Tag: De Beers Diamonds

Does buying diamonds on the internet offer huge savings? Is it safe? Why does it appear so much cheaper?

The internet has become saturated with online diamond retailers promising unparalleled quality, selection and low prices. But has this been a positive development for consumers and the diamond industry in general? Opinions are clearly divided.

Whilst there are some genuine online retailers providing real value, regrettably the net has become the perfect avenue for selling the “leftovers”. What does this mean?

Through the traditional distribution channel in the trade, reputable diamond merchants and jewellers scrutinise, select and buy the diamonds they sell. This process ensures you as the ultimate buyer get a correctly graded diamond. With most internet retailers, a list of diamonds is received from overseas suppliers and listed on the site. These retailers do not sight the diamonds until you have bought and paid for them. Buying from these online retailers, you are not seeing and buying the diamond, you are relying on the information and advice provided by online-sellers commonly referred to as drop shippers, who haven’t seen the diamonds themselves much less paid for them.

While the internet has brought convenience, increased selection and greater competition, it has also provided the perfect vehicle for selling these “leftovers” – over graded and therefore over valued as well as treated diamonds, some with overseas certificates to lend credibility, that cannot be sold through the accountable traditional channels. Although these diamonds are listed for sale at seemingly fantastically low prices, generally one fact remains true: you get what you pay for. There have been many instances where consumers who have bought diamonds online come in to the lab for verification, only to find they have not received the quality represented.

Remember: Low price doesn’t necessarily mean a good deal.

Both the Government and the Industry bodies are aware of, and looking into these issues, but do not know how to, or even if it is possible to police.

Tips for Safely Buying a Diamond Online

1. Buy from an Australian-based website that has a clear money-back return policy. Buying locally, you have recourse if anything is wrong or if you are not happy with your purchase.

2. In Australia only buy a DCLA-certified diamond. DCLA is the only internationally recognised lab inAustralia, and the only lab worldwide guaranteeing that the stated quality of a DCLA certified diamond is accurate, with a third-party full-replacement Diamond Grading Guarantee. Since the grading is guaranteed, you know you’re comparing apples with apples when comparing DCLA certified diamonds to buy – you can decide on your desired quality then shop around for the best price.

Common Online Buying Issues to be Aware of

BAIT AND SWITCH
Thousands of diamonds listed, little or no diamonds physically in stock or available. We call these “ghost diamonds”. Too often when an enquiry is made, that particular diamond is not available and an alternative is offered.This is an old trick – a diamond is listed at a great price, making real jewellers look expensive, but when you want to buy it it’s not available. You will often see terms like “subject to availability” and “Your money will be refunded if we happen to miss the diamond”. “If you wish, we will find a suitable replacement.”

What should you do? Ask if the diamond is in stock and available for you to view. If not, shop elsewhere.

DROP SHIPPING
Many online sellers simply list diamonds from overseas suppliers that they have never seen before. Once you, the customer, buy and pay for the diamond, it is then imported into Australia.

What should you do? Ask. Is the diamond available to view before you buy it? If not, shop elsewhere.

EXAGGERATED GRADES
Many diamonds listed on the net are either not certified or have “in house” reports or valuations allowing grades to be exaggerated and treatments to be hidden.

What should you do? Only accept a certificate from a respected independent diamond grading lab and make sure the diamond is laser inscribed for identification. This helps ensure that you receive the diamond you bought and paid for. Only compare prices of diamonds with proper certificates. Don’t be fooled by official-looking certificates or valuations from local “gemmologists”. They are probably not independent and exaggerate the grades to make the prices look good.

If you would like help finding your diamond, or have further questions, please contact us on 1300 66 3252 (DCLA) and we will be happy to assist.

DCLA has seen an alarming increase in the number of treated diamonds being submitted as natural diamonds to the laboratory for certification.

It should first be said that diamond treatments are neither good, nor intrinsically bad in and of themselves. There is nothing wrong with buying a treated diamond, provided that the treatment is fully disclosed and that you pay the appropriate price for the diamond. Because of their lower cost and value, treated diamonds can allow a person to buy a diamond that appears to be of a higher quality than it truly is.

However, too often the presence of such diamond treatments is concealed. Whether this deception is by intent or negligence, such concealment is tantamount to fraud.

Not only does artificially treating a diamond significantly reduce its value, but most diamond treatments are unstable and reversible. For this reason, all internationally accepted rules for diamond grading forbid the certification of treated diamonds. An extremely disturbing discovery just recently in the DCLA Laboratory was that of a coated diamond accompanied by a certificate from a supposedly legitimate Australian ‘laboratory’.

Members of the diamond industry have a responsibility to consumers to convey accurate and transparent information, and each individual that handles a diamond as it moves down the diamond pipeline from the mines should be held accountable for making known any treatments that a diamond has undergone.

It is deceptive and unfair to fail to disclose treatment of a diamond when it has a significant effect on a diamond’s value. In its pursuit of consumer protection, DCLA is offering a ‘Diamond Amnesty’ for diamond owners Australia-wide – any diamond brought in with its matching diamond grading certificate will be verified for grading accuracy and tested to ensure that it is natural and free of treatments. This service will be provided free of charge.
Diamond Intelligence Briefs: http://www.diamondintelligence.com/magazine/magazine.aspx?id=7833

DCLA now offers a precise recut assessment service on poorly finished, chipped, broken, and otherwise damaged diamonds.

The popular belief is that diamonds are indestructable, but the fact is that diamonds can, and do in fact break, chip, or endure other such damage like abrasions and bruising. In most cases, the damage is repairable; DCLA has advanced equipment and specialised software to provide a comprehensive damage assessment report, and recut analysis, on damaged diamonds.

On request, DCLAwill have the diamond recut or polished. This service is available to the trade, members of the public, and insurers requiring salvage assessment.