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Review of Professional Gem Sciences?

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fatalysis

Rough_Rock
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Jun 21, 2006
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Hello,

Has anyone gone to Professional Gem Sciences for an appraisal lately? After going through some of the PS forums, I have comfort in that PGS comes highly recommended among PS posters, but I haven't really seen any recent reviews or thoughts on their experiences with their appraisal service. I plan on taking my e-ring there to get it appraised tomorrow, and I'm going through a little bit of some mental and emotional anxiety because I have to drop it off seeing as how my job won't let me leave for the duration of the appraisal which a person at PGS told me could take a few hours to do. I have confidence in what others have said about the quality of their service, but there's always the worry in the back of my mind that they could somehow lose the ring or swap out the stone (I'm an Aries, I always worry - hope for the best, expect the worst!
emcrook.gif
)

Edit: I messed up and mistakenly called them Professional Gem Services in the forum title. It's Professional Gem Sciences!
 
Fatalysis,

Sorry you won''t be able to be there, but do report back on your experience. What I know of them is only from what I''ve read here, too, and mostly it''s been positive....except for one bloke who mostly seems to criticize them for their bedside manner, which you largely won''t experience, because you''re dropping off.

Let us know how it goes!
 
Thanks to both of you! I''ll definitely report back on what I know.
 
Someone recently tried to sell me a stone with an EGL cert. I told them the only way I would consider it was if they were willing to let me take it to PGS first. The seller flat out told me No Way--His exact works were "They are more stringent than GIA" and he had no interest in the transaction any longer. (Neither did I, LOL!)

I typically use the Chicago Gem Lab for appraisals on my finished pieces, but if I was looking for a more "technical" analysis of a diamond or a piece PGS is absolutely the place I''d go (in Chicago, that is).

Let us know how it goes.
 
They are more of a gem lab like gia/ags/egl than what we think of as appraisers around here and as long as they are viewed in that light and its what your expecting its kewl otherwise use someone else.
 
I sort of don''t get your comments, Storm...are you writing to this poster, or to the world at large (maybe it''s always both?) You''re timing of writing also is after Fatalasis should have already submitted the stone.

I say...let''s say hear this person''s feedback. I think previous particular feedback may have kept them from being included on the list of appraisers here. But, from what you read right here, on this thread, so far, you sort of wonder why.

My guess...as an operation that is between, or operates both, as a gem lab, and also, an appraiser...they may be the ideal place for virtually any Pricesoper to send their diamond to at a distance. Mind, I value the existing frequent appraisers here, too, and will wonder how they may compare. But...and especially if you anticipate not sitting with them while they do the work anyway (what this poster will do, and what anyone would do at a distance), there may be no one better.
 
RG - I missed the tomorrow part of the original post.
PGS is in my AO and I''m familiar with them
 
Ok folks, here''s my review of the appraisal service offered by Professional Gem Sciences (Disclaimer: I am not a jewelry expert. This is the first big jewelry purchase that I have ever made, and also the first time I''ve ever gone to an appraiser):

Regarding the personal aspect of their business, I feel that the folks at PGS are as professional and courteous as can possibly be. I''ve called several times in the last fews days getting various information on their appraisal service and the person I spoke to on the phone was pleasant and patient with me each time. When I walked in, I was greeted by Myriam Tashey. I asked if I could have my ring appraised and she gave me the option to have it evaluated either in a side by side comparison to the diamond certification (GIA) or if I wanted to have the appraisal done "blind" - evaluating the ring without knowledge of the specs given by the diamond certification, and then comparing it to the GIA report once the evaluation was complete. I opted to have the ring evaluated blind. Myriam said that it would take 3 - 4 hours for the evaluation to complete, and at that point I let her know that I wouldn''t be able to stop in by the time they closed (5 PM). Since I work in the downtown area, I asked if they were willing to stay open if I got there a little after 5 PM, and she was very accomodating with that. When I came back, I met with her son (whose name I can''t recall). He took me into a room with a microscope and went over the evaluation with me. He allowed me to see the ring under the scope, and for an eye-opening experience, he also put the stone under a flourescent light and for the first time since I received the ring, I was able to see how much the diamond truly sparkled (I really need to replace all the lights in my house with flourescent ones). He was open to answering questions that I had and seemed pretty knowledgeable.

On the technical side, I couldn''t have been any more content (I''ll go into why I say content later). In terms of information on their evaluation / appraisal report (which they call "Carte Blu"), I would say that it is more detailed than the independent verification report from the jeweler I received it from (Whiteflash), but less detailed than the GIA certificate. The report gave a general description of the ring ("One Lady''s, platinum, solitaire ring, stamped PT 950") along with the overall weight of the entire ring. In terms of the diamond, the evaluation described the stone as "1, transparent, top white, round brilliant cut, Natural Diamond" and then proceeded to report the following categories:

Measurements
Substantiated Weight
Proportions & Finish (put together for one grade, i.e. good, very good, etc.)
Estimated Color Grade
Flourescence
Apparent Clarity Grade
Characteristics

When comparing the specs on the Carte Blu with the GIA certificate, there weren''t any real variances that stood out. Actually, the only differences were in color and clarity, and both differences were slight (Color - Carte Blu: E - F, GIA: E; Clarity - Carte Blu: SI1, GIA: SI2). Everything else was exactly the same regarding the specs measured by both PGS and GIA. Since I''m not a ring expert, I was pretty impressed that the stone was graded similarly between PGS and GIA. I would have expected some minor variances since GIA graded the stone before it was mounted and PGS graded it afterwards. Thus, the reason for my contentness - after researching the stone with the great people at Whiteflash, then receiving the ring with both a GIA certificate and an independent verification report, I did not expect to have any surprises at this stage, and I didn''t.

From all of this on the report, it should come as no surprise that the ring was appraised pretty close to what the independent verification report received from Whiteflash said. The PGS appraisal for my ring was slightly higher, by approximately $1,200.00. Again I wasn''t hoping for the ring to be valued for a lot more (would have been nice), all I was hoping for was that the ring would be graded fairly. My experience with PGS seems to support that. Overall, I am thoroughly pleased with the appraisal service that Professional Gem Sciences offers, and would recommend them to anyone, especially to first time newbie buyers like me who can''t make it out to the suburbs during the week. If you work in the loop, PGS is the place to go for an appraisal...at least to me.

On that note, I''d also like to add the reason why I got the appraisal and throw my two cents in about getting appraisals at gem labs. I did the appraisal because I felt it was part of my due diligence to take advantage of the return policy that my jeweler had offered (I''d also like to say that I''m proud to call Whiteflash my jeweler of choice). As one person on PS posted, once the return policy was up, the diamond is yours to keep forever. I''m still waiting for State Farm to confirm that they''ll take the independent verification letter that Whiteflash offers, but the reason I went and did the appraisal was not for insurance purposes. It was merely a peace of mind thing as one final check and balance that I did everything in my power to make sure the ring was fine before my opportunity to take action expired.

I don''t know what the general consensus of what an appraiser should be (would make for a good forum topic, I didn''t really know what to ask or look for ahead of time) but from my experience, albeit one time, just because an appraiser is a gem lab doesn''t make their appraisal service any lesser than that of a non gem lab. From my newbie point of view, I would actually think that having a gem lab would add more comfort and value seeing as how they should have the resources to accurately and without bias grade stones as well as a GIA or an AGS. Also (again, I''m a newbie), I would think that there maybe a bunch of gem labs out there, but to have one gem lab that is constantly being recommended (at least in the chicago area) by both diamond experts and long time PS posters alike, that PGS is not just another gem lab, but a gem lab that stands out for its respectability and standards of service.

I''ve noted my reason for getting an appraisal a few paragraphs up, but I''m sure other people have their own reasons for getting appraisals done as well. Some people want their appraiser to talk to them about their ring. I''m not one of those people. Having done my research on the stone and setting and chose beforehand, to working with Whiteflash, to receiving the GIA certificate along with an independent verification letter, I was completely comfortable with the ring (the entire ring was mind clean to me). I didn''t need an appraiser to tell me fact finding things about the ring because at that point, I felt that with all the research and documentation I knew everything I needed to know. I needed an appraiser who was respected and reputable that could accurately grade my ring in order to place a fair value that would be somewhat close to what I expected based on my research and documentation. To cut down PGS soley because they rely on their technical expertise more than their ability to explain it orally is not a fair assessment of them. Maybe because the profession I''m in is finance related, but what''s written on paper is more important to me than what''s said. I could have cared less for what the son said because I was focused on what the report showed (which is probably why I don''t remember his name). And in all honesty, if I''ll ever need to revert back to this appraisal, I probably won''t remember a thing about our evaluation discussion, but I''ll always have the technical support to show as proof and documentation.

That''s it for me. I know it was probably more than what you had expected, so I apologize for the lengthy post.
 
awesome.

thanks for sharing your experience.
 
kewl glad it worked out for you :}
You were a good fit for the way they do things.
 
Notes to self...in preparing a future dictionary of phrases, consider:


Date: 7/28/2006 9:23:15 AM
Author: strmrdr
kewl glad it worked out for you :}
You were a good fit for the way they do things.
Click to expand...
as an example of "damning with faint praise."

Thanks Fatalysis.

Reviewing PGS''s website, I do note they use terms like Jumbosizing for cut qualities, leaving me to think a diamond regarded a poorly cut could be called "good," given that better and best are regarded as excellent & fantastic.
 
I think I maybe "the bloke" RG mentioned - and my criticism in the past was much more than beside manner there were technical issues as well – but this was for a sapphire and not a diamond.

Storm's summary reflects my opinion as well – but it is only my opinion.

Glad this was a great experience for this person.
 
Yes, Bertrand, you''re my bloke.

I think we should make ourselves a club of those of us who were variously disappointed in our appraisers. I can join the club. I think there is some level of trauma. Bertrand, do you come on to write on Pricescope apart to throw barbs at PGS?

Me....I guess I write about appraisers with some frequency, because I think they hold out such potential hope for us, and yet, too often cannot meet that hope...either based on our correct or incorrect expectations, or because the industry hasn''t agreed upon the basis upon which these "legitamizers" can provide a seal of approval, let alone tell us whether or not we''ve optimized or not.

Bertrand, I finally looked at your original post. Sorry for your bad experience. Perhaps they don''t know sapphires? The pricing seem things odd, if correct. Re Storm''s comments...not much there to compare yours too, really. Also, still, taken in full, seems like if we apply Kenraja''s experience to Dave Atlas'' work here, too, we''d wipe him out as well, and pretty soon no one else would be left.

I''m holding out for appraisers to help us out, really. I think we need to give them as much rope as possible, and re PGS...I personally would like to read about more experiences with them than I have been able to do. They still seem unique as a combo grader/appraiser, well regarded in their field, and I hope others will use them and share here.
 
Date: 7/28/2006 10:13:54 AM
Author: Regular Guy
Yes, Bertrand, you're my bloke.

Bertrand, do you come on to write on Pricescope apart to throw barbs at PGS?

They still seem unique as a combo grader/appraiser, well regarded in their field, and I hope others will use them and share here.
Click to expand...

No - with over 500 posts, I have had actually very little (relatively speaking) to say on PGS. My main passion and “amateur knowledge” is in sapphires, but I also occasionally post on diamonds (ACA's), whiteflashes great work, and the value of great getting a great independent lab and appraisal from people like Richard Sherwood.


I think perhaps after experiencing a truly balanced mix of appraiser and lab – like Richard – PGS fails to compare. Perhaps that is not a fair comparison. I tired very hard not to be too harsh on PGS and credit them for their highly technical work and their reputation as a lab in the grading and certification of gems. In any case I am just one voice and one experience - I hope others would look at the balance of other posts.
 
Ira Z.,

Thanks for giving us more rope.
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As professional appraisers of diamonds and jewelry, we each have our own methods of appraising and getting the job done in a
respectable manner. Every professional in every field whether medical (dr.), legal (attorney), financial (CPA) has their own bedside manner and methods for getting
the job done. The key to success is "listening" to what your client would like you to do and what expectations they have upon completion of the assignment.
Any questions, issues, differences of opinion, etc. should be resolved before the client leaves the office. Don''t expect every appraiser to perform to the same standards but understand that an appraiser should be hired to represent you and to look out for your best interests. Just my two cents.

www.metrojewelryappraisers.com
 
Date: 7/27/2006 11:10:13 PM
Author: fatalysis

I don''t know what the general consensus of what an appraiser should be (would make for a good forum topic, I didn''t really know what to ask or look for ahead of time)
Click to expand...
There have been many such threads here. A search for "appraisal" and "appraisers" will give you the gist of it.

It''s a tough subject for most consumers, because most assume the average jeweler is qualified to perform a true appraisal when in fact this is not the case. Add to this the reality that there is some disagreement in the trade about the proper training and methodology, and it''s something that can be very confusing.
 
ok maybe I will explain my comments a little better....

If you want good lab work and some paper for a diamond they are very good.
If you want an experience, lots of handholding , lots of toys and to be present during the eval they don''t do that.
Its not their business model.
Some clients fit well some don''t.

colored stones don''t appear to be their strong point but they are diamond experts.

Iv sent 3 people I know in person to them 2 were happy one wasn''t, the work was fine in all cases but one of them wasn''t happy with the amount of time and explanation they got for the money.
 
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