Avoid these common mistakes and scams when buying a diamond.  

1)   Phony Cuts

        Sellers take diamonds with a low cut grade (good, fair, or poor), brand them with a creative name and try to pass them off as ideal cut. Typically the seller will present their branded diamond next to a diamond with a lesser cut to fool you into thinking the seller's diamond is more sparkly. 

       Solution:  Don't fall for fancy or exotic names.  Insist on seeing the diamond certificate and check the cut grade assigned by the lab. 

2)  Buying a diamond that is too deep or too shallow

        Properly cut diamonds fall into specific depth ranges that vary by shape. If you stray outside these ranges the diamond may be too deep or too shallow.  If too deep, it will look small for its carat size which means you may pay for a 2.00 carat diamond that looks like a 1.75 carat diamond. So BE CAREFUL!

        On the flip side, if a diamond is too shallow it may look big for its carat weight, but shallow diamonds look glassy.  This means light passes through the diamond instead of getting reflected back out, so you can see right through the diamond.  This hurts the quality of the cut.

      Solution:  Know your depths.  For a list of proper depth ranges by diamond shape visit our Cut Education page.

3)  Paying too much for fluorescence

      In laymen’s terms, fluorescence is the diamond’s ability to glow in ultraviolet light.  Fluorescence can make a diamond look hazy or oily in sunlight, but at the same time it can make a low color diamond appear whiter.   If you’re buying a diamond in the D-H color range look for faint or no fluorescence.  If you’re buying a diamond with I color or lower, look for medium fluorescence to whiten the stone.  Fluorescence tends to lower the value of a diamond, so if you are buying a diamond with fluorescence make sure the seller reflects it in the price.

     Solution:  Look at the lab certificate to find out the level of fluorescence.  Read more about Fluorescence in our Color Education page.

4)  Accepting an appraisal in lieu of a certificate

      An appraisal is one jeweler’s opinion about the grade of a diamond and its estimated value.  A certificate is a grading report issued by an independent laboratory and typically performed by three gemologists.  The two are note interchangeable and both are necessary.   The certificate provides independent assurance about the diamond grading so you know what you are getting.  The appraisal provides the value of the diamond and is required to issue an insurance policy.

     Solution:  Always request a separate lab certificate and separate appraisal.  The appraisal should reference the lab certificate number.  Keep in mind that issuing a lab certificate costs money, so for smaller diamonds  weighing less than 0.75ct it may not be worth the sellers’ cost.

5)  Imposter Certificates

      Unfortunately there are sellers who use bogus certificates from pretend labs with misleading names such as “AGL” instead of EGL, or “IAG” instead of “GIA”.  Such labs are either very generous in their grading or issue whatever the seller requests.  The certificates are used to exaggerate the quality of the diamond in order to rip off consumers.

     Solution:  Insist on a certificate from one of the three most respected labs: GIA, AGS, or EGL.

6)   The Switcheroo

      You pay for one stone but get another, or the jeweler switches your diamond when you take it in for cleaning.  Although the "switcheroo" is the most commonly feared scam by diamond buyers, it rarely happens.  The previous ploys described above are more subtle and more commonplace.

     Solutions:
a) Receipt - When buying the diamond, ask the seller to note the diamond weight and grades on the receipt so you have proof of what you purchased. 

      b) Copy of the Certificate - Before leaving the store, get a copy of the diamond certificate.  When you return to pick up the diamond, match the measurements and inclusions to the certificate.

      c) Laser Inscription - Ask the seller to laser inscribe the certificate number on the diamond for absolute
assurance and identification.  Top Rate Diamonds offers laser inscription service, so call or e-mail us
for more information.

7)   Excluding your girlfriend from the process

        Before buying a diamond, make sure you know what kind of diamond your girlfriend likes.  If she likes emeralds but you buy a round, you better hope the store you bought from has a generous return or exchange policy like Top Rate Diamonds.

     Solution:  Gather intelligence.  Asking directly may ruin the element of surprise, so ask those closest to her, like her sister or mother.