Question on IGI

[saitohaj]

Ok its that time, I''m going to purpose . Now I just need a ring. I have one in mind at a Jareds. The rings specs are the following

IGI cert
VS1
F
size 1.21
very good/very good

The price im getting it for is about 7200.00

Now my freind tells me that buying a IGI cert stone is bullocks? For that price am I getting a decent ring or shoud I look for a gia ring?

Thank you

O

 

[Gonzodogg]

It is imposible to tell if you are getting a fair price because you don''t know anything about the quality of the CUT (the most important factor in the beauty of a diamond).

 

[saitohaj]

the cut quailty is very good

 

[saitohaj]

im sorry the cut is round brilliant

 

[Gonzodogg]

How do you know the cut quality without all of the measurments and angles?
VG/VG does not refer to the cut

 

[strmrdr]

igi certs are toilet paper and very poor toilet paper at that.

cut is the most important C and one that is the most under explained outside of a few places.
In order to tell how well a diamond is cut more information is needed than you have.

A good starting point on learning more is here:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/4csmain.htm

and here:


http://diamonds.pricescope.com/cut.asp

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

if the stone was graded recently it will have all the proportions on it including the crown and pavilion angles. - What are they?

Storm is being a little harsh I think.
Your diamond has every chance to be a very nice stone.

I would take IGI over EGL Israel, Antwerp or India any day.
I also think they provide more consistant grading than GIA - in my experiance they can be -1/4 to 1/2 grade softer on color - which is hardly a train smash

 

[strmrdr]

Garry, maybe the IGI lab (is there more than one?) you are familar with does good work simular to the various egl situation.
But the igi graded diamonds iv seen were off expecialy in clarity compared to gia and AGS.
The color may have been off too but thats harder to judge.
When one of the tv news shows did a study IGI was the worst at grading accuracy.
When they interviewed the head of it he said basicaly.."its just an opinion and you should hire your own expert". My question is what am I paying IGI for then if there opinion is off?

 

[JohnQuixote]

Date: 1/17/2006 12:00:06 PM
Author: strmrdr
Garry, maybe the IGI lab (is there more than one?) you are familar with does good work simular to the various egl situation.
But the igi graded diamonds iv seen were off expecialy in clarity compared to gia and AGS.
The color may have been off too but thats harder to judge.
When one of the tv news shows did a study IGI was the worst at grading accuracy.
When they interviewed the head of it he said basicaly..'its just an opinion and you should hire your own expert'. My question is what am I paying IGI for then if there opinion is off?

I see IGI graded diamonds regularly and have to agree with Strm's observations about clarity Garry. The near-colorless grades often show face-up color as well, but (in general) the ones I see are not cut well enough for light return to mask body color as we see in premier cuts that are often discussed here.

Of course great diamonds can be graded by any lab, but someone paying for a 'great' VVS/colorless from IGI might be shelling out money for a diamond that would have been judged a 'great' VS(or SI)/near-colorless from a stronger lab.

 

[devientdrow]

I really do NOT like Jareds loose diamonds. Are you buying one of the regualr ones or one of thier Ideal Cut ones? I think they are overpriced for what they are. When I was looking at Jareds the best they could offer me was a .90ct, G color, SI2 clarity for $3,700.00. I asked if the SI2 was eyeclean and they really didn''t know what I was talking about, they didn''t offer to let me view it under the scope. I asked to look at the cert and I saw it had no detailed info about the cut of the diamond which is the most important. I came in there with a budget of 3k and when I asked about the ideal cuts she politely sort of said that they were out of my price range. I ended up getting my diamond from www.jamesallen.com . I got an Ideal Cut,GIA cert, .83ct, G color, SI2 clarity for $2,800.00. Also Jim went over the diamond EXTENSIVLY to make sure all was well with it and it was eyeclean. So yes my diamond is 7 points smaller than Davids but I saved about a thousand for a better cut and better certified diamond! Not to mention I got a setting at Jareds for my old ering diamond and I was very happy to notice my Ideal Cut .83ct looked like thier 1ct rings they had mounted and in the showcase. Now in saying all of that just because I think that they are a little pricey for what they are offering it doesn''t mean what they are offering is the worst thing out there. A girl I work with has a ring i''ve always admired and I found out it was from Jareds but then again for all I know it could be one of the Ideal Cut ones. So what are your thoughts now?

 

[devientdrow]

style="WIDTH: 99%; HEIGHT: 232px">Date: 1/17/2006 12:13:24 PM
Author: devientdrow
I really do NOT like Jareds loose diamonds. Are you buying one of the regualr ones or one of thier Ideal Cut ones? I think they are overpriced for what they are. When I was looking at Jareds the best they could offer me was a .90ct, G color, SI2 clarity for $3,700.00. I asked if the SI2 was eyeclean and they really didn''t know what I was talking about, they didn''t offer to let me view it under the scope. I asked to look at the cert and I saw it had no detailed info about the cut of the diamond which is the most important. I came in there with a budget of 3k and when I asked about the ideal cuts she politely sort of said that they were out of my price range. I ended up getting my diamond from www.jamesallen.com . I got an Ideal Cut,GIA cert, .83ct, G color, SI2 clarity for $2,800.00. Also Jim went over the diamond EXTENSIVLY to make sure all was well with it and it was eyeclean. So yes my diamond is 7 points smaller than Davids but I saved about a thousand for a better cut and better certified diamond! Not to mention I got a setting at Jareds for my old ering diamond and I was very happy to notice my Ideal Cut .83ct looked like thier 1ct rings they had mounted and in the showcase. Now in saying all of that just because I think that they are a little pricey for what they are offering it doesn''t mean what they are offering is the worst thing out there. A girl I work with has a ring i''ve always admired and I found out it was from Jareds but then again for all I know it could be one of the Ideal Cut ones. So what are your thoughts now?

Oops meant to say Jareds! Also I did a quick search on the James Allen site and put in Ideal Cut, color F, clarity VS1. For what you paid at Jareds you could get like a 1ct at James Allen, but getting the ideal cut would be worth sacrificing the .21ct of the Jareds diamond. To get the same size and everything it''s like 9k. Have you thought about coming down a little in color or clarity? You could probably get the same size for the same price if you did that, and really cut is the most important thing. Ideal cut diamonds are just the best. They appear larger than they are and the sparkle is awesome.

 

[JohnQuixote]

Actually, that chain does (or has carried) AGS graded diamonds, at least in some locations. I was so pleased to see SOME form of cut grading 'on the street' that I posted about it back in September: Here.

They use the old DQD but at least color and clarity grading are strict, and if the location near you has some AGS graded diamonds there it would give you enough info on proportions and finish to make a decision, or to bring back here for input.

 

[devientdrow]

Yes John the Ideal Cut diamonds that Jareds carriers are AGS triple 0''s. However I think they are charging WAY too much for them. I''m not sure what area he''s in but if he''s in the DC/MD area Smyth jewelers carries nothing but GIA and AGS cert and thier prices are much better.

 

[smarty33]

I would agree with Garry''s comments and take IGI over "EGL Israel, Antwerp or India" - but that probably says more about the latter.

As with any purchase of this nature you should get a no questions asked money back guarantee in writing and then get the item checked out by an independent appraiser of your choosing.

 

[saitohaj]

You guys have been very helpful. I went back to Jareds and ran into a family freind who I did not know work there. She is giong to get me that diamon for 5000K. I think that is a great deal even thoe its IGI. What do you guys think?

 

[belle]

Date: 1/17/2006 2:40:35 PM
Author: saitohaj
You guys have been very helpful. I went back to Jareds and ran into a family freind who I did not know work there. She is giong to get me that diamon for 5000K. I think that is a great deal even thoe its IGI. What do you guys think?

that sounds reasonable. best of luck to you!

 

[WinkHPD]

1.21 6,720.00 8,131.20 -20.00% 8,400.00 10,164.00

Here is the rap pricing on that stone. Rap is 8,400 per carat, 10, 164 for the stone. At 20% back that is 6,720/ct $8131 for the stone (highlighted in red). For a well very well cut diamond I would be willing to pay 20-25 back, for a Hearts and Arrows qualtiy cut I am paying more than that, sometimes way more. For them to sell the stone for 50% back tells me several things.

One it must be excrebly cut OR it is no where near a true F-VS1 OR both.

This stone is too good to be true, and at a chain type store. Something is NOT right here and we do not have the details to tell you what it is. I vote with my feet when I think my pocket is about to be picked. You appear to be close to voting with your money. I urge you to get an independant appraisal and only buy this stone with the right of a full refund, not trade, if it occurs that my suspicions are proven correct.

Wink

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Date: 1/17/2006 12:00:06 PM
Author: strmrdr
Garry, maybe the IGI lab (is there more than one?) you are familar with does good work simular to the various egl situation.
But the igi graded diamonds iv seen were off expecialy in clarity compared to gia and AGS.
The color may have been off too but thats harder to judge. remeber that IGI also does appraisals grades for some already mounted stones - a service that much of the market prefers because it limits the chance of mixing goods up after they come back from mounting.
When one of the tv news shows did a study IGI was the worst at grading accuracy. As i recollect Storm that concerned a Flawless or IF stone - and the other opinion was from a competitor and not done 'blindly' by that other competitor - and it was done ala tabloid journalism - when we conducted a properly controlled study here on Pricescope (Journal - off the home page lower left) we found that most of the lab grading myths were indeed over hyped 'myths'.
When they interviewed the head of it he said basicaly..'its just an opinion and you should hire your own expert'. My question is what am I paying IGI for then if there opinion is off?

Dear saitohaj - That last piece of advice (above in blue) lines up very well with Winks well chosen words.
If you have bought that diamond and you have had a good independant appraiser look at it, could you please let us know the outcome?

 

[strmrdr]

Garry,
They actualy had a well know appraiser check the grades.
The appraisers here said they knew of him and he has a solid reputation.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Date: 1/19/2006 10:52:41 PM
Author: strmrdr
Garry,
They actualy had a well know appraiser check the grades.
The appraisers here said they knew of him and he has a solid reputation.

So they got a bargain