Ok, what''s going on here...

[devientdrow]

Date: 8/22/2006 4:27:48 PM
Author: JT
How could I forget...I got some interesting new from the second jeweler that will be looking at the diamond.

Donald Haack gave a second opinion to a Diamonds Direct customer 2 months ago. The diamond in question was 6 cts!! Donald Haack found something (don''t know) and the customer ended up not purchasing the diamond. From what the lady told me Diamonds Direct have taking a loss with some customers who are looking at Donald Haack. She thought this could be a reason why they are selling it so cheap. She also said if the diamond is what I say it is, there making a lot less than a 10% profit.

Sounds like a good reason for them to be making barely any profit! If they keep losing customers to the same guy they might be willing to do just about anything to get some customers in and them giving good reviews. For instance they hook you up with a great deal.....then your buddy decides to get engaged and you refer him to Diamonds Direct and in the long run, even with making a small profit...well thats better than making nothing at all because all your customers keep going to another place!

So let me ask you this, how did you like the customer service the 2nd time around? Better? I hope so. Hey, you gave them a 2nd chance and who knows. Sucks that you had issues with them at first but maybe this will teach them a lesson! If they are nice....people will want to BUY things from them! hahaha

Sounds like you really liked that 2nd stone! I''m glad and I hope your happy with your purchase. Sounds like a good idea to get 2nd opinions just remember if your going to the other guy thats competing for your buisness he might be somewhat biased!

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 8/22/2006 7:37:20 AM
Author: JT

I just don''t want Ashley to go in to get her ring polished and them act the way they did with me when I first went in.

Well, then I think you seriously need to consider that when pondering the cheaper option.

I realize it''s a lot of money, but you''ve also mentioned that you know they are doing this to direct take business away from the other vendor.

So, when has happened.....mission accomplished.....and you''ve not become a customer of the competitor, how will this cheaper company treat you then? How will they treat your FI?

My take: The original jeweler has been willing to work with you right along. It seems he''s ready to drop a bit off the price, too. To me, that would be worth something.

 

[JT]

Thanks! I see why it may be so cheap now and yes the customer service was much better! I was dealing with Vice President and really took care of me.

However, I honestly believe Donald Haack will give an unbiased opinion, but just incase I have another store doing the 2nd opinion as well.

 

[kcoursolle]

JR, I''m glad everything worked out. Sounds like you got a great deal on a ring you like. As far as getting a second opinion goes, I wouldn''t take it to another store. Instead, I would take it to be independently appraised. This way you can insure it as well and the independent gemologist will give you an unbiased opinion unlike a second jewelry store who wants you businesss. Congrats again! Can''t wait to see pictures.

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 8/22/2006 4:21:13 PM
Author: JT


Next Diamonds Direct Called and said they found a few thing interesting in Israel.
1. GIA 1.01 H D-69 T-71 $3200 (setting included)
2. GIA 1.03 H D-72 T-67 $3200 (setting included)

I was told both diamonds have a cut = to AGS 0-1.

JT.....forgive me for not asking prior to now, but are you looking at a princess cut or a round?

I ask because your threads keep mentioning AGS0 and 000, which most people say when they are looking for round stones.
(AGS has come out with AGS0 princess stones, so it''s possible you are asking about these, and if so, great).

But, if you are asking around round stones, neither of the two stones you''ve listed above are anywhere even remotely close to AGS0 round.

I''m sure I''m just missing where you said you''re getting a princess stone, but I wanted to ask and clarify anyway.

 

[fire&ice]

Yeah, he's getting a princess. What I don't understand is that the stones are certed w/ GIA paper & they keep talking about it being AGS0?

Go with what your gut is telling you. I'm feeling a little shaky with Diamond Direct. The whole thing - not servicing you UNTIL they found out you were dealing with the other gentlemen. But - not absolving D. Has of any game playing. At least, he's offered you good customer service off the bat.

BTW, it's a bit naive to think that the D. Has. guy will give you an honest opinion - especially given the circumstance. It's a tad odd that the women with the 6 carats came to him. He dissed the stone & then she turns around and buys from him???? Could be precisely why they want to take business away from him.

Also, does anyone else think it's odd that these GIA stones are coming from directly from Israel?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh, JT, you don''t really want to take that stone to Donald Haack, do you? They certainly have reason to discourage you from getting it! I understand why you were a little turned off by your first experience with DD, but I have been in there twice in the last month and did not have any problems at all. It is a very nice jewelry store and certainly a good place to buy from if the price is better. I cannot see that there''d be any issue whatsoever with her getting the ring polished or replated there. I don''t think you''ll get an unbiased opinion on your ring by another jeweler in competition with Diamonds Direct. If you want to pay the price that the other jeweler is charging, you could probably get an AGS0 princess from one of the online vendors here and get an even better stone.

 

[devientdrow]

Date: 8/22/2006 5:14:49 PM
Author: aljdewey

Date: 8/22/2006 4:21:13 PM
Author: JT


Next Diamonds Direct Called and said they found a few thing interesting in Israel.
1. GIA 1.01 H D-69 T-71 $3200 (setting included)
2. GIA 1.03 H D-72 T-67 $3200 (setting included)

I was told both diamonds have a cut = to AGS 0-1.

JT.....forgive me for not asking prior to now, but are you looking at a princess cut or a round?

I ask because your threads keep mentioning AGS0 and 000, which most people say when they are looking for round stones.
(AGS has come out with AGS0 princess stones, so it''s possible you are asking about these, and if so, great).

But, if you are asking around round stones, neither of the two stones you''ve listed above are anywhere even remotely close to AGS0 round.

I''m sure I''m just missing where you said you''re getting a princess stone, but I wanted to ask and clarify anyway.

He was looking at Princess

 

[devientdrow]

Date: 8/22/2006 5:34:29 PM
Author: fire&ice
Yeah, he''s getting a princess. What I don''t understand is that the stones are certed w/ GIA paper & they keep talking about it being AGS0?

Go with what your gut is telling you. I''m feeling a little shaky with Diamond Direct. The whole thing - not servicing you UNTIL they found out you were dealing with the other gentlemen. But - not absolving D. Has of any game playing. At least, he''s offered you good customer service off the bat.

BTW, it''s a bit naive to think that the D. Has. guy will give you an honest opinion - especially given the circumstance. It''s a tad odd that the women with the 6 carats came to him. He dissed the stone & then she turns around and buys from him???? Could be precisely why they want to take business away from him.

Also, does anyone else think it''s odd that these GIA stones are coming from directly from Israel?

I thought they were saying to him that they were the equivelent to AGS0. I think a lot of people are getting super confused on here, because what i''m theorizing is going on is people read how AGS0''s are the best. They go and ask for an ideal cut diamond and end up asking if it''s GIA or AGS cert. Or from the very beginning say they are willing to look at both AGS and GIA. They might find a diamond they really like but then remember...oh I need to ask if this is an AGS0, because thats the best. I think a lot of vendors are starting to say well it''s the equivelent to and people might get confused from that too. I''m not saying vendors would do it in a malicious way....just more of a way to say the stones are similar. Also i''m not saying this true for this particular instance. Just an idea.

 

[decodelighted]

WHICHEVER stone you select ... I HIGHLY urge you to seek an INDEPENDENT appraisal BEFORE the return period is up ...

--for peace of mind
--for insurance reasons (you will want to get this ring insured ASAP)

IMO it is VERY naive to expect a jewelry store that is COMPETING for your business to give an UNBIASED decision ... even if they don''t outright "diss" the stone in question, or act unethically at all. Think about it!

 

[:)]

Did I miss something in this post? Did you actually say where the diamond that is being brought in from Israel was actually graded? Not to totally rain on your excitement, but I recently had a horrible experience with EGL Israel (see under ''did we misunderstand eye clean?"), so I am cautious. If it is GIA or AGS that have graded this stone coming in then I would feel much better being optimistic about it - if it is EGL Israel then I bet it is not as advertised and that is why it is cheap.

 

[:)]

Oh wait, I think you did post it is GIA - Then I am optimistic!

 

[JT]

SORRY!! I''m sorry for all the confusion.

The two stones from Diamonds direct are GIA. However, the gentlemen at the store said they are equivalent to an AGS0 or AGS1. DD showed me an AGS000 princess cut next to the two other stones and my untrained eye couldn''t tell a difference.

I heard the story about Donald Haack giving a second opinion on a Diamonds Direct diamond from a jeweler 40 miles away. I will be taking it there Thursday to get an opinion and see if they can appraise it.

The diamond is GIA and they said it came from “their store” in Israel. Again they had a copy of the GIA cert and they weighed and measured it in front of me to show it matched the spec on the GIA report.

 

[lizzyd]

Hi JT,

Why don''t you take it to an independent appraiser?

It was my understanding that a stone can''t be appraised properly if it is mounted already anyway. And with an independetn appraisal you won''t have any doubts about the competitions causing bias.

If your vendor is on the up and up, he won''t mind at all taking the stone out of the setting and allowing it to be looked at by an independent, certified appraiser.

You really have no other way of knowing if there''s a big old crack or something on one of the corners (hiding under a prong). Or if it really is the stone on the GIA cert or not.

Sorry for the scary thoughts, but that''s why you take a stone to an appraiser before you buy.

Good luck,
LizzyD

 

[february2003bride]

JT-

Which every stone you decide to go with- take it to an independant appraiser! NOT an in-store appraiser either. Many in-store appraisers are biased by other competiters stones. Find an independant appraiser before you buy! We bought my diamond from Blue Nile and took ti to Martin Fuller. He confirmed the GIA report and spoke to us at great length about our stone. We also viewed it under different lights, and he gave us a report on the diamond. Best $125.00 we could have spent for peace of mind!

 

[JT]

Just an update: I pick up the ring tomorrow morning and then it’s going to an independent appraiser. He preferred the diamond to be in the setting because he can inspect the way they set it. He said under a microscope he won’t miss a thing.

Thanks for everybody’s help! I will give you the news as soon as I know.

 

[:)]

Please keep us posted, we will be thinking of you! The appraiser wanting it already mounted does not make any sense to me -appraisers have told me that they prefer to see it unmounted because only then can they fully evaluate the stone. This is an independent appraiser who does not sell any jewelry at all, correct? Not another jewelry store, right? Fingers crossed!