Diamond Prices
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How to Avoid Diamond Scams: What to Know Before You Buy
A guide from inside the Antwerp trade
Buying a diamond is a big decision, and most of the risk is invisible to the buyer. The stone looks the same whether it was graded honestly or not, whether it was treated or not, whether the price is fair or doubled.
We have traded diamonds in Antwerp since 1986, and we see the same six tricks again and again. Below, each one is explained with an example and a simple way to protect yourself. Then come the warning signs of a dishonest seller, and how to check a trader’s reputation before you pay.
In this guide
The 6 most common diamond scams
01
Lab-grown diamonds sold as natural
Lab-grown diamonds have the same chemistry as natural ones, but they are made in weeks and cost a fraction of the price. A dishonest seller only has to stay quiet about the origin.
Example: A 1-carat stone with top color and clarity at a price that seems too good to be true. It turns out to be lab-grown, sold as natural.
How to protect yourself: Ask in writing whether the diamond is natural, and check that the grading report says so. Reputable labs such as GIA state the origin on every report and laser-inscribe lab-grown stones.
02
Overgrading
Overgrading means a diamond is described as better than it is. It usually comes with a report from a lenient or unknown lab.
Example: A stone sold as D color, VS1 clarity. Re-checked by GIA, it comes back two or three grades lower, and its value drops accordingly.
How to protect yourself: Only accept reports from labs the trade itself trusts, such as GIA. Compare the price with a stone of the same grades from that lab.
03
Undisclosed fracture filling
A filler is injected into a diamond to hide cracks and inclusions, so the stone looks cleaner than it is. Filled diamonds are worth far less and need special care, as heat can damage the filling.
Example: A diamond with surprisingly high clarity for its price. Under magnification, a flash of color in the cracks gives the filling away.
How to protect yourself: Ask directly: ‘Has this diamond been treated in any way?’ The answer belongs on the invoice and on the grading report.
04
Bait and switch
You are shown a beautiful diamond, but a lesser one is set in your ring or sent to you.
Example: You choose a stone in the shop, and the ring that comes back from the workshop holds a weaker one that you cannot tell apart by eye.
How to protect yourself: Most GIA-graded diamonds carry a tiny laser inscription on the girdle with the report number. Ask to see it under the loupe, before and after setting.
05
Investment price stories
Some sellers inflate the price by promising that the diamond will rise in value. The real problem is the retail markup: a diamond bought at full retail price usually resells for much less, often only about half.
Example: A stone sold at double its trade value, ‘because prices will go up’. When you want to sell, no dealer will pay anywhere near what you paid.
How to protect yourself: Ask what the stone would be worth in the trade, and compare with a Rapaport-based price list. Buying close to the trade price is what protects your money, not promises about the future.
06
Store credit traps
Some stores offer easy monthly payments to sell a diamond you cannot really afford. Interest and fees can add a lot to the real price.
Example: A $5,000 ring that ends up costing well over $6,500 once the credit agreement has run its course.
How to protect yourself: Read the full credit terms first, including the interest rate and total amount repayable. If they are not clear on paper, walk away.
How to recognize a dishonest seller
Most scams leave the same traces. Here are the warning signs we tell our own clients to look for:
- Too good to be trueNatural diamonds trade at a world market price. Discounts of ‘50% off’ or ‘70% off’ do not exist in the real trade; they only exist on prices that were inflated first.
- No transparencyAn honest trader explains the grading report, the price and the terms, and answers every question. Vague or evasive answers are a red flag.
- Pressure to decide now‘Another buyer is interested’ or ‘this price is only valid today’ are classic tactics. A serious seller lets you take your time.
- No address, no phoneA real business has a physical address you can visit and a phone number that answers. Be careful with sellers who exist only online.
- Bad or missing reviewsLook the seller up on Google Maps and Trustpilot. Many complaints, or no trace at all, should worry you.
- In-house grading reportsA report written by the shop that sells the stone is not independent. Insist on a report from a recognized lab.
How to check a trader’s reputation
- ReviewsStart with Google Maps and Trustpilot, the two platforms most clients use. Read the negative reviews too, and see how the business answers them.
- Diamond bourse membershipAntwerp has four diamond bourses, and their members must follow a strict code of conduct. Ask a trader which bourse or professional body they belong to; a real member will tell you straight away. The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) can help you verify it.
- Trust labelsLabels such as Antwerp’s Most Brilliant are only given to Antwerp jewelers who meet strict standards for quality, ethics and transparency.
- Written terms and guaranteesBefore you pay, get the return policy, the warranty and the buyback conditions in writing. A trader who avoids putting terms on paper is telling you something.
- Trust your instinctsMeet the trader, in person or by video call. A trustworthy trader shows you how diamond prices work, lets you look through the loupe, and explains how cut and fluorescence affect the price as much as the 4Cs. Then listen to your instincts: if a deal feels too good to be true, or something about the conversation feels wrong, do not hesitate to walk away. There are plenty of honest traders, so there is never a reason to rush.
How we protect our clients at Ajediam
We wrote this guide because these tricks give the whole trade a bad name. This is how we work:
- Diamonds with reports from recognized labs such as GIA, and the report number checked against the laser inscription.
- We specialize in natural, untreated diamonds. We only sell lab-grown or treated stones at a client’s request, and then it is always stated on both the invoice and the grading report.
- Prices explained against the trade price lists, so you can see exactly what you pay for.
- A 15-day return guarantee, a natural diamond warranty and a lifetime buyback and sellback guarantee.
- A real address in Antwerp, where you can visit us and see your diamond before you decide.
Buying a diamond should be a pleasure, not a gamble. Take your time, ask questions, and walk away if something feels wrong. And if you would like a second opinion on a stone or an offer, our team is happy to help.
