There's something about diamonds that has created a greater number of dodgy dealers than any other gemstone
The majority of these scams are minor, but there are enough major ones out there that it pays to be careful and know what to be on the lookout for.
The majority of people get away with these scams simply because buying diamonds is not something you do everyday, and as such you are often a little unprepared in terms of what to look for.
This short briefing should go a long way to pointing you donw the right path.
The Total Carat Weight Scam
Often times the tag on the particular piece of jewellery will give a total carat weight of all the diamonds that are part of the piece, mispresenting the true weight of the diamond that is the centrepiece.
Ideally the tag should have the weight of all diamonds that are part of the piece. If it doesn't at the very least you shouldn't be afraid to ask the weight of the major diamond.
Another thing to be careful of is fractions. Jewellers are allowed to round up their weights.
So if a jeweller has a weight listed as a 3/4 carat diamond, it is possible that it will be between 1/2 and 3/4 carat.
Beware The Blue-White Diamond Pusher
Beware of any jeweller who describes a diamond as blue-white, and therefore of superior quality.
While this may sound impressive, blue-white is in refernce to the fact that the diamond displays some fluorescence, actually making it an inferior gemstone.
Observe The Diamond Under Different Lighting
Bright lighting wil show a diamond up in a better way than it otherwise would look. If the lighting seems especially bright, ask to take a look at the diamond under a more normal light setting.
Getting Your Diamond Appraised
A common scam is to attempt to underestimate the value of a diamond when it is presented for an appraisal.
The best option is to always have the stone appraised by someone that has been referred to you by someone you trust.
If that's not possible, make sure you have the diamond appraised at a number of other places before maing your decision about who to go with.
Trusting Your Jeweller
When it comes time to have a piece of jewellery designed around a diamond you have chosen, you are placing your faith in that jeweller.
It is not unknown for unscrupulous jewllers to replace the diamond with one of inferior quality after the design of the piece has been decided upon.
As previously mentioned, it is always advisable to deal with a jeweller who has a solid reputation, but unfortunately there is no escaping the fact that faith needs to be placed in them at some stage.
These are a few of the more common scams, and while there are others they too can be avoided by doing your best to be careful.
Select jewellers with a solid reputation, ask for more than one opinion and don't let them force something on you that doesn't seem quite right.
Author Resource:
Kate Stephen is the Director Of Red Ribbon Gifts - a boutique online gift store located in Australia that specialises in stylish retail gifts from smaller manufacturers and up & coming designers. While the website originally concentrated on providing romantic gifts for her, the business has recently expanded to include a gifts for him and a corporate gifts range. Visit Red Ribbon Gifts today to find valentine gifts for her
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