Shipped for review to appraiser...?

[IceExplorer]

I have questions about this process:

When the diamond is being shipped to a 3rd party appraiser for review:

1. Does the diamond show up with all the supporting documents (Sarin, lab report) images (IS, ASET)?

2. Does the appraiser use any of these tools or does he have different tools?

3. Does he map out everything he sees?

4. Do I get educated on what he sees? Does he walk me through a process?

5. Are there any flags I should be aware of or situations I should be cautious of

Thanks for any help.
I''m trying to gain some info so I can be somewhat familiar on what to expect when I go through this stage of my buying.

cheers!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

If you buy from a vendor that supplies you with an AGS or GIA cert and all the things in #1, then I don''t see why you''d need a third party appraiser. The grading lab is really your verification of what you are buying. I certainly would use an appraiser for items that do not come with grading lab certification, inherited pieces, etc.

 

[CharmyPoo]

The answers highly depend on exactly who is sending it and who it is being sent to. I requested that my stone be graded blind.

Even though I was purchasing from very reputable sellers, I wanted an independent appraiser just to see what they had to say.

 

[stone-cold11]

1) Depends, you probably could ask the vendor to send or not to send.

2) Appraisers have different tools that they use, check them out individually.

3) Probably yes.

4) Depends on the appraiser again, if he allows a person to be beside him or not when he appraise or how he charges the appraisal, item charge or hourly charge.

 

[denverappraiser]

It will depend on why you are sending it to the appraiser in the first place.

Quite a few appraisers have the sorts of tools you are asking about and can certainly arrange to do this sort of testing and it’s up to you to decide if it’s useful. The big reasons to send new items to an independent appraiser are because you are second guessing the dealer and/or lab, because you want additional information that wasn’t provided in the sales presentation, to serve as a quality control process, and to provide documentation for purposes of insurance. Since most appraisers charge by the hour for their work and some have a-la-carte type fees for tests like you describe, it may not be the best use of your funds to pay them to do tests that have already been completed and for which you are already satisfied with the results. In all but the first it saves you time and money to provide them with the required data and even with the first it’s often helpful because they can’t identify the issues unless they know what you’ve been told before.

I certainly count most of my appraisal sessions as largely a matter of educating the client but not all appraisers offer the same services. Ask ‘em. Before you hire an appraiser, talk to them about what it is you want to learn in their session, what services you are expecting and what they are prepared to deliver (and at what price).

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[IceExplorer]

Thank you both (Stone and Denver):

The purpose of my appraisal is 3 fold (in this order).

1. A ship to point for me to review the diamond in the USA because I''m in Canada.

2. Receive a more educated point of view from a 3rd party.

3. Clear-up any possible ambiguity that might be presented by my insurance company when I get a rider on my house or separate policy.


I''ve contacted the appraiser and he will treat it as a sit-in educational session where I can sit by him and have everything explained to me. I trust the vendor that they are providing what they claim and I''m excited to see the specimen. I have reluctance in my own ability mainly because I won''t have any other stones there to make a comparison with. After this is all finished, I''m hoping to end up with a "mind clean" diamond that my future wife will cherish because of, who gave it to her, what it represents and the shear beauty of it.

 

[denverappraiser]

It sounds like you’ve answered your own question. Provide them with all the information you have, discuss with them any questions you have about what you’ve been told, ask them if there’s anything important that’s been omitted, and have them write a full and complete report about it.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[IceExplorer]

Do appraisers often carry microscopes with higher zoom then a regular loop?

I''m just curious about this, it''s not necessary for me to make my decision.

 

[denverappraiser]

Every appraiser I know has a microscope that goes up to at least 60x.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver