Finally! You’re reviewed all the jewelers, graded all the diamonds, and found the diamond you want. You lay down your cash and ask for the diamond to be set. You come back the next day and pick up your ring, and you’re happy. A few days later, you decide to have the ring independently appraised, and find out that the diamond you picked up is not the same diamond you looked at originally. The jeweler has done the old “switcharoo.” You then go back and confront the jeweler and he says that you must have switched the diamond. Well, you are stuck! Now the way you prevent this from happening is after you find the diamond you like and before the diamond is mounted, have the diamond plotted. What this means is have the jeweler show you where the inclusions or blemishes are in the diamond and have him plot them down on a drawing. Keep this drawing with you. Then when you return to pick up the diamond, review the diamond in the setting and look for the same characteristics that you had plotted. If they match, you have the right diamond.
The Sandbagger
If you’ve followed all my instructions, you should feel secure enough that after the purchase you won’t feel the need to go to an independent appraiser to double-check how you did. But if you do, please watch out for the sandbagger! The sandbagger is someone who lies to you and tells you that you’ve been taken, that the diamond you’ve purchased is not worth what you’ve paid. Now why would the appraiser want to make you feel bad? So that he can recommend where you really should buy your diamonds! And you can bet that if he can convince you to return the diamond you’ve purchased and buy one from the place he recommends he’ll get a kickback from them. In many cases the appraiser will even say, “You got taken, and you should have bought from me!” If you ever want to have the diamond double-checked, send it to GIA in New York City or in
Off-Makes
What is the #1 problem with diamonds? Can’t guess? Well, it’s that 75 percent of all the diamonds on the market are poorly proportioned. (A poorly proportioned diamond is referred to as an off-make.) I can’t stress this point enough! No matter how white a diamond is or how clean it is or even how big it is, it will only have maximum sparkle, fire, and brilliance if it’s cut correctly. Please always check to see ifthe diamond is well proportioned. Follow the P.Q.S. and you will stay out of trouble and have a diamond that sparkles and is pretty forever. 