Top 10 Dirty Tricks in Jewelry Business
It can never be emphasized enough how important it is to guard your diamonds, gemstones and jewelry possessions against any kind of fraudulent practices in jewelry business. And it is also true in jewelry business or in any business for that matter, that there can be countless number of ways to cheat a person. Cheating is an art in itself, and so is the act of preventing oneself from being cheated.So someone in my position has very little part to play. It is you who has to remain on guard at all times. But I can give you the most frequently seen ways I have seen over the years in which tricksters try to pry innocent customers off their jewelry. So here they are; enjoy and learn at the same time:
‘Come Back Later‘ – the most frequently used one, mostly preceded by an ‘I’m very busy right now’. What he is gonna do is switch the real ones for fakes. So what you need to do is to leave the appraiser.
‘Gotta pop it‘ – the second most frequently used one. The argument is generally that he can’t value it while the diamond or gemstone is mounted – he needs to pop it to get a better look. You know what the real motive is most of the time – he wants to pull a switcheroo again. Anyway, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. Tell him to do it here in front if he has to or else you will look for another appraiser.
Free cleaning – First of all, your jewelry, diamond or gemstone should be cleaned before you go to him. If you haven’t or don’t mind another round of cleaning, tell him you want to keep your jewelry in sight.
‘Please wait in the waiting room‘ – He will tell something about security of other clients that he has got just laying around - another piece of nonsense. The other clients may be stupid, but you are not. I am repeating it – your jewelry does not leave your sight, no matter what.
‘This must be J in color‘ – This might really happen. Appraisers do look at stuff and throw around guesstimates. You go to him so that he can use his equipment and find the right specifics of the diamond for you. This guy is either playing stupid or really is stupid. Either way, he is no good to you. Move along.
‘This weighs about a quarter of an ounce‘ – there might be people who can tell the weight by just holding a piece of jewelry. You need a guy who will use the necessary equipment and give precise answers.
‘It’s a clean stone‘ – look at the vague answers! This guy is being too lazy. You want the gemstone and diamond imperfections graded and plotted, or you will find someone else who is ready to do that.
‘I’ll have to raise my fee‘ – in Jewelry business, a word is a word. If an appraiser looks at your jewelry and talks about raising his fee, you need to walk.
‘That’s none of your business‘ – anything and everything that is related to your jewelry is your business. If, say you ask for the Rap value of a diamond and the appraiser gives that kinda reply, then just say, ‘Then my diamond is none of your business’.
‘You’ve been robbed‘ – this is the part where a jeweler looks at your diamond and immediately says, ‘You’ve been robbed. This thing is worthless. But still I can get it off your hand’. Get the hell out of that place – he is the guy trying to rob you.
Please note - The popular phrases have been directly taken from the best seller Diamonds for Profit by world famous gemologist Fred Cuellar. These excerpts are being used for instructional purposes only.
