{"id":5956,"date":"2018-10-12T11:25:59","date_gmt":"2018-10-12T15:25:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/?p=5956"},"modified":"2018-10-12T16:33:13","modified_gmt":"2018-10-12T20:33:13","slug":"diamonds-and-diamond-switching-jewelers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/diamonds-and-diamond-switching-jewelers\/","title":{"rendered":"DIAMONDS AND DIAMOND SWITCHING JEWELERS"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"blog-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Jeweler-Switched-Your-Diamond.gif\" alt=\"Jeweler Switched Your Diamond?\" title=\"Jeweler Switched Your Diamond?\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-5957\" \/><\/div>\n<p>You always hear about jewelers switching diamonds. <\/p>\n<p>\n<strong>It&#8217;s on the news<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<p>\n<strong>It&#8217;s online<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<p>\n<strong>It&#8217;s in the papers<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<p><h2>But is it really a cause for alarm?<\/h2>\n<p>\nSure it is. But also know <strong>jewelers don&#8217;t switch diamonds<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Individuals do. And truth be told, only a very few people would <strong>ever attempt such a feat<\/strong>. So it&#8217;s those couple of <strong>unscrupulous fools<\/strong> that give the rest of the jewelers a bad name.<\/p>\n<p>\nIt raises such a concern that customers are afraid and nervous to leave their diamonds behind for simple things like <strong>repairs, ring sizings, retippings and even polishings.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><h2>Can you blame them?<\/h2>\n<p>\n<strong>I don&#8217;t<\/strong>. I mean, a jeweler could switch out your nice, beautiful, expensive diamond for a lower quality diamond that&#8217;s full of inclusions; Sure. <strong>Would you know?<\/strong> Not likely.<\/p>\n<p>\nSo customers get nervous leaving their goods. And then they get excited picking them back up&#8230; So excited that they don&#8217;t even look at them closely enough. They put the items on and <strong>smile all the way out the door<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>\nAnd once they leave the store, <strong>it&#8217;s their word against the jeweler&#8217;s.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><h2>Right?<\/h2>\n<p>\n(Which is why you have to look closely at your items before and after you drop them off&#8230;)<\/p>\n<p>\nCustomers do have to be concerned, no doubt. <\/p>\n<p>\n<strong>But jewelers do as well. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><h2>It really is a two-way street<\/h2>\n<p>\nThink about it&#8230; How does a jeweler know that a customer didn&#8217;t take their ring elsewhere and have their diamond switched out? How do they know that they&#8217;re not <strong>trying to trick them?<\/strong> Can jewelers trust all customers? Nope. Not really. Scam artists are everywhere&#8230; <strong>This switching can go both ways<\/strong>. Scary, eh?<\/p>\n<p><h2>So what does a consumer do?<\/h2>\n<p>\nHow can you prevent yourself from becoming <strong>a victim of diamond switching?<\/strong> Can you ever trust a jeweler enough to leave your rings behind?<\/p>\n<p><h2>The answer is: YES!<\/h2>\n<p>\n<strong>Yes, you can trust your jeweler<\/strong>. Yes, you can leave your rings for repair. <\/p>\n<p>\nAnd, if you want to know the honest to God&#8217;s truth, most jewelers <strong>wouldn&#8217;t attempt to steal your diamonds anyway.<\/strong>  This is because most diamonds are either small in carat weight, or flawed (And jewelers already have <strong>tons of those diamonds<\/strong>).<\/p>\n<p>\nI know there is always a risk involved with a jeweler that could switch diamonds, but <strong>everything in life is like that<\/strong>. There are <strong>no true guarantees<\/strong>. You just have to be smart, do your homework, and be prepared.<\/p>\n<p>\n<strong>The number one way to keep from getting scammed is&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><h2>To know your diamond!<\/h2>\n<p>\n<strong>That&#8217;s it. <\/strong>To keep from having a jeweler switch your diamond, is by knowledge. <strong>Know your stone<\/strong>. Get familiar with it.<\/p>\n<p>\nKnow what <strong>quality <\/strong>it is. What the color, clarity, cut is&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>\nWhich also means, you&#8217;ll probably need a diamond report or an appraisal. That way you can learn what the <strong>inclusions <\/strong>in your diamond look like under a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2Edr9HQ\">microscope<\/a> or a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2kwSI5G\">10x jeweler&#8217;s loupe<\/a>, and where they are positioned.<\/p>\n<p><h2>Fingerprints:<\/h2>\n<p>\nEvery diamond has inclusions that are <strong>unique in nature<\/strong>. They have their own <strong>individual fingerprint<\/strong>, just like people. These characteristics make them different than any other diamond in the World.<\/p>\n<p>\nSo you&#8217;ll need to scope your diamond and <strong>search for those flaws<\/strong>. Spot where the inclusions are. If you <strong>memorize <\/strong>where they are, and what they look like, you&#8217;ll be able to <strong>identify your diamond later<\/strong>. Because inclusions don&#8217;t grow or shrink. They don&#8217;t change colors or fade. Those inclusions that are in the diamond now, will look like that <strong>forever<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><h2>What&#8217;s the plot?<\/h2>\n<p>\nIf you know what your inclusions look like, you&#8217;ll always be able to see them. This is true. And you can even <strong>make a drawing of these flaws<\/strong>&#8230; Identifying all the marks, black spots, lines, cloudy areas, pin-points&#8230; A map like this is called a <strong>diamond plot<\/strong>. Diamond plots lay out the inclusions in the stone like markers on a map.<\/p>\n<p><h2>But, there is a better way&#8230;<\/h2>\n<p>\nNo matter how hard some people try to read inclusions and see where they&#8217;re at, <strong>they often fail<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>\nThis is because it takes <strong>practice and experience<\/strong> to be able to understand the scribbles and symbols. At least enough to <strong>identify them from other stones<\/strong>. Most people are lucky if they can spot just a couple of these flaws.<\/p>\n<p>\n<strong>So what&#8217;s a better way?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><h2>Certification&#8230;<\/h2>\n<p>\n<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesallen.com\/loose-diamonds\/round-cut\/?Color=F,E,D&#038;Cut=Ideal,TrueHearts&#038;Clarity=VS2,VS1,VVS2,VVS1,IF&#038;PriceFrom=200&#038;PriceTo=999000&#038;CaratFrom=1.00&#038;CaratTo=15.00&#038;Sort=Price&#038;Polish=EX&#038;Symmetry=EX&#038;Lab=GIA&#038;Flour=None?a_aid=JSDG\">(Buy a GIA certified diamond HERE!)<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\nCertified diamonds are <strong>proof of your diamond&#8217;s quality<\/strong>. It&#8217;s not just some jeweler telling you what that diamond is. It&#8217;s an <strong>independent appraiser<\/strong> accurately and expertly judging your stone for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/diamond-cut\/\">Cut<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/diamond-color\/\">Color<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/diamond-clarity\/\">Clarity<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/diamond-carat-weight\/\">Carat Weight<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><h2>Is this enough?<\/h2>\n<p>\n<strong>YES and NO.<\/strong> Just being certified isn&#8217;t always enough&#8230; <\/p>\n<p>\nThis is because a certificate could list that a diamond is a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesallen.com\/loose-diamonds\/round-cut\/?Color=F&#038;Cut=Ideal,TrueHearts&#038;Clarity=SI1&#038;PriceFrom=200&#038;PriceTo=999000&#038;CaratFrom=1.00&#038;CaratTo=15.00&#038;Sort=Price&#038;Polish=EX&#038;Symmetry=EX&#038;Lab=GIA&#038;Flour=None?a_aid=JSDG\">brilliant cut diamond, with SI1 clarity, and F color<\/a> (great quality). But you know what? There&#8217;s hundreds and thousands of diamonds that are SI1, F&#8230; The reports all say the <strong>same thing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>\nSo how does that particular certificate really prove that the diamond you&#8217;re looking at is really the diamond you bought?<\/p>\n<p><h2>Easy!<\/h2>\n<p>\nFirst off, buy a diamond with a certificate that also has a professional plot of the inclusions on it. Some certificates have these, <strong>others don&#8217;t! <\/strong>Buy a diamond that does have one (<strong>most GIA certified diamonds over 1.00 carat do<\/strong>). Those identifying flaws are the diamond&#8217;s fingerprint. Those markings are 100% proof of ID. <\/p>\n<p>\n<strong>What&#8217;s BETTER?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><h2>Laser inscriptions!<\/h2>\n<p>\n<strong>Buying a diamond that&#8217;s also laser-inscribed is the best way.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\nLaser inscriptions are the best way in the World to <strong>guarantee you get your diamond back<\/strong>. Laser-inscribed diamonds actually have the <strong>certificate number etched<\/strong> into the side of the stone (see <strong>picture<\/strong>).<\/p>\n<p>\nMatch the numbers on the diamond up with <strong>the numbers on the report<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><h2>BINGO! THAT&#8217;S A MATCH!<\/h2>\n<p>\nThe diamond girdle, the edge, that little rim that runs around the outside of your diamond, holds those little microscopic numbers <strong>and will be there forever<\/strong>. Those numbers should match the numbers on the certificate and<strong> there&#8217;s no way to fake those<\/strong> (and you can also <strong>verify those numbers<\/strong> with <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gia.edu\/report-check-landing\">GIA&#8217;s report check HERE<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>\nLaser-inscribed numbers are permanent and last a lifetime. They will <strong>help you identify your diamond always<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><h2>So scope your diamond:<\/h2>\n<p>\nWhen you take your diamond into a jeweler, <strong>scope it<\/strong>. Look for your set of <strong>numbers<\/strong>. When you get your diamond back from the jeweler, <strong>scope it again <\/strong>and find those numbers. You&#8217;ll then know <strong>without a doubt<\/strong> that it is your diamond and that <strong>your diamond wasn&#8217;t switched.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\nSo if you want to go home happy and smiling, buy a diamond that&#8217;s certified by GIA, and has a <strong>laser-inscription.<\/strong> <\/p>\n<p>\nLaser-inscribed diamonds are well worth the investment and <strong>well worth the peace of mind.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\n<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesallen.com\/loose-diamonds\/round-cut\/?Color=F,E,D&#038;Cut=Ideal,TrueHearts&#038;Clarity=SI1,VS2,VS1,VVS2,VVS1,IF,FL&#038;PriceFrom=200&#038;PriceTo=999000&#038;CaratFrom=1.00&#038;CaratTo=15.00&#038;Sort=Price&#038;Polish=EX&#038;Symmetry=EX&#038;Lab=GIA&#038;Flour=None?a_aid=JSDG\">Check out these incredible GIA certified diamonds here!<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n<strong>Cheers! :)<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>You always hear about jewelers switching diamonds. It&#8217;s on the news. It&#8217;s online. It&#8217;s in the papers. But is it really a cause for alarm? Sure it is. But also know jewelers don&#8217;t switch diamonds. <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/diamonds-and-diamond-switching-jewelers\/\" title=\"DIAMONDS AND DIAMOND SWITCHING JEWELERS\">[Read More&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5957,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,29,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-certification","category-diamond-guide","category-diamonds"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5956"}],"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=5956"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5956\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5956"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}