EGL Certificates

[m310]

Hi,

I am new to all this. I am currently searching for a stone and I see EGL certified stones are significantly cheaper then GIA stones.

Is there a particular reason why besides for the obvious, prestige and perhaps looser standards?

Are they more lax in there grading? Can I take an EGL stone to be GIA certified also? Whats the cost?

Whats the best way as a buyer can I protect myself when purchasing the stone?

When I look at a diamond in a loupe what should I be looking for?

I want to be able to match the certificate number with whats on the diamond. What kind of loupe will I need?

Any help to any these questions would be great.

 

[kenny]

EGL has looser standards than GIA or AGS.
That's why I'd never support them with my dollars.

The same diamond that EGL graded "F VS1" may get H SI1 from GIA or AGS, maybe even lower.
The maybe is a big part of the problem.
No lab is perfectly consistent.
They use humans to grade diamonds.
But somehow the humans at GIA and AGS manage to grade more consistently than those at EGL.

 

[m310]

How much would it cost to get it GIA certified?

 

[kenny]

How much would it cost to get it GIA certified?

Here is GIA's price list: http://www.gia.edu/lab-reports-services/fees_payment/lab_fees/USD_feeschedule_Diamond_081210.pdf

If a jeweler sends it to GIA for you (not necessary as long as the diamond is loose BTW) they may tack something onto the price for themselves too.

Personally I'd shop only for stones that already have a GIA or AGS report.
If it has no report or a lesser report there is a good reason.
There is a reason vendors send to those other labs and AFAIC it is not in my interest as a customer.
It is in their interest as a seller.
They know which stones to send to which lab to maximize profits.

For my money I want to be as certain as possible about the grades, and I want the grades to be as truthful as possible.

 

[m310]

The stone specs I am interested in vary between 15,000 and 20,000. So this makes a big difference to me.

Ok. Does the following scenario make sense. If not what would you do?

I find a stone and seller whose specifications I like. I request that the dealer send it to GIA to get a grading report and laser inscribed at my cost if it checks out not to deviate by not more then $2,000 or more according to rappoport. Or is it a bad idea and I am just wasting my time with shitty stones that were overvalued which is being reflected in price?



Whats the best payment to purchase this by? Credit Card? Some sort of Escrow?

 

[kenny]

You cannot believe the grades on EGL stones.
If you don't know what the grades really are why would you believe the price for that "F VS1"?

Personally, I would not bother with EGL stones.
I'd look for stones that already have GIA or AGS reports.
It's not that they cost more; it's that they are just honestly graded.
An EGL "F VS1" is like a Toyota with a Lexus badge glued on.
It is dishonest and I am disgusted it is allowed to continue.

That is my opinion.

EGL appeals to the demographic who likes to think they are getting some kind of killer deal.
Yeah it is possible you may find a needle in that haystack but how many EGL stones are you going to pay to send to GIA to find it?

 

[kenny]

Please don't buy till you learn about cut.
Scroll up and click on the tab for Knowledge.
Then click on 4Cs.
Read everything.

Next, click on the Tab for Knowledge and then Advanced Tutorial.
Read everything.

Next find a good vendor.
I like Good Old Gold, Whiteflash, Brian Gavin Diamond and High Performance Diamonds.
I've bought from the first two and strongly recommend them.
They sell some fine-cut diamonds at super prices and have good return and trade up policies.
If colored diamonds are your thing, I've bought from wwwlfancydiamonds.net and have been very happy with them.

Also I like buying from vendors who have a posting presence here on PS because if something goes wrong you can call them onto the carpet in public and the world will watch how they resolve the problem.
I like this a lot.

If you are nervous pay by credit card, which offers more protection.
If you are more comfortable save a few percent by paying by wire.

That is my opinion.

 

[denverappraiser]

The stone specs I am interested in vary between 15,000 and 20,000. So this makes a big difference to me.

Ok. Does the following scenario make sense. If not what would you do?

I find a stone and seller whose specifications I like. I request that the dealer send it to GIA to get a grading report and laser inscribed at my cost if it checks out not to deviate by not more then $2,000 or more according to rappoport. Or is it a bad idea and I am just wasting my time with shitty stones that were overvalued which is being reflected in price?



Whats the best payment to purchase this by? Credit Card? Some sort of Escrow?

What does Rapaport have to do with it?

If your dealer has an EGL stone that they promise up and down is graded correctly and that you otherwise love, offer this: They send it to GIA. If it meets or exceeds each grade in terms of weight/clarity/color/cut, you'll buy it. You'll pay the full asking price, plus the fees from GIA, plus the shipping and insurance, plus $100 for their trouble. If it comes up lacking by at least one grade on at least one item, the deal is off, they pay the bills, they keep the stone, and they now have a GIA graded stone that they can sell. It'll be back in 2 weeks or less so they're not even tying up the inventory for very long. They're welcome to offer you a deal on the new pedigree if they want to sell it to you but neither of you is under any obligation. There's no risk and an extra $100 in it for them, right? As long as they're right.

 

[Regular Guy]

fyi

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/if-its-jeopardy-this-must-be-egl.149646/

Ira Z.

 

[antelope1]

Whats the best payment to purchase this by? Credit Card? Some sort of Escrow?

I'm trying to by a condo with my BF -- so I like the escrow part.

I think you're thinking that as a consumer, you'll get some protection by paying via CC. Which you will, kind of. But this one is going to be a pretty big dispute. And you'd have to return the diamond too, no doubt, if the charges were reversed. So let's try to avoid that...by getting the diamond checked out first. I like denverappraiser's idea, but an independent appraisal might work if they are not willing to ship it off to GIA.

After you're satisfied with the color, cut, clarity, and carat weight -- pay via wire transfer and ask for a 3% discount.