Great Undercover Piece from ABC News

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ame

ame

O.G.
Mar 22, 2007
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1,039
#1
This is a REALLY interesting piece to watch, especially for people who like to shop in "diamond districts" in search of a great "deal." There are amazing vendors in those districts, though they're usually not on the lower floors, and they're generally by appointment only.

http://abcnews.go.com/watch/nightline/SH5584743/VDKA0_espeu0ii/the-lookout-710

Now, to be fair, many people are happy with a CE diamond, and choose them to get a larger stone for the money. Not all CE diamond companies use leaded glass, either, but many do. But they go there willingly and are not duped, and this shows that sometimes a buyer gets duped without knowing what they're buying. I admit I yelped a few times watching this. This is not indicative of all sellers and all selling situations, but it's certainly very interesting.

The woman playing the "mom" is incredibly well respected, so I love that she's so helpful and sharing so much info with the world in this piece.
 
#2
ame said:
This is a REALLY interesting piece to watch, especially for people who like to shop in "diamond districts" in search of a great "deal." There are amazing vendors in those districts, though they're usually not on the lower floors, and they're generally by appointment only.

http://abcnews.go.com/watch/nightline/SH5584743/VDKA0_espeu0ii/the-lookout-710

Now, to be fair, many people are happy with a CE diamond, and choose them to get a larger stone for the money. Not all CE diamond companies use leaded glass, either, but many do. But they go there willingly and are not duped, and this shows that sometimes a buyer gets duped without knowing what they're buying. I admit I yelped a few times watching this. This is not indicative of all sellers and all selling situations, but it's certainly very interesting.

The woman playing the "mom" is incredibly well respected, so I love that she's so helpful and sharing so much info with the world in this piece.
Click to expand...

I couldn't watch it because i'm not in the US? it sounds interesting!
 
#6
CE diamonds are clarity enhanced. That means they take a low clarity stone usually with cracks or fractures and fill those with leaded glass, sometimes silicones, or similar substances to conceal those imperfections. A legit jewelry store discloses that and it's always noted on a legit report and viewable under magnification. The big thing to note about these is that they cannot be heated, so if you take your ring for service, the heat from the torch will heat the substance and make the issue they were covering up worse when the sunstance melts, or worse.
 
#10
I saw part of it. I thought the suppliers were pretty clear that the stones were clarity enhanced. I know they could have been MORE forthright, but it seems to me that if you're dropping thousands of dollars, you could at least google the term if you don't know what it means.

Do CE stones have a GIA type cert at all?
 
#11
Wow.. learn something new and horrifying every day! Thanks for sharing this. I don't ever go to diamond districts or even jewelers that I don't know, but it is still very empowering to have this information.
 
#12
there are a lot of jewelers out there like this, and not just for diamonds. go to a store like peoples or mappins (zales in the US) and look at their sapphires and other gemstones...trying to get them to admit that their gemstones are lab created is like pulling teeth!
 
#13
lanasyogamama said:
I saw part of it. I thought the suppliers were pretty clear that the stones were clarity enhanced. I know they could have been MORE forthright, but it seems to me that if you're dropping thousands of dollars, you could at least google the term if you don't know what it means.

Do CE stones have a GIA type cert at all?
Click to expand...

They can have reports, yes, but they're noted as being CE. And GIA does not "Certify" them. EGL will. Not all of these dealers sell stones from the more reputable labs though.

Neither of the first two were clear at ALL that they were CE stones. The second guy outright lied.

ETA: GIA will "certify" lasered, which means they treated black inclusions with a laser. They will not certify a filled diamond.
 
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#15
Just ask LOTS OF questions and bring a loupe when you buy diamonds and don't buy if you don't get a full refund of your money with that guarantee of a refund in writing... (NOT store credit)
 
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