This is part three of Buy Genuine Diamonds
Another thing to watch for is altering the grading of diamonds on certificates. This is most rare as certificates from gemological laboratories are usually laminated to prevent such activities. Check the edges of a laminated certificate. If the edges look like they have been tampered with then walk away and do not buy that diamond as it is quite possibly lower grade than stated on the certificate.
Fake certificates are also obtainable. These come from “similar” sounding names to existing laboratories but are actually fake and the laboratory does not really exist.An “official” local gemologist certificate is most likely owned by the jewelery store you are thinking about purchasing from and so is hardly likely to give an impartial assessment of the stone.
Don’t accept certificates from labs with familiar-sounding names like “Gemological Institutions of America” (instead of Gemological Institute of America), or “American Gemological Services” (instead of American Gemological Society). If it is not from the true GIA, AGS or EGL gem labs as described on other pages of this site, don’t believe it.
Check the yellow pages in your country to find the real gemological laboratories in your country.
That is not to say that the smaller jewelers are not selling the genuine article. Just that you have no way of verifying that without a proper certificate.
Sometimes a dealer will ask you to leave a deposit while you take the diamond for an appraisal elsewhere. This is fine provided that you get a written guarantee that the deposit is refundable if the appraisal does not satisfy you and you return the diamond. If this is refused. Leave the shop.
Also ensure that the exact measurements of the diamond are written down also including the weight, color and clarity on the agreement form.
Always compare prices yourself. Do not accept the compare price charts and list prices of the dealers. These are couched in such a way as to make their diamonds look cheaper. In fact genuine diamonds are all very much the same price. The only way a dealer can offer you a ‘cheap’ diamond is they are disguising the quality of the diamond and it is less than you are told.
Three other points to watch for, although not very common these days.
Make sure it is a genuine diamond and not a moissanite. Again a proper genuine certificate describing the diamond will help here.
Some diamonds have a fracture and this is filled by melting a type of crystal into the surface fractures of a diamond. This is fine but this should be stated at the time of sale and the price reduced accordingly. Be aware also that many laboratories will not give a certificate for fracture filled diamonds
Lastly there is the situation where a diamond might be “painted” or chemically coated. This is a deceptive practice and involves just a tiny spot of purple or blue pain on the lowest tip of the diamond, also called the culet. Unless you look real close you my not detect it. It makes an inferior diamond look more like and expensive diamond so is something to watch for.
A way of detecting this is to ask for the diamond to be ultrasonically washed in front of you. If the dealer refuses. Its bye bye dealer.
The above are just a few points to watch for when buying genuine diamonds. There is no substitute for doing due diligence and understanding all about diamonds and the price of diamonds and their value.
This way you can be sure you are buying genuine diamonds!
This is the last of a three part series on Buy Genuine Diamonds
