tips to avoid buying fake diamond

December 5, 2009

This short briefing should go a long way to pointing you down 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, misrepresenting 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 retailer has a gem listed as a 3/4 carat diamond, it may actually weigh somewhere below that amount.

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 will 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.

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