I'm reposting my review because my first one was flagged for not containing a firsthand experience despite the fact that it did. So let me again tell you about my *firsthand* experience.
I visited Spence about 3 years ago to purchase an engagement ring. I'm not sure how relevant my experience is given the amount of time that has passed but I think there are a few gems in here to take home.
I had researched a lot on diamonds and went into Spence after hearing their countless radio ads claiming that they sold visibly better diamonds at obviously better prices. Who wouldn't want that?!
Now, I didn't just want any stone that I could get anywhere. I wanted a stone that sang, a bright stone that gave off tons of light and looked larger than it was. I knew that for the untrained eye, the best way to get what I was looking for was to get a stone that was graded by a reputable diamond lab, and that's exactly what I asked for.
I asked the first salesperson I saw if I could get a 2ct round brilliant diamond graded AGS "000". I got a blank look in response. She had never heard of AGS (FYI AGS is one one of the best diamond labs). Weren't these the diamond experts!? I then asked her if I could instead buy a GIA "excellent" stone. She replied that she could get that for me if I really wanted to, but that I didn't need it because their stones came with a Spence Certificate. She went on a bit about the Spence Guarantee. Her tone implied that she would prefer not to acquire a GIA stone for me, and that the stones they had were good enough. In the end, they told me I was probably better off going somewhere else to get what I wanted.
But all I wanted was the best of the best, and I thought that's what they sold. Well, they offered to sell me what they *said* was the best. The issue, as far as I could tell, was that Spence sells diamonds that they certify themselves.
That to me is a problem.
Would you buy a house based on the inspection that the seller paid for?
Would you buy a car from someone who said that they had their own mechanic inspect the car and that should be good enough?
Would you trust a movie critic's opinion about a movie if their salary was paid for by the production company themselves?
When you buy anything of value, it's a general rule that you have it inspected and certified by a 3rd party - someone without a vested interest, who can be unbiased and objective. DIAMONDS ARE NO DIFFERENT.
Now that was my experience. Perhaps times have changed. Perhaps Spence is now selling stones that all come with an independent certification, and if so, that's great. If not, well, just be careful what you spend your money on.
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So let me pass on what I learned.
1. Only buy a diamond that has been graded by a reputable lab. If you're going to buy from Spence, get that third party cert!
2. CUT is EVERYTHING. It determines LIGHT PERFORMANCE. A better cut stone looks bigger and looks whiter. No one will notice imperfections when the diamond is blinding them! If you are on a budget, you don't need a VS clarity or an F colour. Trust me!
Check out:
- Brightness
- Light Leakage
- Fire/Dispersion
- Scintillation
- Painting and Digging
- Optical Symmetry
3. Educate yourself. GO READ "4 C'S AND BEYOND" on goodoldgold.com and you'll easily know more than the Spence salesperson that I encountered.
Check out the forums on pricescope.com, or search the redflagdeals.com for other people's experiences at Spence.
4. ALL CERTIFICATIONS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL. Choose AGS over GIA. Accept no less than GIA. If a cutter has what they know is an inferior diamond, they will send it to a lab that is a bit more "generous" with their certs. Don't be surprised to have your EGL (yech!) certified stone retested by another lab to find out that they have a different opinion about your stone. A GIA "excellent" diamond may not qualify for an AGS "000" ideal grading, as their grading is much more stringent. Get that AGS cert if you can!
5. Results from GIA's Facetware Cut Estimator software is NOT THE SAME as a GIA Certification!!! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
6. Get as much info as possible. Ask for the AGS/GIA cert. Look at the stone under magnification. Examine the symmetry under an IDEALSCOPE. Ask for an ASET image. Check out the results from a BRILLIANCESCOPE (although I read that this test can be "rigged") or an ISEE2 machine (Britton Diamonds has one).
7. Consider shopping online. Surprisingly, you'll get more info than you'll get from most stores!
When I was looking, AGS stones were available at:
- goodoldgold.com
- whiteflash.com
- briangavindiamonds.com
Also check out bluenile.ca for GIA stones. Their signature ideal stones use their own in house lab, but also come with a GIA cert.
I've given Spence 2 stars based only on my experience in their store with their salesperson. I cannot speak about the products they sell because I only had their word to go on.
Feel free to msg me if you have questions =) read more