opinion/advice needed

[BeauGeste]

Looking for an e-ring and a first time buyer.

So I''ve been to a few stores in the mall looking at diamonds in Columbus, OH.
The first two stores (Zales and Dunkin''s) showed me diamonds already set in a ring.
The third store (Farah''s: anyone hear of it or have opinions of them; they were definitely the most helpful and nice of all the stores visited) showed me them seperately (not on a ring) and also let me look at them with the idealscope (I think that''s what it may have been called) to see how well-cut they were. Is looking at them non-set and through an idealscope a must for you experience diamond buyers? It makes sense since you can see problems easier, I guess, but I was surprised that no other stores offered the option.

Farah''s also ripped on IGI saying it was an ''appraisal'' and not a certification. They said something to the effect that IGI does not stand by their gradings and that they can be two grades off. Is IGI really so bad?

Does anybody recommend any other stores to look at in Columbus area?

Thanks for your help.

 

[beach]

An ideal scope is important and IGI is very loose in their grading and are usually 2 color and/or clarity grades off. You need to know what to look for in an ideal scope image to even make it worthwhile though.....Have you thought about buying from a pricescope vendor like whiteflash or goodold gold. You will have a better understanding of the quality and get more for your money too. If you have a budget and certain parameters list them so others can help you out.

 

[JulieN]

I''m not sure what "stands by their gradings" means, but GIA and AGS also do not guarantee their grades.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/14/2008 3:26:29 PM
Author:BeauGeste
Looking for an e-ring and a first time buyer.

So I've been to a few stores in the mall looking at diamonds in Columbus, OH.
The first two stores (Zales and Dunkin's) showed me diamonds already set in a ring.
The third store (Farah's: anyone hear of it or have opinions of them; they were definitely the most helpful and nice of all the stores visited) showed me them seperately (not on a ring) and also let me look at them with the idealscope (I think that's what it may have been called) to see how well-cut they were. Is looking at them non-set and through an idealscope a must for you experience diamond buyers? It makes sense since you can see problems easier, I guess, but I was surprised that no other stores offered the option.

Farah's also ripped on IGI saying it was an 'appraisal' and not a certification. They said something to the effect that IGI does not stand by their gradings and that they can be two grades off. Is IGI really so bad?

Does anybody recommend any other stores to look at in Columbus area?

Thanks for your help.

Welcome!

An Idealscope is a very useful aid which helps to determine light leakage or lack of in a diamond. Many of us here do always want to have Idealscope images when buying a diamond, and some of the online vendors supply them for inventory stones. If you wish you can order one for $25 here which you can use when viewing diamonds. I will also link a page which gives you the basics on how to interpret the results.

https://www.pricescope.com/idealscope_indx.asp

http://www.ideal-scope.com/using_reference_chart.asp

Also this page should be useful as it explains how the grading labs rank, IGI are considered by some to be soft on grading, GIA and AGS are thought to be the gold standard of grading labs.

http://diamonds.pricescope.com/grading.asp

 

[RC4806]

In Columbus I would give Worthington Jewelers and Dening Jewelers a try. They are right across the street from each other in downtown Worthington. Both very knowledgeable and helpful and local. Although, I will probably buy a diamond online they are a good source for a setting. Good luck.