USA Cert Diamonds

[Lenamama]

Hey my fellow diamond lovers! I''m looking to buy my first big 4c+ diamond and was looking at USA Cert Diamonds (they were a link from this site) and was wondering why they were so inexpensive compared to most other sites....? Just wondering. I have been lookg for about 2 years and have become quite the guru... I just wont be able to look at it. I''m in the Air Force stationed on Okinawa... so any help would be appreciated...

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

They drop ship without ever seeing the diamond.
There are many different levels of service - the more services and the more safety in recieving a great problem free diamond, the more you may pay.
It is your choice. But by an large you gets whats you pays for

 

[denverappraiser]

USA Certed, along with several others who advertise here, has a very lean business model. Diamonds are graded by the lab, priced by whoever is selling them and offered through their website to the public with very little in the way of additional services. You are given the opportunity to have a full evaluation done by your own expert at your own expense if you like or you can simply do without and pocket the money. This does leave some holes for stones that have issues beyond what’s discussed on the lab docs or where there is disagreement about what the lab has to say but it also affords an opportunity for lower prices for customers who don’t mind doing a bit of the legwork themselves on a more ala-carte basis.

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

 

[jaz464]

I just wanted to chime in here and say that I purchased my e-ring diamond from USA Certed and I got a drop dead gorgous diamond. I wanted to see the diamond prior to purchase (though they do have a fine return policy) because they were not able to offer me pictures or some of the other info like IS images that other vendors do. I had it shipped to an appraiser near me so that I could see it for myself and get an unbiased professional's opinion. Martin from USA Certed was a super to work with also. My diamond is on the larger side(2 carats, though nowhere near the 4 carats you are consedering) and I found the prices to be very reasonable. I also was able to negotiate with him a bit. USA Certed is not as popular around here as some of the other fantastic vendors because they don't provide all of the extras that some may want but my experience was superb and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

Care to tell us some details on just what you are looking for?

 

[Lenamama]

GREAT TIPS! Martin and I have been talking and he did say that he would ship it to an independent appraiser for me and give me all the cert info before I buy... So... we''ll see... my BF lives near him, and she said she would go pick it up for me so not to worry about them dropping ship! I would hunt him down if that happened! I''m looking to buy in Nov 09 so i have some time still... I hope I''m not being

Jazmine: I''m looking for a 4c +/- VS2-SI2 K-L RC, RB or CU... I''m not super picky but as long as the inclusions aren''t huge clouds, or on the table them I will be satisfied... I''m looking to pay between 13K-17K... and this was about the only site that was in my price range. I''m not trying to have them most perfect diamond, just a good one...

Thank for the Help guys!! I''ll keep everyone posted on my adventures......

 

[Lenamama]

Gary,

Do you know of anyone that has had that experience?????

 

[honey22]

That''s not what drop shipping means. It doesn''t matter who picks it up on YOUR behalf. Drop shipping is when a vendor (US Certed Diamonds or whoever) sells you a stone that they don''t actually carry in stock. They get it from another source after it''s sold to you and then you get the stone. They can''t give you any info or picks on the stone before you purchase it, as they don''t have it in their hands.

Whether your friend picks it up or not is irrelevant, you have still purchased the stone without any info on it besides the cert details.

 

[Lenamama]

Awe... that makes sense... Can you send it to an independent appraiser first...? Martin said that was what he recommends and would do for me... so...

 

[Lenamama]

Honey,
Are the certs that much different from what the stone is?? That would seem odd to me...

 

[Munchkin]

Re: certs
Here is some very simplified info. For more in depth stuff, I highly recommend spending a lot of time in the "knowledge" portion of the site.

What are referred to as "certificates" are really just grading papers. The grading is judged by a human at any number of labs. Generally, GIA and AGS are considered the more reliable. Diamonds graded by those labs tend to cost more, but you can feel more comfortable that you are getting the grading you are paying for. Other labs i.e. EGL Israel and Antwerp are known to be more lenient and the diamonds are often a lower grade (in actuality) than listed on paper. Those diamonds tend to be cheaper, but you are less certain that you have purchased a gem with the Cs you wanted. At times, the discounted price is still higher than a stone would have cost had you paid for the *true* quality of the stone.

When you deal with a vendor who has the stone in their possession, they can use their own eyes to verify if a stone is eye-clean, appears to match the cert, etc. Generally, it is prudent to have an *independent* appraiser verify that any stone matches its grading.

 

[Lenamama]

Thanks munchkin... I am an online diamond newbie, somewhat, so all the help is appreciated. You can spend an eternity reading about it, but the actual reply''s make me more comfortable! Thanks again!

 

[honey22]

Well, the cert would be accurate if it were graded by a reputable lab, GIA or AGS. AGS top grading is Ideal, whereas GIA is excellent, however GIA ex is more broad than AGS Ideal and includes stones that wouldn''t get the top honours from AGS.

If you are trying to buy a stone unseen, then I would aim for AGS 000 - which is their top grade for cut and guaranteed to get you a great stone. However, purchasing a GIA excellent will not be as safe, they are some great stones in that category that would score a Ideal from AGS, however there are some less than ideal cut stones in that grading too.

When you get a EGL certed stone, they are notorious for being soft on their colour and clarity grades, so you would want to get an appraisal to make sure the stone was what is was represented to be. For example, a G VS1 EGL could actually be a I SI1, and you can imagine the price difference between those stones, heaps.

I guess what I am trying to explain (not very well), is if you have a stone that looks good from the numbers, but you want to know if it really has great light return, you would then request an IS image to support the great numbers (GIA or EGL certed stones). If it were a AGS000, and scored a 0 for light performance, then you know it''s a great stone by the numbers, and AGS has checked it''s light performance, so overall it''s a great stone.

If you purchase say an EGL graded stone from a drop shipper. The numbers look great and the colour and clarity are just what you are after. You would take it to an appraiser to confirm that it''s well cut, is the correct colour and clarity etc. If I were buying sight unseen, I would insist on an AGS 000 stone, that way I know it''s a great performer.

Other PS vendors provide lots of info on stones, such as IS images, photos etc, but they have to have the stones with them. They take the time to gather and provide this info, so you are paying a little more for these stones, but also the piece of mind of purchasing a well cut accurately graded stone.

Hope my waffling has cleared a few things up, it''s more than likely it''s had the opposite effect though

Feel free to ask more questions, I am happy to confuse you further

 

[Lenamama]

NO WORRIES Honey22! I am thankfull for all the wonderful help! This diamond will be an upgrade to a lost in the OCEAN!!!!! (**gulps a brooken heart**)

ring... I was silly and only sitting on the beach.... I will never ever ever ever make that mistake again. SO... I''m saving for a bit and will definately be getting some more education. thank you so much for the waffling...! I will be so excited when I can post pics... I''ve been with out for a while now, just wearing my wband....