With diamonds, there are many scams to be on your guard for. Although most scams are minor, there are some major ones that come up from time to time concerning the buying and selling of diamonds.

Scammers are able to operate in the diamond field because most people who buy diamonds – for whatever reason – are not always particularly knowledgeable about diamonds, and are therefore easily fooled. Consequently, one of the best ways to protect yourself from being scammed is to educate yourself about diamonds and the diamond industry, including reading books about the subject.

A common trick that many jewelry stores participate in is the Carat Total Weight scam. The tag on the piece of jewelry, usually a ring, only states the combined total carat weight of all diamonds in the piece, instead of listing the individual weights separately for each diamond. This leads consumers to believe that the main diamond in the piece is actually bigger than it is. Once you are wise to this trick, you can avoid it by asking what the total carat weight of the center stone is.

You should also beware of fractions. Jewelry stores are allowed to round off diamond weights. This means that if the jeweler tells you that it is a ¾ carat diamond, it is probably between ½ and ¾ carat – but closer to ¾.

Many Jewelry stores often run "fluorescence" tricks to varying degrees. Referring to a diamond as a blue-white diamond is one such a trick. A blue-white diamond sounds very unique and special, and the jeweler will try to make you think you are getting something special, but in fact, this type of diamond is of lesser quality.

Jewelry stores also like to show their diamonds in bright lights. Lights make diamonds shine. So get a fairer picture, ask to see the diamond in a different, darker type of lighting as well.

Some particularly unscrupulous jewelers target those who want appraisals on diamonds that were given to them as gifts or that were purchased elsewhere. They will try to tell you that the diamond is worth less than its true value – and offer to take it off your hands or trade it for a much better diamond, along with the cash to make up the difference. This is called low balling. If presented with an offer like this, be sure to get a second, third, and even a fourth opinion before taking any action.

Another common dirty trick is to switch the diamond you have chosen and paid for with one of lesser quality and value when you leave it to be set in a piece of jewelry, or leave a diamond ring to be sized. The only way to avoid this is to do business with one trustworthy jeweler. Avoid jewelers that you have not done business with in the past.

There are many more scams that less trustworthy jewelry stores commonly pull on unsuspecting consumers. Just use your best judgment, and purchase your diamonds with the utmost care and consideration.

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