You Need a Jeweler and an Appraiser

Jewelers are appraisers as well. However, you don’t want the jeweler who is selling you a diamond to also be your appraiser for that diamond. You want a separate appraiser. Furthermore, you want to choose your own appraiser. Never use the one that the jeweler recommends.

You also want an appraiser that does not deal in diamonds, preferably. You might wander why you need an appraiser if you can get a certificate from the GIA. An appraiser can accurately determine if the certificate matches the diamond, and they can also tell you what the diamond is worth – which the GIA does not do.

You can also find out what the diamond is worth with the rap sheet – but again, the appraiser can verify the certificate. Unfortunately, most appraisers are associated with jewelry stores – because jewelers send them business. Therefore, they may be more apt to side with the jeweler – to say what the jeweler wants them to say.

For best results, search far and wide for an appraiser, trying to find one that is not associated with any jewelers. Also, be wary of appraisers who try to sell you diamonds from another jeweler.

Your appraiser should be able to tell you if the store has applied a temporary or permanent treatment to the stone. Stores often do this to make the stone more ‘saleable’ at the price that they are asking. The appraiser can tell if the stone is natural or man made, if the color has been altered, or if filler has been added.

You can also use an appraiser after you’ve purchased the diamond to ensure that the jeweler did in fact give you the diamond that you had appraised in the first place, instead of a diamond of lesser quality.  

Make sure that your appraiser and your jeweler are both members of the Jewelers Board of Trade. This organization governs the practices of both professionals, and any complaints should be directed to that organization.

Even though you should use an appraiser, you also need to know enough about diamonds to ensure that your jeweler and your appraiser are both on the up-and-up. Without that knowledge, you really have no way of protecting your interest.