Will any stores send my stone to GIA for me?

[pregcurious]

I have half carat stone that I am curious to have graded. It is in a setting. Are there any stores in the DC area that offer the service of unmounting, sending the stone to GIA, and remounting a stone? I know I could go to a store and have it unmounted, and remounted, and send the stone myself, but I would rather not have the worry/headache.

 

[VapidLapid]

how about sending it to AGL as is and paying the extra fee for them to look at it mounted. cost may be the same as paying to have it unmounted and your setting won't be fatigued.

 

[pregcurious]

Wow, great idea, Vapid! I am planning on umounting and setting another stone in this setting. How many times can you umount/mount before metal fatigue becomes an issue?

I know that AGL is very respected, but will it be recognized the same as a GIA cert? I searched around and found that GIA and AGS are best for diamonds, and AGL for colored stones. Should I be concerned that they will miss anything under the prongs? I may ask this in Rocky Talky.

 

[VapidLapid]

I didn't realize that your stone is a diamond. I dont know if AGL would be recognized the same for that. I do think then that you should have it unmounted for the lab, because if the make the report on it as mounted and then you unmount it the report is less relevant. If you were planning to leave it in this mount then it would make sense. I dont think settings can be reused too many times. Many factor come in play though so it is hard to say how many times is safe. The type of setting (prong v. bezel), karatage/alloy, delicacy, then too the skills of the setter both originally and the resetter in determining what is work-hardened to death and what they may be able to anneal without damaging, especially if set with sides or pave, or decorative mill work or sculptural motifs. Just saying every case is unique. As for yours, I think just have a jeweler pop out the stone and send it yourself. That way there will be fewer changes of hands, less opportunity for loss. You already own the stone, so a jeweler is unlikely to want to take the responsibility for it.