Laser Inscription Polished Off?! Confused.

[RHu]

Need some advice. We just purchased a diamond that had a GIA number inscribed - we saw the engraving. The diamond was then put in a setting (we watched or perhaps though we did) - then the store staff could not find the GIA inscription. The manager said that it might have been polished off. They loosened the setting to expose the diamond, used a microscope to no avail. They said that the measurements and everything else prove that it''s the same diamond.

Is polishing off the GIA number possible? Should we ask for a refund? Does the value of the diamond go down since the GIA cert states that it is inscribed but now it isn''t? Did they switch diamonds? Advice welcome. Please. Please. Help!

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1. did the store that sold you the diamond also set it?
2. did the store that set it tell you why they had to polish the diamond? did it chip during setting?

 

[honey22]

Are they 100% sure that the inscription is still not under the prongs?

This sounds a bit suss to me, I would take it to an independent appraiser.

Ditto asking more questions about why it may have been removed. Can you speak to the actual person that set your stone? They may be able to explain what happened. It is possible they chipped or damaged it, then polished it to cover it up. I would certainly take this further.

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

A laser-inscription can become less visible over time, but I find it weird that it completely disappears when searching for it thoroughly.
On the other hand, to have it switched by a diamond with the exact identical dimensions is not easy either.

I would suggest an independent appraiser (a good one) can solve this.

Live long,

 

[arjunajane]

I have never seen my AGS insciption - I suspect it is under a prong.
I was never concerned it was my actual stone, but my independent appraisal made me 100% certain it matched the ppwk.
(We never did find the inscription though, even under high mag. ! )

 

[Cleo]

That''s pretty spooky.

If it helps, my own inscription has become less visible since I bought my ultrasonic jewellery cleaner. I think it blasts the little carbon atoms out of the engraved characters & cleans them out: making the inscription less defined & much harder to find.

It is, however still quite clearly there and can be found in good daylight with a 10x loupe and a bit of patience.

I would be suspicious if yours has disappeared completey and would certainly advise getting an independent appraisal to ensure that the diamond was not damaged during setting & then polished - as suggested by previous posters.

Personally, I would also be inclined to ask the setters to cover the cost of re-inscription if it was simply polished off by accident during the setting process.

x x x

 

[denverappraiser]

Polishing off the inscription takes deliberate effort and a fairly specialized tool. It’s not something they can do accidentally or in the ordinary processes of setting or polishing the ring. It’s either still there, it wasn’t there in the first place or it’s a different diamond. That said, it’s sometimes difficult to find. That said, they are sometimes difficult to find and as has been mentioned above, it’s often hidden under a prong. I second the suggestion of hiring an Independent Appraiser to get to the bottom of it.

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

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Don''t panic - it is very common that the black graphite from the plasma reaction during the intense heat of the laser inscription simply comes out in the ultrasonic cleaning and possible heating etc.

Ask the store to help you find the inscription with a microscope - it will be there but be very hard to see because it will now be white or clear.