Jeweler refuses give the orinal GIA cert.

[Moko]

Hi all,
Thank you for helping me out on my different post.
I will let you know the test result of my prong (White Gold or Platinum).

By the way, now I need your help for my friend. Since I had my diamond appraised recently, I was chatting with my girlfriend about GIA certificates. My engagement ring diamond came with its original GIA certificate, but she said her jeweler only sent it to her by fax machine and the scripts on the report are disappearing.

She was so surprised when I told her that I have the original report because her jeweler told her that only GIA keeps the original report. Her husband bought the diamond from one of his co-worker‘s brother who owns jewelry store in the different states almost 12 years ago. I suggested her to call the store asking them to send the original copy, so they called yesterday. But the jeweler told them that they will fax it again and told them again that only GIA keeps the original report.

GIA did not provide an original certificate 12 years ago?
The only appraisal they have is from the same jeweler.
Should they hire an appraiser to check her diamond with the fax copy of GIA report ?
Or Call GIA first?

Thank you,
Moko

 

[denverappraiser]

GIA will issue a duplicate of the report directly to the owner for a relatively reasonable fee although I don’t know how long they keep the data available to easily reproduce them. 12 years is quite a while. Call 'em at 1-800-421-7250 and ask if they can do it on a report that old.

If the only appraisal is a 12 year old original sales document, she really should consider getting it reappraised. You even know an appraiser to recommend.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[Moko]

Neil, thank you for your quick response! You are wonderful!!
I will pass your advice to my friend.

Now, I have a question on GIA certificate.

Is it optional for a jeweler to obtain and give an original GIA certificate to a customer when they sell? I mean, can jeweler sell a diamond as a GIA certified diamond with Xerox copy cert. if they do not want to pay for the fee of the original report? Then, they order the original report only when a customer requests?

Since my diamond came with the original GIA report automatically, I thought GIA certified diamond has to come with the original certificate, but may be I was wrong??

I know my English is pretty bad, but I hope someone will understand me and explain to me how it works.

Thank you,
Moko

 

[denverappraiser]

Jewelers can sell pretty much whatever they want and customers are welcome to shop there or not depending on how they like the way the store does business. Unwillingness to provide the original report is decidedly unusual and it's a red flag for a counterfeit, which would be illegal of course, but there's no way of knowing without inspecting both the stone and the report. That said, GIA issues an original report and sends it along with the stone to whoever it is that ordered the inspection. This will usually be the cutter, importer or other supplier to the jeweler but GIA will sell services to anyone who agrees to pay them, including consumers. They charge the same fees no matter who made the order and they don't have an option of cheaper service with only a xerox report. It’s customary for the document to travel along with the stone and be given to the final consumer but they are under no particular obligation to do so if they don’t want. GIA keeps data in their computers so they can reproduce the document in the future if they need to and I don’t know how long they keep it. They don’t have a master file of original documents, these are all sent out to their clients.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[Moko]

Neil,

Thank you for the clarification on this matter.
Now I understand how GIA Certificate is issued.

Date: 8/25/2007 7:49:04 PM
Author: denverappraiser

They charge the same fees no matter who made the order and they don''t have an option of cheaper service with only a xerox report.

They don’t have a master file of original documents, these are all sent out to their clients.


Neil Beaty

GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA

Your comment above made me worry about my friend, I will suggest her to have her stone checked just in case.

Thank you again for taking time to explaining to me.

Moko