‘If the deal is too good to be true then something is up,’ Jeweller weighs in on Ontario couple scammed in Mexico ring purchase

A jewellery appraisal expert is warning people to do their research before buying diamonds abroad after an Ontario couple paid over $4,000 for a ring in Mexico but later found out it was worth only $50. 

“I was devastated. I was sickened,” the woman, who chose to remain anonymous, told CTV News.

“All I kept thinking about is he paid $4,000 for this ring and it’s not even real. It was disgusting.”

The couple purchased the jewellery while on vacation in Cancun, Mexico earlier this year.

They went together to pick out the ring from a store recommended to them by their tour guide. 

The woman told CTV News she remembers being told they would not get scammed.

“We were told if you’re looking for jewellery or souvenirs, here is the place to go, go to these people. Highly recommended, they are perfect, you won’t get scammed. I remember them saying that specifically.”

The jewellery store said they would email the couple verification documents but never did so upon returning to Canada the couple took the ring to a registered appraiser.

According to CTV News, the couple paid $4,176 for the ring, but the Canadian appraiser told them it was worth $50.

The couple bought the ring using an RBC Visa, and were initially refunded the money after reporting the scam to the bank. However, the retailer filed a complaint and the charge was reinstated. 

The Canadian Jewellers Association told CTV News that if people buy high value jewellery abroad protections against scams are limited. 

Shant Purutoglu, a Canadian Jewellers Association board member and appraisal expert, told Now Toronto that there is no way for a consumer to tell if a diamond is real or fake by just looking at it.

“I advise all my clients that travel down south or abroad that if the deal is too good to be true then something is up,” he said.

Diamond pricing is based off an international pricing guide so deals can’t be better elsewhere, Purutoglu explained.

To avoid being scammed when purchasing diamonds abroad, Purutoglu suggests asking for a third-party appraisal before paying and advises his clients to make sure the merchant has a proper return policy. 

The growth in popularity of lab-grown diamonds has also made it more difficult for appraisers to identify them compared to a naturally occurring one. 

“A very good appraiser would only need a loupe (magnifying glass for jewellers) to identify natural vs synthetic. Lab-grown diamonds would have to be tested in a lab to determine natural vs. lab-grown and you cannot generally tell by magnification,” Purutoglu said.

For people who choose to buy diamonds abroad, Purutoglu recommends purchasing a diamond testing machine which can be purchased for $300-$500 on top of hiring a third-party appraiser.

“Overall, I would say as soon as you get back from a trip you should see a third-party trusted appraiser, preferably a Canadian Jewellers Association member and make sure you have made a good purchase,” Purutoglu concluded.