True Story of Diamond Shrinkage!

[shinythings]

My diamond actually shrank! The appraiser had said it was .85ct (not a pricescope appraiser) and I took it to GIA and they weighed it at .71ct!

I thought that was a pretty big difference! I don''t have the full report yet, so we''ll see how off they were on the other aspects as well! I took it to GIA mostly out of curiousity, and also I might trade it in or sell it one day when it''s time for us to get an engagement ring.

Just thought I''d share my story since you always hear about DSS!

 

[Rod]

How recently did you purchase this shrinking diamond and what was the actual carat weight you thought you actually bought? Did you purchase it from a reputable vendor with any documentation, like a GIA or AGS grading report? If you did, you should be able to easily get it replace with a diamond in the carat weight you purchased of comparable cut quality. Very small differences are not uncommon, like .74 vs. .73, but .85 vs .71 is not acceptable. Perhaps it's time for an upgrade??

 

[shinythings]

This was a family ring that I got 5 years ago, so unfortunately I can''t exchange it! All the more reason to buy a certified stone!

 

[Rod]

So sorry your diamond may have shrunk on paper, but it was obviously always a .71 carat stone. There''s nothing wrong with that at all, unless it''s a mind thing and you have less appreciation for the diamond since you found out it''s true carat weight. If you love it, it sparkles and brings you happiness, I wouldn''t spend a second fretting over the size.

Best wishes to you!!!

 

[CaptAubrey]

Was it loose or mounted when the appraiser told you it was .85? Because if it was mounted, s/he would have had to estimate the weight based on the measurements, and in that case, a .85-.71 difference isn't inconceivable because estimating is far from an exact science.

If it was loose both times, I don't know how to explain it unless the appraiser was hoping to buy it from you or sell you a replacement.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 8/24/2006 4:41:52 PM
Author: CaptAubrey
Was it loose or mounted when the appraiser told you it was .85? Because if it was mounted, s/he would have had to estimate the weight based on the measurements, and in that case, a .85-.71 difference isn''t inconceivable because estimating is far from an exact science.

This was my immediate thought...was it appraised mounted the first time?

 

[shinythings]

That might be the explanation, although I''m not sure if it was mounted or not the first time it was appraised. I know she resized the ring but she probably wouldn''t take the stone out to do that.

Either way, now i feel that it needs a halo even more, or to be traded in and used towards my future engagement ring! I''ve got big diamond envy-syndrome!

 

[Regular Guy]

Cellophane.

That, and a rubber band, can at least slow down the process.

Actually...take it back to your appraiser, and have them explain, if they can. (They also have vacuum sealers, to further reduce the shrinkage process).

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 8/24/2006 5:02:49 PM
Author: shinythings
Either way, now i feel that it needs a halo even more, or to be traded in and used towards my future engagement ring! I''ve got big diamond envy-syndrome!

Take a look at Treysar''s before ''n'' after pics...same center stone!!!

 

[shinythings]

That is almost hard to believe! I did a poll a while back and nearly everyone voted for a halo setting, now I just need to pick one!

 

[FireGoddess]

''Tis amazing what a good halo can do.

 

[gailrmv]

I''m not sure of the details, but I know different cut styles can have different spreads. For example, if your stone is a European Cut, but the appraiser estimated the carat using dimensions for a modern round brilliant, perhaps this could account for the error. If it were me, I would get in touch with that appraiser and discuss the discrepancy. Although it will probably not benefit you directly, it would be educational for them to figure out how the discrepancy happened and prevent it happening for someone else.

 

[widget]

Date: 8/24/2006 10:45:06 PM
Author: gailrmv
if your stone is a European Cut, but the appraiser estimated the carat using dimensions for a modern round brilliant, perhaps this could account for the error.

This is exactly what I was thinking.

Shinythings, is your diamond an old cut? It is my understanding that they are often less spready than modern RBs...

widget

 

[shinythings]

As far as I could tell, it''s a round brilliant and not an OEC. I will keep you posted when I get the certificate back though!

Thanks!