If you happened to purchase a diamond between January 1, 1994, and March 31, 2006, you may be eligible for a small portion of the $295 million settlement with DeBeers. The settlement is part of an agreement entered in to by DeBeers for anticompetitive practices while not directly admitting to any wrong doing.

While some are claiming that you could get several hundred dollars for as small of a purchase as $2,000, it simply does not add up for me, especially once the lawyers get their share.

At any rate, if you would like to be a part of the class action lawsuit, all you need to do is fill out a claim form before March 19, 2008. If you want a shot at getting a few dollars from DeBeers head over to the Settlement Website and fill out the form there. If you have any questions or need assistance just call us here at the store.

The Junior League of South Bend and the American Culinary Federation invite the community to support the 2008 Chefs in the Heart of our Home Auction and Tour. This annual event will be Sunday, April 20 and tour 5 fabulous kitchens in the afternoon followed by a gathering in the main ballroom of the South Bend Marriott.

This event will offer hors d’oeuvres with a silent and oral auction which benefits childhood obesity and type 2 Diabetes. ACF will work in our community to provide nutrition-based education programs to children and parents. As a past benefactor, Images Jewelers will be making another donation this year, specifically a Laura Gibson necklace with apatite, rose quartz, purple jade and pink tourmaline. Please join our community leaders and show your support for this event.

Yehuda Diamond Company, an online retailer of clarity enhanced diamonds, has recently been sued by their online competitor Blue Nile. Blue Nile claims certain statements about clarity enhanced diamonds can be misleading to consumers. Clarity Enhancement is a process by which microscopic material is inserted into diamonds that contain feathers. This filling material contains the same optical properties as diamond itself and causes light to pass through the feather. This treatment process makes it harder to view such inclusions. In the complaint, Blue Nile acknowledges that “clarity enhancement can improve a diamond’s apparent clarity by one or two grades.” However, it states that these statements can be misleading to consumers looking to buy quality diamonds.

Clarity enhanced diamonds present a problem for consumers looking to buy natural, quality diamonds. The durability of such clarity enhanced diamonds is nowhere near that of pure diamond. Additionally, this enhancement treatment can be eroded by heat, routine cleaning and even sunlight. Reputable and knowledgeable jewelers always disclose treatment methods of any diamonds they offer for sale. But realistically, not all jewelers are reputable. Customers looking to buy diamonds need to be aware of the treatment methods available for quality gemstones. Consumers need to arm themselves with the knowledge necessary to make an educational decision when it comes to buying diamonds. Buyers, by no means, need to be experts when purchasing gemstones. However, they need to educate themselves with the proper knowledge and be able to know the right questions to ask. Trust becomes an important factor when buying precious gemstones of any kind. Consumers need to trust the source of their diamond purchase and make sure they are not being misled.