Buying Diamonds Online
If you want to buy Diamonds on the Internet /Online or Diamond Jewellery on the Internet / Online, then please please becareful.
I personally think it best to buy within your own country first of all. If the Company is part of the BJA this is a good thing and then if you do have any major problems with the jewellery you have bought then you have a higher party to complain to if you are not happy with the company with whom you have purchased the jewellery from.
So if you see this sign above then its a very good company to order from as only a few people are members of The British Jewellery Association.
Check Returns Policy Clearly...really read through everything, about returning rings, necklaces, bracelets and hand made diamond jewellery too.
Check whether or not a company keeps notes of your payment online.
When buying online, its always nice to be able to speak to someone if you have any queries too. When I have gone to buy something online, if I cant talk to someone or there is no telephone number then I dont buy.
posted by The Diamond Chicks @ 3:37 PM
3 Comments:
How do I know that the diamond I buy is conflict free?
If the seller does not have the stone in stock and is selling a diamond from over seas, how can I be sure the diamond is conflict free?
If seller claims that the stone is from a legitimate source, but the stone has no paper work showing where the diamond came from. Could this be a Blood diamond?
I have been told that the majority of conflict diamonds originate from Liberia and Sierra Leone is this correct ?
If I buy a diamond from one of these countries should I get proof that it is conflict free or benefiting the people in those countries?
How can I be sure that the seller claiming to help the people of these war torn countries, is not exploiting the situation for their own profit?
Non Compliant Diamond Grading Laboratories in Australia
ADGL Brisbane - Australian Diamond Grading Laboratory
http://www.adgl.com.au/
Auscert Melbourne -Scientific Gem Testing Laboratories (SGTL for short)
http://www.auscertdiamonds.com.au/
GSL Sydney - Gem Studies Laboratory
www.gem.org.au/gsl.htm
BGL Melbourne - Bauer Gemological Laboratories
http://www.bauergemlabs.com.au/
As far as we know , none of the above organisations are recognised by the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, IDC (International Diamond Council) or CIBJO.
CIBJO Laboratories
We recommend as a precaution to ask for a second opinion from DCLA who are based in Sydney should you be considering a diamond that is certified by one of the above mentioned laboratories.
DCLA is one of only five laboratories worldwide recognised as an International Diamond Council (IDC) laboratory and DCLA is the official CIBJO laboratory for Australia and holds the official registered National Diamond Masterset for Australia.
About ICE Grading Certificates
Ice on Fire Ideal Hearts & Arrows
Hearts & Arrows is the term used for super ideal cut diamonds that exhibit a complete and precise Hearts & Arrows pattern. Hearts & Arrows diamonds have three distinguishing factors – perfection in polish, symmetry, and proportion.All ICE Diamonds are graded by Internationally recognized Independent Laboratories.
ICE diamonds shipped to AUSTRALIA and will usually be Independently Certified by GSL (Gem Studies Laboratories) or BGL (Bauer Gemmological Laboratories
- Icestore (Australia)
- Icestore (South Africa)
- Diamond of Hope (Australia)
- Diamond Exchange Toronto
- Diamond Exchange New York
- Diamond Exchange London (UK)
- AdamDiamonds (Israel )
-Australian Diamond Centre
Auscert Melbourne -Scientific Gem Testing Laboratories (SGTL )
auscertdiamonds.com.au
PRINCIPALS: Monica Crofts Gem Dealer ? FGAA & Anthony Bates qualifications unknown
Auscert is a JAA member
AUSCERT IS UNRECOGNISED BY WFDB, IDC & CIBJO
JAA is a member of CIBJO
The two principals provide a diamond certification service in Melbourne while trading in gems and jewellery.
Under the CIBJO Diamond Blue Book guidelines to avoid a conflict of interest both gem or jewellery traders and vendors are not permitted to certify diamonds.
I am at a loss understanding why both Messrs Croft & Bates object to my earlier blog re: Non Compliant Diamond Grading Laboratories.
non-compliant-diamond-grading.html
I am perplexed at the role of the JAA allowing this to continue with their endorsement while being the Australian Jewellery Association representative body of CIBJO.
In addition there are members of the Diamond Dealers Club of Australia (DDCA) who are selling Auscert certified diamonds online.
The DDCA is seeking affiliation with the World Federation of Diamond Bourses(WFDB).
The DDCA would be making a mockery of the WFDB should it be allowed to become affiliated when it's own members choose to ignore what is a very basic requirement
I fail to see any distinction between the rules and guidelines of the WFDB,CIBJO and the JAA whereby they would actually recognise any non compliant and unacreditted diamond grading laboratory especially where the two principals mentioned admit to trading in gemstones and jewellery.
If Ms Crofts would like to Email The Diamond Guru rather than telephoning me I look forward to being enlightened by her response.
Why is it unethical for a jeweller or a diamond dealer to certify their own diamonds?
The most obvious reason is the ethical position. If the certificate or diamond grading report has not been independently certified it would represent a conflict of interest. If the seller is grading their own diamonds they will always be more lenient and biased towards the better colour and clarity grade because of the difference in value the diamond would achieve.
For example, if the diamond was a G colour with a VS2 Clarity and the diamond was up graded to F VS1 this could represent an added value of 20% for a 0.50 carat diamond or 22% for a 1.00 carat size diamond. This may not seem like a lot at first glance but if you are selling 5 diamonds a week and they are bringing in an extra 20% because of what is known as "grade bumping", it can certainly amount to alot over a period of time.
In certain grades such as D-F or IF- VVS2 the differences in price are much greater.
A 1.00 carat diamond in a D IF is around $18900 USD per carat and a 1.00 carat diamond in an E VVS1 is around $12300 per carat at today's prices. So you can see that a little grade bumping here and there, can be, and is very profitable.
This is the reason why the world jewellery and diamond governing bodies such as CIBJO and the WFDB do not permit jewellery or diamond dealer members to have cross ownership or interests in diamond grading and coloured gem laboratories.
There is also the undeniable fact that some diamonds are treated or enhanced in some way, and these diamonds are very difficult, and in some cases impossible to identify, without the correct laboratory equipment.
Synthetic diamonds are the latest threat to the uneducated consumer. If you are buying a diamond with out a recognised certificate (IE; a certificate recognised by either the WFDB, IDC, or CIBJO) it is possible that it may not be a Natural diamond at all.
These are a couple of reasons to insist that your jeweller supplies you with a diamond grading certificate from an officially recognised laboratory.
Make sure the certificate you are offered is recognised, please visit http://www.independentlycertifieddiamonds.com/ for a list of compliant laboratories.
It is up to you the consumer to ensure that the diamond grading certificate is recognised.
Protect your self and only shop where independent recognised diamond certificates are supplied. The rule is, if you have to ask for one without the diamond vendor being forthcoming, shop else where.
Now how do you identify the rogue sellers? Well they will market non compliant diamond grading certificates along side official recognised and accredited diamond grading laboratory certificates in order to lend credibility.
Unethical diamond vendors misrepresent the diamond facts with non compliant diamond grading reports and/or diamond certificates.
Deceptive diamond grading laboratory certificates from "labs" that sound reputable should not be trusted. Neither should any merchant who presents one .
Genuine accredited and recognised diamond grading reports / certificates do not cost much at all and will not affect the cost of the stone. If you are told the they do, it is a sign that the diamond might not be what they are claiming.
How much is a certificate from a laboratory?
The prices range from $ 35.00 upward depending on the size of the diamond. Certificates are never based on the value of the diamond and remember a value will never appear on a official diamond certificate.
It should be noted here that most of the biggest internet sellers are guilty of misusing the term 'certificate' or 'certified' diamonds.
Neither the Gemological Institute of America nor the American Gem Society will certify any diamond. They simply grade diamonds in their labs and issue grading reports.
GIA calls theirs a Diamond Grading Report, while the AGS refers to their report as a Diamond Quality Document. GIA discourages the use of the term "certificate" to describe it's grading reports. The dictionary describes the word certify as: "to guarantee the quality or value of" or "to guarantee as certain."
GIA clearly states on the bottom of every document: "this report is not a guarantee. "
One would think that any diamond laboratory that is not worried about it's professional liability exposure would be able to stand by it's documentation and therefore guarantee it.
The CIBJO & IDC diamond grading lab DCLA http://www.dcla.com.au/ in Sydney Australia and GCal Gem Certification & Assurance Lab http://www.gemfacts.com/ in New York issue diamond grading CERTIFICATES that are guaranteed.
Therefore my question is why do so many of the diamond dealers place so much emphasis on GIA and AGS who do not guarantee their reports?
Could it be those labs who are essentially gemologists with very little gem cutting or gem trading experience, have marketed themselves successfully over a period of time via their educational arms giving the illusion they are more elite than other lesser known diamond grading laboratories with better hands on experiennce who may have different philosophical outlooks in the direction they wish to direct their own diamond labs for the benefit of the public consumer not the trading dealers who easily adapt to changing scenarios.
Why is there no value on a certificate?
The reason is that the certificate will not date, the quality of the diamond will remain the same unless the stone is damaged or altered in some way. However pricing fluctuates daily according to the currency fluctuations and exchange rates,rarity of the diamond and the international price lists.
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