DIY appraisal?

[Cehrabehra]

I had chosen an appraiser and still would really love to work with him, but now that the decision on the stone is made, I''m not sure if it''s worth it... I wanted to get a full thing, pics of the inclusions, pics of idealscope etc. but all in all including shipping both ways twice (set and unset) I''m looking at over $600!!!! Now really, do I NEED all of that stuff? My local appraiser is worse - she''d charge me almost 400 and I wouldn''t get ANY PICTURES or light analysis or anything. I don''t know *where* you guys are finding $100 appraisals but I sure as heck am not! So really the reason I want all of those pics is well, vanity. Having glorious pics of my naked stone and all the sarinistic details LOL At first glance I was willing to pay the $300 but after thinking about the realistic costs I would be incurring, I started getting cold feet about it. I could buy all of the necessary tools myself online and attempt to do my own documentation... that could take care of the vanity part of it I guess... but really... doesn''t it seem crazy to spend over $600 all told for an appraisal? And if I do all of that on my own, where on earth do I find those elusive $100 appraisals? LOL So... exactly what is the minimum you''d feel comfortable knowing/having?

 

[oldminer]

There are many appraisers here who do not charge big bucks for very complete work which includes photos, Sarin measures, light behavior grading, etc. $600 is a large sum for an appraisal service on a diamond ring.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 10/16/2006 12:14:59 PM
Author: oldminer
There are many appraisers here who do not charge big bucks for very complete work which includes photos, Sarin measures, light behavior grading, etc. $600 is a large sum for an appraisal service on a diamond ring.

If I wasn't clear I apologize - it was $600 total all said in done... aprox $50 to ship it to him twice and $100 to ship it back to me twice - that's $300 right there... then the total of the two appraisals (set and unset) are another $300. I'm not accounting the appraiser for the full $600 and I apologize if it came off that way... I just really really don't want to use the only appraiser here locally because she charges even more than that with about 1/4 the documentation. I guess if you're the only one in town you can charge whatever you want! she doesn't have a sarin either - she has an OGI I think - if that makes sense.

I'm not sure what to do!!

 

[oldminer]

An Ogi will generally do what a Sarin does. There is very little difference. Each machine has certain slight merits.

Shipping is a costly thing. We now ship up to $25K in value for $25 with USPS Express Mail and private insurance. However, it may not arrive overnight in every case. Sometimes it is a two day trip. Using UPS or Fed-Ex with private insurance is quite a bit more costly and some appraisers are stuck with that situation.

 

[mrssalvo]

cehra- when Richard Sherwood did my appraisal he charged a fee for the stone loose. I ended up changing plans but the fee to reappraise once my stone was set wasn''t as much as the stone loose. you might try finding an appraiser who charges that way. I guess it''s only up to you if it''s worth it to ship it twice, once unset, for all the bells and whistles or not. If I go with one setting i''m considering I''ll be doing about the same thing. It''d be worth it to me, but I can understand why it wouldn''t be worth it to some and that''s ok too. If i were getting just one appraisal, since you already have the stone and info on it, I just do the one after it''s set.

 

[Stone Hunter]

This seems like such an important decision!!!! I''ve decided to have it appraised once it''s in the setting.

Now of course I''m 2nd guessing myself!!!

But I viewed the diamond in several lighting situations. It is GIA. I know that I''m good with the color and clarity because I''ve seen the stone and compared it to others. You''ve done all that too!

Unless you need insurance for the setting process just wait and get it done once it''s set. Cause what do you expect to find out about the unset stone that you don''t already know???

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 10/16/2006 1:14:19 PM
Author: Stone Hunter
This seems like such an important decision!!!! I''ve decided to have it appraised once it''s in the setting.

Now of course I''m 2nd guessing myself!!!

But I viewed the diamond in several lighting situations. It is GIA. I know that I''m good with the color and clarity because I''ve seen the stone and compared it to others. You''ve done all that too!

Unless you need insurance for the setting process just wait and get it done once it''s set. Cause what do you expect to find out about the unset stone that you don''t already know???

okay okay time out from the thread for a minute

and don''t ignore me ::pointed gaze::

WHAT STONE are you talking about stone hunter????????

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 10/16/2006 1:14:19 PM
Author: Stone Hunter
This seems like such an important decision!!!! I''ve decided to have it appraised once it''s in the setting.

Now of course I''m 2nd guessing myself!!!

But I viewed the diamond in several lighting situations. It is GIA. I know that I''m good with the color and clarity because I''ve seen the stone and compared it to others. You''ve done all that too!

Unless you need insurance for the setting process just wait and get it done once it''s set. Cause what do you expect to find out about the unset stone that you don''t already know???

now then, in response... LOL it''s a matter of curiosity... a matter of knowing what angles are where that produce what my stone does... a matter of curiosity to know how my stone does with light return BEFORE being placed on the reflective setting.... getting really good pictures of its flaws without prongs.... mostly vanity issues I *think* but I don''t know if those things are really important toward the actual appraisal?

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 10/16/2006 12:42:32 PM
Author: mrssalvo
cehra- when Richard Sherwood did my appraisal he charged a fee for the stone loose. I ended up changing plans but the fee to reappraise once my stone was set wasn''t as much as the stone loose. you might try finding an appraiser who charges that way. I guess it''s only up to you if it''s worth it to ship it twice, once unset, for all the bells and whistles or not. If I go with one setting i''m considering I''ll be doing about the same thing. It''d be worth it to me, but I can understand why it wouldn''t be worth it to some and that''s ok too. If i were getting just one appraisal, since you already have the stone and info on it, I just do the one after it''s set.

my problem is just that I dn''t KNOW if it''s worth it!!! it feels more of a vanity mind issue to have this info than a necessity issue.... I don''t know how handy it would be. i don''t really have a prob with the combined $300 appraisal fee as much as the additional $300 in shipping, yikes!!

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 10/16/2006 12:39:38 PM
Author: oldminer
An Ogi will generally do what a Sarin does. There is very little difference. Each machine has certain slight merits.

Shipping is a costly thing. We now ship up to $25K in value for $25 with USPS Express Mail and private insurance. However, it may not arrive overnight in every case. Sometimes it is a two day trip. Using UPS or Fed-Ex with private insurance is quite a bit more costly and some appraisers are stuck with that situation.

the added risk of shipping it cross country is another thing - sure the value might be reembursed but there''s intrensic value to the stone bestowed upon it by me.

I know only I can make this choice, but I''m wondering how important it is to have info like sarin and idealscope and photos of inclusions - basically all of the bare naked stone stuff - in an appraisal?

 

[Stone Hunter]

Date: 10/16/2006 1:44:05 PM
Author: Cehrabehra

Date: 10/16/2006 1:14:19 PM
Author: Stone Hunter
This seems like such an important decision!!!! I''ve decided to have it appraised once it''s in the setting.

Now of course I''m 2nd guessing myself!!!

But I viewed the diamond in several lighting situations. It is GIA. I know that I''m good with the color and clarity because I''ve seen the stone and compared it to others. You''ve done all that too!

Unless you need insurance for the setting process just wait and get it done once it''s set. Cause what do you expect to find out about the unset stone that you don''t already know???

okay okay time out from the thread for a minute

and don''t ignore me ::pointed gaze::

WHAT STONE are you talking about stone hunter????????

My new cushion will be an I/VS1 with fluor. I would have gone lower in clarity but it just wasn''t out there with the spread I wanted and I really did want Medium Blue fluor. It will be an 8.13 hope you know what that means from our previous posts! I believe that your stone is a 9.5?

I plan on taking it to all of the local jewelry stores and making sure that I love it and it looks as white/sparkly as it did when I picked it. I think that you did exactly that last month didn''t you? My friends think I''m crazy to "shop and compare" with my new stone but I just have to do it. You understand don''t you?

I am trying out my camera''s macro mode on my current diamonds while waiting for my new stone to be set. Then of course someone will have to tutor me in how to post photos.

That''s the stone I''m talking about

!

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 10/16/2006 2:49:35 PM
Author: Stone Hunter

Date: 10/16/2006 1:44:05 PM
Author: Cehrabehra

okay okay time out from the thread for a minute

and don''t ignore me ::pointed gaze::

WHAT STONE are you talking about stone hunter????????

My new cushion will be an I/VS1 with fluor. I would have gone lower in clarity but it just wasn''t out there with the spread I wanted and I really did want Medium Blue fluor. It will be an 8.13 hope you know what that means from our previous posts! I believe that your stone is a 9.5?

I plan on taking it to all of the local jewelry stores and making sure that I love it and it looks as white/sparkly as it did when I picked it. I think that you did exactly that last month didn''t you? My friends think I''m crazy to ''shop and compare'' with my new stone but I just have to do it. You understand don''t you?

I am trying out my camera''s macro mode on my current diamonds while waiting for my new stone to be set. Then of course someone will have to tutor me in how to post photos.

That''s the stone I''m talking about

!

Well then, congrats!!!! and I do understand - please do take it around and compare - gve the shop owners a frown and say, "I think I might want to return this - do you have something better" and try to get them to sell you something LOL

As for the 8.13 is that the length? what is the ratio on the stone? Is it a modern or antique cushion? Boy, we may have the same taste but you sure are sly vs my blabbing everything LOL!! cut it OUT!!!!! share more!!!! jealous of the med flUOr!!!

 

[RockDoc]

Cehra

How large is your stone?

If when you say 8.13, if that represents a carat size, then the insurance shipping it back and forth to someone would be costly. For a stone that sizr I think GIA would charge more than that just to "grade" it, not to supply valuation info.

Dave is there a way for USPS not to subject packages to radiation? I''d be nervous shipping through USPS on some stones, if they wouldn''t guarantee me the package wouldn''t be irradiated.

Rockdoc

 

[longtimelurker]

Date: 10/16/2006 11:53:47 AM
Author:Cehrabehra
I had chosen an appraiser and still would really love to work with him, but now that the decision on the stone is made, I''m not sure if it''s worth it... I wanted to get a full thing, pics of the inclusions, pics of idealscope etc. but all in all including shipping both ways twice (set and unset) I''m looking at over $600!!!! Now really, do I NEED all of that stuff? My local appraiser is worse - she''d charge me almost 400 and I wouldn''t get ANY PICTURES or light analysis or anything. I don''t know *where* you guys are finding $100 appraisals but I sure as heck am not! So really the reason I want all of those pics is well, vanity. Having glorious pics of my naked stone and all the sarinistic details LOL At first glance I was willing to pay the $300 but after thinking about the realistic costs I would be incurring, I started getting cold feet about it. I could buy all of the necessary tools myself online and attempt to do my own documentation... that could take care of the vanity part of it I guess... but really... doesn''t it seem crazy to spend over $600 all told for an appraisal? And if I do all of that on my own, where on earth do I find those elusive $100 appraisals? LOL So... exactly what is the minimum you''d feel comfortable knowing/having?

Hey Cehra

Todd @ NiceIce is down in Roseburg OR. He might have the name of a local (to you) appraiser who could meet your needs better (and therefore save on the shippling costs). He sometimes posts on here, but I haven''t seen him on PS lately.

My (local) appraiser charges less than $100 for an insurance appraisal--but it does NOT have all the bells & whistles (ie ideal scope, sarin, inclusion pix etc). But that''s okay for me, since the vendor provided all of that stuff.

The first stone I had I DID send to Richard Sherwood, because I wanted to know exactly what I had (that stone, from a private party, did not have anything but at GIA cert).

Good luck

 

[Stone Hunter]

Sorry sorry sorry. I am usually very chatty. I just wanted to keep quiet till I knew I''d gotten it and nobody else could take it away from me!!!

Talked to JA today and it is in CA being set into a Danhov E15. I hope I love the setting. It is very similar to one I fell in love with. I did try the E15 on once. The one I fell in love with I tried on 10+ times. But I didn''t love the stone that was in it. And that was a Henri Daussi package deal.

8.13 is a joke from another PS thread about what to say when strangers ask about your diamond''s size. It is 8.13 mm! The L/W ratio is 1.27 I really wanted that rectangular look.

I wanted sparkle and this gives it. At least I think it does my memory is going...That''s why I''ll need to take it around and compare. The cert says it''s a Cushion Brilliant. I don''t know when it was cut but it''s not antique. I do love the facets in this stone. They are chunky compared to the other cushions I''ve seen.

And of course I''m worried about the size on my size 5 hand. What will people say! I''m following all the threads about size and rude comments and what to say. Maybe no one will say anything. I''d like that. Just like Cehra I don''t want to be scrutinized.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Cehra,

Really, why do you want it? I got one insurance appraisal from GOG. I got a GIA certificate verifying it is what it is. And I got ANOTHER free insurance appraisal from the jeweler who set the stone locally. So I have three verifications of what I have plus I have three choices of prices to insure it for..the purchase price, and two jewelers slightly inflated amounts. I chose the middle amount. Unless you just have lots of extra money, I can see no reason to spend $600 on another appraisal as long as someone is giving you enough information to cover your stone. The cert plus an insurance valuation is all you NEED. But if you want all the other, that''s fine. But it''ll mostly fit in a file drawer after you read it the first time! So only you know whether it''s worth it!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 10/16/2006 2:49:35 PM
Author: Stone Hunter

My new cushion will be an I/VS1 with fluor. I would have gone lower in clarity but it just wasn''t out there with the spread I wanted and I really did want Medium Blue fluor. It will be an 8.13 hope you know what that means from our previous posts! I believe that your stone is a 9.5?

I plan on taking it to all of the local jewelry stores and making sure that I love it and it looks as white/sparkly as it did when I picked it. I think that you did exactly that last month didn''t you? My friends think I''m crazy to ''shop and compare'' with my new stone but I just have to do it. You understand don''t you?

I am trying out my camera''s macro mode on my current diamonds while waiting for my new stone to be set. Then of course someone will have to tutor me in how to post photos.

That''s the stone I''m talking about

!

Yay Stone Hunter!!!

I am very excited for you!!!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 10/16/2006 4:40:31 PM
Author: Stone Hunter
Sorry sorry sorry. I am usually very chatty. I just wanted to keep quiet till I knew I''d gotten it and nobody else could take it away from me!!!

Talked to JA today and it is in CA being set into a Danhov E15. I hope I love the setting. It is very similar to one I fell in love with. I did try the E15 on once. The one I fell in love with I tried on 10+ times. But I didn''t love the stone that was in it. And that was a Henri Daussi package deal.

8.13 is a joke from another PS thread about what to say when strangers ask about your diamond''s size. It is 8.13 mm! The L/W ratio is 1.27 I really wanted that rectangular look.

I wanted sparkle and this gives it. At least I think it does my memory is going...That''s why I''ll need to take it around and compare. The cert says it''s a Cushion Brilliant. I don''t know when it was cut but it''s not antique. I do love the facets in this stone. They are chunky compared to the other cushions I''ve seen.

And of course I''m worried about the size on my size 5 hand. What will people say! I''m following all the threads about size and rude comments and what to say. Maybe no one will say anything. I''d like that. Just like Cehra I don''t want to be scrutinized.

Oh, good, somebody else like me! I wore my rings to school today and another teacher walked in my room first thing this morning. She hadn''t said two sentences before she said, "OH, you had your rings redone!!!" Now she was the only adult who said anything the whole day, but I had asked her a month ago if her rings were wg or platinum because I was looking at new settings (didn''t mention the new diamond) and I couldn''t decide on which metal. She, of course, said they were beautiful, so there were no rude comments. I don''t have a lot of direct contact with adults during the day, so that was the only time anyone was aware of it. So that made me feel a little less self-conscious about the increase in size!

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 10/16/2006 4:17:20 PM
Author: RockDoc

Cehra

How large is your stone?

If when you say 8.13, if that represents a carat size, then the insurance shipping it back and forth to someone would be costly. For a stone that sizr I think GIA would charge more than that just to ''grade'' it, not to supply valuation info.

Dave is there a way for USPS not to subject packages to radiation? I''d be nervous shipping through USPS on some stones, if they wouldn''t guarantee me the package wouldn''t be irradiated.

Rockdoc

My stone is 2.71 carat and has already been graded by GIA.

and may I add:

WOAH!! Seriously!! Talk to us about your concerns- I''ll make a new thread even!!!

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 10/16/2006 4:40:31 PM
Author: Stone Hunter
Sorry sorry sorry. I am usually very chatty. I just wanted to keep quiet till I knew I''d gotten it and nobody else could take it away from me!!!

Talked to JA today and it is in CA being set into a Danhov E15. I hope I love the setting. It is very similar to one I fell in love with. I did try the E15 on once. The one I fell in love with I tried on 10+ times. But I didn''t love the stone that was in it. And that was a Henri Daussi package deal.

8.13 is a joke from another PS thread about what to say when strangers ask about your diamond''s size. It is 8.13 mm! The L/W ratio is 1.27 I really wanted that rectangular look.

I wanted sparkle and this gives it. At least I think it does my memory is going...That''s why I''ll need to take it around and compare. The cert says it''s a Cushion Brilliant. I don''t know when it was cut but it''s not antique. I do love the facets in this stone. They are chunky compared to the other cushions I''ve seen.

And of course I''m worried about the size on my size 5 hand. What will people say! I''m following all the threads about size and rude comments and what to say. Maybe no one will say anything. I''d like that. Just like Cehra I don''t want to be scrutinized.

ahhhhhhhhh!!!! Do you have a link to the stone? or photos or the GIA cert or whatever? I''d love to look at the plot on it LOL!!!! (I''m seriously a cushion plot addict and if no one else gets around to naming the types of cut then *I* will - how self important is THAT?! lol) That''s the same ratio just about as me!! hehehehehe I''ve seen stones with the same cut as mine listed as "cushion brilliant" as well, but there are so many different cuts of cushion, I can''t wait to see which type you chose!! when I say antique cut I just mean the OMC style vs some of the more crushed looking styles they have now for cushion. Was it shipped to you? do you have pics of it?? hey chatty girl, start makin'' up for lost time!!!! lol Well, my finger is an 8.25 so I bet mine looks smaller on me than yours does on you!! roflmao!!!!! ;D I''ll start teasing you about your obnoxiously large ring now so you can get used to it

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 10/16/2006 5:43:39 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Cehra,

Really, why do you want it?

Why?

I''ll tell you why... because I feel like someone has to start compiling info on cushions (angles etc) and if I don''t do it then I''m a hypocrite. I know that''s the most ridiculous reason in the world but it''s about 80% of it. I''d say another 15% is curiosity and the other 5% is desire to document for insurance.

Yeah... I know.

 

[Stone Hunter]

Date: 10/16/2006 5:56:37 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006

Yay Stone Hunter!!!

I am very excited for you!!!

THANKS! I followed your stone search closely and paid attention. I don''t think I''ll have DSS remember you said to go to 1.60 and above to avoid that. My finger is a size 5 so I THINK I''ll be OK for forever with this stone.

I''m glad that you only got a comment on the setting. I bet most people (outside of the 3 I pulled into every jewelry store we walked by) have no idea what size stone or shape I have right now. And those are the 3 people that I''ll drag into my comparison shopping trips. So after a week of that they won''t want to talk to anyone about any diamonds. Just making sure that they won''t tell anyone about my upgrades.

Or maybe it''ll pull them into my DOCD!