Whether to send to GIA for a regrade?

[vices]

Thanks for the advice on my previous "decision" thread.
[ See here: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/thoughts-on-this-stone.189666/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/thoughts-on-this-stone.189666/[/URL] ]

We are very happy with our decision and now working with the Chicago store for our custom-designed rings. (I'm getting an engagement ring too.) We have booked our engagement trip for 7/31-8/4, and while it's a little tight, they're working hard to get us our rings in time.

Anyway, we are trying to decide whether to have the stone sent to GIA for a regrade in the meantime. The store owner had the diamond sent in specifically for us to see just a few days in advance, so obviously she didn't have time to have it re-certified before that -- but since the cert date is from 2008, she's happy to have it regraded for us. GIA says its current turnaround time is 25-30 days, but she cautioned us that it can take longer, and there's a chance it may not get back to her (and sent to us) in time.

We are not too concerned with the actual regrading. The store's home gemologist has inspected it for damage, and there is none. (We also thoroughly inspected the stone under 50x magnification and found each inclusion but nothing else.)

The REAL reasons we're interested in having it sent back to GIA are more "fun" reasons:
- To get an eReport like this: https://myapps.gia.edu/ReportCheckPortal/getReportData.do?&reportno=2141438194&weight=1.01
We'd love to have a magnified digital image of the stone.
- They can add a custom laser inscription to the girdle. We'd like to get our names or something inscribed next to the GIA number.

(She is not going to want to be without it once she has it, so if there's any time to get these things done, it's now.)

So, questions:
1. How risky is the time frame for having the diamond sent back to the store, set in the ring, and sent to us before 7/31?
2. What, if any, is the risk associated with adding a laser inscription (It's already inscribed with "GIA" and its number) on the girdle?
3. I know that GIA regrades are completely blind and that grading is somewhat subjective, and thus, can change.
- Color: Current grade is F. We viewed so many diamonds over the course of our process that we became extremely color sensitive, and this one was SO SO white, I would not be surprised if it was regraded as an E. I'm not at all "worried" about it coming back as a G.
- Clarity: Current grade is VS2. I'm not as sensitive to clarity, so I'm not really sure where this stone falls on the spectrum of VS2. Obviously it doesn't really matter; we love the stone, and it's eye-clean and mind-clean to us, but it would still be kinda disappointing (in terms of being... mind-cert-clean) if it came back as an SI1. We viewed the inclusions under 50x magnification, and they look exactly as you'd expect from the plotting on the cert. (The crystals are colorless.) By looking at the cert, do you have an opinion on the probabilities of its clarity regrade? Here's the cert: http://certs.rapnet.com/userfolders/67806/Certs/AH542.JPG
4. Overall, think we should get it sent back to GIA or not?

Thanks again!

 

[Hera]

1. Did you contact GIA to get that timeframe? When I got my diamond re-certified it was 7-10 business days. I think the time frame sounds safe anyways especially if the jeweler uses overnight delivery.
2. I'm not sure there's much risk about having them laser inscribe it. They do it all of the time. Not sure they'll put custom words on it. Did you ask them?
3. Yes, the report can change. Sometimes it's good and sometimes it's bad. They're very good about the more concrete specs like table size and depth but colors and clarity can change. Did you look very closely at the girdle? Wear and tear on a girdle can change a cut grade. VS2 is very high clarity so I wouldn't expect much to change. I'd definitely have it re-graded if it was in SI's.

 

[denverappraiser]

If what you're looking for is a picture, I think you can probably find faster and less expensive ways to get it. Talk to your appraiser.

When GIA says 30 days, they mean 30 WORKING days. That doesn't count weekends, anything preprinted on the calendar or shipping time. Even that is just an estimate. They'll take as long as they want. If speed is important to you, use their 'rush' services or use someone else.

 

[vices]

Thanks, yes; that's what GIA said is the time frame. Probably worth using the rush services if we go down this route.

Yes; GIA will put custom words on it. Even though we'd never see it unless we were using a microscope, the idea of having our names on the girdle could be cool.

We did examine the girdle closely, and there is no damage there; polished beautifully. I don't think there's any chance of the cut grade changing; we were so incredibly picky about cut, had a Sarin report run on this stone, and all the proportions and symmetry are ideal by every possible standard (except David Atlas who might call the 35.0 crown angle slightly steep -- but it works perfectly with the pavilion angle, which actually averages 40.7 according to the more-precise Sarin report).

Based on the plotting of the inclusions on the cert (which are very representative of how they appear under 50x magnification), where do you think this falls on the spectrum of VS2? http://certs.rapnet.com/userfolders/67806/Certs/AH542.JPG

 

[Texas Leaguer]

Just a thought on the personalized inscription. I also think it is cool. However, if you anticipate ever doing an upgrade be aware that a custom inscription could be an impediment. From a practical standpoint a standard inscription of the report number represents added value for a prospective buyer whereas a personalized message would negatively impact marketability. Inscriptions can be polished off so it is not necessarily a deal breaker, but there is a cost to doing that.

 

[heididdl]

I agree with Texas....My studs are lasered with the certificate number but even if you hand them down to family in the very distant future it is not like inscribing a wedding band. I would never put personal inscriptions on diamonds for resale or just for forever. But yes My own stone was appraised many moons ago and I am considering having it recertified but yes a different person will be viewing the stone and may have differnt opinion

 

[Hera]

Thanks, yes; that's what GIA said is the time frame. Probably worth using the rush services if we go down this route.

Yes; GIA will put custom words on it. Even though we'd never see it unless we were using a microscope, the idea of having our names on the girdle could be cool.

We did examine the girdle closely, and there is no damage there; polished beautifully. I don't think there's any chance of the cut grade changing; we were so incredibly picky about cut, had a Sarin report run on this stone, and all the proportions and symmetry are ideal by every possible standard (except David Atlas who might call the 35.0 crown angle slightly steep -- but it works perfectly with the pavilion angle, which actually averages 40.7 according to the more-precise Sarin report).

Based on the plotting of the inclusions on the cert (which are very representative of how they appear under 50x magnification), where do you think this falls on the spectrum of VS2? http://certs.rapnet.com/userfolders/67806/Certs/AH542.JPG

Honestly, I would pass. Unless you want to see if there's a change to the report that might have happened and that could affect the value of the diamond, I wouldn't do it.