100% FULL DIAMOND UPGRADE???

You know how Stores always say “We Give you 100% Upgrade Value on your Diamond?“

It’s Pretty Common Place for Jewelry Stores!

Just about every Jeweler across the Country does this, and usually it’s when you Double the Price of the Original Purchase.

That’ll Cost You!

So if you bought a Diamond Solitaire for $5,000, you’d have to Upgrade it for a Diamond that’s at least $10,000 or MORE!

(Which is usually the Next Step up in Carat Weight anyway)

And, if you don’t Double the Price, they’ll usually still allow you to Upgrade your Stone, but the Value of the Upgrade will Lesser depending on the New Purchase Price.

For Example:

Say you’re looking at a Bigger Diamond that’s only $7,500. It’s Not Double the Price so the Store will only give you $3,750 in Trade-In versus the $5 Grand that you paid.

It’s Half the New Price!

See what I’m Saying?

It’s all in Comparison to what you’re Buying. The More you Buy, the more likely you’ll get that 100% Full Value Trade-In Price.

Double Dipping

Plus, you also have to realize that some Companies won’t allow Double Dipping!

Double Dipping is when you’re trying to get 100% Upgrade Value towards a New Item that’s already Heavily Discounted. It’s like a Sales Price on a Sales Price. Most Stores don’t allow this…

Unless they also apply that same “Sales Price Value” towards your “Upgrade Value” as well (Like giving you 40% off your Upgrade Price towards an item that’s on Sale 40% Off).

After all, no Jeweler wants to Lose Money in the Process (there isn’t a Big Mark-up on Diamonds like many would think).

And… Realize this:

Your Upgrade may be VOID

There’s a Very Good Disclaimer in every Upgrade Policy that states: Your Diamond Must be in Like-New Condition! Which means, it can’t be Damaged, Chipped, Cracked or Broken.

It has to look like the Diamond the Day you bought it in order to get 100% Full Value.

(Note this applies towards the Diamond only and not the Mounting. The Mounting will of course, show signs of Wear, that’s Normal and Expected)

But the Diamond must be New, and in the same Condition it states on the Appraisal or Certificate.

(For a Chipped Diamond will Alter the Clarity of the Stone, as well as the Value, and a New Certificate will have to be Created!)

And Speaking of Certificates…

Those must be Returned too!

You’d be Surprised how many people forget this…

Certificates (Like GIA or AGS) Cost Money, and without it, they’ll Deduct a Couple of Hundred Dollars off that Trade-In Price so they can Replace them!

Now, back to the Damage…

Most people think that Diamonds are Invincible… They won’t Scratch, Chip or Break…

But They Do!

Diamonds can Chip or Break if hit hard enough. They Pointed Edges of the Stone (Where the Facets Come Together) can often Wear Down, Chip, or Show Signs of Abrasion.

Just look at your Grandma’s Ring (who’s worn it for 60 Years) and you’ll probably see the Edges of the Facets or Girdle Chipped and Worn…

So I always suggest to Buy yourself a Jeweler’s Loupe and Check the Facets and Girdle of the Stone before you Trade it in. See if it has Chips, Cracks, or Fractures in the Stone. Because a Damaged Stone could VOID your Trade-In Value, or Greatly Diminish it.

Will you get 100% Value for your Upgrade?

Maybe, Maybe Not!

It all depends on What you Buy, What the Discount is, and What your Stone Looks Like.

Cheers! :)