Undercover Footage Shows Some Jewelers Tampering with Diamonds
July 19th, 2013 by Noam Flint
Purchasing a diamond is no small order. Most people save up for months or even years to be able to purchase a beautiful diamond engagement ring or another sparkling stone at different milestones in their lives. Because of this, those in the market for white or colored diamonds tend to rely on the expertise of professional jewelers. While in most cases professionals will be honest about the clarity, color, cut and carats of each gemstone, a recent undercover piece proved that not everyone is so trustworthy.
Diamond dilemma – undercover footage shows some jewelers from the NYC Diamond District tampering with gemstones
ABC show “The Lookout,” recently visited two jewelers in the popular New York Diamond District to see if they were conducting business fairly. ABC News correspondent Dan Harris brought along gem and jewelry expert Antoinette Matlins to help with the investigation. Wearing disguises and holding hidden cameras, the duo focused their assignment on fracture-filled diamonds, lower clarity stones that have multiple cracks that are often times filled with a lead-glass mixture to boost their shine and overall appearance.
From the meetings, it was discovered that both jewelers were selling fracture-filled diamonds without full disclosure. Doing so means they were able to sell less-than-perfect gems for marked-up prices, leaving consumers with possible problems down the line. Matlins said fracture-filled diamonds are not permanently fixed, so if a person has a ring and it’s sent out for a repair, it could come back with issues – especially since high heat levels – like that from a welding touch – can melt the glass and damage the diamond.
In gems you get what you pay for… or less…
A jeweler that operates at full-disclosure would be able to inform a person buying a fracture-filled diamond to alert a repair person of the diamond’s quality so the gemstone can be removed prior to any changes. So, while a person can buy a larger diamond for less when purchasing a fracture-filled gemstone, it’s important to locate reputable jewelers when doing so.
As stated by Antoinette Matlins during the footage, there are no free gifts. However, saying that in gems you get what you pay for or less is a bit harsh. There are great and easy steps you can take to save money on diamonds and if you follow these safety tips you will be in the clear!
Here is the part two of the video, how do the jewelers respond to the findings:
