Misrepresentation of Quality

Every legitimate laboratory and trained gemologist/appraiser will tell you that diamond grading is subjective. That being said, there are limits to subjectivity.

The accepted industry tolerance of clarity or color grading unmounted diamonds is within one grade (+/-). Mounted diamonds are graded within a tolerance of two grades (+/-) for color. Mounted diamonds are clarity graded with the stated grade being the highest possible grade and a tolerance for two grades lower (assuming that grade setting characteristics are hidden under prongs or bezels).

Gross misrepresentation of quality in diamond grading is usually tied closely to other shady selling practices. For instance, overstating the diamond grade/weight or metal quality makes it is easier for a seller to inflate the "retail price" of a piece of jewelry and offer the "substantial discounts" described in Marking Up to Mark Down.

Recently, a woman walked into Shelton Jewelers to have her new engagement ring sized. We inspected the ring and the diamond and discovered that her diamond had been fracture filled (see Treatments). She was not aware of this and we recommended that she talk to her fiancé as the ring was new and if it were sized, any warranty might be voided. Her fiancé called later and stated that the diamond was purchased over the internet and was represented as G in color and SI in clarity. (It was in fact J-K color, I-2 in clarity and fracture filled).

This ring was returned to the internet dealer and a second diamond ring was sent. After inspection, the replacement diamond appeared to be J-K in color, I-1 in clarity and not treated, still a far cry from the G / SI originally promised. The appraised value provided by the seller was in fact 2 to 3 times greater than the actual value of the rings sent.

Diamonds are often measured for proportion grading using Sarin technology that sends a laser through the diamond to measure dimensions and angles. Most people don’t realize that an unscrupulous diamond seller can recalibrate a Sarin machine to produce a better proportion analysis than the actual angles and measurements of the diamond would legitimately warrant.

Another deceptive selling practice made easier because of the internet, but certainly not unique to it, is the selling of a diamond of lesser quality paired with a respected lab grading report describing a higher quality diamond. In essence, the seller has switched the higher quality diamond represented in the report with one of lower quality.

This section does not begin to cover all of the aspects of diamonds needed to be an educated buyer. If you are interested, please also see diamond grading, feel good appraisals, investment diamonds, treatments and enhancements and lab reports among others.

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