Remember, your diamond's certificate describing your diamond is ONLY for your center diamond.  A diamond certificate does not describe any additional side diamonds or additional diamonds/gemstones actually set into her wedding band or into his wedding band.    The ONLY way to know what clarity, color, quality and value of all the "additional" diamonds or gemstones, is to have your jewelry item(s) appraised.

We have years of experience of working with GIA, EGL, IGI etc, issued diamond certificates.   Without hesitation, our opinion is that an appraisal from an accredited independent gemologist appraiser, is going to be accurate, while a handful of GIA and EGL certificates over the years, have not been 100% accurate.  We always recommend to our customers to have an appraisal performed by an accredited independent gemologist appraiser.  We recommend an independent appraiser, meaning an appraiser who does not sell diamonds or jewelry.    An appraisal source who sells diamonds and/or jewelry may have a vested interest. 

For example, we use an independent gemologist appraiser Pacific Gemological Laboratories (PGL) located in downtown Portland, Oregon.  PGL as you can research, is a nationally known and highly recognized gemologist appraisal source.   It is fortunate coincidence for RingDesigner.com, that we are located just 11 miles from PGL.   We have no association with PGL other than they will perform appraisals for us.   PGL is Professional, Independent and Fair, but most importantly 100% Accurate!   They occasionally tell us things that we don't want to hear, but that's the way it should be.  An appraisal should be factual and 100% accurate for our RingDesigner.com Customer's Diamonds! 
(Click Here) PGL Web Site  ASA AGS AGA GIA certified member  
 

Most of us have taken many courses on diamonds, gemstones and jewelry from organizations like GIA.  But that does not make us an accredited appraisal source.  We can give you our estimate of value, but without accreditation, those estimates/opinions would not hold up in court.  Either 4 or 5 times in the last 7 years, we will have a major hassle, where a Ringdesigner.com customer, takes their brand new ring into a local jeweler and they find out about the "jewelry turf wars" in the jewelry industry.  Needless to say, Internet Jewelers are not held to the highest regard by long time bricks and mortar jewelry stores (some in the same location for generations).   No need to bore you with that now, just be aware people performing appraisals may have vested interests and agendas because they also "sell"  diamonds, gemstones and jewelry.  An independent appraisal source, who does not sell jewelry, will not have a hidden agenda.  Their goal is to valuate your items completely, factually, professionally and accurately to today's values and standards.

Bottom-line we recommend and actually encourage, independent appraisals of your RingDesigner.com items or any other jewelry items.

We have been told for a gemologist appraiser, the ASA accreditation (American Society of Appraisers ) is the toughest appraisal accreditation to get and hardest to maintain .   So if your appraiser has the ASA accreditation behind their name, they are most likely very good.  (Click Here) The American Society of Appraisers

To be granted ASA accreditation requires gaining a complete knowledge of diamonds, gemstones and precious metals, then being able to valuate them as to current industry and federal/state specific standards.  Not only must a candidate for ASA accreditation study and pass rigorous ASA testing, but they then must each year, continue to stay current with all the knowledge and any new laws concerning the subject.  It is not only hard to gain an ASA accreditation, but it is difficult to maintain.  The have a current ASA accreditation takes a lot of work every year to keep up on everything.  

There is a listing as to how each Candidate (to get accredited) must fulfill of requirements to qualify for professional status in their society. It is on their website and worth reading.

The ASA gems and jewelry appraiser may specialize in one or more of the following: diamonds and unmounted colored gemstones, contemporary jewelry, art and designer jewelry, Native American and/or other collectible ethnic jewelry, antique and period jewelry, gemstones rough, gemstone carvings or mineral specimens.  Note: Directly from the American Society of Appraisers' web site
 

Find an ASA Appraisal Source