Re-Grade?

[questionsRus]

Hi everyone! I proposed about two weeks ago, and am happily engaged That''s a post for another topic however, so here''s my question. Should I have the diamond in the temporary band sent back to the GIA before being set in her actual band before this is done? I ask because when I got the diamond appraised, the appraisor said she couldn''t find the inclusion that made the stone a VVS2. She said that the GIA unofficially grades now a days at 20x rather than 10x (and with a machine), and she couldn''t find the inclusion at 35x. She said it was possibly dust that the computer picked up. What do you guys think?

Thanks!

Ian

 

[jesrush]

From what I understand, VVS2 inclusions are small enough that even professionals can have difficulty picking them out. Was she using a Gem Scope? Is she a well known appraiser with industry membership?

-J

 

[Richard Sherwood]

I haven't heard of GIA using a machine to locate inclusions.

I find the key to locating inclusions in VVS stones is proper lighting, along with a search of the entire stone using a systematic method, such as the "wedge" method, combined with entire depth-of-field coverage. After you've "cleared" each area, you concentrate on the next, until you've covered the entire stone.

If proper lighting and a systematic search method is not used, it is easy to miss the minute inclusions which define the VVS grades. My inclination would be that if GIA graded the stone as a VVS2, it most likely is. I can't imagine them mistaking dust for an inclusion. Dust is one of the first things a grader is trained to recognize, and is easily eliminated using a wet brush technique.

 

[questionsRus]

She was just using a microscope, and her memberships are -
GIA Certs - Diamond Grading and Evaluation
Gemologist Diploma, Graduate Gemologist (a few, the rest are colored stones)

Professional Association - Past President Indiana Jewelers Association, Accredited Member - International Society of Appraisers
Member - National Association of Jewelry Appraisers

 

[questionsRus]

Guess you were typing as i was typing Richard So, if this was your diamond, you would just forget it, and assume the GIA was right?

 

[newenglandgemlab]

Ian,

Your appraiser has some pretty good qualifications. VVS stones take so long to grade. I would be happy to look at it for no charge. I love a challenge! Cindy

 

[reena]

not to be a PITA but i'm just wondering why it matters? you have a stone that you love with a miniscule inclusion (maybe) that even well-trained appraisers can't find under magnification.

is it that important whether it's "technically" a VVS1 or 2?

 

[denverappraiser]

Dealers worry about this sort of thing all the time but it’s decidedly unusual to hear this request coming from a consumer. The issue boils down to the observation that a stone with a report that says VVS1 will sell for more than that same stone with a report that says VVS2. This is, of course, correct and it’s a valid reason to take action if you are planning on selling the stone but even then it’s a tough decision. In order to get a GIA report you will need to:

1) Pay someone to pull the stone and accept breakage risk as well as possible damage to the mounting.
2) Have a dealer ship it GIA in California or New York. This can cost on the order of $40 each direction.
3) Pay GIA up to several hundred dollars.
4) Wait 6-8 weeks.
5) Reset the stone with the same or greater risks than step #1 and pay a professional to do it.
6) Pay to repair any damage to the mounting caused in #1 or #6 above.

All of this for the possibility that you MIGHT get a higher clarity grade. It’s true that GIA occasionally makes an error but they are actually pretty consistent. Your chances aren’t very good. This seems like a lot of money and grief for very little payoff, especially since it doesn’t affect the stone at all, just the paper.

Neil Beaty, GG ISA
Independent Appraisals in Denver

 

[Richard Sherwood]

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So, if this was your diamond, you would just forget it, and assume
the GIA was right?
-----------

Yes Ian, that's what I would do. Nei's post supplies the reasoning, not to mention that there's usually not a huge price difference between a VVS1 and VVS2 grade.

 

[hoorray]

I suppose the reason to do this would be for insurance purposes -- making sure that it would be replaced with a like stone. I guess the question to ask as a consumer is, if the stone was stolen and replaced with a VVS2, would it make a difference to you? My take is that since VVS1 or 2 isn't visible to your eye, don't go through the expense and hassle. Especially since the experts think the odds of it coming out a higher grade aren't high.

 

[questionsRus]

Thanks everyone for you opinions! After reading them, I decided to spare her the anguish of not getting her ring for another month or so, and just have the diamond set in the setting she chose. Sooooo, she'll be going to pick it up on friday I think. I'll post pictures then It'll be in a different section though, prolly "show me the ring". Thanks again!

Ian

 

[Richard Sherwood]

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I decided to spare her the anguish of not getting her ring for
another month or so
-----------

Smart move. There are some things that definitely take a higher priority, and a non-anguished woman is right there at the top.

 

[JohnQuixote]

Wise words.