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How To Avoid Diamond Scams
When it comes to diamonds, there are considerable scams to stay away from. Many scams are petty, but there are some big-time ones that come up from time to time concerning the buying and selling of diamonds.
Scams materialize simply because many folks who buy diamonds for whatever reasons don’t know that much about diamonds. Therefore, they are easily fooled.
A predominant scam that most jewelry stores participate in is the Carat Total Weight scam. The tag on the piece of jewelry, usually a ring, only indicates the total carat weight of all diamonds in the item, instead of listing the total weights separately for each diamond. This leads buyers to assume that the main diamond in the piece is actually bigger than it is. Ask what the total carat weight of the center stone is. Additionally beware of fractions. Jewelry stores are permitted to round off diamond weights. This means that if the jeweler tells you that it is a ¾ carat diamond, it is probably between ½ and ¾ carat but closer to ¾.
Jewelry 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 prodigious and exceptional, but in fact, this cast of diamond is of inferior quality albeit the jeweler will try to make you imagine you are purchasing something exceptional. Jewelry stores also like to display their diamonds in bright lights. Lights make diamonds glimmer. Ask to see the diamond in another, darker type of lighting as well.
Some truly questionable jewelers dupe those who want appraisals on diamonds that were given to them as gifts or that were bought elsewhere. They will try to convince you that the diamond is valueless, 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 dollars to make up the difference. This is called low balling. Get a second, third, and even a forth opinion before acting.
Another classic dirty trick is to change the diamond you have chosen and paid for with one of lesser quality and value when you leave it to be set in a item of jewelry, or leave a diamond ring to be sized. The only way to stay away from this is to do business with one scrupulous jeweler. Avoid jewelers that you have not done business with already.
There are many more scams that jewelry stores commonly pull on overtrusting buyers. Just use your best judgment, and acquire your diamonds with the utmost care and attention.
About the Author: Tom Rockwood is a major contributor to Wholesale Diamond Ring and owner of RubberArm internet search.
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