I may be better just seeing them and comparing stones in person before I spend another 10 grand!

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 2/28/2010 12:55:28 PM
Author: doctranod

I may be buying a diamond...not the certificate, but the grading must also be accurate.

--------------------------

Doc, if I were you, I would continue to take advantage further of the learning available here. You would read with any EGL grading certificate, you should expect at least a discount (from what you would otherwise pay if the diamond was graded by either AGS or GIA), and you may, in concert with that discount, expect a lack of "accuracy" as against what you would have expected had it been graded by either GIA or AGS. We read here that the EGL type helps predict the variation from the mean. If EGL USA, you have a better chance of an "accurate" grade. If EGL Israel...forgetaboutit. If other...something in between (by which I read that for anything not EGL USA...you really should be surprised if it was what an appraiser would grade as accurate, since the GIA standard is what they should reference...like EGL should, but largely does not).

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 2/28/2010 12:55:28 PM
Author: doctranod

Yes...use vendors who are vetted extensively, and referenced repeatedly here on Pricescope. Reading threads for only one to several days should make it obvious who hundreds or thousands have gone to with satisfaction.


[/quote]


I wish I would have found pricescope before I bought a diamond! Lesson learned! Getting a second opinion on the appraisal is not to seek a better value for the diamond, but rather, I want to make sure that the diamond 'is what it is'. I want to trust in those I do business with - -especially when there was so much time and effort involved in the purchase, but also want to make sure that I am getting what I have paid for.

The owner himself helped me and said that he has never had a diamond returned to him. I think that this particular diamond was just 'OFF' graded by EGL. He seemed very nice, but is EXTREMELY new to selling online.

I may be buying a diamond...not the certificate, but the grading must also be accurate. In my case, I lost my original engagement and wedding ring--and buying a new one has been an emotional nightmare

. For insurance purposes, I need to make sure that the diamond is truly what it is supposed to be in case I lose it AGAIN (Heaven forbid!)

I'm not sure I'm up for buying online again (this was actually the second stone I may be returning). I think I may be better just seeing them and comparing stones in person before I spend another 10 grand!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

That statement is troubling, even the most popular PS vendors deal with many returns, in 99%+ of cases the diamond is as represented on a GIA or AGS certificate, however this doesn't mean all customers are satisfied and returns are not a reflection of a poor sellor, customers are allowed to change thier mind.

As stated before, EGL is very inconsistant in their grading, if its EGL Israel its quite common for the grading to be far off, even for other EGL labs y 2 - 3 grades lower is quite common on comparing GIA to EGL.
EGL stones are discounted already at the wholesale level, so you are not getting a "deal" for buying these, in fact quite the opposite you may get the same price as if it was graded by GIA or more than likely you will pay more than if the same stone was graded by GIA. A second appraisal isn't going to help you, I hope you will now understand that all grading labs are not created equal.

My suggestion is the following:

1) Stick with GIA or AGS graded diamonds there is a reason why these are the top tier labs and most consistantly trusted here and in the trade.
2) Stick with a sellor that has the diamonds in house, as in they have looked at them and can provide reflector test images before and post them online before you have to make a decision.
3) Use the Pricescope community, there are many experienced vendors, appraisors, cutters and jewelry designers here who have a wealth of experience. Before taking any further decisions make a new thread and describe your new potential purchase. This forum is all about consumer education and there are many here including myself who can help you find precisely what you are looking for. Shopping for a Round Brilliant is particularly easy once we know what your exact budget and 4 Cs are.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/28/2010 12:55:28 PM
Author: doctranod

Yes...use vendors who are vetted extensively, and referenced repeatedly here on Pricescope. Reading threads for only one to several days should make it obvious who hundreds or thousands have gone to with satisfaction.

[/quote]


I wish I would have found pricescope before I bought a diamond! Lesson learned! Getting a second opinion on the appraisal is not to seek a better value for the diamond, but rather, I want to make sure that the diamond 'is what it is'. I want to trust in those I do business with - -especially when there was so much time and effort involved in the purchase, but also want to make sure that I am getting what I have paid for.

Back to the original post: mydiamondexperience.com was extremely helpful in helping me with my purchase. They also have a 30 day guarantee and will pay for return postage if you are not happy with the diamond. The owner himself helped me and said that he has never had a diamond returned to him. I think that this particular diamond was just 'OFF' graded by EGL. He seemed very nice, but is EXTREMELY new to selling online.

I may be buying a diamond...not the certificate, but the grading must also be accurate. In my case, I lost my original engagement and wedding ring--and buying a new one has been an emotional nightmare

. For insurance purposes, I need to make sure that the diamond is truly what it is supposed to be in case I lose it AGAIN (Heaven forbid!)

I'm not sure I'm up for buying online again (this was actually the second stone I may be returning). I think I may be better just seeing them and comparing stones in person before I spend another 10 grand!



Hi doctranod and welcome!

If you would like help buying another diamond or any other info, please do go ahead and start a new thread so we can help you! Even if you prefer to not buy online we can still be of assistance to you so just let us know what we can do to help. Sorry you have had a couple of bad experiences, unfortunately buying a diamond isn't as straightforward as some might believe if you aren't familiar with the process, but there is a lot we can do to help if you would like us to.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

If you''re spending that much money, for sure stick with an AGS or GIA certed stone and pick a vendor who''s regularily mentioned here on PS. It took me a few years of being a PS member before buying online and by then, I was very familiar with the vendors who were most reputable. By doing a search here, you can look into every vendor. Don''t give up hope that you will not be able to find a good diamond by shopping online! Just take your time and get to know more about the sellers.

Also, just because the owner said never has he had a diamond returned doesn''t mean that isn''t true. I cannot believe that nobody has returned a stone unless he''s JUST begun his online selling (and if that is the case, it makes sense to instead find a more experienced company!)

 

[doctranod]

THANKS EVERYONE! You all "ROCK"!!!

I will start my own thread!