There are a number of commonplace mistakes or scams that may occur when you are purchasing a diamond engagement ring. Not all jewelry stores are trustworthy and honest; some individuals do prey upon uninformed consumers so it's essential to protect yourself from these scams and mistakes when buying a diamond engagement ring.

1. 7 Costly Mistakes or Scams to Avoid
While Buying an Engagement Ring
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custom
built by
Mike Nekta

2. 7 Costly Mistakes or Scams to Avoid
While Buying an Engagement Ring
There are a number of commonplace mistakes or
scams that may occur when you are purchasing a
diamond engagement ring.
Not all jewelry stores are trustworthy and honest;
some individuals do prey upon uninformed
consumers so it's essential to protect yourself from
these scams and mistakes when buying a diamond
engagement ring.

3. 7 Costly Mistakes or Scams to Avoid
While Buying an Engagement Ring
The Diamond Switch
Some unsavory jewelers will switch your loose diamond with another diamond of lower quality. So
it's important to avoid this costly mistake; you must ensure that the diamond in the finished
engagement ring is the same diamond that was selected and purchased. Here's how this situation
typically plays out.
Many diamond engagement ring shoppers opt to select the diamond and the setting separately for
a more customized piece of jewelry. The couple purchases the diamond, the setting and the jeweler
tells the couple to return for the finished ring in a week or two, sometimes longer.
During the shopping process, you may thoroughly inspect the loose diamond from all possible
angles, but identifying that diamond several weeks or even months down the road can be extremely
difficult, especially for the untrained eye. So it's extremely easy for the jeweler to replace the
diamond with another one of lower quality.
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4. 7 Costly Mistakes or Scams to Avoid
While Buying an Engagement Ring
The Diamond Switch
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"A diamond variation in just one color grade can make a big difference in terms of value," explained
Mike Nekta, owner of Mike Nekta Engagement Rings in New York City's "Diamond District." He
added, "You should ask to have the diamond set in front of you, while you wait. Usually, setting a
diamond in the ring takes about 20 minutes. It's worth waiting for it and watching. Keep an eye on
your diamond at all times. this way, you know that the diamond you go home with is the actual
diamond you selected in the first place."
designed &
custom
built by
Mike Nekta

5. 7 Costly Mistakes or Scams to Avoid
While Buying an Engagement Ring
The Deceptive Lighting
When shopping for a diamond engagement ring, it's important to pay attention to the
lighting system in the jewelry store. Extremely white, bright lights are not uncommon, but
it's important to be especially beware of lighting systems with a blue tint.
"Many lighting systems have a blue tint. This will make a yellow diamond look white since
the blue cancels out the yellow tones," Nekta cautioned, adding, "It will also make the
diamond appear brighter than it actually is. Unless you're planning on taking one of those
lights home with you, your diamond is not going to look like that when you come out of the
jewelry store.
To avoid this pitfall, it's best to view the diamond in different lighting conditions. A more
dimly lit region of the jewelry store or the area near the front window of the shop can
provide a more realistic, authentic view of the diamond's true coloring and luster. If
possible, ask to view the diamond outdoors, in natural sunlight. Honest, trustworthy
jewelers will have no qualms about allowing you to view the diamond outdoors, in the
company of a security guard. This will provide you with an accurate idea of what your
diamond will look like in "real life," once you've left the jewelry store.

6. 7 Costly Mistakes or Scams to Avoid
While Buying an Engagement Ring
Blue-White Diamonds
Blue-white diamonds are sometimes marketed as "special" or "rare" diamonds to unsuspecting
engagement ring shoppers. But most often, so-called blue-white diamonds are diamonds that
have a blue fluorescence -- an undesirable quality in most instances.
"Blue fluorescence in the diamond may affect the diamond's overall appearance, especially under
lights that have UV rays, such as sunlight or blacklights," Nekta explained. He continued,
"Diamonds with blue fluorescence usually trade for a lower price, so if you to purchase a bluewhite diamond, ensure you're getting it at a discount."
Nekta recommends avoiding diamonds with blue fluorescence, unless you're buying a diamond
with an "L" or "M" color rating. The reason for this exception? The blue off-sets the yellow tone in
"L" and "M" color diamonds, making them appear more colorless.
When purchasing a colorless or near-colorless diamond, it's best to avoid the blue fluorescence,
as it can give the diamond a white cast, as though the diamond has been dipped in milk.

7. 7 Costly Mistakes or Scams to Avoid
While Buying an Engagement Ring
The "Spready" Diamond
On occasion, jewelers and jewelry store salespeople will market a large table size as a more
desirable trait in diamonds. In fact, it's the exact opposite, as a diamond with a wider
diameter will be worth less.
Nekta explained the reasoning: "The wider diameter can make the diamond look larger, but
you lose something very important -- you lose brilliance. The diamond is designed to have a
certain depth. The facets are arranged at certain angles so the light enters the stone and
reflects out to give you the brilliance, the fire, the scintillation, the sparkle. Your diamond is
supposed to sparkle, that's what diamonds do! But it's not going to sparkle if it's improperly
cut."
While a "spready," wider 1-carat diamond may look larger, it's going to be less brilliant and
less valuable than a properly-cut 1-carat diamond that has the standard 6.5mm diameter.
So when shopping for a diamond engagement ring, avoid improperly-cut diamonds. They
may appear wider, but they will lack brilliance and thus, value. And definitely avoid paying
more for a so-called "spready" diamond.

8. 7 Costly Mistakes or Scams to Avoid
While Buying an Engagement Ring
The Bait and Switch
The bait and switch advertising scam is a very common tactic that unfolds when a jewelry
store advertises diamonds at extremely low prices, with the objective of attracting
engagement ring shoppers into the jewelry store.
Unfortunately, the extremely low-priced diamonds don't exist; the super low prices were a
ploy to get customers into the store. Since the super-low-price diamonds are "sold out," the
jewelry store salesperson tries to sell you a similar -- but pricier -- diamond engagement ring.
"Diamonds are a controlled commodity. All of the world's diamond mines are controlled by
huge cartels. Everyone is basically getting them at the same prices, so if there's a crazy low
price, it's probably too good to be true," Nekta remarked.
A similar scam involves posting a "stock" image of a specific stone or ring in catalogues or
the internet. No two diamonds are alike, therefore, it's important to get a photograph of the
specific item so you know precisely what you're purchasing.

9. 7 Costly Mistakes or Scams to Avoid
While Buying an Engagement Ring
Super High Clarity
A common mistake involves purchasing a diamond that has more clarity than necessary. It's
easy to see how and why this would occur -- the salesperson is driven to sell the more
expensive stones. And diamonds with "flawless," "VS1" or "VVS" clarity sell for a higher
price, but it's important to understand that this super-high clarity does not impact the
diamond's appearance to the naked eye. So when shopping for a diamond engagement ring,
don't favor extreme clarity over size.
"You have to have a good understanding of how much clarity you need in the engagement
ring," Nekta explained, adding, "When shopping for an engagement ring, you're typically
looking for the most impressive looking ring.
"When you're down on one knee, proposing marriage. The first thing she sees is the size and
the brilliance of the diamond. She's never going to look at it through a microscope."
So instead of opting for a smaller diamond with super high clarity, it's typically best to opt for
a slightly larger diamond of a more moderate clarity. In short, the diamond doesn't need to be
perfection under a microscope; opt for something that looks attractive to the naked eye.

10. 7 Costly Mistakes or Scams to Avoid
While Buying an Engagement Ring
Total Karat Weight
Carat
Total karat weight can be a point of confusion when shopping for a diamond engagement ring.
carat
Total karat weight refers to the weight of all of the stones in the ring, so unless you're purchasing
carat
a solitaire, this complicates matters and makes it difficult to evaluate the true value of the jewelry.
Diamond size is a major determiner of value; larger stones are exponentially more valuable since
they're scarcer. Therefore, a ring with three diamonds with a total karat weight of 1 karat is going
carat
carat
to be of significantly lesser value than a 1-karat solitaire diamond engagement ring.
1-carat
When shopping for a diamond engagement ring, it's important to focus on the primary diamond -the centerpiece of the ring. Nekta recommends asking for the weight of the central diamond, in
Mike Nekta recommends asking for the weight of the central diamond,
addition requesting the karat weights of of the other secondary stones in the ring. In short, don't
in addition requesting the carat weights the other secondary stones in the ring. In short, don't
consider total karat weight as a whole; consider each stone independently, with primary
carat
emphasis on the central stone.
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11. 7 Costly Mistakes or Scams to Avoid
While Buying an Engagement Ring
Total Carat Weight
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Also beware of fraction carat weights; get carat weights in decimals instead. Otherwise, it's easy
to pass off a stone with a .98 carat weight as a 1-carat stone; in reality, a 1-carat stone is in a
different price range. That .02 of carat weight can make a significant difference in terms of value.
designed &
custom built
by Mike
Nekta

12. 7 Costly Mistakes or Scams to Avoid
While Buying an Engagement Ring
There are a wide range of scams and deceptive practices surrounding diamond engagement rings;
this can make visiting the jewelry store a rather harrowing experience! But a bit of knowledge will
enable you to spot these deceptive practices and scams, so you can focus on what matters most -presenting that diamond engagement ring to that special woman!
Mike Nekta is the owner of Mike Nekta Engagement Rings. This third-generation diamond expert
and jewelry designer specializes in wedding and engagement jewelry in New York City's Diamond
District. Learn more by visiting MikeNekta.com or call 917-570-3112.
designed &
custom
built by
Mike Nekta