Newbie bought uncertified stones

[Scruff]

Oh how i wish i had found this forum a few weeks ago

I recently bought the 1.00 Carat (total), G\SI2, Very good cut, platinum stud earrings online. They came with a valuation and appraisal from the company but no lab certification. I dont have any of the other measurements, will have to check the documentation at home.
I got them appraised by a gemmologist locally for insurance purposes who without removing the stones graded them as 0.96-1.0 Carats G\SI3-I1. So a few questions:

1) Should I be happy with the sellers grading seeing as the stones werent removed by local gemmologist for more accurate grading (due to time constraints on my side)
2) Even if the local gemmologist was more accurate, should I still he happy that I paid at least 1\3 the price of what I would have paid locally on the High Street for similar earrings?
3) Was I foolish to buy uncertified stones in the first place? I have found similar GIA certified studs from BlueNile for about 40% more.
4) It too close to Christmas and I have them already and the missus will almost definitely love them anyway as they are diamonds, sparkly and a surprise. So should I just be quiet and stop over analysing?

Thanks!

 

[Circe]

So, you paid 1/3 of what they would have cost as G SI1s, or as G SI3s? Either way, assuming you don''t have time to return them and buy new ones AND that new ones would cost significantly more anyway ... I would say enjoy them, and just keep PS in mind for your next gift-giving occasion!

 

[jewelz617]

Don''t over-analyze. Your gal will love them. For future big purchases do your homework but these sound like a fabulous present she''s going to adore!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Do you like the earrings? Appraisal aside, are you happy with the quality for the price? If the answer is yes, then move on and stop stressing. Certs are good and all, but the GIA isn't God. There are plenty of gorgeous stones that are not certified.

 

[clgwli]

Do the earrings look good to you? I am much less picky about my earrings than I am rings on my finger. I would say that a one grade off (SI2 to I1) isn''t too bad and if you think the price is right then I would be happy with the gift. I have bought uncertified stones, but they were usually smaller stones in general so that isn''t a huge deterrent for me with something that size.

 

[BobR]

I did roughly the same with my first diamond purchase. A 5 stone ring that the seller said was 1ct (total) G/H SI1 VG cut.
The appraisal came out with .9 - .95 F/G SI (some SI1 some SI2) and a mix of G/VG cut.
As we had nothiing to compare with we decided we were happy and kept them.
Now we''ve got GIA Ex/AGS0 stones we can definitely see a difference in light return, but we''re still happy that we''ve got a nice riing that sparkles well in all lighting.
Bottom line -
Option 1
If you''re beyond the return period and you''re happy with the stones just forget the cert issue - you''ve got nice earrings,

Option 2
if you can return them then you have to consider whether the extra cost is worth the gain. Plus I presume you would still give them to your wife for Christmas?? with an explanation that you think they shoud be exchanged because ??????
Personally I think your wife will probably say '' I love these''

Date: 12/22/2009 2:10:24 PM
Author:Scruff
Oh how i wish i had found this forum a few weeks ago

I recently bought the 1.00 Carat (total), GSI2, Very good cut, platinum stud earrings online. They came with a valuation and appraisal from the company but no lab certification. I dont have any of the other measurements, will have to check the documentation at home.
I got them appraised by a gemmologist locally for insurance purposes who without removing the stones graded them as 0.96-1.0 Carats GSI3-I1. So a few questions:

1) Should I be happy with the sellers grading seeing as the stones werent removed by local gemmologist for more accurate grading (due to time constraints on my side)
2) Even if the local gemmologist was more accurate, should I still he happy that I paid at least 1 the price of what I would have paid locally on the High Street for similar earrings?
3) Was I foolish to buy uncertified stones in the first place? I have found similar GIA certified studs from BlueNile for about 40% more.
4) It too close to Christmas and I have them already and the missus will almost definitely love them anyway as they are diamonds, sparkly and a surprise. So should I just be quiet and stop over analysing?

Thanks!

 

[Todd Gray]

Is the Gemologist who provided the evaluation an independent Gemologist or one which works in conjunction or for a jewelry store? In my experience, it can make a difference in terms of their grading practices... Gemologists who are not affiliated with a jewelry store tend to be more forthright in their evaluation since they have nothing to gain by "burning" the quality of the item brought to them for their educated opinion and ones which work for a jewelry store and/or who sell jewelry themselves often let their affiliation with the store and/or need to sell jewelry themselves conflict with their ability to grade an item...

The difference between SI-2 and I-1 is slight and often a bit of a judgement call, what bothers me about the evaluation is the reference to the SI-3 clarity grade which most Gemologists that I know ignore because it is a grade recognized by only the European Gemological Laboratory (EGL) and not the top tier laboratories such as GIA, AGS or HRD. Interesting...

 

[AprilBaby]

No one looks that closely at her ears to see inclusions so I would say they are acceptable if they are sparkly and clear..ie: not milky colored.

 

[pretty_carbon]

Silly question - but if you want them certificated could you not ask your jeweler to send the diamonds out?

 

[yssie]

Date: 12/22/2009 2:16:16 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
Do you like the earrings? Appraisal aside, are you happy with the quality for the price? If the answer is yes, then move on and stop stressing. Certs are good and all, but the GIA isn't God. There are plenty of gorgeous stones that are not certified.

Big ditto.


If you're happy with them, and you think you got a great deal, then that's the most important thing! Stop worrying and just let her enjoy them

You've always got PS for next time

 

[Scruff]

Thanks to everyone for your advise and putting my mind at ease!
I''ve had a good long look at them and to my untrained eye they do look like a nice pair of earrings with no obvious flaws to the naked untrained eye. They are sparkly and clear with no milkyness. I havent been able to get her engagement ring with its D\VS1 ideal cut stone of her finer to compare against though*

To be fair to the gemologist i should clarify that while she has her own jewlery shop she did go through the gradings and her views in detail and how her views werent gospel either as its a matter of opinion. She is GIA trained and her reference to SI3 was to say that some labs would say they were SI3 but she thought I1 in GIA terms.
She also did write up the insurance valuation as the seller described them and not her own views as she said as they werent certified it was a matter of opinion and not significantly different to warrant changing. So that way i would have paid 1/3 the high street value. With her view of I1 clarity and if they were 0.96 instead of 1.00 carats it would be closer to 1/2.

Once again, thanks to everyone. I have peace of mind now and am sure the better half will love them. Happy Christmas!

*I really didnt have a clue what i was paying for when i bought that! I promise the next diamonds will be thoroughly researched and sourced

 

[marcy]

I am sure she will love them.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Yeah, I wouldn''t worry about it now as long as you like them. The grading by the non-independent gemologist was pretty close.

All of us have dirty little diamond secrets from pre-PS. Be thankful yours didn''t cost an arm and a leg!