Certified Love

There is no surer guarantee of the value of diamonds than the certificates issued with them by the GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) or the IGI (International Gemmological Institute). These two internationally recognized institutes are independent and are not involved in the buying, selling or valuation of diamonds. They are grading laboratories whose certificates guarantee the quality measurements of the diamonds they have tested. They are so solid that any reputable jeweller could value the diamonds from the certificate alone.

Diamond scams are rife, particularly targeting holiday-makers abroad. Who hasn’t been approached when abroad and presented with a too good to be true offer? Most scams are along the lines of “I can’t afford to go to your country to sell these diamonds, but if you do you will make a big profit and the money you give me will help educate my children.” Some people fall for this and end up with a bag of tumbled glass and a forged certificate. Even worse, other people fall for the old trick of paying way over the odds for beautiful diamond engagement rings with inferior diamonds in the settings. Either the certificates are forged, or they are accurate but the buyer does not know what the measurements mean. Remember if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

If you are not an expert beware of buying diamonds outside the UK. When you buy diamond engagement rings from Marlows the purchase includes a certificate stating that the diamonds are natural and grading their colour, clarity, carat and cut.

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