Those fiddly plastic cases...

[flyingharp]

Hi all,

I''ve just been looking at a few diamonds certified by IGI and HRD which have been sealed in tamper-proof pastic cases.

Only problem is, they are also inspection-proof, as the plastic is hardly optical quality. Definitely Ideal-scope-proof, too.

How then does one have a really good look at these stones?

 

[Giangi]

Unfortunately, there's not a way. Being in Europe too, I know what you mean. Some dealers, if you're seriously interested, will let you open *a few* certicards.
If you post the #s over here, we will be able to tell you if the stone is worth the opening.
You can always offer the dealer to pay the reseal service (which is $15.00- at the IGI Antwerp) and shipping if you don't buy the stone. The fee will be relatively small compared to what you could waste if you bought a terrible stone.

Let us know!

 

[flyingharp]

Hi Giangi,

To be terribly honest, I didn't enjoy my experience at all. It was a small B&M jeweller in the very small city I live in, and all they were interested in was showing me how "lovely" the stones looked. I think they were slightly taken aback when I started rejecting stones on the basis of cut symmetry and proportion, and looked suspiciously at my Ideal-scope "I've never seen one of those and I've been qualified since 1982..."

It's sad that most people on this side of the Atlantic still buy diamond rings by carat weight and Mark-One Eyeball. I was even chanced upon a website belonging to the "UK's leading Online Diamond Broker" which allowed you to search their database of available stones. The only relavent information given was Weight, Colour and Purity (clarity). Clicking on the code immediately put the diamond into the checkout basket. I'm not sure I'd even buy apples that way, let alone £8000 (US$12000) worth of diamond.

No, I'm afraid I'm going to have to look further afield for my ideal rock.

What's the situation on the continent?

 

[Giangi]

I understand and sadly most vendors act like that over here too.
Why don't you consider the internet? You'll have to pay 20% taxes, but you are still going to save money considering the overly inflated prices we have here.
You may want to contact user Paul-Antwerp. He's a nice and extremely knowledgeable vendor and cuts ideal diamonds. I've never seen them, but I've been told they're very beautiful and cut to strict tolerances. It may very well be worth of a try.