Bollyball

I recently purchased what I am told is a beautiful diamond from a Melbourne internet company.
after shopping around and gathering a huge amount of information online. from Pricescope ,Diamond talk and Diamond review ,we decided that the cut was critical and that the stone had to be certified, laser inscribed and all the other protection advised by the contributors to these sites I mentioned.
The one thing that we missed and it only dawned on us now is.
We never enjoyed the experience. YES it was a little cheaper. YES we got what we wanted although we had to pay for it upfront, before seeing it. And YES we are generally happy. BUT we miss the experience of it all. How can I explain it we had the wedding and the whole thing is official but you never had the ceremony, the party the dance the cake or the pictures ,can you see what I mean. YES we save a little money, BUT buying the stone online from this company was the most sterile experience and I can honestly say I would never ever do it again. NOT because anything went wrong or that we are unhappy . BUT as newly engaged couple we miss out on the experience, It is like buying a dress you have never seen or fitted. or choosing music with out hearing it all. I think that the internet is fantastic don't get me wrong . BUT it is for items like plasma screens, NOT meaningful life time personal gifts. We got a good deal but we lost out on the experience and I for one am sorry for that. If price is all that matters I recommend the internet buying. BUT I missed out on the experiences of the whole wedding. It was as I said. The most STERILE thing I have done and I am SORRY for it.

IT'S the ultimate symbol of romance, used to cement a relationship or repair one.

And with spring traditionally the time when lovers make their commitments, it's worth knowing whether those diamonds in your ring - or your belly button or your teeth - are worth what you paid for them.

The Jewellers Association of Australia (JAA) said a buyer of a diamond worth more than $3000 should get a valuation from a registered valuer independent of the store you bought it from.

"A valuation written on the store letterhead doesn't give you peace of mind," JAA's chief executive officer Ian Hadassin said.

He said people don't buy diamonds as as investment but for the mystery and romance of the stone as they are so beautiful.

Even so, care should be taken when buying, he said, and for any diamond that weighs more than 0.4 of a carat, you should get an independent grading certificate that gives technical details of the diamond's cut, clarity, colour and carat.

These four Cs are the key to whether you are getting value for money when you buy.

The brilliance of a diamond depends on its cut but you shouldn't confuse the cut with the shape. Whether it's round, square cut or pear shaped, that's just the aesthetic. It's the cut that creates the diamond's reflective qualities. It's what gives the diamond its brilliance.

Most diamonds have flaws, and most often they're not visible to the naked eye. These flaws are either inside the stone (called inclusions), or on the surface (a blemish).

Diamonds with no or few flaws are the most highly prized as the clarity of the stone is greater, making them more brilliant.

Most flaws aren't visible to the naked eye. But if you see a flaw, either a bubble on the surface, or a crack, it's not worth buying.

A diamond with no colour allows more light through that a coloured one, so it has the greatest sparkle. Colourless or white diamonds are very rare and are the most expensive. More common are diamonds that have a faint or very light yellow tinge.

Coloured diamonds, for example from blue to green to bright yellow, can be more valuable because of their colours.

A carat is a diamond's weight with one carat equal to 0.2g. Larger diamonds are very rare and therefore more expensive.

Mr Hadassin said that if you are spending a lot of money, it is wise to buy unset diamonds, get a grading certificate to confirm their qualities and then have the gems set.

"The colour may be affected by the setting, and the setting may cover up flaws," he said.

He said you can buy unset diamonds from jewellers, some wholesalers or over the internet.

The recent film Blood Diamond, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, highlighted the situation in parts of Africa where rebels can enslave local communities and force then to mine the diamonds to pay for their cause.

Mr Hadassin said that the diamond industry has done a good job of quarantining blood, or conflict diamonds and every diamonds is documented.

"On the invoice you get from the jeweller and on the grading certificate there should be a clause stating that these diamonds are conflict free."

He said that every diamond had its own fingerprint and diamond experts can tell where they come from.

As romantic as they are now, diamonds have a brutal history. They are formed deep underground under intense heat and pressure over hundreds of millions of years and pushed to the surface by volcanic activity.

About 250 tonnes of ore has to be mined to produce just one carat of rough diamond, and then a rough diamond can lose up to 60 per cent of its weight when it is cut.

As well, only about a quarter of rough diamonds are suitable for cutting (the rejects are used in industry because they are so tough they are almost impossible to chip or crack and are extremely resistant to heat and chemicals), which explains why they are rare and expensive.



Bright buys

THE JAA's Ian Hadassin offers these tips to people about to buy diamonds.

Shop around, but make sure you are comparing apples with apples.

If you are buying a large diamond or anything that is worth $1000 or more, stay away from companies that do not offer an independent valuation and a grading certificate.

It is better to buy an unset diamond because flaws cannot be hidden.

If an offer seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

Jogia diamonds uses bauer gemlabs http://www.diamondsandopals.com/diamonds/ which is owned by Ronnie Bauer who also owns Klepner’s Fine Antique Jewellers and Valuers http://www.bauergemlabs.com.au/pages/links.html, this is a gross conflict of interest. you should be careful when buying from people who are involved in unethical behaviour, like these companies.

Best place to buy in USA is bluenile.com or whiteflash.com/ and in Australia diamondimports.com.au

All of these sites are reliable and have the goods.

http://www.klepners.com.au/history.php Klepner's was founded in 1889 in Vienna by Samuel Klepner and it became a flourishing business near the famous Prater. His son Ignas took over the running of the firm but with the rise of the Nazis in 1933, the Klepner family emigrated to Melbourne, Australia. Klepner's Jewellers opened in the Victoria Hotel where it operated for 65 years until 1999, when the business moved to its current location at 324 Little Collins Street. In 1950 Igna's son Frank took over the running of the firm until 1977 when, on his retirement, the business passed to Henny and Ronnie Bauer and Albert and Claire Cymons. Klepner's has established itself as one of Melbourne's leading antique jewellers. We pride ourselves on the extensive range of services that we provide and the personalised attention we give our clients.

So does diamondexchange in Melbourne Australia they also laser the stones themselves??????

Don't be fooled by official-looking certificates from local "certified gemologist" gem labs. They are probably owned by the store and exaggerate the grades to make the prices look good. Don't accept certificates from labs with familiar-sounding names like "Gemological Institutions of America" (instead of Gemological Institute of America), or American Gemological Services (instead of American Gemological Society). If it is not from the true GIA, AGS or EGL gem labs as described on other pages of our site, don't believe it. These respected institutions have spent millions of dollars toward advanced equipment and staff training to produce the most reliable and consistent (though not totally infallible) grading reports.

Welcome to Klepners
For over one hundred years, Klepner’s Fine Antique Jewellers and Valuers since 1889 have provided the very best in jewellery. Specialising in antique and period pieces, Klepner’s can handle all of your jewellery needs including valuations and repairs. On this site you'll find jewellery, diamonds and wedding rings in our comprehensive online jewellery store as well as information about our history and store by clicking one of the links above.
History
Klepner's was founded in 1889 in Vienna by Samuel Klepner and it became a flourishing business near the famous Prater. His son Ignas took over the running of the firm but with the rise of the Nazis in 1933, the Klepner family emigrated to Melbourne, Australia. Klepner's Jewellers opened in the Victoria Hotel where it operated for 65 years until 1999, when the business moved to its current location at 324 Little Collins Street. In 1950 Igna's son Frank took over the running of the firm until 1977 when, on his retirement, the business passed to Henny and Ronnie Bauer and Albert and Claire Cymons. Klepner's has established itself as one of Melbourne's leading antique jewellers. We pride ourselves on the extensive range of services that we provide and the personalised attention we give our clients.

If you have already bought a stone from Jogia what shoild you do now?

Henny and Ronnie Bauer and Albert and Claire Cymons. own Klepner’s jewellers. Ronnie Bauer also owns Bauer Gemmological Laboratories. Bauer Gemmological Laboratories certify diamonds for Jogia diamonds in Perth and Diamond Exchange in Melbourne.

Take the stone to another jeweller to have it checked as soon as you can, the longer you leave it the bigger the problem!

Diamond Scams

New diamond scams seems to crop up every few months. some have been with us for ages. Then there is trying to determine the difference between fraud, marketing hype and sales tactic.

One of the determinations is full disclosure.

Don't be shy about asking very specific and pointed questions. If a merchant refuses to answer, or answers a question you didn't ask ... run like the wind!

We will continue to generate a list of questions you might consider asking. For now, these might help.
Has this diamond been subjected to any enhancement or treatment?
Does this diamond have a certificate? Issued by whom?
Does the certificate state the same clarity, color and carat weight that you are claiming/advertising?
Some Common Scams, Hypes and Tactics

Shift While negotiating a price on a $7,500 diamond, you offer $6,500. Salesman takes the diamond to the back and returns, offering the diamond at $6,500. Did he do you a favor? No! He switched to a lower grade diamond. Most people won't notice.

Coded Tags The price tags on rings have no prices, just alphabetic codes. Why? Walk away!

Cruise the Caribbean but Don't Buy Gems You are likely to get great "deals" and cubic zirconia instead of diamonds, You have little or no consumer protection!

Switcheroo Cleaning or repair requires you leaving your diamond. Take along a copy of your certificate. Verify with the merchant that your diamond is the on in the cert. Check the diamond the merchant gives you back to the cert.

Better yet, have your diamond laser engraved with a serial number. Get your own black, 10X loupe and learn how to use the loupe and read the serial number

If you think you have been victimized with a switch, call the police while at the store. Mistakes do happen but most switches are deliberate. When shopping for jewelry services, look for reputation, not price.

Substitutes and Simulants
Moissanite - is not only a substitute, but is a manufactured stone as well. But beware; diamond testers will show moissanite as diamond. Held under the flame of a match, Moissanite should turn green until the flame is removed.

Another test, with your handy black 10X loupe. Look down through the table at the facet junctions on the pavilion. if the facet junctions look slightly blurred or "doubled", it isn't diamond. Moissanite is doubly refractive. Diamond is singly refractive.
Black velvet is the merchant's friend, not yours. A black background will make a yellow diamond appear several grades whiter.

Cut to Match a Certificate Fraudster buys a gem, say a 2 carat round brilliant VVS1-H, and gets the gem graded at a respected lab. Then he sells the diamond in the wholesale market where dealers are comfortable buying diamonds without certs.

Next, Fraudster buys a 2.1 carat VS2-K, very similar in size and shape to the VVS1 he sold.

Fraudster takes the VS2 to a cutter and has it re-cut to the exact proportions and size that are on the certificate.

Then Fraudster sells the VS2 to an unsuspecting person who is trusting the certificate. There is a big difference in price between a VVS1-H and a VS2-K

Blue White and Other Empty Terms "This is a blue-white," s/he says. But it doesn't mean anything. he may be talking about the ultraviolet fluorescence. If you hear "blue white" ... yep, run!

Bait and Switch a cheaply advertised diamond has already been sold when you get there. Bethcha the guy has another, very similar, but significantly more expensive. Walk away.

Bumping the Grade For some reason, the FTC apparently allows merchants to be in error by one color grade and one clarity grade. I guess I'm dumb, but if s/he has a cert, why? That can mean $1,000 or more on a moderate engagement ring.

Ask to see the cert on a diamond as soon as you are interested. If the merchant hesitates, so should you. If the cert isn't GIA, AGS or EGL, don't trust it.

Good at Fractions, Lousy at Decimals If a merchant quoted a diamond as 3/4 carat and it is really might be a .69. That can be a difference of several hundred $$$.

Laser Drilled Diamonds Lasers can drill into diamonds and burn out dark spots. Problem is, they leave tracks, sort of like tiny white worm holes. The drill holes weaken the diamond and reduce the value. Any of the good grading labs will show laser drilling on the cert. Some labs won't even grade laser drilled. If in doubt, ask.

In-house Appraisals Don't let any dealer you are thinking about buying from appraise the diamond nor make a referral to an appraiser. Too much opportunity for abuse.

Hiding the Flaws Setters like to hide flaws under the prongs. It's a good idea. But it's a bad idea to try to judge a set diamond. Look at any prospective purchase out of the setting.

Altered Certificates If the diamond grade on a cert has been altered and the cert is not laminated, or if the corners of the lamination is frayed, don't trust it. And it's probably a good idea to walk.

Deceptive Lab Certificates Certificates from labs that sound like reputable labs shouldn't be trusted. Neither should any merchant who presents one. Examples might be "Gemological Institutions of America" or "American Gemological Services.

No Return of Your Deposit If a merchant suggests that you leave a deposit and take a diamond for an appraisal, make sure you can get your deposit back when the gem is returned. Otherwise you may only be given credit on another purchase

A twist on this is to be given a lesser grade diamond than the one you signed for. Then it could be you who is accused of fraud when you try to return the "wrong" diamond.

Chemical Color Coatings can make a diamond appear whiter, especially a tiny blue spot on the pavilion or culet. If you suspect something, ask that the diamond be ultrasonic washed in your presence. If they balk, so should you.

I was offered a diamond from MDX with a MGR report is this also a scam certificate? or is it reel

Something all consumers of jewellery and specifically diamond jewellery should know.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CHEAP GOLD OR DIAMONDS.

Gold is traded every day at world gold prices, the same is true for diamonds, they trade on the Rappaport diamond list, this list is not available to the public because it is a true wholesale list.

BUT all diamonds have a price.

If you are told it is a cheap diamond what it actually means is that it is an inferior diamond, it has been misgraded or misrepresented. SIMPLE AS THAT.

The next time you get offered a cheap diamond or cheap gold ask your self WHY.

Michael Cohen

Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia
Suite 1, Level 1
133 Castlereagh Street
Sydney, 2000
Tel: 02 9261 2104
Fax: 02 9261 4263
www.dcla.com.au
info@dcla.com.au

I bought my stone at diamondimports.
This is by far the best site in Autralia, I looked at every site and was give a different story as I am sure we all are. These guys are honest and upfront.

CAUTION Diamond Certificate Upgrades and Precautions

Diamond Imports believes in
FAIR TRADING.

When comparing or purchasing diamonds we recommend the following diamonds certified by by other diamond grading labs be re certified by DCLA, GIA, HRD, AGS or G Cal.

If the diamond is already certified by one of these labs then you are ready to make a decision based on honest ethics.

Anyone selling you a diamond from their stock that you can actually view without one of the four labs mentioned is taking a risk.

Our preference is DCLA because
they are triple A.

1) Accurate
2) Accredited
3) Australian

It is interesting to compare diamond lab certificates. DCLA always has the most vital specifications recorded and easiest to understand.

If someone is selling you a diamond in a ring please ensure they are prepared to
certify and cold laser
inscribe the diamond for free.

Ensure the COLD laser inscription matches the number on the grading report/ certificate.

When viewing the diamond through a 10x eye glass/ loupe request the sales person can explain to you the differences between an excellent, very good,good and fair/medium cut.

My advice also is for you to subtley question the credentials of the sales person and ask how long they have been in the business and where did they aquire their diamond trading expertise from.

If your are undecided request a copy of the certificate with the price confirmed including GST before leaving.

Do not buy a diamond sold to you on a price spread sheet.

You want to see and aquire a high quality diamond, not a commodity, for a nice ring.

Good Hunting,

Daniel F Katz
www.diamondimports.com.au
ALL OUR DIAMONDS ARE IN STOCK
Tel :+61 2 9251 4444
Fax :+61 2 9252 5547

How do I you know the stone you bought is a branded diamond and NOT just another trumpeted up brand designed to cost you more?

Well in Australia there are brands like "hearts on fire", "Passion8" or "Rand" these are in fact brands.

The way you can tell is simple they are backed up by site holders which are official customers of the DTC. Or Canada mark which is BHP. Names that sound fancy or like reel brands are just knock offs and are not worth more.

Be careful of brands that have names that are made to sound like "hearts of fire" which is a reel brand. Unethical diamonds retailers use these technique to catch you,

Take care and check before you buy, if it does not appear on multiple sites it is not a braded diamond.

If you are buying on the net, make sure you are buying from a legitimate seller. A good way to distinguish is buy the quality of the certificates they offer. If they sell stones with GIA, DCLA, AGS, HRD. And they have the stones in stock you are safe. If not, then shop somewhere else. Never pay upfront! you must see the stone first!!!!!

Diamond in the rough
A diamond is a pretty big investment and let’s face it, unless you purchase a rather large one chances are you won’t be able to see if it’s flawed, miscoloured or cut badly. Plus there are stones that pretend to be the real deal – could you tell a mossanite or quarts apart? If this worries you, fear not; Modern Wedding found a laboratory that can set your heart to rest…

The knight in shining lab coat
The Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia (DCLA) is here to protect you when you buy your sparkling rock. Their expertise lies in grading diamonds according to the 4Cs (which determine the quality and value of a diamond), so you know what you’re getting and can make sure that you don’t get ripped off. Additionally as an independent grading laboratory the DCLA provides you with an unbiased, accurate, expert grading which meets the international standard – and a certificate to go along with it!

Paper trail
It’s not hard to understand why a diamond certificate is important – it is reassurance! But why should you get one from the DCLA? Well a diamond grading report is only as good as the laboratory it comes from, and the DCLA is recognised internationally by The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), The International Diamond Council (IDC) and The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) to name a few. Plus it has a few rather impressive advantages:

By the rules
At the DCLA all diamonds are graded to a recognised standard of reference – internationally recognised grading rules and diamond master sets for colour comparison (IDC Masterset and CIBJO C2 AU Masterset). Which means that you will know everything about your diamond, from its clarity to its cut, beyond a carat of a doubt!

Faking it
The laboratory has the equipment and skills necessary to ensure proficiency and enable the detection of simulants, synthetics and treatments. In fact the DCLA has the only equipment of its kind in Australia (DTC DiamondSure and DiamondView) to detect and exclude treated and synthetic diamonds. So you can be sure that your rock is a genuine girl’s best friend.

In the works
All of the diamond graders employed by the DCLA are internationally qualified (Multiple graders). Laboratory principals are third generation in the industry and have vast experience from mining, rough diamond pricing, manufacture (marking, sawing and polishing) through to grading polished diamonds. And, just to be meticulous, the DCLA provides constant grading conditions – multiple graders anonymously grade each diamond independently of each other.

Easy peasy
To put the icing on the cake, the DCLA is a local laboratory – so you can verify your diamond at any time you like. Plus for extra protection, as the owner of the diamond, you can also register it at www.dcla.com.au/registry or have it laser inscribed. The DCLA have a Photoscribe cold laser inscriber – the only laser guaranteed not to damage your stone!

Website: www.dcla.com.au and www.independentlycertifieddiamonds.com

Questions

How do I know that the diamond I buy is conflict free?

If the seller does not have the stone in stock and is selling a diamond from over seas, how can I be sure the diamond is conflict free?

If seller claims that the stone is from a legitimate source, but the stone has no paper work showing where the diamond came from. Could this be a Blood diamond?

I have been told that the majority of conflict diamonds originate from Liberia and Sierra Leone is this correct ?

If I buy a diamond from one of these countries should I get proof that it is conflict free or benefiting the people in those countries?

How can I be sure that the seller claiming to help the people of these war torn countries, is not exploiting the situation for their own profit?

Buying a diamond online. Be very careful of internet sites, that list BOGUS certificates along side international recognised certificates.in order to give them and there BOGUS certificates credibility.


Check if the certificates are in fact recognised, check the claims made by the seller.


If they are BOGUS certificates shop somewhere else.





See this link for more information on scams. http://www.diamondhelpers.com/ask/0040-scams.shtml

Mike Cohen
Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia
www.dcla.com.au

It is a requirement under JAA membership guidelines that complete disclosure of any criminal conviction to be stated.

http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/cases/wa/WASCA/2000/331.html?query=^jogia

Buying a diamond

So you are getting engaged and you want to show your union with a Diamond ring.

That's Great!

But how do you know what you are buying is really a diamond?

Well you go to a jeweller and you ask for one.

Ok!

But how do you know what the jeweller is selling you is in fact a diamond?

Well you go to a jeweller you trust and where you get a certificate or diamond grading report.

Fantastic!

But how do you know that the report or certificate is real?

Oh my!

Yes! you are quite right, how would you know?

The only way is to check the credentials of the Laboratory.

How do you do this?

The easiest way is to see which diamond governing bodies recognises the specific laboratory.

What if the laboratory that has certified the diamond is, NOT recognised?

Well then it is best NOT to buy that diamond. Rather find another stone from another store.



Bottom line, if the retailer, Jeweller or internet retailer, is selling diamonds with unrecognised,in-house or Non compliant certificates. then shop else where. You will be ripped of or short changed if you buy with out proper certificates.

For a list of laboratories that are recognised by the International diamond bodies see:

http://www.independentlycertifieddiamonds.com/

My advice is to take great care and do the research before you buy.take special care if you are buying in Melbourne.