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.
Jewellery stores 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. Jewellery also 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 jeweller will try
to make you think you are getting something special.
A common scam that most jewellery stores participate in is
the Carat Total Weight scam. The tag on the piece of jewellery, 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 centre stone is. Also, beware of fractions. Jewellery
stores are allowed to round off diamond weights. This means that if the jeweller
tells you that it is a ¾ carat diamond, it is probably between ½ and ¾ carat –
but closer to ¾.
Some truly unscrupulous jewellers 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 fourth opinion
before taking any action.
Jewellery 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 jeweller will try to make you
think you are getting something special. Jewellery 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.
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 jewellery or leave a diamond ring to be sized. The only
way to avoid this is to do business with trustworthy jewellers. Be cautious of jewellers
that you have not done business within the past.
There are many more scams that jewellery stores commonly
pull on unsuspecting consumers. Just use your best judgment, and purchase your
diamonds with the utmost care and consideration.
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