What I need to know about bringing Diamonds Back

[pilar]

According to the documentary film Goodfellas you’re supposed to have your wife hide them in her hair.

Joke
A farmer and his daughter are driving their horse and wagon down the road when bandits rob them and steal all their stuff.
As their walking home , daughter reaches under her dress and starts putting on her jewelry, father looks at her and says “ too bad ma wasn’t with us , we could have saved the horse and wagon “

 

[gillettehunter]

As a Gemmologist let me give you the rundown on a Lab diamond vs a mined/natural diamond. They are essentially the same. I can't tell the difference with a loupe, unless its laser inscribed LG (lab grown) on the girdle and that can't always be seen with a loupe. There is a nice little testing unit that will separate out 97% of natural diamonds from lab. It costs around $1000 and is relatively easy to use.
The other 3% of mined diamonds can only be separated out out at a lab. They use a piece of equipment that costs over $25K and takes someone who knows what they are doing to interpret the results.
Anyone can hand you a report and tell you it goes with that particular diamond. I wouldn't buy one in Africa and expect it to be the mined. Too easy to switch and too hard to prove otherwise for most people. To top it all off mined diamond prices are falling. For a long time DeBeers helped keep prices rising and stable. Now that the majority of mined diamonds are controlled by a Russian firm that is no longer true. Lab diamonds have flooded the market and can be bought for 15-20% of equivalent quality mined diamonds and sometimes even less. Last Christmas and year before my wife asked for and received lab diamonds as part of her gifts. Because of the huge numbers of lab diamonds on the market and the cheap prices it is forcing down the prices of mined diamonds. First time of any significance in the last 100 yrs this has happened.
So use caution buying a mined diamond and don't expect any appreciation in value. Buy a diamond with a lab report and use a microscope to verify that the report number inscribed on the girdle matches that of the report.
Bruce

 

[Russ16]

As a Gemmologist let me give you the rundown on a Lab diamond vs a mined/natural diamond. They are essentially the same. I can't tell the difference with a loupe, unless its laser inscribed LG (lab grown) on the girdle and that can't always be seen with a loupe. There is a nice little testing unit that will separate out 97% of natural diamonds from lab. It costs around $1000 and is relatively easy to use.
The other 3% of mined diamonds can only be separated out out at a lab. They use a piece of equipment that costs over $25K and takes someone who knows what they are doing to interpret the results.
Anyone can hand you a report and tell you it goes with that particular diamond. I wouldn't buy one in Africa and expect it to be the mined. Too easy to switch and too hard to prove otherwise for most people. To top it all off mined diamond prices are falling. For a long time DeBeers helped keep prices rising and stable. Now that the majority of mined diamonds are controlled by a Russian firm that is no longer true. Lab diamonds have flooded the market and can be bought for 15-20% of equivalent quality mined diamonds and sometimes even less. Last Christmas and year before my wife asked for and received lab diamonds as part of her gifts. Because of the huge numbers of lab diamonds on the market and the cheap prices it is forcing down the prices of mined diamonds. First time of any significance in the last 100 yrs this has happened.
So use caution buying a mined diamond and don't expect any appreciation in value. Buy a diamond with a lab report and use a microscope to verify that the report number inscribed on the girdle matches that of the report.
Bruce

Question for you. I have some diamonds that have been in the family for multiple generations. I assume they aren’t inscribed with anything. Is there a way to have that done and is it worth doing? Not sure we would ever sell them but they definitely aren’t lab grown and feel like that should be verified some way.

 

[gillettehunter]

Question for you. I have some diamonds that have been in the family for multiple generations. I assume they aren’t inscribed with anything. Is there a way to have that done and is it worth doing? Not sure we would ever sell them but they definitely aren’t lab grown and feel like that should be verified some way.

The simple answer is yes. First you need to determine if the diamonds warrant the expense of having this done. Under 1/2 ct probably not. Over 1 ct probably yes. In between maybe. Usually the diamonds should be removed from the mounting and then sent to the GIA (Gemological Institute of America). They will grade them for a fee that varies depending on size. They will also inscribe the report number on the girdle of the diamond for an additional fee. The report and loose diamonds are then returned and can be reset into their mountings.
There are other labs that diamonds can be sent to; however, the GIA is the most recognized authority and generally most consistent lab. Plan to use them. To do this you will likely need a jeweler to remove your stones from the mounting and send them in for you as well as reset the diamonds. Expect the process to take 4-6 weeks. Good luck
Bruce