Diamonds-Engagement Rings
Diamond Scams
New diamond scams seems to crop up every few months. some have been with us for ages. Then there is trying to determine the difference between fraud, marketing hype and sales tactic.
One of the determinations is full disclosure.
Don't be shy about asking very specific and pointed questions. If a merchant refuses to answer, or answers a question you didn't ask ... run like the wind!
We will continue to generate a list of questions you might consider asking. For now, these might help.
- Has this diamond been subjected to any enhancement or treatment?
- Does this diamond have a certificate? Issued by whom?
- Does the certificate state the same clarity, color and carat weight that you are claiming/advertising?
Common Diamond Scams, Hypes and Tactics
Switch While negotiating a price on a $7,500 diamond, you offer $6,500. Salesman takes the diamond to the back and returns, offering the diamond at $6,500. Did he do you a favor? No! He switched to a lower grade diamond. Most people won't notice.
Coded Tags The price tags on rings have no prices, just alphabetic codes. Why? Walk away!
Cruise the Caribbean but Don't Buy Gems You are likely to get great "deals" and cubic zirconia instead of diamonds, You have little or no consumer protection!
Switcheroo Cleaning or repair requires you leaving your diamond. Take along a copy of your certificate. Verify with the merchant that your diamond is the on in the cert. Check the diamond the merchant gives you back to the cert.
Better yet, have your diamond laser engraved with a serial number. Get your own black, 10X loupe and learn how to use the loupe and read the serial number
If you think you have been victimized with a switch, call the police while at the store. Mistakes do happen but most switches are deliberate. When shopping for jewelry services, look for reputation, not price. Black velvet is the merchant's friend, not yours. A black background will make a yellow diamond appear several grades whiter.
Cut to Match a Certificate Fraudster buys a gem, say a 2 carat round brilliant VVS1-H, and gets the gem graded at a respected lab. Then he sells the diamond in the wholesale market where dealers are comfortable buying diamonds without certs.
Next, Fraudster buys a 2.1 carat Vs2-K, very similar in size and shape to the VVS1 he sold.
Fraudster takes the Vs2 to a cutter and has it re-cut to the exact proportions and size that are on the certificate.
Then Fraudster sells the Vs2 to an unsuspecting person who is trusting the certificate. There is a big difference in price between a VVS1-H and a Vs2-K
Blue White and Other Empty Terms "This is a blue-white," s/he says. But it doesn't mean anything. He may be talking about the ultraviolet fluorescence. If you hear "blue white" ... yep, run!
Bait and Switch A cheaply advertised diamond has already been sold when you get there. Bethcha the guy has another, very similar, but significantly more expensive. Walk away.
Bumping the Grade For some reason, the FTC apparently allows merchants to be in error by one color grade and one clarity grade. I guess I'm dumb, but if s/he has a cert, why? That can mean $1,000 or more on a moderate engagement ring.
Ask to see the cert on a diamond as soon as you are interested. If the merchant hesitates, so should you. If the cert isn't GIA, AGS or EGL, don't trust it.
Good at Fractions, Lousy at Decimals If a merchant quoted a diamond as 3/4 carat and it is really might be a .69. That can be a difference of several hundred $$$.
Laser Drilled Diamonds Lasers can drill into diamonds and burn out dark spots. Problem is, they leave tracks, sort of like tiny white worm holes. The drill holes weaken the diamond and reduce the value. Any of the good grading labs will show laser drilling on the cert. Some labs won't even grade laser drilled. If in doubt, ask.
In-house Appraisals Don't let any dealer you are thinking about buying from appraise the diamond nor make a referral to an appraiser. Too much opportunity for abuse. Pick your own appraiser.
Hiding the Flaws Setters like to hide flaws under the prongs. It's a good
idea. But it's a bad idea to try to judge a set diamond.
Look at any prospective purchase out of the setting.
Altered Certificates If the diamond grade on a cert has been altered and the cert is not laminated, or if the corners of the lamination is frayed, don't trust it. And it's probably a good idea to walk.
Deceptive Lab Certificates Certificates from labs that sound like reputable labs
shouldn't be trusted. Neither should any merchant who
presents one. Examples might be "Gemological Institutions
of America" or "American Gemological Services".
No Return of Your Deposit If a merchant suggests that you leave a deposit and take
a diamond for an appraisal, make sure you can get your
deposit back when the gem is returned. Otherwise you may
only be given credit on another purchase
A twist on this is to be given a lesser grade diamond than the one you signed for. Then it could be you who is accused of fraud when you try to return the "wrong" diamond.
Chemical Color Coatings can make a diamond appear whiter, especially a tiny blue spot on the pavilion or culet. If you suspect something, ask that the diamond be ultrasonic washed in your presence. If they balk, so should you.
Diamond Substitutes and Simulants
- Moissanite - is not only a substitute, but is a manufactured stone as well. But beware; diamond testers will show Moissanite as diamond. Held under the flame of a match, Moissanite should turn green until the flame is removed.
- Another test, with your handy black 10X loupe. Look down through the table at the facet junctions on the pavilion. if the facet junctions look slightly blurred or "doubled", it isn't diamond. Moissanite is doubly refractive. Diamond is singly refractive.
