Hi everybody,
Thank you so much to this website for educating us.
My story is: In 2005 just before Christmas, my husband bought me a marquie diamond solitare ring at Shane Co. We went to the store together and picked a loose diamond and a setting. By the way, he bought it for me because I always wanted marquie solitare. We were not getting engaged, since we have been married for over 7 years now.
My husband and I are not very educated in diamonds. At least my husband was thinking more about the quality than I was. He wanted to pick a diamond with a good clarity and color, but I went for a bigger size and lower quality.
We ended up picking 0.86 CT diamond with E color and I2 clarity. We got a certificated appraisal with a gold stamp on it (Shane CO) and all it says is that it is a marquie natural, E color, I2. That is it!
Later I talked to one of my friends and told her about the diamond. It happened to be that she worked in a jewelry industry for 7 years at some point in her life. I did not know that. When she found out that my diamond was I2, she said that she would never buy such quality. She also said that Shane CO is not known to sell high quality diamonds, and she would never shop their.
After talking to my friend, I decided to do a lot of research on diamonds. I found this website and few more that provided me with a lot of good information. The more I learn about diamonds, the more I realize that my diamond is no good. I am actually planning on returning my ring pretty soon. Thanks God that I still have those 30 days.
Today, I called Shane Co customer's service and asked them if they sell any loose diamonds that come with original GIA certification. The person on the phone said that some diamonds have it and some don't. Then she asked me, "Is there a particular reason why you want GIA certification?" I told her that I wanted it. She said, "Is there any reason at all why you want it, because GIA certification has no value. There are so many labs that give different grading". I was blown away by this response. She told me that I could check all their diamonds on their website. I told her that I have already done it, but I cannot tell which diamond has GIA certificate and which does not. She basically tried to avoid this GIA certificate issue.
She told me that their gemologists are all GIA certified, so there is no need to send their diamonds to GIA lab for certification. She could never answer my question such as "why some diamonds come with GIA certification and some don't?"
I also e-mailed Tom Shane and asked about GIA certification. He is not responding so far.
Has anyone else had similar experiences with Shane Co?
Thanks,
Elena
0
Shane Co--Your friend in a diamond business
Started by elenahuston, Jan 09 2006 01:56 PM
15 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 09 January 2006 - 02:27 PM
I think it's very likely that a lot of consumers out there are having similar negative experiences with Shane Co.
First and foremost, get your money back. Focus on that. Don't hold your breath for Tom Shane's response
Once you have your full refund, then start your process over with everything you've learned here and elsewhere.
Good luck!
First and foremost, get your money back. Focus on that. Don't hold your breath for Tom Shane's response
Once you have your full refund, then start your process over with everything you've learned here and elsewhere.
Good luck!
"Fish and Visitors stink after three days"
#3
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Posted 09 January 2006 - 05:10 PM
Thanks Ben,
After I posted my message here, I checked my e-mail and here is exactly what I got:
Good afternoon Elena:
Your recent email was forwarded to me. Thank you so much for taking the time to write to us. As Tom is out of the office on an extended buying trip, please allow me to respond in his absence. To best respond to you and to reassure you about the quality of a Shane Co. diamond, I want to refer you to one of our managers who has been with the company for more than two decades. If you could please send me your phone number, I'd like to have Mike Sterner call you discuss diamond certification and answer all of your questions. He is much better qualified and knowledgeable about this area and would be happy to help you. I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Shelley Gonzales
Assistant to Tom Shane
The question remains: what are they going to tell me?
I will be focusing on returning my ring as soon as possible.
Thank you so much for your education.
Elena
After I posted my message here, I checked my e-mail and here is exactly what I got:
Good afternoon Elena:
Your recent email was forwarded to me. Thank you so much for taking the time to write to us. As Tom is out of the office on an extended buying trip, please allow me to respond in his absence. To best respond to you and to reassure you about the quality of a Shane Co. diamond, I want to refer you to one of our managers who has been with the company for more than two decades. If you could please send me your phone number, I'd like to have Mike Sterner call you discuss diamond certification and answer all of your questions. He is much better qualified and knowledgeable about this area and would be happy to help you. I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Shelley Gonzales
Assistant to Tom Shane
The question remains: what are they going to tell me?
I will be focusing on returning my ring as soon as possible.
Thank you so much for your education.
Elena
#4
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Posted 09 January 2006 - 06:42 PM
I don't usually find myself in the position of defending Shane Co., that's their job, but so far I see nothing wrong.
1) There's nothing wrong with getting a bigger size with a lower quality (and a lower price). People make this decision all the time and it's what you said you wanted. I-2 is not a defective grade and it is usually associated with substantially lower prices, substantially bigger sizes or both. Your friend is being presumptuous to advise you that you should want a higher clarity with a smaller size. Not everybody want's the same things. Just because she has different requirements doesn't mean that you should change your wishes or your budget. You don't have to want what she wants and so far I see no reason to believe that they did anything other than supply what you asked for and have offered to take it back if you change your mind.
2) GIA grading services are pretty expensive and obviously this gets passed along as part of the price. There is very little motivation to pay GIA to document that a stone is an I-2. It's entirely reasonable to sell stones like this without lab documentation or to use reports from 2nd tier labs, which are usually quite a bit cheaper. I like GIA grading but in this case it may be unnecessary.
3) If you don't love your ring, or you feel it was a bad deal, by all means return it. That's why the 30-day return period. This is a reasonable and even fairly generous offer. Don't do it because your friend said she wouldn't like it. Do it because YOU don't love it.
4) The phone clerk was an idiot and Tom's not going to answer your email. I'm sure he does have employees for this and I'm surprised you haven't heard from one of them. Make sure you are sending to a valid email address. I'm not sure either of these should be a deal killer but that's up to you.
People often find that they have to pay a premium price to buy at Shane Co. but are happy to do so because of the convenient locations, the selection offered and the warranty coverage. These are fine reasons. Their deal doesn't suit everybody but it's not on it's face bad either.
Neil
1) There's nothing wrong with getting a bigger size with a lower quality (and a lower price). People make this decision all the time and it's what you said you wanted. I-2 is not a defective grade and it is usually associated with substantially lower prices, substantially bigger sizes or both. Your friend is being presumptuous to advise you that you should want a higher clarity with a smaller size. Not everybody want's the same things. Just because she has different requirements doesn't mean that you should change your wishes or your budget. You don't have to want what she wants and so far I see no reason to believe that they did anything other than supply what you asked for and have offered to take it back if you change your mind.
2) GIA grading services are pretty expensive and obviously this gets passed along as part of the price. There is very little motivation to pay GIA to document that a stone is an I-2. It's entirely reasonable to sell stones like this without lab documentation or to use reports from 2nd tier labs, which are usually quite a bit cheaper. I like GIA grading but in this case it may be unnecessary.
3) If you don't love your ring, or you feel it was a bad deal, by all means return it. That's why the 30-day return period. This is a reasonable and even fairly generous offer. Don't do it because your friend said she wouldn't like it. Do it because YOU don't love it.
4) The phone clerk was an idiot and Tom's not going to answer your email. I'm sure he does have employees for this and I'm surprised you haven't heard from one of them. Make sure you are sending to a valid email address. I'm not sure either of these should be a deal killer but that's up to you.
People often find that they have to pay a premium price to buy at Shane Co. but are happy to do so because of the convenient locations, the selection offered and the warranty coverage. These are fine reasons. Their deal doesn't suit everybody but it's not on it's face bad either.
Neil
Edited by denverappraiser, 16 May 2007 - 06:37 AM.
Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
There's never a crowd when you go that extra mile.
Professional Appraisals in Denver
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
There's never a crowd when you go that extra mile.
Professional Appraisals in Denver
#5
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Posted 18 January 2006 - 04:06 PM
Hi,
This is Elena again. I finally returned my ring to Shane Co. I am very happy.
I disagree that it is OK to buy a bigger size diamond with low quality. When I made that decision, I made it only because I did not know anything about diamonds. I am one of those people who buys everything that speaks "Quality". I made a very uneducated choice and I was happy to fix it.
At first I could not see any inclusions, but later when I started looking more closely into it, I could see that there were 3 big cracks not just feathers. It just did not look right. The sales person did not try to educate me at all. I would never buy a diamond there again.
I have some other jewelry from Shane that I love, but it is different.
Elena
This is Elena again. I finally returned my ring to Shane Co. I am very happy.
I disagree that it is OK to buy a bigger size diamond with low quality. When I made that decision, I made it only because I did not know anything about diamonds. I am one of those people who buys everything that speaks "Quality". I made a very uneducated choice and I was happy to fix it.
At first I could not see any inclusions, but later when I started looking more closely into it, I could see that there were 3 big cracks not just feathers. It just did not look right. The sales person did not try to educate me at all. I would never buy a diamond there again.
I have some other jewelry from Shane that I love, but it is different.
Elena
#6
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Posted 18 January 2006 - 05:05 PM
Ironically, ShaneCo did indeed make you a "happy customer" -- by taking back the diamond!! In that regard, they really can't be faulted.
In any case, I'm glad to hear it worked out for the best.
In any case, I'm glad to hear it worked out for the best.
"Fish and Visitors stink after three days"
#7
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Posted 19 September 2006 - 09:21 AM
Ok first off I don't claim to be an diamond expert. I found this thread while doing some research on other peoples experience of buying from the shane company. I am currently considering purchasing from the tigard oregon store.
I am in the market to buy a wedding ring in the near future and the fact is that this isn't something a person should go out and buy without researching. Would you go buy a car without researching different makes and models and options first? Unfortunatly people do with cars just as with rings as we've seen here.
I've learned in the *one week* since I began looking at rings the following:
(and all of this information is actually explained on the shaneco.com website!)
The important parts of buying a diamond is the Clarity scale, Color scale, size and cut.
Size and cut are personal preference however clarity goes from clear to yellowish. Obviously people dont want a yellow diamond so the more clear in color - the more $$. Most people can look at a diamond and realize that they want an G or H on the color scale - this is a no-brainer.
What I've found to be probably the most important choice in buying a diamond is the clarity. FL and IF are pretty much out of the question for the average person as this is a flawless or nearly flawless diamond. VVS1 and VVS2 is basically still flawless but not perfect. When I went into the Shane Company I looked at a VVS2 under a 10x scope for 10 minutes and could not find a flaw. (However it's cost was almost 2 times as much as an SI1)
VS1 and VS2 diamonds are middle of the road. SI1 and SI2 is on the lower end but still somewhat clear.
I1, I2 and I3 are going to be full of 'inclusions'.
Did you or whoever was buying this diamond even take a look at this diamond (which was an *I2*) under magnification (not that you would need to to see inclusions) before purchase?
It would boggle my mind that someone would do such a thing and spend so much money in such an uneducated manner. Sheer stupidity. If people would learn not to take the sales people's word for everything and be skeptics then they would be much happier in all of their big-money purchases.
I'm not saying at all that the sales people lie/don't lie at the shane company but as far as my experience there they were extremely friendly and helpful. Although I was already familiar with the scales of diamonds the sales woman was very good at explaining this to my girlfriend and we looked at several diamonds of various clarities under the lense at x10. Their prices were competetitive with other jewelers and I will most likely purchase from them.
Please don't let your stupidity ruin other peoples chances of a good buying experience.
jgregory
vancouver, wa
PS: Why is your diamond "no good". Thats garbage - your diamond is not going to fall apart, crack or any such nonsense. I am willing to bet that if you were to hold yours up to a VVS1 rated diamond of the same color rating you would not even be able to tell a difference from more than an inch away.
It sounds like you've developed a psychological dislike for your ring because your friend has planted the thought that your ring is 'defective'...
I am in the market to buy a wedding ring in the near future and the fact is that this isn't something a person should go out and buy without researching. Would you go buy a car without researching different makes and models and options first? Unfortunatly people do with cars just as with rings as we've seen here.
I've learned in the *one week* since I began looking at rings the following:
(and all of this information is actually explained on the shaneco.com website!)
The important parts of buying a diamond is the Clarity scale, Color scale, size and cut.
Size and cut are personal preference however clarity goes from clear to yellowish. Obviously people dont want a yellow diamond so the more clear in color - the more $$. Most people can look at a diamond and realize that they want an G or H on the color scale - this is a no-brainer.
What I've found to be probably the most important choice in buying a diamond is the clarity. FL and IF are pretty much out of the question for the average person as this is a flawless or nearly flawless diamond. VVS1 and VVS2 is basically still flawless but not perfect. When I went into the Shane Company I looked at a VVS2 under a 10x scope for 10 minutes and could not find a flaw. (However it's cost was almost 2 times as much as an SI1)
VS1 and VS2 diamonds are middle of the road. SI1 and SI2 is on the lower end but still somewhat clear.
I1, I2 and I3 are going to be full of 'inclusions'.
Did you or whoever was buying this diamond even take a look at this diamond (which was an *I2*) under magnification (not that you would need to to see inclusions) before purchase?
It would boggle my mind that someone would do such a thing and spend so much money in such an uneducated manner. Sheer stupidity. If people would learn not to take the sales people's word for everything and be skeptics then they would be much happier in all of their big-money purchases.
I'm not saying at all that the sales people lie/don't lie at the shane company but as far as my experience there they were extremely friendly and helpful. Although I was already familiar with the scales of diamonds the sales woman was very good at explaining this to my girlfriend and we looked at several diamonds of various clarities under the lense at x10. Their prices were competetitive with other jewelers and I will most likely purchase from them.
Please don't let your stupidity ruin other peoples chances of a good buying experience.
jgregory
vancouver, wa
PS: Why is your diamond "no good". Thats garbage - your diamond is not going to fall apart, crack or any such nonsense. I am willing to bet that if you were to hold yours up to a VVS1 rated diamond of the same color rating you would not even be able to tell a difference from more than an inch away.
It sounds like you've developed a psychological dislike for your ring because your friend has planted the thought that your ring is 'defective'...
#8
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Posted 12 October 2006 - 10:45 AM
Hello,
I had an overall poor experience with Shane Co
I began looking for an engagement ring for my girlfriend about a month and a half ago. I tried to take a couple of day trips to the malls and different websites just to learn about diamonds. I had heard commercials about Shane Co. and how they eliminate the middle man and pass the savings. How their folks don't work on commission so they won't pressure me into a sale. How they will teach me about diamonds and make sure I am educated before the sale. I made it a point to go to this place.
When I got there I had a 30 second discussion with the sales girl before she took off to the back to grab some diamonds to show me, I looked at them and didn't really approve of any of them. I wanted to see more, when I asked she actually made sure what I was looking for, .75-1.0 weight, G or better color, SI1 or better quality, ideal cut. I told her this the first time, but she didn't listen. So she blames me for not being clear enough the first time, says it was "blind" grab. Isn't it her job to educate me and determine what I want. She brings out two diamonds for me to see. One was a Shane classic cut, their version of ideal. When I told her I liked it, but needed to wait she threw me an obviously canned rebuttal: "diamonds have a 3 day turnaround when we get them in, they will be gone in 3 days" no pressure sales huh? When I told her I was going to have to wait "each diamond is unique" more pressure. Sure they are unique, that is why they are available everywhere. I had her write down what she had at what cost so I could compare.
I went to Jared, which was much nicer. I sat down with a "diamontologist" they gave me a cup of coffee and we looked at diamonds for over an hour. I ended up purchasing a diamond from them. .804, F color, SI1, ideal cut, for $3800. Same size and better color than Shane Co. for $100 less. I used the middle man...
Bottom line: don't believe the hype, do your homework and take your time. There are thousands of diamonds to choose from.
I had an overall poor experience with Shane Co
I began looking for an engagement ring for my girlfriend about a month and a half ago. I tried to take a couple of day trips to the malls and different websites just to learn about diamonds. I had heard commercials about Shane Co. and how they eliminate the middle man and pass the savings. How their folks don't work on commission so they won't pressure me into a sale. How they will teach me about diamonds and make sure I am educated before the sale. I made it a point to go to this place.
When I got there I had a 30 second discussion with the sales girl before she took off to the back to grab some diamonds to show me, I looked at them and didn't really approve of any of them. I wanted to see more, when I asked she actually made sure what I was looking for, .75-1.0 weight, G or better color, SI1 or better quality, ideal cut. I told her this the first time, but she didn't listen. So she blames me for not being clear enough the first time, says it was "blind" grab. Isn't it her job to educate me and determine what I want. She brings out two diamonds for me to see. One was a Shane classic cut, their version of ideal. When I told her I liked it, but needed to wait she threw me an obviously canned rebuttal: "diamonds have a 3 day turnaround when we get them in, they will be gone in 3 days" no pressure sales huh? When I told her I was going to have to wait "each diamond is unique" more pressure. Sure they are unique, that is why they are available everywhere. I had her write down what she had at what cost so I could compare.
I went to Jared, which was much nicer. I sat down with a "diamontologist" they gave me a cup of coffee and we looked at diamonds for over an hour. I ended up purchasing a diamond from them. .804, F color, SI1, ideal cut, for $3800. Same size and better color than Shane Co. for $100 less. I used the middle man...
Bottom line: don't believe the hype, do your homework and take your time. There are thousands of diamonds to choose from.
#9
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Posted 25 October 2006 - 05:21 PM
What is the deal with everyone talking bad about my "Friends in the Diamond Business?"
Like DenverAppraiser, I don't usually find myself defending ShaneCo, but here it goes:
I don't know which ShaneCo. you guys are shopping at, but my local branch is the best place to purchase ANY jewelry--diamonds, rubies, sapphires, pearls...you name it!! For all of you who said you've had horrible experiences, that's too bad...Shane is an awesome company! I don't know if any of you have listened to the latest ads over the radio, but Tom Shane tells the world about the lady who accidentally ran over her ring with her car, and guess what? THEY REPLACED IT FOR FREE!! That's what happens when you're a Shane customer--they take care of you! Their certified appraisal and lifetime guarantee is unbeatable!! The free cookies and water deal isn't half bad either?! =) But in all seriousness...for those of you looking to purchase from a reputable jeweler, I totally recommend Shane for all of your needs! I have been to Shane on numerous occasions, and NOT ONCE have I received bad customer service--whether it was to purchase or have my rings cleaned and checked, I have always walked out a happy camper!!
For those of you complaining about diamond grading/certificates and particulars about the 4c's...Lemme break it down for you....
1) DIAMOND GRADING IS SUBJECTIVE, therefore those certificates that many stores try to sell you on are basically educated "opinions" of gemologists that (this is just MY opinion) are a crock of ****. For those who require certs, do you know WHY you are asking for one in the first place? Do you know that for all certs, it will clearly state: THIS IS JUST AN OPINION. There is no scientifically proven method for grading diamonds--it's just 3 guys sitting in a room saying a diamond looks like this clarity, and that color...blah, blah. The Shane Company actually shows you a book of certs from the same labs, on the same diamond, come back with different gradings.
I'm not surprised ShaneCo. doesn't have certs on ALL of their diamonds, because it costs money and takes a ton of time to get diamonds graded--that means less inventory for us, the customers!! But, by all means, if you want a piece of paper that just shows you where all of the inclusions on your diamond are...go for it! A ton of other companies will sell consumers on certs alone, which is totally misleading. It's still not an appraisal of your diamond...which is what insurance companies require for coverage! At Shane, every single piece of merchandise comes with a certified appraisal--whether a $25,000 diamond or just a $100 pendant--trust me, those come in handy!
2) THE FOUR C'S-COLOR, CUT, CLARITY and CARAT WEIGHT are all characteristics of a diamond that will directly affect its value, and overall beauty. Like I said before, While all diamonds are beautiful, the general rule of thumb is "less is more" when it comes to judging color and clarity. The less color and inclusions in a diamond, the more rare, and more expensive the diamond will become. When it comes to carat weight, remember there are 100 points in a carat--think of pennies to a dollar--.75 cts would be 75 points, like .75 cents out of a dollar, only out of a carat. Last but not least is cut--cut can account for up to 30-40% of a diamond's actual value--it directly impacts a diamond's sparkle and fire (you know, that rainbow effect). A diamond's cut refers to a diamond's ability to reflect and disperse light throughout the stone. One could have the most colorless, flawless diamond, but if it isn't cut well, there's no sparkle--no BLING! According to the Shane Company, you are receiving the top 10% diamonds in the world (because hey, they ARE direct diamond importers, right), and by far the best CUT diamonds--they even suggest their signature "ideal" cut Shane Classic diamond is the top 1% cut diamond in the world--hey, I'll take one!! As for the whole "ideal" issue on cut?! Puh-leaze. How many are there?! GIA doesn't even adhere to the whole "ideal" hype, stating there is no such thing--all they say is very good, good, blah, blah...and as for all the other labs, they VARY. No one can completely say they know what the perfect diamond looks like based on table percentages and polish...they need to see a stone in person, and go with what's beautiful to their naked eye. That's what counts.
Now, a couple of things I want to say in response to some earlier posts:
1) The Shane Company has been in business since 1929, and has always been there for their customers--what other CEO of a diamond company posts his/her direct line in-store? Elena is even lucky to have gotten the opportunity to even COMPLAIN directly and get a reasonably prompt response--it may not have been what she wanted, but, he was on a buying trip---did you know that he buys (meaning hand selects) all of the company's rubies and sapphires HIMSELF?! What other CEO does that?
2) Like DenverAppraiser said, there is NOTHING wrong with buying an I2...I can't believe Elena would blame the salesperson for HER own purchase decision that her friend made her regret. I personally have an I1 clarity diamond, which is supposed to be inclusions visible to the naked eye, but I can't see anything in mine!! People should not be swayed by numbers and letters...Go for what's seen to the naked eye, because no one else knows what to look for!! I've had more than 1 diamond presentation at ShaneCo. and I'm familiar with the fact that they bring all sorts of diamonds with different colors and clarities to familiarize customers with diamond grading based on beauty vs. actual numbers and letters. At first, I couldn't believe the diamond i fell in love with was an I, but then again, a ton of their I range diamonds were beautiful--some even more than SI range (TO ME). Never once did i feel pressured to buy a crappy diamond...i felt motivated to buy based upon visible beauty---did i see a $3,000 difference? I love the non-commissioned environment...it makes things a whole lot easier
3) ShaneCo. never has sales--someone told me they've NEVER had a sale in the history of the company. When companies have sales, it means they're marking their prices up to only mark them down again. How would you feel if your buddy got a comparable diamond/ring for 40% cheaper than you? It sucks. I also like the fact that Shane doesn't carry the same stuff all the time too...so a lot of women have unique pieces.
4) What jeweler that you know gives you a price guarantee for your merchandise for a lifetime and lets you upgrade/trade-in as many times as you want on anything in the store?! It could be 2 days, 2 years, or 20 years...the price one spends never changes, and is applied towards the upgrade! Anything considered a "loose stone" is upgradable for just a dollar more, and all else would require purchasing something worth twice as much as the original purchase, and then just paying the difference. IE: If i want to trade in a $200 pendant, i would just trade for something $400+ and pay the difference ($200+ out of pocket). If i wanted to upgrade/trade my diamond that was originally $5000, i'd have to purchase something(s) worth $5001 or more. Pretty cool, huh?
Okay...i've gone on, and on, and on....i could say more, but i'm pooped. All i know is that diamonds sell themselves; the important thing to think about as a consumer is "what company is going to take care of me once i walk out this door? Will they cover me if my diamond falls out or becomes cracked?" For me, i have always, and will continue to always love "My Friends in the Diamond Business," because, like a good friends should, they have taken care of me!
Like DenverAppraiser, I don't usually find myself defending ShaneCo, but here it goes:
I don't know which ShaneCo. you guys are shopping at, but my local branch is the best place to purchase ANY jewelry--diamonds, rubies, sapphires, pearls...you name it!! For all of you who said you've had horrible experiences, that's too bad...Shane is an awesome company! I don't know if any of you have listened to the latest ads over the radio, but Tom Shane tells the world about the lady who accidentally ran over her ring with her car, and guess what? THEY REPLACED IT FOR FREE!! That's what happens when you're a Shane customer--they take care of you! Their certified appraisal and lifetime guarantee is unbeatable!! The free cookies and water deal isn't half bad either?! =) But in all seriousness...for those of you looking to purchase from a reputable jeweler, I totally recommend Shane for all of your needs! I have been to Shane on numerous occasions, and NOT ONCE have I received bad customer service--whether it was to purchase or have my rings cleaned and checked, I have always walked out a happy camper!!
For those of you complaining about diamond grading/certificates and particulars about the 4c's...Lemme break it down for you....
1) DIAMOND GRADING IS SUBJECTIVE, therefore those certificates that many stores try to sell you on are basically educated "opinions" of gemologists that (this is just MY opinion) are a crock of ****. For those who require certs, do you know WHY you are asking for one in the first place? Do you know that for all certs, it will clearly state: THIS IS JUST AN OPINION. There is no scientifically proven method for grading diamonds--it's just 3 guys sitting in a room saying a diamond looks like this clarity, and that color...blah, blah. The Shane Company actually shows you a book of certs from the same labs, on the same diamond, come back with different gradings.
I'm not surprised ShaneCo. doesn't have certs on ALL of their diamonds, because it costs money and takes a ton of time to get diamonds graded--that means less inventory for us, the customers!! But, by all means, if you want a piece of paper that just shows you where all of the inclusions on your diamond are...go for it! A ton of other companies will sell consumers on certs alone, which is totally misleading. It's still not an appraisal of your diamond...which is what insurance companies require for coverage! At Shane, every single piece of merchandise comes with a certified appraisal--whether a $25,000 diamond or just a $100 pendant--trust me, those come in handy!
2) THE FOUR C'S-COLOR, CUT, CLARITY and CARAT WEIGHT are all characteristics of a diamond that will directly affect its value, and overall beauty. Like I said before, While all diamonds are beautiful, the general rule of thumb is "less is more" when it comes to judging color and clarity. The less color and inclusions in a diamond, the more rare, and more expensive the diamond will become. When it comes to carat weight, remember there are 100 points in a carat--think of pennies to a dollar--.75 cts would be 75 points, like .75 cents out of a dollar, only out of a carat. Last but not least is cut--cut can account for up to 30-40% of a diamond's actual value--it directly impacts a diamond's sparkle and fire (you know, that rainbow effect). A diamond's cut refers to a diamond's ability to reflect and disperse light throughout the stone. One could have the most colorless, flawless diamond, but if it isn't cut well, there's no sparkle--no BLING! According to the Shane Company, you are receiving the top 10% diamonds in the world (because hey, they ARE direct diamond importers, right), and by far the best CUT diamonds--they even suggest their signature "ideal" cut Shane Classic diamond is the top 1% cut diamond in the world--hey, I'll take one!! As for the whole "ideal" issue on cut?! Puh-leaze. How many are there?! GIA doesn't even adhere to the whole "ideal" hype, stating there is no such thing--all they say is very good, good, blah, blah...and as for all the other labs, they VARY. No one can completely say they know what the perfect diamond looks like based on table percentages and polish...they need to see a stone in person, and go with what's beautiful to their naked eye. That's what counts.
Now, a couple of things I want to say in response to some earlier posts:
1) The Shane Company has been in business since 1929, and has always been there for their customers--what other CEO of a diamond company posts his/her direct line in-store? Elena is even lucky to have gotten the opportunity to even COMPLAIN directly and get a reasonably prompt response--it may not have been what she wanted, but, he was on a buying trip---did you know that he buys (meaning hand selects) all of the company's rubies and sapphires HIMSELF?! What other CEO does that?
2) Like DenverAppraiser said, there is NOTHING wrong with buying an I2...I can't believe Elena would blame the salesperson for HER own purchase decision that her friend made her regret. I personally have an I1 clarity diamond, which is supposed to be inclusions visible to the naked eye, but I can't see anything in mine!! People should not be swayed by numbers and letters...Go for what's seen to the naked eye, because no one else knows what to look for!! I've had more than 1 diamond presentation at ShaneCo. and I'm familiar with the fact that they bring all sorts of diamonds with different colors and clarities to familiarize customers with diamond grading based on beauty vs. actual numbers and letters. At first, I couldn't believe the diamond i fell in love with was an I, but then again, a ton of their I range diamonds were beautiful--some even more than SI range (TO ME). Never once did i feel pressured to buy a crappy diamond...i felt motivated to buy based upon visible beauty---did i see a $3,000 difference? I love the non-commissioned environment...it makes things a whole lot easier
3) ShaneCo. never has sales--someone told me they've NEVER had a sale in the history of the company. When companies have sales, it means they're marking their prices up to only mark them down again. How would you feel if your buddy got a comparable diamond/ring for 40% cheaper than you? It sucks. I also like the fact that Shane doesn't carry the same stuff all the time too...so a lot of women have unique pieces.
4) What jeweler that you know gives you a price guarantee for your merchandise for a lifetime and lets you upgrade/trade-in as many times as you want on anything in the store?! It could be 2 days, 2 years, or 20 years...the price one spends never changes, and is applied towards the upgrade! Anything considered a "loose stone" is upgradable for just a dollar more, and all else would require purchasing something worth twice as much as the original purchase, and then just paying the difference. IE: If i want to trade in a $200 pendant, i would just trade for something $400+ and pay the difference ($200+ out of pocket). If i wanted to upgrade/trade my diamond that was originally $5000, i'd have to purchase something(s) worth $5001 or more. Pretty cool, huh?
Okay...i've gone on, and on, and on....i could say more, but i'm pooped. All i know is that diamonds sell themselves; the important thing to think about as a consumer is "what company is going to take care of me once i walk out this door? Will they cover me if my diamond falls out or becomes cracked?" For me, i have always, and will continue to always love "My Friends in the Diamond Business," because, like a good friends should, they have taken care of me!
#10
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- Member
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- 4 posts
Newbie
Posted 27 October 2006 - 09:28 AM
Sorry Diamondluver!
I really hope my experience was not the norm. I certainly don't expect them to be as successful as they are by providing poor service.
I think my feeling was similar to what my girlfriend feels when she goes to jiffy lube. The clerk saw a "mark" someone that she could sell without much effort by using unethical tactics.
I don't really think that this is the way business is done at every Shane Co. It is possibly just a case of one poor sales person. Unfortunately it has tainted my feelings about the company she works for and I probably won't shop there again. Honestly I am just not sure that I could trust them. Trust in a sales person is normally a very bad idea anyway, unless you know them personally.
I have to disagree with you on diamond certification however. If I were an insurance agent, which I am not, I would think insurance companies wouldn't like insuring something that has no means of appraisal or identification.
I really hope my experience was not the norm. I certainly don't expect them to be as successful as they are by providing poor service.
I think my feeling was similar to what my girlfriend feels when she goes to jiffy lube. The clerk saw a "mark" someone that she could sell without much effort by using unethical tactics.
I don't really think that this is the way business is done at every Shane Co. It is possibly just a case of one poor sales person. Unfortunately it has tainted my feelings about the company she works for and I probably won't shop there again. Honestly I am just not sure that I could trust them. Trust in a sales person is normally a very bad idea anyway, unless you know them personally.
I have to disagree with you on diamond certification however. If I were an insurance agent, which I am not, I would think insurance companies wouldn't like insuring something that has no means of appraisal or identification.
#11
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- A-List Jeweler
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- 205 posts
Rough Diamond
- Gender:Male
- Location:NY NY 10017
Posted 15 November 2006 - 09:50 AM
Hi! As a diamond seller with some experience in the diamond field, I still think that every diamond needs a GIA cert if not you should not touch it. There are so many stories going around these days about false diamonds, so I would tell you don't look at the name of the store and how beautiful the store looks like the same is with websites, make sure you look for diamonds only with GIA or AGS and EGL diamonds. Hope this helps.
#12
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- Member
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- 9 posts
Bronze
Posted 15 May 2007 - 10:44 PM
I wasnt too excited about ShaneCo diamonds...but I did find the setting I wanted there and am more than pleased...just had to get the center stone somewhere else...
#13
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- A-List Appraiser
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- 5,148 posts
Ideal Diamond
- Gender:Male
- Location:Denver Colorado, USA
Posted 16 May 2007 - 04:52 AM
EricH,
Lack of a GIA report does not make it either unappraisable or uninsurable, nor does it make it impossible to replace in the case of a loss. With most insurance policies, the company is agreeing to replace with ‘like kind and quality’ in the case of a covered loss. The definition of this is generally the description provided with the original appraisal. That’s part of why they ask for it and part of why they insist that you provide it rather than simply hiring an expert of their own. Meeting the insurance company’s minimum documentation requirements are generally pretty easy and most jewelers will provide you with sufficient paperwork for that purpose along with the sale. This is an area where I think ShaneCo is lacking in that their ‘appraisals’ are incredibly light on details and it leaves the insurance companies a lot of wiggle room when replacement time comes along. Lab reports can be useful for insurance replacement purposes but they are really intended as a shopping aid to make it easier to compare one stone against another. They are not a substitute for a good appraisal. It’s not your insurance company that should be picky about the appraisal, it’s YOU.
Diamondluver,
Do you work for ShaneCo?
Neil
Lack of a GIA report does not make it either unappraisable or uninsurable, nor does it make it impossible to replace in the case of a loss. With most insurance policies, the company is agreeing to replace with ‘like kind and quality’ in the case of a covered loss. The definition of this is generally the description provided with the original appraisal. That’s part of why they ask for it and part of why they insist that you provide it rather than simply hiring an expert of their own. Meeting the insurance company’s minimum documentation requirements are generally pretty easy and most jewelers will provide you with sufficient paperwork for that purpose along with the sale. This is an area where I think ShaneCo is lacking in that their ‘appraisals’ are incredibly light on details and it leaves the insurance companies a lot of wiggle room when replacement time comes along. Lab reports can be useful for insurance replacement purposes but they are really intended as a shopping aid to make it easier to compare one stone against another. They are not a substitute for a good appraisal. It’s not your insurance company that should be picky about the appraisal, it’s YOU.
Diamondluver,
Do you work for ShaneCo?
Neil
Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
There's never a crowd when you go that extra mile.
Professional Appraisals in Denver
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
There's never a crowd when you go that extra mile.
Professional Appraisals in Denver
#14
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- Member
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- 1 posts
Newbie
Posted 21 June 2007 - 07:49 PM
Hi.
First, I don't think that anyone is trying to argue about The Shane Co's level of customer service. They're clearly the Nordstroms of the diamond industry as far that's concerned.
Realizing that it was only interesting to me, I've just deleted a long post about my buddy's recent plans to propose to his girlfriend. He'll be buying a platinum engagement ring within the day or two and has only started looking today. His first choice was the Shane Co, and after being there for about 15 minutes he found just the ring he had imagined. I was recently warned about The Shane Co and asked if the ring had been independently appraised. He told me that stones had been appraised by certified Shane Co Representatives and that they "handpicked" only the finest diamonds. Still I knew that the ten <0.1 ct stones couldn't represent a great deal of the rings value, which was mostly in the platinum band. So I asked him what the current market value was on the band itself. He just kinda looked at me and told me that that didn't have much impact on the price of the ring. Clearly he wasn't much of Representative of the company, but still! Knowing that I could just hit KitCo later I asked him what the weight of the band itself was. He said that he didn't have that information and to find out he would need to remove the stones and weigh it! (or he could have saved himself the trouble and just subtracted the 0.87 ct from the total weight) Anyway I told him not to bother.
My question is this, has anyone had a Shane Co diamond reappraised by a third party?
And if so, was at least in the same ballpark?
. . . shop around!
First, I don't think that anyone is trying to argue about The Shane Co's level of customer service. They're clearly the Nordstroms of the diamond industry as far that's concerned.
Realizing that it was only interesting to me, I've just deleted a long post about my buddy's recent plans to propose to his girlfriend. He'll be buying a platinum engagement ring within the day or two and has only started looking today. His first choice was the Shane Co, and after being there for about 15 minutes he found just the ring he had imagined. I was recently warned about The Shane Co and asked if the ring had been independently appraised. He told me that stones had been appraised by certified Shane Co Representatives and that they "handpicked" only the finest diamonds. Still I knew that the ten <0.1 ct stones couldn't represent a great deal of the rings value, which was mostly in the platinum band. So I asked him what the current market value was on the band itself. He just kinda looked at me and told me that that didn't have much impact on the price of the ring. Clearly he wasn't much of Representative of the company, but still! Knowing that I could just hit KitCo later I asked him what the weight of the band itself was. He said that he didn't have that information and to find out he would need to remove the stones and weigh it! (or he could have saved himself the trouble and just subtracted the 0.87 ct from the total weight) Anyway I told him not to bother.
My question is this, has anyone had a Shane Co diamond reappraised by a third party?
And if so, was at least in the same ballpark?
. . . shop around!
Edited by Looking Out For A Friend, 21 June 2007 - 07:50 PM.
#15
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- Member
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- 2 posts
Newbie
Posted 16 July 2007 - 01:58 PM
Looking Out For A Friend, on Thursday, Jun 21 2007, 10:49 PM, said:
Hi.
First, I don't think that anyone is trying to argue about The Shane Co's level of customer service. They're clearly the Nordstroms of the diamond industry as far that's concerned.
Realizing that it was only interesting to me, I've just deleted a long post about my buddy's recent plans to propose to his girlfriend. He'll be buying a platinum engagement ring within the day or two and has only started looking today. His first choice was the Shane Co, and after being there for about 15 minutes he found just the ring he had imagined. I was recently warned about The Shane Co and asked if the ring had been independently appraised. He told me that stones had been appraised by certified Shane Co Representatives and that they "handpicked" only the finest diamonds. Still I knew that the ten <0.1 ct stones couldn't represent a great deal of the rings value, which was mostly in the platinum band. So I asked him what the current market value was on the band itself. He just kinda looked at me and told me that that didn't have much impact on the price of the ring. Clearly he wasn't much of Representative of the company, but still! Knowing that I could just hit KitCo later I asked him what the weight of the band itself was. He said that he didn't have that information and to find out he would need to remove the stones and weigh it! (or he could have saved himself the trouble and just subtracted the 0.87 ct from the total weight) Anyway I told him not to bother.
My question is this, has anyone had a Shane Co diamond reappraised by a third party?
And if so, was at least in the same ballpark?
. . . shop around!
First, I don't think that anyone is trying to argue about The Shane Co's level of customer service. They're clearly the Nordstroms of the diamond industry as far that's concerned.
Realizing that it was only interesting to me, I've just deleted a long post about my buddy's recent plans to propose to his girlfriend. He'll be buying a platinum engagement ring within the day or two and has only started looking today. His first choice was the Shane Co, and after being there for about 15 minutes he found just the ring he had imagined. I was recently warned about The Shane Co and asked if the ring had been independently appraised. He told me that stones had been appraised by certified Shane Co Representatives and that they "handpicked" only the finest diamonds. Still I knew that the ten <0.1 ct stones couldn't represent a great deal of the rings value, which was mostly in the platinum band. So I asked him what the current market value was on the band itself. He just kinda looked at me and told me that that didn't have much impact on the price of the ring. Clearly he wasn't much of Representative of the company, but still! Knowing that I could just hit KitCo later I asked him what the weight of the band itself was. He said that he didn't have that information and to find out he would need to remove the stones and weigh it! (or he could have saved himself the trouble and just subtracted the 0.87 ct from the total weight) Anyway I told him not to bother.
My question is this, has anyone had a Shane Co diamond reappraised by a third party?
And if so, was at least in the same ballpark?
. . . shop around!
Actually.. Shane Co will appraise any of their diamonds for you if you request. You have to pay the certification fee which is about $200.00. Since Shane Company will accept returns I believe up to 6 months, you can go ahead and get the certificate and if it doesn't match up, you can simply return the diamond.
Also, all their Shane Classics are AGS certified. I just bought one for my fiancee and we have the certification from AGS.
We shopped around Shreve and Gleim and even the Chinese jewelry stores. Shane Company actually beat the other prices by nearly 1K. I bought a .65ct, F, SI1, 0 Mark, Shane Classic round for 2,480 and Gleim wanted 3,400 for a .60, F, SI1, 0 Mark, Round diamond. My Fiancee loves her shane classic because it sparkles even more then the E, VS1 Rounds we look at. I think the problem is the cut. I will pretty much only buy 0 marks from now on. Ideal Cut or Excellent Cut has too much leeway. The only way I can tell how symmetrical the diamond is to observe the cut and look at the sparkle under poor lighting.
We are happy we bought ours at Shane Company. The trade up program is great at only $1.00 more then what you paid for your loose diamond. Everyone else will require you to double the price of the diamond to get 100% in the trade or discount your trade. You Trade from a 2,000 USD diamond to a $2,500 one, and you pay only the difference (500). No one locally does that. Everyone else will require a 4K diamond purchase or discount your trade in.
There is alot to think about when buyign diamonds. I think we are very happy with the return policy and the trade up policy. Those two alone are unmatched by any jeweler I know.
#16
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- Member
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- 1 posts
Newbie
Posted 27 October 2010 - 08:19 PM
First of all, If your "friend" was any kind of a "friend" she would not have said that your ring was anything but a wonderful gift from your husband. Second, if she has been in the industry for so long than she should have told you that the marquise cut is the WORST and the lowest end of the diamond cuts out there.
I have been a customer of both Tiffany and Co. and the Shane Co. and I am equally as satified with both of my purchases. Seems to me that maybe your "friend" is not so nice and possibly jealous of you.
Just food for thought.
I have been a customer of both Tiffany and Co. and the Shane Co. and I am equally as satified with both of my purchases. Seems to me that maybe your "friend" is not so nice and possibly jealous of you.
Just food for thought.
