Jewelry Repair Tips on Avoiding Diamond Switching by Jewelers

I’m sure that you have heard of jewelers switching diamond. It’s really an alarm! But you should know that only seldom unscrupulous jewelers do such things, because it takes some time, and more importantly, takes the risk of ruining good reputation. Even so, it’s important for us to be guarded against. Next time when you leave your diamond jewelry for jewelers, you will be less worried about diamond switching if you keep the following repair tips in mind.

Get Your Diamond GIA Certified

When you buy diamond jewelry, if the diamond is certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), there will be a special serial numbers engraved in your diamond. You can’t see the number without a powerful loupe or a microscope, but you should have the number on the insurance paperwork.
This is your best protection against diamond switching. When you leave your diamond jewelry to the jeweler, ask the jeweler to check the serial number on your diamond and check it again at the time of receiving.

Show Your Attention

Before leaving your diamond jewelry, you should examine your diamond carefully in the presence of the jeweler and make sure they know that you take note of any special marks or inclusions on your diamond.
The purpose of doing this is to show that you are paying attention to your diamond. If the jeweler intends to switch your diamond, they will think twice.

Ask For a Detailed Receipt and a Plotting

You should ask for a detailed description about your diamond listed on your receipt that states the carat weight, color, clarity grade and the serial number. A plotting is also demanded if necessary. A plotting is a detailed drawing of your diamond which shows the shape, size, the amount and location of inclusions. You and the jeweler should both have a copy of the plotting.
Most jewelers will do this with pleasure because it protects both parties. The jeweler can’t switch the diamond and the consumer can’t say the diamond is larger or better.

Find a Trusted Jeweler

Another good practice to prevent diamond switching is to find a trusted jeweler which has a recognized good reputation. It will minimize the possibility that you get scammed.
Look for a sign that signifies the jeweler is a member of Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) or American Gem Society (AGS). Members of these organizations operate under the highest standards. They have very strict guide lines and requirements that the jewelers must uphold.
As members of these organizations, the jewelers must proudly display their memberships. So you can easily see the sign on the window or the wall. If you don’t see the sign, ask the jeweler if they are members and require seeing the proof of membership.
As I said at the beginning, most jewelers won’t switch diamonds because it takes a long time to build a trusted reputation. So it won’t be difficult to find well-established jewelry stores which even have been passed on from generation to generation.

I hope these jewelry safe repair tips can be helpful if you are afraid of diamond switching. At last, please notice that if the jeweler or anybody attempts to make you feel embarrassed for double checking your diamond, ignore them! You have the right to know that the diamond is the one you paid for!