4 replies to this topic

[kirok]

I have been doing an exhausted search for an engagement ring. I have combed dozens of websites, different reviews of these sites. In a nutshell, it's more confusing than figuring your taxes come tax time. I have learned the 4 C's of diamonds. I have been to BlueNile and Daimonds.com,etc. All seem to have good diamonds. I have read where they should all be GIA certified, then I have other sites saying that if it is not insuring the ring, it doesn't need to be GIA. Next I read where other certifications groups are more lenient on the way they examine the diamonds. So many opinions and not enough time to absorb it all. So can someone just cut to the chase about these online diamond vendors? I am not looking to purchase from a local store, I am going to take a chance and do it sight-unseen. I would just like an honest opinion from somebody who does not represent a vendor per say. Thanks for you help.

[LaurieH]

I do not represent a vendor.

1--Why *wouldn't* you insure your ring?! It's a huge expenditure and I think it would be silly to spend the money and NOT protect it. You insure your home and car, don't you? This is probably the 3rd biggest purchase of your life after those two things--and it can be lost or damaged or stolen. PROTECT IT. INSURE IT! Ok....point made

2--I would suggest you stick with any of the following certifications, in this order of preference: GIA, AGS, and EGL. Anyone else, in my opinion, isn't worth its weight in salt. I would definitely advise you to get a certified diamond, because without that, a vendor can call a diamond anything they want, and without the opportunity to inspect it in person, you just don't know what you'll get. GIA and AGS have the most stringent standards for grading and are the most consistent. You will always know a GIA G VS1 is a true G VS1, no matter who is selling it. Same with AGS. EGL, on the other hand, while they're good, they're not as consistent and they're more lenient on grading color and clarity. Rule of thumb with them is that they're going to be 1-2 Color grades off and 1/2-1 Clarity grade off. So what EGL calls a G VS1, GIA and AGS might call an H or I and a VS2 or SI1. So that being said:

3--my 30 second clarity lesson:

FL and IF: self explanatory
VVS--MINUTE inclusions visible under 10x magnification or better that are not visible to the unaided eye.
VS--MINOR inclusions visible under 10x magnification or better that are not visible to the unaided eye
SI--NOTICEABLE inclusions visible under 10x magnification or better that MAY BE visible to the unaided eye
I--OBVIOUS inclusions visible under 10x magnification or better that MAY BE visible to the unaided eye and/or potentially compromise the integrity of the stone.

Clarity is always graded facing-up, so with VS or lower clarity, you may see inclusions from a side or bottom (pavillion) view, but chances are once it's set, you won't see anything.

4:

D-F--Colorless
G-J--Near Colorless which means it is going to face-up white. You're totally fine in any of these colors, esp if setting in white metal. The contact can improve the perceived color. This is one of the reasons that diamonds are only able to be graded UNSET. Don't trust a trade you're given on a diamond that is evaluated in its setting as a finished piece, rather than by itself and then put into a piece.

5. Cut, Polish and Symmetry. GIA spent a long time coming up with a system for evaluating Cut Grade for round diamonds. It's based on numbers and by an actual human being observing certain characteristics of brilliance (light vs dark areas), fire (flashes of red, yellow and blue) and scintillation (sparkle when you move it). Stick with EX or VG in all three of these categories. If you can only have 2 out of the 3--put the EX in Cut Grade and Symmetry.

Basically, I think there are a lot of reputable E-tailers out there, but there are some that are not so much so. Research the names online and see if you find reviews--positive or negative. Look at their inventories, sales and return policies, and then if they have what you want. If you're outside the US, make sure before you go too far, that they can ship to you in the country where you live.

My advice is to decide first what your budget is and what size you are looking for and then work to try to get the best thing that you can within that range. You can always trade down a hair in color to trade up a hair in clarity, or drop down a tiny bit in size to move up in any category. Ultimately, you want to be comfortable with who you're doing business with and happy with your final purchase. I used to work for an online retailer (I won't say who because I don't have a dog in this race) and I always considered myself as much advocate for my customers as I was a salesperson. I never cared about selling the biggest diamond if it wasn't the best that they could get for their budget.

Anyway...holler if you have any other questions and good luck shopping! Congrats in advance!

[davidelevi]

I do represent a vendor, but I will try to be as honest and impartial as possible (and if you check my posts, I have been recommending other jewellers and dealers when they could serve the customer better than us, so perhaps my form on that is not too bad).

Online vendor vs. local is one issue. GIA grading is a completely different one. Let's take them in order.

Online vending is no different from shop-based vending in two important respects:

1. The majority of diamonds that you find online (or can be called in by a shop) can be purchased by anyone. They belong to manufacturers (cutters) or wholesalers, and they will give them to whichever retailer requests them and can sell them. There is a small proportion of diamonds that are owned directly by retailers, but they are not more likely to be street-based retailers than internet based ones (and many internet vendors have a shop anyway; it may just not be convenient for you to pop into).

2. There are good online vendors and bad online vendors. There are good brick-and-mortar vendors, and bad B&M vendors. Given that the stock availability is as described above, picking your vendor first, and the stone second, is a smart tactic.

You can check an online vendor's reputation in the same way you would check the jewellery store on the corner's - use the BBB, review sites like iVouch or ripoffreport and ask people on forums for their opinion. Give them a call - see if you get on well and they convey trust. Quiz them on their policies: is what they offer (returns, guarantees, exchanges, cash-in, free cleaning, repairs, whatever else) of interest and value to you? One thing that I would not relent on is a clear return policy with a complete refund, no questions asked, within a reasonable period of time. And there's probably more internet vendors offering this than B&M stores.

You want names or recommendations? Pretty much anyone that advertises on the Diamond Finder is a reliable and solid internet retailer. A number of others have a smaller presence than some of the giants, but are none the worse (in fact better) in terms of service and quality of stock. DBOF, GoodOldGold, DBL, Excel Diamonds - in more or less random order.

GIA Grading: BIG issue. First of all, small details count for a lot. A D/IF and a G/VS1 will look the same unless you subject them to some pretty exhaustive testing in particular conditions. But one is worth more than double the other. Now, if you find someone calling a G/VS1 "D/IF" and offering it for 50% premium on the "honest" G/VS1, who gets a bargain? Not the buyer, right?

Secondly, the issue with the second tier labs (everyone except GIA and AGS, basically), is not so much that they are more lax with grading, although that plays a part. The real issue is that they are unreliable in their laxity. Sometimes, the G/VS1 is an F/VS1; other times it's a D/IF, other times still it's an E/VVS1 - you just don't know where you stand, and thus end up relying effectively on the vendor's word that this is a X/XX whatever. Which kind of defeats the purpose of having the stone graded by an independent institution.

Remember - the grading report is primarily a marketing tool for the vendor, not a decision making tool for the buyer, and the vendor is calling the shots in terms of who is providing the report.

[kirok]

Thank you for your quick response. Laurie, you make perfect sense on insuring. Reason I was asking, was because I had read it on a blog. Also thanks both for the advise. I will check the BBB and other referenced websites for vendor reviews.

[HeartAndStone]

Hi Kirok!

Welcome

How I wish that I represent a vendor
Anyway, I think you should check both our Diamond Finder and Find My Jeweler tools
and contact those recommend vendors.