What''s everyone''s feeling on IGI certs?

[cestmoi]

So, I was furniture shopping today (Q sized bed + dresser + armoire + nightstand) and accidentally came upon a new Jared store while looking for one of three furniture stores... so I thought, why not? Let's see what they have to offer... anyway, a long story short and knowing how much the Internet pricing was I saw this gorgeous diamond. The manager even let me bring it outside (5pm ish light) and boy it shone brilliantly.

Here is what the IGI cert says the spec was:

1.01CT
G color
VS1
6.14-6.21 x 4.07
Good polish and symmetry
Fluorescence: slight yellow
Price: $5700

He showed me another diamond which has the same specs (1.01ct, H, VS2), but cut was ideal and that one was about 1.2k more. He didn't tell me those were the specs and I couldn't tell the difference at all to warrant the 1.2k. I even looked at it under 30x. He mentioned that the 1.2k more has H&A and the arrows were sharper.

The $5700 didn't have H&A listed, however, I could clearly see that it had the H&A under Idealoupe (that's what the label says, but looks like the idealscope advertised here on Pricescope).

All arrows, shafts are symmetrically the same (none of the 'flaws' as described on pricescope - see link below). Here's my question; should I be able to clearly see the H&A even though the cert never mentioned it? Plus the sales told me that the difference between the two is that the one $1.2k more has "sharper" arrows. Personally, I couldn't tell the difference. Also, under the Idealoupe, I could clearly see white light shining through the H&A for both the $5700 diamond and the $7200 diamond. According to the info on this site, any white light means that it's 'leakage'... Are all idealscopes transfixed with a pink reflector??

H&A Phonies

PS: Did I mention that there were absolutely NO dark inclusions anywhere? NONE. Even under 30x...

 

[Lorelei]

Here is a page which has info on how the grading labs rank. http://diamonds.pricescope.com/grading.asp

Also if you are seriously considering the diamond with yellow fluorescence, do a search for it. Some experts have cautioned that yellow fluorescence can make a diamond next to impossible to trade or resell, so if you are considering this one, please read up on it first so you can make an informed decision.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Date: 11/9/2008 2:20:20 AM
Author:cestmoi
So, I was furniture shopping today (Q sized bed + dresser + armoire + nightstand) and accidentally came upon a new Jared store while looking for one of three furniture stores... so I thought, why not? Let''s see what they have to offer... anyway, a long story short and knowing how much the Internet pricing was I saw this gorgeous diamond. The manager even let me bring it outside (5pm ish light) and boy it shone brilliantly.

Here is what the IGI cert says the spec was:

1.01CT
G color
VS1
6.14-6.21 x 4.07 the diameter is rather small = probably very thick girdle
Good polish and symmetry The symmetry being only Good means there is a facet misalignment - but you saw the H&A''s indicating the optical sym is excellent
Fluorescence: slight yellow As Loreli mentioned - in daylight this might look like an H - which might not be a big deal?
Price: $5700

He showed me another diamond which has the same specs (1.01ct, H, VS2), but cut was ideal and that one was about 1.2k more. He didn''t tell me those were the specs and I couldn''t tell the difference at all to warrant the 1.2k. I even looked at it under 30x. He mentioned that the 1.2k more has H&A and the arrows were sharper.

The $5700 didn''t have H&A listed, however, I could clearly see that it had the H&A under Idealoupe (that''s what the label says, but looks like the idealscope advertised here on Pricescope). they are very different tools

All arrows, shafts are symmetrically the same (none of the ''flaws'' as described on pricescope - see link below). Here''s my question; should I be able to clearly see the H&A even though the cert never mentioned it? it is likley that the company that sent the stone for grasding never requested a H&A''s report (probably because of the thick girdle) which IGI offer - I think they might be the only major lab outside Japan to do so until HRD recently began to do it.
Plus the sales told me that the difference between the two is that the one $1.2k more has ''sharper'' arrows. Sounds like you already know more than the salesperson who is clutching at straws to remain impressive Personally, I couldn''t tell the difference. Also, under the Idealoupe, I could clearly see white light shining through the H&A for both the $5700 diamond and the $7200 diamond. According to the info on this site, any white light means that it''s ''leakage''... Are all idealscopes transfixed with a pink reflector?? different tools totally

H&A Phonies

PS: Did I mention that there were absolutely NO dark inclusions anywhere? NONE. Even under 30x...

 

[cestmoi]

Oh wow, didn''t know that "slight yellow" fluorescence would make the stone un-resaleable... I actually was impressed with how brilliantly the stone shone in the dusk lighting outside the store that I decided to take the stone right there and then (after being 3hrs in there). Besides, Jared has a 30 days full refund policy. I was planning to get a GIA certified appraiser look at it and tell me before the 30 days to confirm my visual love-in.

What would be considered a thick girdle? This IGI stone had a COA# inscribed and I could barely make it out with a 30x scope. It was inscribed on the girdle and the girdle didn''t look "thick" to me, but then again, my perception of thickness may not be the same as a trained gemologist''s...

I''m not worried about the diameter of this stone as visually, it didn''t look small compared to other much larger 1ct rounds (metrically).

Did I say I was highly impressed with the brilliance??? After going through so many 1 cts for about 3 months now, this looks like the best bang for my buck (even though it''s a bit more than I had originally set a budget for when I started my quest). I love the fact that I couldn''t see any black inclusions under 30x. Someone set me straight if my obsession with NON-blackness in the stone is leading me astray? I did see some sort of bubble cloud though? Would this be a bad thing?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/9/2008 9:30:38 AM
Author: cestmoi
Oh wow, didn't know that 'slight yellow' fluorescence would make the stone un-resaleable... I actually was impressed with how brilliantly the stone shone in the dusk lighting outside the store that I decided to take the stone right there and then (after being 3hrs in there). Besides, Jared has a 30 days full refund policy. I was planning to get a GIA certified appraiser look at it and tell me before the 30 days to confirm my visual love-in.

What would be considered a thick girdle? This IGI stone had a COA# inscribed and I could barely make it out with a 30x scope. It was inscribed on the girdle and the girdle didn't look 'thick' to me, but then again, my perception of thickness may not be the same as a trained gemologist's...

I'm not worried about the diameter of this stone as visually, it didn't look small compared to other much larger 1ct rounds (metrically).

Did I say I was highly impressed with the brilliance??? After going through so many 1 cts for about 3 months now, this looks like the best bang for my buck (even though it's a bit more than I had originally set a budget for when I started my quest). I love the fact that I couldn't see any black inclusions under 30x. Someone set me straight if my obsession with NON-blackness in the stone is leading me astray? I did see some sort of bubble cloud though? Would this be a bad thing?

CestMoi, I am not an expert just reiterating what I have learned here concerning yellow fluorescence. Here is a quote from one of the experts Rich Sherwood - this post pertains to medium yellow, but I would imagine much of what he says here still could apply.

"I've got mixed feelings about medium yellow fluorescence. On the one hand, it allows you to buy a good looking diamond at a good discount. On the other hand, its usually tougher to resell a diamond with medium yellow fluorescence.

If you're going to keep the stone and enjoy it for its own beauty, I would say fine. If you're planning on reselling, I'd say no. If you're planning on upgrading with the same company and they'll give you a fair trade-in on upgrade, I'd say fine.

I've found in actuality that medium yellow fluorescence usually has from no effect up to a half grade effect (lowering the color grade in indirect sunlight). Usually about a quarter grade is the average, which isn't much of an effect on color or beauty.

What I would recommend if you want to buy this particular diamond, definitely get an independant appraiser to evaluate this stone for you to include the fluorescence and make the sale final on it checking out to your satisfaction. Here is a tool you can use to find an appraiser in your area.

https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx

 

[neatfreak]

I personally am not impressed with IGI...they seem to be very unreliable from what I have seen. And honestly, I am even less impressed with Jared and their customer service. So I would pass if it were me. You can do better than that one price here.