This is what''s going on...(long)

[JT]

Ok, I picked up the ring today and what a day...

I picked up the ring and it looked amazing! Everything thing looked great, but that bad feeling was still stuck somewhere in my stomach. I had some time before my appointment with an independent appraiser, so for the fun of it I stopped by Donald Haack Diamonds to get their opinion. They actually asked me if they could take a look at because they wanted to see what kind of diamond they are selling for 3200. This was no problem because their opinion wasn’t going to matter to me anyway since I was having someone neutral look at it.

I walked in and handed the ring over along with the appraisal (Diamonds Direct didn’t even give me a copy of the GIA report). Obviously the appraisal had everything the GIA report had minus the diagram.

They placed it under a microscope and looked at for literally a minute. They handed back over and explained what they saw.

1. There was a huge cavity in the corner
2. I was told there was no laser etched number on it, there was
3. GIA cert, but the inscription didn''t have “GIA” before the id number.

Come to find out the id numbers and “GIA” letters had an explanation. The cavity, however, didn’t. I went over the diamond with the gentlemen and he explained this was one of the cleanest SI2s he had ever seen. He proceeded to tell me there were only a few very small inclusions under the table and that’s why it was an SI2. I asked him to point them out and he did. There were 3 whitish black specs under the table you could only see using the loupe. I looked at the graph of the diamond on the GIA report and sure enough, those specs were on there. However, I didn’t notice the mess of lines in one corner of the diamond on the report.

Come to find out there is a nice size cavity in that corner. When I brought it back the guy acted surprised and said he wished (along with me) had looked at it under a microscope. I felt that was total BS. He knew that cavity was there long before he ordered it from Israel. This guy knows diamonds and he would never let something like that slip his mind.

I came home and did my own research. I was tired of hearing everyone else’s opinions on a stone with a cavity. This cavity in particular is not good. It sits right under the table on the very corner. If it set off to the side or somewhere other than the corner it would be ok. I learned that if princess cut diamonds aren’t set properly (ie too much pressure) corners can chip/break. This risk is much greater if the corner has a cavity in it. Could an expert verify my research?

Needless to say I’m done. The ring goes back Tuesday and they have a check waiting for me. I’m taking a week off from “diamond haggling”, doing some more research, and going back out with a new arsenal of information.

Thanks for everyone’s advice and I will be looking for more in the near future.

 

[Ellen]

Sorry you had a bad time, and the diamond wasn''t what you expected. But at least you were prudent, had it looked at, and can still return it!

Good luck, and I hope things get better.

 

[:)]

Oh, JT, I am so sorry. I know just how horrible that feels. I was thinking about you today and hoping that you would update us with happy news. You will find a beautiful diamond for your beautiful bride, I promise. We are cheering for you. Please keep us updated because I want to hear the happy news when you find your special stone.
Lisa

 

[kcoursolle]

I''m so sorry to hear that JT! That''s terrible news. I''m really proud of you for doing your research and making an informed decision though. Imagine how terrible it would have felt if you found out years later. At least this way you can return the ring and get something nice. It seems funny, but I''ve actually had really good customer service and quality from online diamond vendors. You might want to give one of the pricescope online vendors a try.

 

[Groovy Chick]

That is disappointing, but at least you can return it. A few days after I got engaged I noticed a visible inclusion in my original e-ring which I had not known about when purchasing. I had not been properly informed what SI2 meant and was under the impression that only a grading of I meant you could see inclusions with the naked eye

It was extremely disappointing to say the least! I now have a new eyeclean diamond thankfully. So, I can relate to your disappointment. Don''t worry, you will find the perfect stone for your lovely girl

 

[diamondseeker2006]

JT, you did a great job! You had the stone checked and found something you couldn''t live with. So that''s good. I''ll tell you honestly, you''ll have more luck if you look at SI1''s. There should be less significant inclusions with those. You might have to spend some serious time looking at SI2''s to get a really good one. And all diamonds do not have a laser inscription, so that wouldn''t matter.

Are you open at all to looking at diamonds from some of these vendors? At least you''d know more what you''re getting considering they have a lot to lose if they did something like what happened to you at DD and you posted on here! Check out Good Old Gold, WhiteFlash and Winfield''s. Look for the AGS0 grading.

 

[JulieN]

You need to take it to an independent appraiser, which you are going to do

The danger in chipping is mostly during the setting process. If it is already properly set, and the cavity is under the table, not near the corner, you should have the appraiser give you a thumbs up or down.

Insurance?

 

[JT]

Thanks everyone.

Yes, I have considered purchasing online and at this point it''s looking better and better. It was going to an idependent appraiser but even if he said it was ok I still couldn''t have lived with it.

I just feel like my budget allows for something better than that. I will probably change my search to atleast SI1 if not VVS2.

Thanks again an I will keep you posted.

 

[FireGoddess]

Sorry to hear this. It is great that you can return it though, and get what you want.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

JT, if you''re sure you don''t want it (and I agree), I think I''d skip paying for an independent appraisal on it. Save that money for the next stone!

 

[JT]

To answer a post above, yes it will be insured.

I called the guy and he said there would be a 100% refund, but I won''t rest easy untill I actually have the check in hand.

I was reading on the back of a receipt also and it does say 30 day returns.