Diamond Scams

When it comes to diamonds, there are  numerous scams to avoid. Most scams are  minor, but there are some major ones that  come up from time to time concerning the  buying and selling of diamonds. Scams  occur simply because most people who buy  diamonds – for whatever reasons – don’t  know that much about diamonds. Therefore,  they are easily fooled.

A common scam that most jewelry stores  participate in is the Carat Total Weight scam.  The tag on the piece of jewelry, usually a ring,  only states the total carat weight of all  diamonds in the piece, instead of listing the  total weights separately for each diamond.  This leads consumers to believe that the main  diamond in the piece is actually bigger than it  is. Ask what the total carat weight of the center  stone is. Also beware of fractions. Jewelry  stores are allowed to round off diamond  weights. This means that if the jeweler tells  you that it is a ¾ carat diamond, it is  probably between ½ and ¾ carat – but  closer to ¾.

Jewelry stores often run ‘fluorescence’  scams to varying degrees. Referring to a  diamond as a blue-white diamond is such a  scam. A blue-white diamond sounds very  unique and special, but in fact, this type of  diamond is of lesser quality – even though  the jeweler will try to make you think you are  getting something special. Jewelry stores  also like to show their diamonds in bright  lights. Lights make diamonds shine. Ask  to see the diamond in a different, darker  type of lighting as well.

Some truly unscrupulous jewelers target  those who want appraisals on diamonds  that were given to them as gifts or that were  purchased elsewhere. They will try to tell you  that the diamond is worthless, or worth less  than it actually is worth – and offer to take it  off your hands or trade it for a much better  diamond, along with the cash to make up  the difference. This is called low balling.  Get a second, third, and even a forth opinion  before taking any action.

Another common dirty trick is to switch the  diamond you have chosen and paid for with  one of lesser quality and value when you  leave it to be set in a piece of jewelry, or  leave a diamond ring to be sized. The only  way to avoid this is to do business with one  trustworthy jeweler. Avoid jewelers that you  have not done business with in the past.

There are many more scams that jewelry  stores commonly pull on unsuspecting  consumers. Just use your best judgment,  and purchase your diamonds with the  utmost care and consideration.