{"id":5769,"date":"2014-02-15T12:39:00","date_gmt":"2014-02-15T17:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/?p=5769"},"modified":"2015-06-04T12:49:57","modified_gmt":"2015-06-04T16:49:57","slug":"to-steal-a-diamond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/to-steal-a-diamond\/","title":{"rendered":"TO STEAL A DIAMOND"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"To<\/div>\n

Customers get very nervous at having to leave their Diamonds with a Jewelry Store, even for a simple Cleaning and Polishing<\/strong>. And especially if it’s a Large Diamond Solitaire, Engagement Ring or Bridal Set.<\/p>\n

\nCustomers think that it would be so EASY to Swap out their Stone<\/strong>, and replace it with a Fake Stone or Crappy Stone… No one would know!<\/strong><\/p>\n

So…<\/h2>\n

\nIs it EASY?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nCan a Jeweler Switch out a Diamond that Quick and Easy to fool the unsuspecting customer? <\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\"To<\/p>\n

\nMaybe<\/strong>, but generally the Answer is “NO!<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

\nThat’s because it’s quite a task to Switch out a Diamond. You can’t just slap in any ole Stone and think you’d get away with it. <\/p>\n

Because you won’t!<\/h2>\n

\nCustomers know their Diamonds<\/strong> (and Jewelers know that, people are more cautious and more leery of Jewelers to begin with). People look at their Diamond Rings every single day, countless times. They can tell if their Stone looked Smaller or Darker or more Cloudy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nThey would know if a Line<\/strong> or Crack<\/strong> suddenly manifested in their Stone, or if it was really Yellow<\/strong>, or if a Big Black Spot <\/strong>miraculously appeared. <\/p>\n

\n\"Can<\/p>\n

\nVisual differences are hard to disguise<\/strong>, and since every Diamond IS<\/strong> different, customers would know it pretty damn quick.<\/p>\n

\n“My Stone had a little Pin-Point in the 12:00 position!<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

\n“My Diamond had an unpolished Girdle!”<\/p>\n

\n“My Stone was really White and Bright, and this Stone is Yellow and Dark!<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

\nCustomers know!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let’s Compare Diamonds…<\/h2>\n

\nTake a look at these two identical Marquise Diamond Rings<\/strong> below. The Mountings are the same, but the Diamonds in the center are different…<\/p>\n

\n\"All<\/p>\n

\nSee! There IS certainly a Visible Difference!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nThere’s no way that you could give a Jewelry Store the one ring, and get the other ring back without you noticing. It stands out like a sore thumb!<\/strong><\/p>\n

You Can’t Swap Diamonds that Fast!<\/h2>\n

\nPlus, Jewelers can’t swap out a stone that fast anyway<\/strong>. Contrary to what people think! <\/p>\n

People think that a 2 minute Jewelry Cleaning is enough time for a Thief to Steal their Stone. It’s not!<\/strong> It takes time to secretly open up prongs (without Damaging the actual Prong or leaving Evidence like Dents in the Metal). <\/p>\n

The Prongs have to be carefully pulled back in order for the stone to slip free<\/strong>. And then another stone, of the exact same Shape and Size would have to be inserted into that head so it looks very, very similar<\/strong>. That’s almost an impossible feat<\/strong> to pull of in a matter of minutes. Trust me, it’s not a piece of cake!<\/p>\n

\nGenerally if a Jeweler is going to steal (And when I say Jeweler, I’m really talking about that one shady Employee who wants your stone<\/strong>), they’d need time, and they’d have to do it when no one else was around to witness<\/strong> it. After all, it is a crime!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\"Stealing<\/p>\n

So what’s it take to Steal a Diamond?<\/h2>\n

\nTime, Patience, Determination, and GUTS!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nMost people who work in Jewelry Stores are honest (99.99%<\/strong>). Most employees have worked in the industry for multiple years and all the Jewelers across town know them. Plus, many of them are bonded<\/strong>, and have had multiple background and reference checks done one them. Nothing slips through. Because when you are showing and selling merchandise worth hundreds and thousands of dollars, Jewelers just aren’t going to hire anyone! <\/strong><\/p>\n

\nSo a bad apple is rare<\/strong>, but it does still happen. Just like it does in any industry; Jewelry, Clothing, Department Stores, Restaurants… You name it! There are always a few who try…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nFor a Thief to Steal your Diamond, they would have to pry back your Prongs or Mounting, pop the Stone free, and then set another Diamond, of the exact same Size (Bigger or Smaller won’t work<\/strong> because it wouldn’t fit perfectly in the head) and the Stone would have to be close enough visually to pass a quick inspection<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nNot to mention the fact that it would also have to be worth doing!<\/strong> <\/p>\n

There has to be something to Gain!<\/h2>\n

\nGenerally if a Diamond is going to be swapped out, the person stealing it would put in a Lower Grade Stone like an SI2, I1, I2 or I3<\/strong>, and to do this, they would have to have tons of Loose Diamonds at their fingertips. Just so they could match up Size, Shape, Color<\/strong> and pick one that looked similar… <\/p>\n

\nSee what I mean…<\/p>\n

\n\"Diamonds<\/p>\n

\nA smart thief would pick a stone that was so close, that it wouldn’t draw any Concern<\/strong> or Question<\/strong>. And the amount of Loose Diamonds of different Qualities, sitting around, just for that purpose, is Preposterous<\/strong> and Absurd<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

\nNo Jeweler would even allow that much inventory in the shop<\/strong>. It’s unheard of.<\/p>\n

\nPlus, they’d have to be a fool to even attempt it. They’d get Caught!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stealing Takes Time!<\/h2>\n

\nTo steal a Stone properly<\/strong>, the Dishonest Employee would have to plan ahead and have time enough to find the Perfect Substitute<\/strong>. They would have to carefully wait until they weren’t under supervision<\/strong>, and then they’d have to make their move. They wouldn’t want to raise any eyebrows.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nFrom what I’ve seen and heard, it’s NEVER the actual Jewelry Stores or Owners<\/strong> that do the stealing, it’s the hired help<\/strong>. Jewelry Stores do everything they can to build trust and loyalty in customers, and would never jeopardize their reputation<\/strong> over a single stone. Plus, many store owners install security cameras<\/strong> in their showrooms and shop area to derail or stop theft. <\/p>\n

\nBut some brave thief’s will still steal, no matter what<\/strong>. Some get desperate enough to take the chance, they need to pay the bills… <\/p>\n

\n\"Criminals<\/p>\n

\nNo fault of the actual Jeweler, but it happens<\/strong>. Whether it be Jewelry, Diamonds, Gemstones, or what not… In over 24 years<\/strong> that I’ve worked for different Jewelry Stores (Both Chain Stores and Independent Jewelry Stores) I’ve only heard of 3 Employees stealing Customer’s Goods<\/strong>. And they all got Caught, Fired and Arrested! <\/strong><\/p>\n

\nSo it doesn’t matter where you take your Jewelry and Diamonds. It doesn’t matter if it’s big Corporate Store like Kays<\/strong>, or a little Mom-and-Pop Store<\/strong>, any of those people could rob you. If they’re going to Steal, they’re going to Steal and there’s not much you can do about it<\/strong>… <\/p>\n

\nExcept to protect yourself as much as possible… <\/strong><\/p>\n

How do you Protect your Diamonds?<\/h2>\n

\nWhat can a Consumer do to protect their Valuables, Jewelry and Diamonds<\/strong> from getting ripped off?<\/p>\n

Know your Stone!<\/h2>\n

\n\"Know<\/p>\n

\nLearn what your Diamond looks like inside and out<\/strong>. Don’t just hand your Diamond over to the Store without a glance… STOP!<\/strong> Scrutinize it. <\/p>\n

BE SMART!<\/h2>\n

\nI always advise Customers to Scope their Diamond when they drop it off at the Jeweler (making sure it’s perfectly clean first<\/strong>, otherwise you’ll be looking at dirt, and when you get it back clean as a whistle it won’t look the same!<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

\nScope your Diamond under a 10x Microscope<\/strong>. Look at the Diamond from all Angles, Top, Side, Bottom… Learn what type of Inclusions you have, what they look like, and where they fall inside the Stone<\/strong>. Plus, what Color they are as well! Inclusions are like Freckles and Moles<\/strong> on People, no two will look the same!<\/p>\n

\nYou could also purchase yourself a Jeweler’s Loupe<\/a>\"\" or a Microscope<\/a>\"\" and study your Stone at home as well (recommended<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

\nYou could even draw a Map<\/strong> or Plot of your Stone<\/a>, so you can remember what your Flaws looked like…<\/p>\n

\n\"Microscope<\/p>\n

\nYou can Measure your Stone<\/strong> (with a Brass Slide Guage<\/a>\"\") as well so you know exactly how large your Diamond is (measure it from a couple of opposite sides, because most Diamonds are NOT Perfectly Symmetrical<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

\n\"Measure<\/p>\n

Or, better yet…<\/h2>\n

\nIf you have a Diamond Report<\/strong>, like a GIA Certificate<\/a>, you will have all of this info<\/strong> already. Pull out the Report and look at it. Double check your Diamond and the Inclusions. The Report will list the Measurements<\/strong>, and generally have a Plot of the Flaws<\/strong>, like so…<\/p>\n

\n\"GIA<\/p>\n

\nWhat you see are the unique flaws in your Diamond. They won’t Change<\/strong>, Move or Grow Bigger or Smaller. They’ll look like that forever! <\/strong><\/p>\n

And one last thing…<\/h2>\n

\nThe number one way to prevent theft is…<\/strong><\/p>\n

Laser Inscriptions!<\/h2>\n

\nIf your Diamond is Laser Inscribed<\/strong>, the Report Number (unique for that Diamond and that Diamond ONLY<\/strong>) will be etched directly onto the side of the Girdle<\/a> (the Edge of your Stone<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

\nScope your Girdle and look for that particular set of Numbers and Inscription<\/strong>…<\/p>\n

\n\"Match<\/p>\n

\nMatch it to the numbers on your Report. If they match, it’s your Stone!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nThat’s the easiest way in the world to keep your Diamond from getting Stolen, Switched or Swapped!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lastly, listen to your Gut!<\/h2>\n

\nYour instincts don’t lie<\/strong>. If you sense red flags, or something doesn’t seem right, DON’T LEAVE YOUR STONE! <\/strong>Take it somewhere else!<\/p>\n

\nPlus, you can always check with the BBB<\/a> to see what the Store’s Ratings are and what other customers have reported<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

The Bottom Line:<\/h2>\n

\nLearn what your Diamond is first, and then realize that if you hand the Jeweler a Dirty Diamond, and it comes back ultra clean, then YES, it WILL look different!<\/strong> That just makes sense! You’d be surprised at how many customers forget what a clean Diamond looks like. “My Diamond didn’t look like this!<\/strong>” Sigh!<\/p>\n

\nSo Clean your Stone! <\/strong>Then Scope it! Study your unique Flaws!<\/p>\n

\nEvery Diamond has their own particular “Finger Print<\/strong>“. Every Diamond and every Map of Inclusions is different! There is usually at least one specific Characteristic that you can Find and Memorize!<\/p>\n

\nAnd when you get your Diamond Ring back, don’t just walk out the door<\/strong>… Go back over to their Microscope (ask “Can I take a closer look at it under your Microscope?<\/strong>“), and look for your Flaws and Imperfections again. Make sure that it’s your Stone BEFORE<\/strong> you leave the Store. Otherwise you’re SOL!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nSo take the time to learn your Stone. Take the time to Microscope it before<\/strong> and after<\/strong>, and if you have a Laser Inscribed Stone<\/strong>, all the better!<\/p>\n

\nThat’s the best way to protect yourself and your merchandise! (As well as making sure you have it fully Insured<\/strong> – just in case!)<\/p>\n

Really!<\/h2>\n

\nWhen was the last time you Scoped your Diamond?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nDon’t you think it’s worth a second look?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Customers get very nervous at having to leave their Diamonds with a Jewelry Store, even for a simple Cleaning and Polishing. And especially if it’s a Large Diamond Solitaire, Engagement Ring or Bridal Set. Customers [Read More…]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5784,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,3,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5769","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diamond-guide","category-diamonds","category-jewelry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5769"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5769"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5769\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5784"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5769"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5769"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5769"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}