Articles about References

I have been in the jewelry business since 1970 when I bought my first gemstone for a girlfriend in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Within days I was buying & selling gems and my lifelong love affair and study of gemology was started. I graduated from the Gemological Institute of America in 1975, and have been a proud member of the trade ever since.

What the report doesn’t show

 

To the naked eye a D Flawless diamond can appear identical to an F VS diamond if each has been cut the same way.  Alternately, less than one degree of variation in two diamonds’ facet measurements can make a noticeable difference in appearance - yet both could be issued the same cut grade from a given lab.

The average consumer is often shocked to learn that only a small percentage of “independent appraisers” are unbiased and/or current on continuing education, grading systems, equipment and standards. Since there are no requirements to be a jewelry appraiser, a vast number of so-called appraisers lack the knowledge, tools or independence to satisfy a well-educated consumer.

Diamonds are a difficult item to buy in the best of circumstances. For most shoppers it’s one of the most expensive purchases of their lives and it’s aggravatingly necessary to rely on the advice of salespeople who may not have your best interest at heart when they tell you that something is a fabulous deal. The Internet merchants come with their own risks of providing a credit card, waiting for delivery and the ever present possibility that you will need to make a return and collect a refund. Here are some tips on buying diamonds safely, both online and on the street.

How did I get here and how do I get finished with it without going to my attorney?

Are you in a situation where you made a purchase, had a piece of jewelry break, a diamond chip, a stone get lost, or some other issue with a jewelry purchase or a vendor problem? Do you feel like it’s you against the entire industry? Do you, as a vendor, feel fearful of an unhappy customer and wish to make a fair settlement, but just can’t seem to come to an agreement? Do you have a damage or loss claim which is creating a problem because you may not have the correct insurance coverage? Is your replacement stone or jewelry a fair replacement?