The problem with the laboratory work is more worrying than that. Whatever name is being used for the papers they issue, let's call it report here, IT IS JUST NOT FAIR THAT REPORTS BE PAID FOR ONLY ON THE BASIS OF AN OPINION AND THAT, WOULD A PROBLEM ARISE (contradictory report by another lab in another country OR in the same country, which often happens), THE LABORATORY WHICH ISSUED THIS REPORT COULD HIDE BEHIND THE FACT IT IS ONLY THIS. IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT GEMSTONES ARE BEING TRADED ALL OVER THE WORLD ON THE BASIS OF THESE “OPINIONS”. IF PROBLEMS (LAWSUITS) ARISE, WHY SHOULD THE DEALERS/RETAILERS BE LIABLE FOR SELLING WITH REPORTS MOST OF THEM DO NOT UNDERSTAND AT ALL? THE LABORATORY SHOULD FULLY STAND BEHIND ITS WORK AND NOT CLAIM THAT THIS WAS ONLY AN OPINION. I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH THIS LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY. THE LABORATORIES SHOULD COMMIT TO OFFER TO WHOEVER WANTS IT THE FULL ANALYSIS THAT LED TO IDENTIFY A GEMSTONE. THIS IS SCIENCE AND NOT FORTUNE TELLING. THIS IS WHAT they are BEING PAID FOR. In fact this would probably only remove unserious people from the game. Why would anybody be afraid of this? I have much more to say on the subject, having over 20 years of experiences over the world and having proceeded with a "lab survey" not long ago. But this will be it for now, you can think about this first. Not sure i'll have time to get back to this blog anyway. Anybody wanting to provide personal information on the topic of contradictory reports and/or certificates is more than welcome to contact with the shortest possible message (and more important, actual facts and proofs) at ogalibert@gmail.com Best, Olivier Galibert gemologist FGA, Honours, AIGS, ING

Consumer confidence I received a call this morning, one which we get on a regular basis. The question is always the same, and our answer is always the same. It usually starts with, "I am buying a diamond how can I be sure that I am getting what I am told". the answer is simple. No matter where you are buying a stone you need to firstly make sure the retailer is reputable. A good way to determine this, is by the certificate they provide you with the diamond. If you are offered a certificate from a reputable laboratory that is recognised by the world associations you can be sure you are getting what you are told. And dealing with a reputable retailer. If you are offered a bogus certificate or an in house certificate of valuation you should shop elsewhere. This advice to be simple and seems logical, YET we constantly see consumers who have been caught out. Why is this? Well today, I would like to share what we see. The consumer is sceptical and mistrusting by nature,YET when they are involved in a emotional purchase and at their most vulnerable, the sharks come out to feed,playing on the feeling of the moment and the feeling between the couple. It takes very little to convince a first time, uninformed person that they are getting a great deal, especially with very official looking paperwork. This always ends in tears and usually the feeling is they will never trust again. It is amazing that a few unethical traders who perpetuate these problems bring doubt on to the industry as a whole,and my personal view is that we should stand together and get rid of them once and for all. Point out the pit falls to your customers, they do appreciate it. 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.

Diamond buying advice How can you tell if a diamond certificate is reliable and not just another advertising tool Consumers are generally not experts in diamond grading and therefore need to rely on certificates or grading reports in their purchasing decision. That’s why more and more retailers offer certificates as proof of what they are selling. In addition, with synthetic diamonds and treated diamonds on the market it has become a vital part of the industry to maintain consumer confidence However, not all diamond certificates are reliable. Some laboratories are owned or run by the same individuals selling the diamonds and some do not have the equipment, master sets, processes or expertise to grade and detect and disclose treatments, synthetics etc… Some retailers sell with valuations, some with certificates from questionable Laboratories. This has only one intention, to convince the consumer to purchase. A reliable diamond certificate is a detailed description of the stone prepared by a respected independent laboratory. Its purpose is to verify the authenticity and quality of the diamond. The certificate is as good as the laboratory that produces it, so check the credentials. Reputable laboratories make use of advanced equipment such as the DiamondSure and DiamondView to screen diamonds and detect synthetics and treatments. These laboratories are the watchdogs of the industry and protect consumers. So whether you are buying from a physical jeweller or an online retailer, be wary of those offering bogus certificates alongside international recognised certificates. This tactic is used to lend credibility from reliable certs to “in house” certs. Make sure your diamond comes with a reliable cert! Shop safe, Shop Smart. This post has been edited by Michael Cohen: Today, 12:33 AM -------------------- 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

“Buy your Diamond from a Reputable Retailer!” What does this mean? How do I tell if the retailer is reputable or not? Buying a diamond can be a scary undertaking these days. There is an abundance of information available to consumers, but not all of it is accurate. Hopefully we can clear up a few of the myths and give you some guidelines. Most diamond buying guides advise you on the 4 C’s and suggest that you only shop at honest, reputable retailers, but how does the average consumer determine this? Our advice is to ask if the diamond is certified and to see which laboratory issued the certificate or grading report. The quality of the certificate, or lack thereof, goes a long way towards telling if you are dealing with someone reputable and professional. A diamond certificate or diamond grading report is only as good as the laboratory who issued it. The certificate should come from a reputable, independent and recognised laboratory. Diamond certificates from respectable labs, meaning GIA, HRD, AGS or DCLA, are totally necessary if you want to compare diamonds intelligently. If you are unsure we suggest you do some investigation. Laboratories such as GIA, HRD, AGS and DCLA issue grading reports of the highest international standards. All of these diamond grading laboratories utilise strict procedures, have the most advanced equipment, and affiliations which meet the strict requirements for recognition by international trade organisations. It is up to you, the consumer, to verify the credentials of a diamond grading laboratory. If you are told certification is unnecessary, or that the diamond certificate will cost you extra we suggest that you shop elsewhere. Valuations or appraisals are NOT the same as a diamond certificate or grading report. One important thing to remember is that a diamond certificate or grading report never includes an appraisal, or any kind of statement about the monetary value of the diamond. Be even more cautious of website vendors who issue their own 'in house diamond certificates' or 'manufacturer's grading reports' as these simply are NOT independent certificates and they are NOT from a recognised laboratory. A diamond certificate, is only useful if it is reliable and has been issued by a reputable independent laboratory which has no financial interest in the stone. If you've never heard of the institution that is offering a grading report, don't hesitate to ask about its credentials and that of the people who graded the diamond. Diamond grading laboratories which grade to IDC International Diamond Council rules, do not just use the opinion and expertise of one person. They must grade the diamond and have the opinion and consensus of three qualified diamond graders before the grade is applied to any diamond. Do not judge a certificate by its cover and title alone Just because someone calls themselves a laboratory or opens up a business to do diamond certificates and valuations after having completed a gemology course, that does not mean they have the needed technical equipment, qualifications, knowledge and expertise. These small local labs often lay claims of being independent, recognised, and having state of art equipment but what about the qualifications of the directors, graders and that of the person who graded the diamond? Did they test for all types of treatments and any enhancements? Do they guarantee that the diamond is natural? Was the diamond laser inscribed using a cold laser? Do they grade diamonds to set international rules and standards? It is one thing to produce great looking certificates but it is extremely important that the certificate or grading report has accurate information and is technically correct. As a consumer, the diamond certificate or grading report is your safe guard when buying a diamond. Diamond certificates are invaluable documents that show in detail a diamond's credentials, so why wouldn't you check the credentials of the laboratory who graded the diamond and the retailer as well?

Certificates or Reports,it does not have a proper defination,everything is just about competition among all the diamond labratories,at the end of the day is just mere business for them rather than A RESPONSIBILITY.Once any Lab becomes well known the nature of grading ethics changes.It is very difficult to rely on any of these certs/reports completely as there is no standarisation among these labs.It has become very important to train one's eye to grade and inculcate knowledge for any individual.

Why is it critically important to see the diamond before you anything pay for it.(even a deposited) buying diamonds is one of the most personal and exciting purchases you will ever make. Here are some buying tips. Always make sure that the diamond is available. if the retailer has to get the stone for you, never pay a deposit. Australian jewellers have a comprehensive diamond stock available at all times locally. So if your retailer does not have the stone and you want to let them get it for you. fine but never, ever put down a deposit with out seeing the stone first. There is no reason to lock yourself into a retailer when you do not have to.WARNING! If they can't get the stone with out paying for it go somewhere else. So how do you go about it ? First buy from a jeweller, there is a big difference between a jeweller and a retailer or drop shipper. A jeweller will be able to advise you and design you jewellery,they will also have diamonds and designs on hand. This will make the whole experience more enjoyable. When you have found the jeweller you wish to use, Don't be shy,check their credentials ask around about their reputation. It is better to find out from someone else's bad experience than to go through it your self. When the jeweller shows you your stone make sure that it is the same one you will get, and not an example. Two stones of exactly the same quality can look very different. Take down the certificate number and weight if you can not get a copy of the certificate to take with you. This will help you identify the stone when you pick it up. Some retailers will show one diamond as an example and supply another which they will import, that is not a good idea you must see what you are buying, that is why you are better of dealing with a jeweller. Never ever deal with a retailer that, grades or assigns the quality of the diamond in-house. These are known MGR (manufactures grading reports) or (in house reports), this highly unethical practice is to be avoided at all costs and is a great indicator of the ethics of the supplier

Pseudo Diamond Grading " Laboratory " Diamond Dealer Quote;"... most people who know the GIA cut parameters agree that their grading just plain stinks" : Nikhil Jogia of Jogia Diamonds International Stop Sniffing the Methanol Now ! " The purpose of the lab and all the equipment in it is not to replace a GIA certificate, but rather to add value and instill confidence in our diamonds " : Nikhil Jogia Diamond Guru: Instil confidence ??????????????????????????? Isn't that the purpose of an accurately graded diamond with a certificate from a recognised compliant diamond grading laboratory? " Since we have a colorimeter and Megascope, we are able to grade the colour and cut of a diamond " : Nikhil Jogia Colourmeters are a convenient indicator but are NOT accurate. The colour grade of a diamond can be effected by fluorescence, inclusions, the make and the hue of the diamond if it has brown or grey overtones. All respected diamond grading laboratories worldwide still colour grade diamonds with their own eyes using a registered diamond colour master set for colour comparisons.The difference in colours or lack of colour can translate into thousands of dollars. The cut grade depends on the different philosophies employed by individual diamond grading laboratories in regard to their own cut grade parameters. It can be confusing. This is why viewing a diamond is paramount rather than analysing a diamond by the specifications mentioned on a grading report. Those diamond vendors who carry no stock but drop ship diamonds or are consignees of diamonds are not providing their clients satisfactory service. Providing Messrs Jogia only uses this information in conjunction with a grading certificate from a compliant lab it is acceptable but superfluous. ~~~ However we are bemused that despite rubbishing GIA, Mr Nikhil Jogia is still willing to sell GIA graded diamonds. What we are unable to understand despite advocating GIA and AGS, both compliant , Messrs Jogia advertise they retain the services of two NON compliant diamond grading " Labs " in Australia namely Bauer Gemmological Laboratories and Gem Studies Laboratory. It's like running hot and cold water. There is no consistency in his etiquette. Chopping and changing according to each individual situation. Those who try to instil false confidence in the buyer by retaining the services of a non compliant diamond grading laboratory are jeopardising their reputation. Buyers Beware. ~~~ Diamond certification rulings since 1975 have been set down by the WFDB and IDC with help from CIBJO. There is, and has been for some time now, an international diamond grading standard recognised by the majority of the diamond industry worldwide. The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), through its affiliated Bourses, and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) together represent by far the majority of diamond industry participants worldwide. If the UNCERTIFIED diamond is sold with with an in-house certificate this is NOT a certified diamond. " getting the entire 4Cs from an in-house lab is tremendously beneficial " : Nikhil Jogia Beneficial for who? The buyer or the vendor? We appreciate the efforts young Nikhil Jogia has put into his "lab" but once again remind the public consumer it is their responsibility to ensure they are protected against any possible misrepresentation of a diamond's quality grade intentionally or unintentionally. We suggest Nikhil Jogia should decide if he is going to be a damond vendor or a diamond grader. Being both is non compliant and poses a possible risk yet to happen. There is no mention in the Jogia " lab" about detecting treated or synthetic diamonds. Once again we remind the public consumer of diamonds to seek an independent second opinion of a diamond by checking the credentials of the diamond by contacting any recognised independent diamond grading laboratory as a safety precaution prior to purchase Daniel F Katz GG

Just for the record my comments have been hijacked from my blogsite www.thediamondguru.blogspot.com I did not write anything here.Someone has cut and pasted my comments without my permission but I do not mind. At the end of the day it is the responsibility of the diamond consumer to exercise caution and due diligence because there are too many unethical diamond vendors and rogue dealers out there ruining the reputations of the honest jewellers and diamond venfors. Daniel F Katz www.DiamondImports.com.au Sydney Australia