Is my ring worthless because it''s not GIA certified???

[missmarie253]

So, I posted my new ring on a forum asking questions about it and I immediately started getting attacked by a couple naysayers charging that it''s as good as worthless if it is appraised by the GLA. Is this true? I feel awful because I made a bad investment. Why is the GLA so bad compared to the GIA? Here''s some pics. Thx


I''m trying to upload the photos but it''s not working.

 

[missmarie253]

Here''s another photos

 

[missmarie253]

Sorry, I keep replying to my own post but that''s the only way I know how to add more than one pic. Here''s the last one.

 

[cindygenit]

I don''t understand why they would say that.

What is their opinion based on? GIA is a top tier lab, and usually gems which are certified with GIA are more expensive than the same gem certified by second tier labs. Only because GIA is often more strict in their grading.

Maybe they were just putting you down.

It looks like a beutiful ruby ring and BIG too. I wouldn''t worry too much about others'' opinions. You should also get it appraised by an independent appraiser.

 

[makemepretty]

oooooh pretty!!

There''s lots of threads about other diamonds NOT GIA certified. It''s just a piece of paper, like any other certificate IMHO. I would always judge a ring with my eyes, not what it said on a laminated sheet

Some people prefer labels and you can think of GIA as a label for diamonds. Actually, I believe there was a thread on here about EGL diamonds(I could be wrong, I just know it wasn''t GIA) and they were some of my favorites on here.

A gorgeous ring is a gorgeous ring no matter if it''s certified or not. Period.

 

[D&T]

no your ring is not worthless... You are talking about a colored stone ring that you have posted. You may get more response by moving this over to the colored forum though. However this might a little as of the colored stone labs that gives credible certs.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/gem-lab-agta-agl-gia.15805/

BTW- Your ring is GORGEOUS!!!

 

[luv2sparkle]

It looks lovely, don''t let detractors bring you down. I bought a ring without a cert and I took it to an appraiser just to verify in my own mind. I don''t know
anything about GLA but it looks like a great ring.

Enjoy it. Jewelry isn''t really much of an investment. Even with a cert from GIA you wouldn''t get all your money back if you sold it anyway.

 

[Diamond*Dana]

I think that it is a beautiful ring, and I certainly would not get all worried about the cert on it. Just ignore the nasty comments and enjoy your beautiful ring!

 

[JSRNM]

You have a beautiful ring. Do not worry about what people say about certs. If it is really important to you, you can get another cert at a later date. Enjoy your beautiful ring!!!!!!

 

[LD]

Oh please don''t worry. Here are a few thoughts:-

1. If you buy a ring with a Ruby as a centre stone (and if it''s a considered purchase) it''s a good idea to make sure that the Ruby is what it says it is, without any nasty treatment. However, if you trust the Seller (or the lab certificate states what treatments have/have not been applied) then that''s okay.

2. The GIA will certify coloured gemstones but your Ruby would have to be unmounted.

3. The GIA cert for coloured gemstones is not the be all and end all. It''s a very nice to have but not many coloured gemstones routinely come with a GIA cert. Most are graded by other labs. If you ask this question in the colored stone part of the forum you''ll get tons of people (collectors) who will tell you that the percentage of gemstones they have with a GIA cert is minimal.

So basically, just make sure you get it appraised by a good appraiser (you can find some listed at the top of the colored stone forum on here) so that you know you''ve paid a fair price and also can insure it correctly.

Then sit back, relax and enjoy your ring!

 

[missmarie253]

Well, this ring was a steal literally in more ways than one. I frequent a local auction in my area and they get jewelry where some pieces are worth up to $30,0000 and no one has that kind of money so they sell super super super cheap! All the jewelry they get are U.S.customs seized and guaranteed for authenticity. I waited and waited all night to bid on this. Normally I buy antiques and make great money because no one else knows what they''re looking for. So, by the time this beauty finally came up it was getting late at night and most of the people left already. Since this is more of a lower middle class area, no one else had the money and I was the only one to bid at $1,000. It made the auctioneer sick and he didn''t want to sell it but made the mistake of saying that he was selling it no matter what before I bid ha ha. So I figure, I put 10% of it''s replacement value into it and that''s got to count for something. Thank you for your kind words everyone!

 

[blackberry16]

That is so rude! I don''t have any paperwork on my diamond. My Hubby bought it for me when we were in college. I say if it is real then it is good enough! I had my appraised and I got the stats that way. Love your stone based on what you see not what you read. Besides when people ask about it out in "the real world" do they ask about all the paperwork? NO! A piece a jewelry is really only worth what it means to you and how much you enjoy it.

 

[LD]

You paid a fair price based on the limited information on the appraisal. The actual value of the ruby depends on a number of issues (1) is it heated? (2) is it treated? (3) the clarity (4) the colour (5) the size (6) location can also play a part for some gems. A valuation, which is what you appear to have with the ring, in the UK is not actually an indication of worth, it''s an indication of how much an insurance company might have to pay out in the event of loss, theft etc.

BTW I meant to say earlier, the GIA don''t value gemstones. They will assess the make up of the gemstone to tell you the size, clarity, treatment etc. You appear to have an valuation from GLA - you wouldn''t get this from the GIA - so I have no idea why people were telling you to go to the GIA.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Date: 10/5/2009 9:37:34 AM
Author: luv2sparkle
It looks lovely, don''t let detractors bring you down. I bought a ring without a cert and I took it to an appraiser just to verify in my own mind. I don''t know
anything about GLA but it looks like a great ring.

Enjoy it. Jewelry isn''t really much of an investment. Even with a cert from GIA you wouldn''t get all your money back if you sold it anyway.

Very true. You can get more of your money back if reselling with a well respected lab report IF you dont scratch or chip the stone. But still you will rarely get anywhere near what you paid for. So buy it because you love it. I think your ring is lovely.

 

[woobug02]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Your ring looks lovely I have lots of rings that aren''t certified by anyone...I find if I like the ring then it was worth what I paid

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[Rockdiamond]

HI all!
missmarie253....WOW- your ring looks lovely!

Of course I could not say for sure without a physical exam, but it looks to me like you got a great deal!

A few words about "certificates"
1) GIA does not "certify" diamonds, or gemstones- they examine them and issue reports.
This is a far cry from an appraisal that lists a price.

2) If you wanted to , you could submit your ring to GIA who would issue an identification report.
The report says very little if they examine the stone mounted, but you can have it done.

3) AGTA was thought of as the best place to get a report on colored stones- but my understanding is that they are out of business- leaving GIA as the "top dog"

To answer your question- NO! It is by no means worthless simply because it has no GIA report.
However, if you were selling, and wanted to get the highest price, a GIA report might be very helpful


As far as nasty things written on PS.....take it with a grain of salt ( written from experience...hehehe)

 

[Rockdiamond]

Too late to edit- but I wanted add that LD made some good points about GIA.
In relation to diamonds, where "alternative" labs hold no water- there are more labs that colored gemstone dealers accept.
I was only familiar with AGTA, but there's surely others.

Definitely a good time for an independent appraisal, as suggested.

 

[caseygal]

if you get levi''s at a department store or at a thrift store, they''re still a pair of levi''s! don''t let the certs bother you--the ring is beautiful and if you love it that''s all that matters. more pictures, it''s really lovely!

 

[angeline]

Yes! It is worthless and you need to ship it to me immediately! Just kidding of course

I think it looks gorgeous and it really was a steal at $1k. I don''t think you could go wrong as long as it isn''t made of plastic!

 

[LD]

Date: 10/6/2009 6:13:54 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
HI all!
missmarie253....WOW- your ring looks lovely!

Of course I could not say for sure without a physical exam, but it looks to me like you got a great deal!

A few words about ''certificates''
1) GIA does not ''certify'' diamonds, or gemstones- they examine them and issue reports.
This is a far cry from an appraisal that lists a price.


As far as nasty things written on PS.....take it with a grain of salt ( written from experience...hehehe)

David forgive me but in coloured gemstone world we talk about certificates and certifying gemstones (irrespective of the laboratory). I understand in diamond land it''s different. It''s terminology but I can''t think of a post where a coloured gemstone blingster has referred to the GIA as issuing a report!!!!

I don''t think the OP was talking about PS. I got the impression it was a different forum!

 

[Rockdiamond]

HI Everyone!

LD- it''s just as incorrect when a person uses the term "certified" when referring to a diamond, or a colored gemstone.
The reason is that the term "certify" implies a guarantee of some sort.
For example- in NYC, the taxicabs have "certified odometers" - there''s a bureaucracy that tests and guarantees the accuracy.
GIA does not "guarantee" the grade. This is made very clear on a GIA report.


BTW- this is not my "issue"- GIA themselves contacted us years ago when we were starting to gain prominence on the internet. They threatened legal action if we continued using the term. At the time it was all over our site.
I took a camera and walked around 47th street shooting many pics of neon signs proclaiming "GIA Certified Diamonds"- and let them know we''d stop using the term, and assist wherever we could in raising awareness.
They called off the legal dogs based on the discussions we had, and my commitment.
Which is why I still discuss it today.

 

[D&T]

Date: 10/7/2009 5:56:39 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
HI Everyone!

LD- it''s just as incorrect when a person uses the term ''certified'' when referring to a diamond, or a colored gemstone.
The reason is that the term ''certify'' implies a guarantee of some sort.
For example- in NYC, the taxicabs have ''certified odometers'' - there''s a bureaucracy that tests and guarantees the accuracy.
GIA does not ''guarantee'' the grade. This is made very clear on a GIA report.


BTW- this is not my ''issue''- GIA themselves contacted us years ago when we were starting to gain prominence on the internet. They threatened legal action if we continued using the term. At the time it was all over our site.
I took a camera and walked around 47th street shooting many pics of neon signs proclaiming ''GIA Certified Diamonds''- and let them know we''d stop using the term, and assist wherever we could in raising awareness.
They called off the legal dogs based on the discussions we had, and my commitment.
Which is why I still discuss it today.

David,
do you suppose that jewelers use the term Certified and Certificate loosely and interchangeable not understanding the root word and consequences of such a word? To the normal average consumer (Pre Pricescope days) I would have just went with "Certified" and thought there were no real difference from a certificate to actually certified or guarantees claims.

 

[Rockdiamond]

HI All!
Great question D&T- and your experience proves why it makes sense to encourage discussion using the proper terminology.
I apologize if it comes off as preachy- I really do feel it''s important and helps to educate readers.
DT- as I mentioned, I used to use the term a lot as well.

My personal feeling is that someone in the position of a dealer has a greater responsibility to properly describe things.
When I hear dealers use the term " certified" in their descriptions I feel like they are less than informed, or worse, trying to mislead.
It''s really a big deal overall- the OP''s question is a perfect example.
Surely it''s not worthless, bit we all know that some of the "certificates" out there have a lot of inaccurate info.

Dealers that perpetuate this confusion about "certified" jewelry are, in many cases, offending someplace else in their representation as well.
It may be by offering a GLA certificate as if it was a GIA report.

Nowadays a lot of consumers call wanting to sell us stones.
Many times they think their item is work some ridiculous number because of some "Certificate" they got with it.
Doesn''t the word ''Report" eliminate some of these misleading connotations?

Anyway nose back to grindstone thanks for putting up with rant.

 

[LD]

David - totally understand your point and from your experience I can see where you''re coming from BUT I think this may be a language issue that doesn''t translate across the pond!

By way of an example, one of our leading laboratories and hallmarkers, The Birmingham Assay Office, actually call their diamond and coloured gemstone reports "certs"!!!!! If the GIA are stuffy about the word certificate or report well, c''est la vie! They say tomato, I say tomato!!!!

The word "report" in the UK suggests a school report or an essay rather than an examination and authentication of something.

So if you don''t mind, I''m going to stick with the Queen''s English and use certificate (boo sucks GIA)!!!!!

 

[Londongirl1]

Date: 10/5/2009 9:37:34 AM
Author: luv2sparkle
It looks lovely, don''t let detractors bring you down. I bought a ring without a cert and I took it to an appraiser just to verify in my own mind. I don''t know
anything about GLA but it looks like a great ring.

Enjoy it. Jewelry isn''t really much of an investment. Even with a cert from GIA you wouldn''t get all your money back if you sold it anyway.

I agree. My diamond came with a GIA ''certificate'' but I wouldn''t really care if it didn''t. It''s big and it sparkles and that''s all I care about