[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For years I have been telling people not to buy a diamond based solely on the GIA certificate. The “soul” of the diamond is in how it looks to the eye and not how it reads on paper. Many years ago I bought a AAA rated AM BEST annuity that despite the high rating turned out to be insolvent at a later date. This bad investment could have been avoided if I had dug deep enough to find the junk bonds in the portfolio of the annuity instead of relying on someone else’s rating. I would suggest that relying solely on the GIA report and not looking at the diamond is the same mistake.
Take for example the Blue Nile website. No matter what color and clarity combination you plug into the website, you will find multiple diamonds with the same grade that are vastly different in value. Part of the trick of buying a diamond is knowing how to interpret the GIA certificate. Florescence, the diameter of the diamond, the size, color and location of the imperfections are all huge factors in the pricing of the diamond.
But what if you know about florescence, are an expert in cut analysis, and are well-versed in reading certificates and the nature of the imperfections such as graining versus crystal imperfections? Is it still possible to make a mistake when buying a diamond sight unseen from an Internet reseller?
The answer, unfortunately, once again is yes.
In an email written by Alex Waldman regarding diamond tint, Waldman suggests that tint should now be included on the GIA certificate. To my knowledge, Alex is the first person in the industry to openly address the dirty little secret that many of us are very familiar with.
There are different hues in diamonds that have a significant if not profound impact on the appearance of the diamond despite the fact that two diamonds might have the same GIA color grade. There are a number of diamonds from Zimbabwe in the market that have a brownish tint and are worth as much 25% less money than their whiter counterparts because of the effect of the brownish color on the appearance of the diamond facing up (diamonds are color graded by the GIA laboratory by looking through the diamond from the side when it is laid face down).
While I don’t disagree with Waldman’s idea of adding tint to the GIA certificate in theory, my opening statement is still the best expression of my position on this subject. The best way to buy a diamond is with the technique that we at Jonathan’s Fine Jewelers have practiced for 20 years which is to compare diamonds in a white color trough (armed with the information from the GIA certificate), one right next to the other, until you are comfortable selecting the diamond that your eye tells you is the prettiest.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
