Taking my diamond to the jeweller

[Raspberry]

I apologize if this is a naive question. What is the standard policy/procedure practiced when a customer supplies their own diamond to be set in a ring?

I have had a custom setting made once before. We discussed the design and I handed over my diamond, which was not verified against the appraisal I had. The jeweller did not plot the inclusions or look for girdle inscriptions, but simply plopped the diamond into a job envelope and kept it for several weeks while the ring was being completed. Upon pickup, I was not offered the chance to view my diamond under a microscope. I did not think anything of it then. The diamond was a low color (J) and clarity (SI2), and I knew exactly how warm it looked and where the eye-visible inclusion was. I had no problem trusting the jeweller.

I am about to purchase a mount for a second diamond, this one E VS1, from a different retail store. I would not know how to tell the diamond from a fake. I don't think anyone would try to switch my diamond, but I feel kinda funny about not being given 100% peace of mind. Do jewellers normally sit down with the customer to go over their diamond's identifying characteristics? If they don't, is it rude to ask to do so?

Would someone be offended if I asked to check the completed ring under a microscope before leaving the store?

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

If I were you I would find a jeweller who you feel you can trust implicitly.

My experiance in my two stores is that my staff feel insulted when a customer asks these questions, but that might be as much about our Australian culture, our stores reputation, and the calibre of sales staff we employ. We live in a city of 3 million, so it is not a sleepy village. It does sometimes happen that a customer asks "how do I know I will get the same stone back" - but it is generally in cases like one last week where we sent a 3ct old cut great grannies diamond off to be recut. We explained that we know its inclusions, colour and all sorts of other details. Client was happy - she was questioning our contractor - not us.

I know that America, and bigger cities especially, have seemingly evolved this way. And it is very sad.

I will be interested in other peoples opinions.

 

[chrono]

There''s one local jeweller that I trust 100% that did not do the inclusion plot. Just popped the diamond in the envelop and when I received it, I just put on the ring/earring/etc. It is a mom & pop type store but extremely high end.

I recently tried out a newer local jeweller. It is a chain but higher end store. I did not request it but the SA did the measurements and inclusion plot. We also rechecked it when I picked it up. I did not request the recheck either.

I guess it depends on your level of trust, plus whether some jewellers just do it automatically as part of their business practice.

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 10/3/2007 8:45:31 AM
Author: Chrono

I recently tried out a newer local jeweller. It is a chain but higher end store. I did not request it but the SA did the measurements and inclusion plot. We also rechecked it when I picked it up. I did not request the recheck either.

I guess it depends on your level of trust, plus whether some jewellers just do it automatically as part of their business practice.

Chrono...that''s like a joke where you leave out the punchline...

A chain. A big one? And...though it was happenstance for you...maybe it is in fact company policy?

I say...trust but verify...and why not. With potential for human error, and such.

With all due respect to Garry''s shop, and perhaps the majority of shops that don''t do enough of this work even to have it reasonable for there to be policy...for those stores...maybe even ones who fashion themselves for a part of the market where they do custom work, and maybe potentially a good bit of this...if they would make public on their website or whatnot their policies on making such plots a standard practice...it could have a part in growing their business. Maybe they will be known as the shop for paranoid and for those who trust no one...but maybe take it to the bank?

 

[belle]

when i took a diamond (purchased online) to be set locally, they plotted the inclusions on the envelope that the diamond was put in while waiting to be set and i had to 'sign off' on the inclusions. when i returned to pick up the finished piece, they went over the inclusions that were plotted to verify that it was the same diamond and again had to sign off. i wouldn't worry about taking precautions about keeping your diamond safe. what i would worry about is any jeweler that questioned you about the safety of your diamond. be proactive! don't leave your diamond with someone that doesn't want to help you feel confident about leaving your diamond.