Paying for quality pave

[ggeorge]

Hi all,

This is my first post but I've been lurking for a few months reading and doing research.

For the ring I have in mind, I've been thinking of paying extra to get higher quality pave (minimum F color, minimum VS2 clarity).

But before pulling the trigger, I'd like to ask the community a question, suppose I were to pay for F/VS2 but receive GH/SI1, is there any way to verify this through an appraisal?

For the size of stones I have in mind, this extra cost will add about 5% to the total price so I'm on the fence about paying for something that I may not be able to verify independently.

Thoughts?

 

[SB621]

It would help if you post the design of the ring. I'm a visual person.

Yes the appraiser should state the color and clarity of the melee on the paperwork. For my e-ring I probably would upgrade to F/ VS2- will this be a forever ring? Meaning no upgrades? Have you seen their F/ VS2 vs H/ SI?? I'm not color sensative so I could care less about the color. However, any black carbon spots in my melee or cloudness would be a dealbreaker.

 

[Christina...]

I agree with sarahbear that black inclusions would be a no go for me as well. Melee performs differently than larger stones, so IMO you can go a bit lower in color without it looking tinted, so H/I would work for me personally. I would ask the vendor about the eye cleanliness of the stones and let him know what you find acceptable and what you do not.

 

[WillyDiamond]

Not clear on this, are you asking for an appraisor or third party to look at the pave before being set on the ring? Because once the pave are set, I don't think you can accurately tell what color the stones are. When GIA or AGS grades a stone, it is unset. Atleast that is what I am told, if I am wrong, please let me know.

 

[SB621]

Not clear on this, are you asking for an appraisor or third party to look at the pave before being set on the ring? Because once the pave are set, I don't think you can accurately tell what color the stones are. When GIA or AGS grades a stone, it is unset. Atleast that is what I am told, if I am wrong, please let me know.

That is incorrect. The appraiser will state on the paperwork what color, clarity etc the melee or pave are. That is what they are getting paid to do. At least if they are a good appraiser. If you are taking your jewelry to an appraiser who does not state ALL the informaiton on your jewelry piece I would stop seeing that person. There is a BIG differnence between getting an appraisal report vs. a diamond report WD. You are confusing the two.

 

[ggeorge]

Thank you all,

Sarah answer was exactly what I was looking for...ie that an appraiser can independently confirm that did get the higher quality pave after paying extra for it.

 

[WillyDiamond]

Not clear on this, are you asking for an appraisor or third party to look at the pave before being set on the ring? Because once the pave are set, I don't think you can accurately tell what color the stones are. When GIA or AGS grades a stone, it is unset. Atleast that is what I am told, if I am wrong, please let me know.

That is incorrect. The appraiser will state on the paperwork what color, clarity etc the melee or pave are. That is what they are getting paid to do. At least if they are a good appraiser. If you are taking your jewelry to an appraiser who does not state ALL the informaiton on your jewelry piece I would stop seeing that person. There is a BIG differnence between getting an appraisal report vs. a diamond report WD. You are confusing the two.

Sarah, my question was whether an appraiser can grade a stone if it is already in the setting. I thought it had to be out of the setting. That is what GIA and AGS do, correct?

 

[SB621]

Not clear on this, are you asking for an appraisor or third party to look at the pave before being set on the ring? Because once the pave are set, I don't think you can accurately tell what color the stones are. When GIA or AGS grades a stone, it is unset. Atleast that is what I am told, if I am wrong, please let me know.

That is incorrect. The appraiser will state on the paperwork what color, clarity etc the melee or pave are. That is what they are getting paid to do. At least if they are a good appraiser. If you are taking your jewelry to an appraiser who does not state ALL the informaiton on your jewelry piece I would stop seeing that person. There is a BIG differnence between getting an appraisal report vs. a diamond report WD. You are confusing the two.

Sarah, my question was whether an appraiser can grade a stone if it is already in the setting. I thought it had to be out of the setting. That is what GIA and AGS do, correct?

GIA and AGS issue diamond reports not appriasals as I have already stated. They will grade unmounted stones because they need to take measurements and chart out where includsions are etc- it takes into consideration just 1 diamond at a time, not a jewelry piece. A report is costly so you don't get diamond reports on melee/ pave. The report would cost more then the melee.

An appraiser though can look at a ring and give his opinioin on metal type/ color, overall condition, color, cut, clarity etc etc. They won't have to unmount anything to give their opinion on color. My GIA appraiser has always been spot on. The appraiser will give you an estimated value on that the overall jewelry piece is worth. A diamond report will only give you facts about the diamond in that particular report.