Potential "upgrade"

[kdvln]

From their FAQs:

Your post made me look that their site and you seem to be correct.

Do you have an upgrade policy?​

Yes. Any natural diamond can be exchanged for 100% credit towards a new natural diamond valued at least 2x the original amount. Any lab grown diamond may also be exchanged for 100% credit towards a new lab grown diamond valued at least 2x the original amount.

The diamond being upgraded must be in original condition and accompanied by the original laboratory grading document. James Allen can also remodel most rings to accommodate the new diamond for a minimal charge.

@kdvln have you spoken to JA about trading in a lab for a natural? it seems to go against what their website states about their ugrade policy.

I must have bought this when their policy was different.

From an associate: "While our policies are always subject to change, I don’t foresee any changes regarding the $7,150 trade-in value in the near future. This policy has remained consistent for the last nine years, with the only recent adjustments allowing exchanges between lab-created and earth-created diamonds, pending review."

Thank you all for the input! I'm finding myself hesitant to move forward, so I am going to wait for now. Especially, since I received clarity on their trade in value for my stone. If I still am feeling the urge to go mined, I will be back to get opinions on stones!

 

[lulu_ma]

If they let you trade your lab for a natural stone, consider doing it before they change their policy. Lab prices have come down so much, I'd be concerned that they will abruptly revise their policy.

Here's a close-ish comp from Alex Parks:

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Lookinagain]

If they will give you full value for what you paid for the lab as a trade for a mined diamond, please don't wait. You quoted them as saying

with the only recent adjustments allowing exchanges between lab-created and earth-created diamonds, pending review.

To me, this sounds like a change may be coming. You will not be happy if you can't get full value for your lab because you waited. please don't. Labs are depreciating as you can see from what @lulu_ma posted as a comp.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I was thinking more about this and I would be shocked in JA allows trading a lab for natural. They would lose about $6k on the transaction, as the only way those policies work is when the vendor resells the trade-in to recoup their loss. The policy on the website is very likely accurate, and if by some weird chance the sales associate’s vague email is honoured (no where in that quote does it explicitly say “you can trade lab for natural”), then jump on it now! They will close that loophole asap.

 

[Lookinagain]

I was thinking more about this and I would be shocked in JA allows trading a lab for natural. They would lose about $6k on the transaction, as the only way those policies work is when the vendor resells the trade-in to recoup their loss. The policy on the website is very likely accurate, and if by some weird chance the sales associate’s vague email is honoured (no where in that quote does it explicitly say “you can trade lab for natural”), then jump on it now! They will close that loophole asap.

Totally agree. They can't keep these kinds of trades up if they are really allowing them.