- Joined
- Sep 3, 2000
- Messages
- 6,756
I see this asked and answered all the time. Many times it is responded to with a degree of bias that shows the perosn giving the response has an agenda.
Consider the needs of the users of labs and grading documents.
Are they sellers or buyers? Each has different issues. Are they consumers or trained dealers? Each may need more or less data to make a decision.
Is the Cert considered accurate at every lab? For some folks any lab cert works. The looser, the better. Others want spot on and consistent grading. Again, are you buying, selling, naive or knowledgeable.
What Lab or Cert is "the best"? I truly believe this is not something that can be answered with one response for every case. Admittedly, the GIA is reasonably consistent, works to a high standard and leaves a lot of good data untold. The AGSL does a very fine job and gives a lot more data. Not every dealer wants to reveal all the facts. Sometimes what is not revealed is the more important data for consumers.
I hope you see that while someone might tell you one lab is the be all and end all of labs, that there is a lot of room for other players. There are many superb small labs with regional acceptance. There are many appraisers who have little training and do rather weak work. I am being very kind to them in this regard. And of course, you have those who will criticize based on their own bias, knowledge or lack of knowledge. You just can''t give more credence to people because you like their wording. There has to be some substance to their knowledge base before they should EARN your trust.
A cert never made a diamond better or worse, but a bad document does cheat people out of their perceived bargain on many an occasion. Nearly every fine diamond has a reputable cert with it. Diamond with problems often come with off-brand certs, certs with less than full details of cutting, or certs that come from known weak grading facilities. The diamond market is very smart. You may get a decent value on a misrepresented diamond, but it is far better to know what you are buying before you finalize a deal.
Consider the needs of the users of labs and grading documents.
Are they sellers or buyers? Each has different issues. Are they consumers or trained dealers? Each may need more or less data to make a decision.
Is the Cert considered accurate at every lab? For some folks any lab cert works. The looser, the better. Others want spot on and consistent grading. Again, are you buying, selling, naive or knowledgeable.
What Lab or Cert is "the best"? I truly believe this is not something that can be answered with one response for every case. Admittedly, the GIA is reasonably consistent, works to a high standard and leaves a lot of good data untold. The AGSL does a very fine job and gives a lot more data. Not every dealer wants to reveal all the facts. Sometimes what is not revealed is the more important data for consumers.
I hope you see that while someone might tell you one lab is the be all and end all of labs, that there is a lot of room for other players. There are many superb small labs with regional acceptance. There are many appraisers who have little training and do rather weak work. I am being very kind to them in this regard. And of course, you have those who will criticize based on their own bias, knowledge or lack of knowledge. You just can''t give more credence to people because you like their wording. There has to be some substance to their knowledge base before they should EARN your trust.
A cert never made a diamond better or worse, but a bad document does cheat people out of their perceived bargain on many an occasion. Nearly every fine diamond has a reputable cert with it. Diamond with problems often come with off-brand certs, certs with less than full details of cutting, or certs that come from known weak grading facilities. The diamond market is very smart. You may get a decent value on a misrepresented diamond, but it is far better to know what you are buying before you finalize a deal.
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