Costco Diamonds/Getting a Diamond appraised/graded

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#31
An appraisal is NOT a certification. That is completely different. A Certification is issued by a reputable gem lab, not an appraiser.

Having a jeweler appraise your ring takes the independent assessment out of the ring and changes the element in which you look at your ring. MANY jewelers will lie about the quality and tell you it's inferior in order to get you to return it and buy a different one from them. Not all, but many do, and if you go to an INDEPENDENT appraiser that is NOT AFFILIATED with a jeweler at all, you will get an unbiased assessment of the stone and item without the sales concern. They're hired BY YOU to assess what you bought, and you pay them to tell you what they think. Not what you want to hear, what you actually got so you can make an informed choice.
 
#32
I am sure the 50K diamond at Costco was worth more then that.. since Costco has diamonds on sale. Probably closer to a 75-100K diamond. Still interesting to see a diamond of that price at a Costco and not an actual jeweler.
 
#33
^^^ I'll bet you are correct. DH claims costco's standard mark up is 4% to claim warehouse name. (I'd don't think that is correct, but won't argue about it.) That's what our products fall under are marked up at Costco.
Jewelry might be another case altogether. But they will be below a B&M store.
 
#34
Well said! :tup:
ame said:
An appraisal is NOT a certification. That is completely different. A Certification is issued by a reputable gem lab, not an appraiser.

Having a jeweler appraise your ring takes the independent assessment out of the ring and changes the element in which you look at your ring. MANY jewelers will lie about the quality and tell you it's inferior in order to get you to return it and buy a different one from them. Not all, but many do, and if you go to an INDEPENDENT appraiser that is NOT AFFILIATED with a jeweler at all, you will get an unbiased assessment of the stone and item without the sales concern. They're hired BY YOU to assess what you bought, and you pay them to tell you what they think. Not what you want to hear, what you actually got so you can make an informed choice.
Click to expand...
 
#35
:balloon:

I sometimes wish I could make a sticky that has like a glossary of terms or something. I feel there's a lot of confusion around certifications and appraisals.
 
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