POLL: Did you get an appraisal?

[Dadof4]

I''m curious, of those of you who bought from a trusted internet vendor, how many of you got an independent appraisal before your return period was up? Yes = Appraisal.

 

[Mara]

First purchase: Offline vendor who we trusted, got appraisal ASAP before setting the stone.




Second purchase: Online trusted vendor who I had a great relationship with, got appraisal after the return period had expired, but knew that the online vendor would not steer me wrong.




If I didn't know the online vendor the way I did, I would have rushed over and gotten an appraisal ASAP, but since we were waiting for another ring to be done, I wanted to take them both at the same time to appraiser, and also trusted the vendor implicitly.

So my answer is not really YES to your specific question but I would ALWAYS recommend an appraisal, before return policy expires is ideal, but even if after...so you know 100% that what you got is legit. Any good vendor worth their salt would still work with you to make you happy if after the return period had expired the appraisal results did not come back with what they sold you.

 

[aljdewey]

I bought from the same vendor Mara did, and yes, I got an independent appraisal, too.




I also trusted my vendor (Whiteflash) implicitly by the time I finally purchased. The appraisal was more for my "nerdy need to cross the Ts" and to check and balance for unintentional mistakes. I also knew that I wanted to go with cash-out on my insurance, and I felt the insurance company would be more comfortable doing so with an independent appraisal.




Lastly, they really balance out an emotional purchase. It's so easy to become caught up in the "desire" of wanting THAT stone that it's hard to be objective about potential drawbacks. The appraiser is one's unemotional voice of reason.

 

[squirerad]

Like Mara pointed out, there is some technicality with the wording of your poll. My answer is yes, I did get an appraisal but I voted "no" because it was beyond the return period. My getting the appraisal was late not only because I trusted the source but also because:

1) I was semi-adept enough to find all the major inclusions on the three diamonds and match them to the certs using a 10X loupe,
2) The ering setting (a modified Vatche #733 pictured below) was nonrefundable so I had already made a commitment on the ering, and
3) The appraiser was not available secondary to being at the JCK convention in Las Vegas during my return period.

squire

 

[Mara]

squire...we use Nancy Stacy as well, she's great! we have gone to her multiple times now. I wish there was someone closer but I don't mind the drive to see her!

 

[Number6]

Of course I got an appraisal. When I thought carefully about it, a diamond engagement ring was the third most expensive thing I have ever bought. (After my home and my car.)

How could I *not* spend about $150 on a professional evaluation of the purchase? It doesn't matter that I thought my vendor was very good and trustworthy. If I'm going to spend thousands, shouldn't I spend a hundred to make sure my thousands are being spent properly?

This has less to do with diamonds than with the scale of the purchase. I would not buy a home without doing a "walkthrough" first. Not because I think the house will collapse, it's just that I deserve to see what I'm buying before I lay down dead presidents.

I was *very* pleased with my vendor and I was *very* pleased with my appraiser and his report. My diamond buying experience was a very pleasant experience.

If I did it again, I would not even think twice about getting that independant appraisal. It's automatic for purchases on this scale.

My $.02!