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GIA Question

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cardshark_04

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 8, 2022
Messages
15
Hi everyone,

I’m new to the diamond world and would like to buy my wife some diamond earrings for a “push” present with our recent kid.

Been looking at a lot of stud earrings online and notice a lot of certifications. AGA, GSI etc.

Are these trusted sources? I know GIA is the gold standard but is that where everyone mostly draws the line?

I also asked a few people selling diamonds online about certification and their response was, “Yes, it comes with a GIA gemologist appraisal.” And the other said, “ Yea it comes with a GIA graduate gemologist appraisal.”

Is that considered the same? Sorry for the rookie questions, I just want to make the right choose.

Thanks so much for the help.
 
No, it's not the same. You want a certificate from GIA or AGS, not an appraisal by someone who is a GIA graduate, etc.
You should give us your budget and size, color, clarity requests and you will get help finding nice earrings. Also, are you looking for diamond studs or some other style?
 
Lookinagain said:
No, it's not the same. You want a certificate from GIA or AGS, not an appraisal by someone who is a GIA graduate, etc.
You should give us your budget and size, color, clarity requests and you will get help finding nice earrings. Also, are you looking for diamond studs or some other style?
Click to expand...

I’d like some studs if possible. My budget is $4,000 and it seems like stuff with these weird certificates are affordable but the GIA diamonds are a lot more expensive (obviously true to word.)

I’d like 2 carats total weight but that’s starting to look out of reach. I found some i1, H, 1.75 excellent cuts in that range but I’m not sure.

What do you guys think?
 
cardshark_04 said:
I’d like some studs if possible. My budget is $4,000 and it seems like stuff with these weird certificates are affordable but the GIA diamonds are a lot more expensive (obviously true to word.)

I’d like 2 carats total weight but that’s starting to look out of reach. I found some i1, H, 1.75 excellent cuts in that range but I’m not sure.

What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

Is very good still a decent cut? I’ve been looking on eBay as well
 
I would avoid a diamond that has a very good cut on the report and focus on GIA excellent or AGS Ideal. On this forum we always recommend getting the best cut quality for the best performance.

Edit: Personally I would not go below SI1 - SI2 clarity grade.
 
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jp201845 said:
I would avoid a diamond that has a very good cut on the report and focus on GIA excellent or AGS Ideal. On this forum we always recommend getting the best cut quality for the best performance.

Edit: Personally I would not go below SI1 - SI2 clarity grade.
Click to expand...

Do you think I can find a n excellent/ideal cut, 1.5-2 carat total weight with Si-1,2? Where would you sacrifice? Color? Any suggested websites? eBay is looking kinda snakey. Thanks so much for all the help.
 
Realistically with your budget you are probably looking at 1 to 1.5 tcw. SI1 to SI2 clarity and I to J color. I would also look at James Allen or Blue Nile since both these companies have a good return policy.
 
open to buying lab diamonds?
 
I was leaning natural. Don’t lab diamonds not hold their value? Maybe that’s an old wife’s tale but I’m open to anything.
 
Yes lab diamonds don't hold their value compared to natural but you will probably get the tcw you want. They behave the same as natural diamonds and nobody will know unless you tell them.
 
If you buy from a vendor with a good upgrade policy, you can easily upgrade in the future to your desired size.

Diamond | 0.607 ct J VS1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4454670

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.607 carat J color VS1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4454670
www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 0.608 ct J VS1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4428762

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.608 carat J color VS1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4428762
www.whiteflash.com
 
First off, congratulations on the new addition to your family!

I would also advise entertaining the LGD route.

You can easily get 2+ tcw for around $3000 in the colorless D-E range, VS clarity, beautifully proportioned from a PS vetted vendor that has an upgrade program inclusive of their lab grown diamonds so your purchase is protected...and you can even go natural grown in the future if you desire.

If you would like to see some great examples, then head over to the LGD section of the forum and make a thread...I have some recommendations ready for you to see.
 
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DejaWiz said:
First off, congratulations on the new addition to your family!

I would also advise entertaining the LGD route.
Click to expand...
OP, before you consider LGD's I'd make sure that the recipient is okay with that. Some people are, and some people aren't. And I think you would need to disclose to the recipient if what they receive is earth mined or not.
 
Lookinagain said:
OP, before you consider LGD's I'd make sure that the recipient is okay with that. Some people are, and some people aren't. And I think you would need to disclose to the recipient if what they receive is earth mined or not.
Click to expand...

Yes, absolutely!
 
cardshark_04 said:
Don’t lab diamonds not hold their value?
Click to expand...

Let's compare two hypothetical diamonds. One Lab Grown, one Earth mined
Both graded GIA D/VS1- EX cut grade ( for the purposes of discussion they're both equally well cut)
Earth diamond is $10k, Lab diamond is about $2500
Even if the lab stone holds $0 value, you'd still lose less in the event of a forced sale.
But I don't believe that the Lab diamond goes to zero, any more than the Earth Mined diamond will go to 0.
Both will hold some value. Both will hold more value, percentage-wise, than most other products consumers buy.....
 
Thanks for your replies! Do you guys have a favorite spot to look/buy lab grown? I think this might be my new direction
 
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