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The New HPD website is live now!

If I had a AGS stone from HPD, I’d now sure be wondering if I ‘overpaid’ if they are now using GIA for color/clarity?

I could be wrong/ jumping the gun in translating what this means, though.

Interesting.

No - wait
I have that backwards. Theoretical me wouldn’t have been overcharged on what I bought a few months ago. Theoretical me will now be charged the higher price the GIA may report on that might be higher than AGL may report if I buy now.
 
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How much does each lab charge to certify? Is it a flat fee or a proportion of the cost of the diamond? Just wondering if 3 lab reports would be a greater % of the cost at the smaller end of diamonds.
 
Rfisher said:
No - wait
I have that backwards. Theoretical me wouldn’t have been overcharged on what I bought a few months ago. Theoretical me will now be charged the higher price the GIA may report on that might be higher than AGL may report if I buy now.
Click to expand...

Didn’t think about this, if there’s a discrepancy in colors between the labs, which determines the cost? Obviously a F would be higher priced than a G. I’m going to ask to get some clarification. They’re still working on the website so it may be explained on there once they’re finished. Layla did say there would be a FAQ section.
 
Txborn79 said:
Didn’t think about this, if there’s a discrepancy in colors between the labs, which determines the cost? Obviously a F would be higher priced than a G. I’m going to ask to get some clarification. They’re still working on the website so it may be explained on there once they’re finished. Layla did say there would be a FAQ section.
Click to expand...

Yes, there will be a lot of questions. The trade-up policy, with respect to color discrepancies, if any....
 
<ears prick up>

Triple certified??

THANK GOODNESS someone finally went this route! I think people who are serious about their diamonds have wanted this for some time. This is a GREAT step forward and a fabulous service to offer customers.

Congratulations on the new website, HPD! Wishing you all the best in the future and much success!
 
The Website looks very classy!
 
The GIA/AGS grading is very interesting. I am going to tally the percentage of color difference. All the vendors have denied any difference (or say it's very rare) in the past.

The other thing that occurs to me is that prices will likely be higher to have three different labs grade a stone, and I am not willing to pay for three. The GCAL is not necessary to me since AGS does reliable cut grading. And what lab report are the prices based on??? I wouldn't be happy for them to be based on the highest color grade.

The other interesting thing is opening a showroom in Houston, of all the places in the US they could have chosen.
 
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Love the new website! Congratulations to HPD.
 
I was wondering how the pricing is going to be determined too. Maybe have 3 prices according to each grade report and then get an average of the 3? Just thinking out loud. eta, obviously, this would only be an issue if there were differences in the 3 reports.
 
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diamondseeker2006 said:
The GIA/AGS grading is very interesting. I am going to tally the percentage of color difference. All the vendors have denied any difference (or say it's very rare) in the past.
Click to expand...
There is a range in each color grade. So a stone that AGS grades a G and GIA grades an H may be the proverbial "Low G" or "High H," which are terms bandied about PS all the time, e.g., "Ask your rep if it's a low H or a high H."
diamondseeker2006 said:
The other thing that occurs to me is that prices will likely be higher to have three different labs grade a stone, and I am not willing to pay for three. The GCAL is not necessary to me since AGS does reliable cut grading.
Click to expand...
Some consumers, including me, believe that it adds value to have all three certs, and are willing to pay more for triple certification Also, consider that there are many steps in the supply chain from rough to showroom where it's possible for a vendor to save some money, and with that money saved offer more services at a competitive price.
diamondseeker2006 said:
The other interesting thing is opening a showroom in Houston, of all the places in the US they could have chosen.
Click to expand...
It may be hard to believe, but there are more jewelers in Houston than the two discussed on PS.
 
Lula said:
There is a range in each color grade. So a stone that AGS grades a G and GIA grades an H may be the proverbial "Low G" or "High H," which are terms bandied about PS all the time, e.g., "Ask your rep if it's a low H or a high H."

Some consumers, including me, believe that it adds value to have all three certs, and are willing to pay more for triple certification Also, consider that there are many steps in the supply chain from rough to showroom where it's possible for a vendor to save some money, and with that money saved offer more services at a competitive price.

It may be hard to believe, but there are more jewelers in Houston than the two discussed on PS.
Click to expand...

Yes, I am actually aware of all of those things! Thank you for pointing them out, though!
 
Great that they're opening a 2nd showroom! Sad it's not in California near me lol :)
 
Really nice and elegant website - well done HPD!
 
I wish we had a showroom in Canada??? Maybe sometime in the future.

Congratulations HPD!
 
Oh my goodness it looks wonderful!! HUGE congratulations HPD!!!!! :appl:

I personally got my bigger stones dual-certified with GIA/AGS - mine have discrepancies and I’ve posted my opinion about that here on PS. I’m thrilled to see a vendor take this route. This is a win for transparency!! I’m confident pricing, upgrades, etc. will be based on one report in full, not on some Frankenstein amalgam of the best from all. I do think this encourages consumers to really think about what they’re asking for - if I “want” an H VS2, does a GIA I VS1 that is also an AGS H VS2 qualify?

I’m so excited for the HPD team!!!! :cool2::appl::bigsmile::love::read::appl:
 
Major Kudos to Wink and his team. Talk about full disclosure. Now people won't question. GIA/AGS... There is it. I would not hesitate to buy from them in the future. Congratulations to the whole HPD Team!

And yes, even though Wink knew this could cause people to have questions, is it priced fairly, is this adding to the cost, blah blah blah...

There is no way to make every single person happy. He defaulted to making the majority happier, which I think providing more certifications will do. I'm in that majority. Takes guts. I APPLAUD Wink. Go HPD!!!
 
So it seems that diamonds are being priced based on color and clarity grades stated on the GIA report and regardless of the respective grades in the other lab reports. I assume that from the fact that a diamond which got a VVS2 clarity grade by GIA and a VS2 clarity grade both by AGS and GCAL (it blows my mind that there's a two-grade difference between labs), is described as a VVS2 diamond at the website. So the clarity grade mentioned in the description must be the grade based on which the stone is being priced.
I attach photos of an example:
Screenshot_20210327-191033_Samsung Internet.jpgScreenshot_20210327-191049_Samsung Internet.jpg
 
Natylad said:
So it seems that diamonds are being priced based on color and clarity grades stated on the GIA report and regardless of the respective grades in the other lab reports. I assume that from the fact that a diamond which got a VVS2 clarity grade by GIA and a VS2 clarity grade both by AGS and GCAL (it blows my mind that there's a two-grade difference between labs), is described as a VVS2 diamond at the website. So the clarity grade mentioned in the description must be the grade based on which the stone is being priced.
I attach photos of an example:
Screenshot_20210327-191033_Samsung Internet.jpgScreenshot_20210327-191049_Samsung Internet.jpg
Click to expand...

This one is interesting...Gia has clarity based on needles (clouds not shown and surface graining), AGS has clarity based on the dreaded “clarity based on clouds not shown” and a cloud plotted, GCAL clarity based on clouds.
 
This one is a GIA G VVS2, GCAL G VS1 and AGS F VS1. It’s listed with GIA info also, lower color but higher clarity

HP Diamonds

www.hpdiamonds.com www.hpdiamonds.com
 
I think dual grading with AGS and GIA is a good thing since they are the two most respected labs. I compared all the stones 1 ct and up and only 44.9% had the same color and clarity grade from both labs! It's crazy to me with the technology we have today that there cannot be a machine that accurately and reliably grades color. I realize clarity is more complex and subjective.

@Natylad It would be interesting to hear how they are pricing. I compared a stone I currently have on order with another vendor with the one of theirs that is most similar...but the HPD stone has H VS1 GIA and G VS1 AGS, and mine only has H VS1 AGS (and is a high H so should grade H GIA) and the price of the CBI stone is $2500 higher. So that price must be based on the AGS grading with that much price difference. My opinion is, if one is offering dual grading AGS/GIA, I'd want to be paying for the lower color grade if the clarity is the same on both.
 
Txborn79 said:
This one is a GIA G VVS2, GCAL G VS1 and AGS F VS1. It’s listed with GIA info also, lower color but higher clarity

HP Diamonds

www.hpdiamonds.com www.hpdiamonds.com
Click to expand...

Correct @Txborn79! Which, again, proves my point. I guess it's in line with what Layla told you the other day, when you asked her about the triple certification. She did mention that they certify with GIA for clarity and color.
 
diamondseeker2006 said:
@Natylad It would be interesting to hear how they are pricing. I compared a stone I currently have on order with another vendor with the one of theirs that is most similar...but the HPD stone has H VS1 GIA and G VS1 AGS, and mine only has H VS1 AGS (and is a high H so should grade H GIA) and the price of the CBI stone is $2500 higher. So that price must be based on the AGS grading with that much price difference. My opinion is, if one is offering dual grading AGS/GIA, I'd want to be paying for the lower color grade if the clarity is the same on both.
Click to expand...

Dear @diamondseeker2006 i fully agree with you on the above point.
 
diamondseeker2006 said:
The GIA/AGS grading is very interesting. I am going to tally the percentage of color difference. All the vendors have denied any difference (or say it's very rare) in the past.

The other thing that occurs to me is that prices will likely be higher to have three different labs grade a stone, and I am not willing to pay for three. The GCAL is not necessary to me since AGS does reliable cut grading. And what lab report are the prices based on??? I wouldn't be happy for them to be based on the highest color grade.

The other interesting thing is opening a showroom in Houston, of all the places in the US they could have chosen.
Click to expand...

What is wrong with opening a showroom in Houston?
 
Those of us who have had our own stones dual-certed in the past have always been in the position of purchasing with one report and getting the other done out of curiosity. This is the first time the general public will have the opportunity to make buying decisions based on multiple reports.

Many have long stated here on PS that there’s no evidence that AGS is consistently easier on colour than GIA. Well, HPD’s wholly independent, wholly unbiased inventory just became evidence. And it’s pretty damning.

Bravo, HPD. And thank you. As @LLJsmom says - this takes some guts. We understand the boutique industry implications. Hats off from your old fans, and you’re certainly going to make new ones.
 
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