Have you ever left your diamond ring at a jewelry store for
repair?
If so, did you have a little twinge wondering if it would be
alright? You may have heard a story about a jeweler switching stones.
Most jewelers are very honest and these things rarely
happen, but how do you protect yourself?
The best way is to know what your diamond looks like under
magnification.
Diamonds may have inclusions (internal characteristics) and/or
blemishes (external characteristics). Basically it is anything you can see
within or on the surface of the diamond.
For example, you may see something that looks like a
feather, or a cloud, or a light or dark crystal.
These characteristics are like a fingerprint. They never
change.
If you have a laboratory certificate, you will see a
plotting which is a drawing of the inclusions and blemishes.
If you don’t have a laboratory certificate, a qualified
appraiser can do a plotting for you on your appraisal. Usually a plotting is done on diamonds one
carat or larger, and is generally not done for a diamond that is highly
included.
Some diamonds with laboratory reports have a laser
inscription of a serial number on the girdle. The girdle area is the outer
perimeter of the diamond. This is an
additional layer of protection however, if someone was motivated, the serial
number could be polished out. The only thing that never changes are the
inclusions and blemishes.
So, hopefully, you are working with a jeweler you know and
trust. But if you’re are working with
someone new, or have any concerns, ask them if you may see your diamond under
the microscope before you leave it, and when you pick it up. You can compare it to your plotting, or if
you don’t have one, just remember one of the prominent characteristics so that
you will feel more secure.
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