An easy buy diamonds guide.
misrepresentation (Jewelry fraud)

    While switching diamonds is outright fraud and theft, false representation can be equally dishonest. The Federal Trade Commission requires that a diamond be within one clarity and color grade of what it is originally sold as. Because of this, jewelers tend to "bump" the grade. For example, if a jeweler buys a stone as a SI1-H, he'll bump it up and sell it as a VS2-G. If you buy it as a VS2-G and have it appraised as a SI1-H, the dealer is legally covered, because he sold it within one grade of what it really is.

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    For many years it was common practice for jewelers to "exaggerate" a diamonds color and clarity by two grading levels. The differences were difficult to discern with the untrained eye and the jeweler had control over both the situation and environment. They determined the lighting, the stones used for comparison, if any, and the words used to describe the diamond. Many of these jewelers were willing to put everything in writing, often including a full "appraisal." Such dishonest practices often go undetected because most people assume when a seller is willing to "put it in writing," he or she is properly representing the item. Most buyers never bother to have the facts verified. In recent years more and more shoppers ask to see certified diamonds which limits the ability to misrepresent the diamonds grading.

    Advice: Always ask if the diamond is certified. If it isn't, insist that the sale is contingent on the stone being certified. The threat of certification should be enough to keep the jeweler from trying to bump the color and clarity grades.  

Jewelry fraud
  Switching
  Fake Diamonds
  Clarity Treated Diamonds
  Radiation Color Treatment
  Flaw Concealment
  Altering Certificates
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