The Diamond Dealers Club of South Africa on Tuesday issued a fraudulent certificates alert. The diamond exchange is warning of forged GIA and EGL (South Africa) certificates accompanying HPHT treated diamonds without disclosing the treatments.

 

Following is the full text of the alert:

 

Diamond Dealers Club South Africa

FRAUDULENT CERTIFICATES ALERT

 

14th July 2009

 

Circular 31/2009

 

Dear Members

 

1. FRAUDULENT CERTIFICATES

 

Members are advised that there are certificates of both the GIA and EGL (South Africa) laboratories that have been forged and contain HPHT treated stones and/or certificates that have not been disclosed. This has been verified by both laboratories.

 

If you are offered certificates where you may have reasons to doubt or need to verify their validity please do not hesitate to ask the laboratories to check the stones before you purchase.

 

Please note members should take advantage of the Diamond Sure machine which is held at the offices of the Secretariat, Suite 102, S A Diamond Centre. Non-members will be charged a nominal fee.

 

Any member who becomes aware of any fraudulent activities must please bring it to the attention of the Diamond Dealers Club.

 

Yours sincerely

 

E. BLOM

CHAIRPERSON