| When it comes to diamonds, there arenumerous | | | | ofdiamond is of lesser quality – even |
| scams to avoid. Most scams areminor, but there | | | | thoughthe jeweler will try to make you think you |
| are some major ones thatcome up from time to | | | | aregetting something special. Jewelry storesalso |
| time concerning thebuying and selling of diamonds. | | | | like to show their diamonds in brightlights. Lights |
| Scamsoccur simply because most people who | | | | make diamonds shine. Askto see the diamond in a |
| buydiamonds – for whatever reasons – | | | | different, darkertype of lighting as well. |
| don’tknow that much about diamonds. | | | | Some truly unscrupulous jewelers targetthose |
| Therefore,they are easily fooled. | | | | who want appraisals on diamondsthat were given |
| A common scam that most jewelry | | | | to them as gifts or that werepurchased |
| storesparticipate in is the Carat Total Weight | | | | elsewhere. They will try to tell youthat the |
| scam. | | | | diamond is worthless, or worth lessthan it actually |
| The tag on the piece of jewelry, usually a | | | | is worth – and offer to take itoff your hands |
| ring,only states the total carat weight of | | | | or trade it for a much betterdiamond, along with |
| alldiamonds in the piece, instead of listing thetotal | | | | the cash to make upthe difference. This is called |
| weights separately for each diamond. | | | | low balling. |
| This leads consumers to believe that the | | | | Get a second, third, and even a forth |
| maindiamond in the piece is actually bigger than itis. | | | | opinionbefore taking any action. |
| Ask what the total carat weight of the | | | | Another common dirty trick is to switch |
| centerstone is. Also beware of fractions. | | | | thediamond you have chosen and paid for |
| Jewelrystores are allowed to round off | | | | withone of lesser quality and value when youleave |
| diamondweights. This means that if the jeweler | | | | it to be set in a piece of jewelry, orleave a |
| tellsyou that it is a ¾ carat diamond, it | | | | diamond ring to be sized. The onlyway to avoid |
| isprobably between ½ and ¾ carat – | | | | this is to do business with onetrustworthy |
| butcloser to ¾. | | | | jeweler. Avoid jewelers that youhave not done |
| Jewelry stores often run | | | | business with in the past. |
| ‘fluorescence’scams to varying degrees. | | | | There are many more scams that jewelrystores |
| Referring to adiamond as a blue-white diamond is | | | | commonly pull on unsuspectingconsumers. Just |
| such ascam. A blue-white diamond sounds | | | | use your best judgment,and purchase your |
| veryunique and special, but in fact, this type | | | | diamonds with theutmost care and consideration. |