Most Common Diamond Scams

As far as diamonds are concerned, various scams can be well avoided. Where selling and buying of diamonds is concerned, the majority of scams are almost negligible, but some of the major scams crop up now and again. The major scams take place because of one main factor- people are not aware and do not have much knowledge about diamonds. So, they get conned very easily.

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When you buy diamonds in a jewelry store, the diamonds are shown to you under the glare of bright lights. Some jewelry stores frequently run fluorescence’ scams, only the degree varies. Request them to show you the diamonds in a darker type of light. When they refer to a diamond as blue-white, you should know its part of the scam. They may tell you that the blue-white diamond is very special and unique, but in reality, the quality of a blue-white diamond is relatively low. In spite of all this, the jeweler will try his level best to convince you that you are buying an extremely special diamond!

Yet another scam which the jewelry stores run is the Carat Total Weight scam. Usually, the jewelry tag lists the total carat weight of the entire lot of diamonds on a particular piece of jewelry, instead of stating exactly how much each diamond weighs separately. This is misleading as it leads the buyer to believe that the central diamond in that piece is bigger than it actually is. You should inquire about the weight of the central diamond. Be very cautious about fractions, as the jewelry stores are permitted to round off the weights of diamonds. If the jeweler says the diamond is ¾ carat, it usually means that the diamond is between ½ and ¾ carat, although it would probably be closer to ¾.

There are a few unscrupulous jewelers who take advantage of people looking for an appraisal on diamond jewelry which may have been given to them as a gift or which has been bought elsewhere. The jewelry stores will convince you that the diamond is of poor quality or is worth much less than its actual worth. To top it all, they would offer to take it or trade it for a better quality diamond plus offer to give you cash for the difference. This arrangement is known as low balling. Before you take action, get 2-3 opinions prior to your final decision.

‘Fluorescence’ scams are very common in jewelry stores, except that they vary in degrees. Labeling a diamond as blue-white is one of the scams. However special or unique it is made to sound, the fact is that a blue-white diamond is of a lower quality. Convincing you to buy it is their job and they are masters in this job. They would even try to show you the diamonds under bright lighting. Diamonds shine brilliantly under bright lights. So, don’t forget to ask the diamond to be shown to you in a darker type of light.

Another form of trickery is switching the diamond you have selected and paid for with a diamond of lower quality and lesser value when you leave it with them to set it in a jewelry piece or leave a ring which requires to be sized. One way to avoid this is by dealing with just one reliable jeweler. Try and avoid any new jewelers with whom you have had no past dealings.

These are just the most common scams listed in this article. There are many more scams that are pulled on gullible customers. You are the best judge, so use your judgment to the fullest while purchasing diamonds. Use your discretion, be careful and after deliberate consideration go ahead and buy that diamond you always wanted!

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