Your Engagement Ring Probably Has A Hidden Serial Number You Didn't Know About

If you've ever gone through the process of shopping for an engagement ring, you'll know there can be an overwhelming number of things to consider.

Aside from the look and style of your ring, you quickly start to learn an awful lot about diamonds, from the cut, to the colour and clarity.

What you may not know is most diamonds in Australia over the last 10 years have been laser inscribed with a serial number likened to a 'fingerprint' -- which makes it easier to trace should the unfortunate event that your engagement ring is lost or stolen ever take place.

This code in turn makes your ring a 'low risk' theft item because it's easy for police to trace it. But don't go pulling your ring off your finger to check for that little serial number just yet.

The code is inscribed directly onto the girdle of the diamond which is quite difficult to get to when it's in a setting and it can't be seen with the naked eye either, having to be checked under a microscope instead.

The laser inscription can only be seen under a microscope. Image: Supplied

Speaking to 10 daily, Roy Cohen, a diamond expert from Certified Diamond Insurance, said this spot was specifically chosen instead of on the engagement ring band as this could be lost if it was melted down. Yet removing the code from the diamond itself is near impossible.

"It cannot be removed unless the diamond goes back to a diamond polishing factory where it is put back on the wheel and polished off. I mean, there are very few diamond polishing factories in Australia so the chances of that happening are very remote," Cohen said.

"It’s even harder than for example, the engine number of a motor car. They could just machine it off. I mean, anyone could do that. But with a diamond? No. Only diamond cuts diamond."

A close up of a laser inscription code. Image: Supplied

This process of inscription is completed by Certified Diamond Insurance (CDI) who are in partnership with a Australia’s leading diamond certifier, Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia (DCLA), as well as the Woodina Underwiting Agency.

Together they're working towards driving the costs associated with insuring diamonds down for Australians, with new research finding almost half of Australia diamond engagement rings aren't insured. If they are, 70 percent of these have inadequate insurance as they're usually lumped with other items as part of home contents insurance.

"If you go and get household insurance, you’ll be paying a standard kind of rate and because they cover everything, you’ll be paying slightly higher premiums," Cohen said.

"What we’ve done is we’ve pulled out all certified diamonds that are laser inscribed and we only ensure those diamonds. These are the lowest risk diamonds."

Laser inscribed diamonds are considered 'low risk' diamonds. Image: Supplied

According to Cohen, these diamonds are a 'thief's worst nightmare' because they often aren't able to tell if it has been laser inscribed or not.

"Thieves can get caught so much easier with this type of diamond. If they go and sell that to a hock shop and it has the laser inscription on it, it is very easy to identify that that diamond has been stolen," he told 10 daily.

So how can you check if your diamond has the laser inscription on it or not? According to Cohen, it's as easy as checking your diamond certification certificate.

"Most diamonds that are of value are sold with diamond grading certificates in Australia and most of those are laser inscribed," he said.The certificate will make note that the diamond has been laser inscribed and it will have the number that’s on the actual diamond.

Yet while most diamonds now have the laser inscribed code on them, if your engagement ring happens to be an heirloom or has been passed down through the family, it likely doesn't. The upside is CDI are offering complementary diamond grading and laser inscription for diamonds owners in this situation.

"So if anybody wants take advantage of the lower premiums that CDI is offering and the diamond is not certified and not laser inscribed, we will actually do that for them," he said.

"The diamond gets removed from the setting, the diamond is graded, laser inscribed and then set back in the setting. Then it is eligible for CDI insurance."

Roy Cohen. Image: Supplied

CDI are further working on establishing a nation wide data base where individuals can register their ring along with it's details and pictures. Should the ring ever be lost or stolen, it can then be flagged in this system, making it easier to locate.

"Then wherever it ends up or if it’s ever checked against that data base or it ends up at a diamond grading laboratory, it will be identified," Cohen said.

"So the benefit is, let's say it was a heritage diamond from your grandma or something like that, you actually have a chance of getting the diamond back."

Valentina Todoroska

10 daily Lifestyle Editor

Your Engagement Ring Probably Has A Hidden Serial Number You Didn't Know About

If you've ever gone through the process of shopping for an engagement ring, you'll know there can be an overwhelming number of things to consider.

Aside from the look and style of your ring, you quickly start to learn an awful lot about diamonds, from the cut, to the colour and clarity.

What you may not know is most diamonds in Australia over the last 10 years have been laser inscribed with a serial number likened to a 'fingerprint' -- which makes it easier to trace should the unfortunate event that your engagement ring is lost or stolen ever take place.

This code in turn makes your ring a 'low risk' theft item because it's easy for police to trace it. But don't go pulling your ring off your finger to check for that little serial number just yet.

The code is inscribed directly onto the girdle of the diamond which is quite difficult to get to when it's in a setting and it can't be seen with the naked eye either, having to be checked under a microscope instead.

The laser inscription can only be seen under a microscope. Image: Supplied

Speaking to 10 daily, Roy Cohen, a diamond expert from Certified Diamond Insurance, said this spot was specifically chosen instead of on the engagement ring band as this could be lost if it was melted down. Yet removing the code from the diamond itself is near impossible.

"It cannot be removed unless the diamond goes back to a diamond polishing factory where it is put back on the wheel and polished off. I mean, there are very few diamond polishing factories in Australia so the chances of that happening are very remote," Cohen said.

"It’s even harder than for example, the engine number of a motor car. They could just machine it off. I mean, anyone could do that. But with a diamond? No. Only diamond cuts diamond."

A close up of a laser inscription code. Image: Supplied

This process of inscription is completed by Certified Diamond Insurance (CDI) who are in partnership with a Australia’s leading diamond certifier, Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia (DCLA), as well as the Woodina Underwiting Agency.

Together they're working towards driving the costs associated with insuring diamonds down for Australians, with new research finding almost half of Australia diamond engagement rings aren't insured. If they are, 70 percent of these have inadequate insurance as they're usually lumped with other items as part of home contents insurance.

"If you go and get household insurance, you’ll be paying a standard kind of rate and because they cover everything, you’ll be paying slightly higher premiums," Cohen said.

"What we’ve done is we’ve pulled out all certified diamonds that are laser inscribed and we only ensure those diamonds. These are the lowest risk diamonds."

Laser inscribed diamonds are considered 'low risk' diamonds. Image: Supplied

According to Cohen, these diamonds are a 'thief's worst nightmare' because they often aren't able to tell if it has been laser inscribed or not.

"Thieves can get caught so much easier with this type of diamond. If they go and sell that to a hock shop and it has the laser inscription on it, it is very easy to identify that that diamond has been stolen," he told 10 daily.

So how can you check if your diamond has the laser inscription on it or not? According to Cohen, it's as easy as checking your diamond certification certificate.

"Most diamonds that are of value are sold with diamond grading certificates in Australia and most of those are laser inscribed," he said.The certificate will make note that the diamond has been laser inscribed and it will have the number that’s on the actual diamond.

Yet while most diamonds now have the laser inscribed code on them, if your engagement ring happens to be an heirloom or has been passed down through the family, it likely doesn't. The upside is CDI are offering complementary diamond grading and laser inscription for diamonds owners in this situation.

"So if anybody wants take advantage of the lower premiums that CDI is offering and the diamond is not certified and not laser inscribed, we will actually do that for them," he said.

"The diamond gets removed from the setting, the diamond is graded, laser inscribed and then set back in the setting. Then it is eligible for CDI insurance."

Roy Cohen. Image: Supplied

CDI are further working on establishing a nation wide data base where individuals can register their ring along with it's details and pictures. Should the ring ever be lost or stolen, it can then be flagged in this system, making it easier to locate.

"Then wherever it ends up or if it’s ever checked against that data base or it ends up at a diamond grading laboratory, it will be identified," Cohen said.

"So the benefit is, let's say it was a heritage diamond from your grandma or something like that, you actually have a chance of getting the diamond back."

Valentina Todoroska

10 daily Lifestyle Editor

A laser code could protect your diamond ring and save you thousands

Replacing a diamond ring can be an expensive prospect, but that’s the reality for the majority of Australians who don’t insure their heirlooms.

Diamond engagement rings are a big deal for many Australians, but very few are protected from would-be thieves.

Insuring diamond rings is expensive, which is why 44 per cent of Australians’ diamond rings remain uninsured. Of those that are insured, 70 per cent are inadequately insured.

That is, the rings are insured under a household policy that, in many cases, leaves the diamond vulnerable.

These policies do not cover rings taken out of the home, and most policies do not cover the expense of a diamond ring replacement.

The reason behind the expense is because untraceable diamonds are easily stolen and then on-sold at a higher price, but there is now a solution.

Diamond rings in Australia now contain a laser code that is etched in the diamond.

The code makes the rings a “low risk” theft item because they are easily traceable by police.

Certified Diamond Insurance (CDI) etches the secret antitheft serial number onto the diamonds and makes them traceable.

The insurance comes from a partnership between the Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia and the Woodina Underwiting Agency.

CDI founding partner and head of speciality risks at Woodina, Isaac Garson, said the code was a game-changer.

“We are putting thieves and fraudsters on notice,” he said.

Now the CDI has begun work on a national database to return stolen or lost rings to their rightful owners.

“If they steal a certified diamond ring insured with CDI, it will be much more difficult to sell because the diamond’s unique ‘fingerprint’ is traceable and would be registered on a central database,” Mr Garson said.

This decreases a ring’s value on the black market as it is more difficult to move, but many older rings do not have the code.

“Many older engagement rings do not have this vital ‘fingerprint’ that make diamonds traceable,” Mr Garson said.

Mr Garson said families with expensive diamond heirlooms should get a diamond ring certification in their annual diamond check-up.

“Just like cars need an annual service to make them roadworthy so too do diamond rings,” he said.

Source: News.com.au

A laser code could protect your diamond ring and save you thousands

Replacing a diamond ring can be an expensive prospect, but that’s the reality for the majority of Australians who don’t insure their heirlooms.

Diamond engagement rings are a big deal for many Australians, but very few are protected from would-be thieves.

Insuring diamond rings is expensive, which is why 44 per cent of Australians’ diamond rings remain uninsured. Of those that are insured, 70 per cent are inadequately insured.

That is, the rings are insured under a household policy that, in many cases, leaves the diamond vulnerable.

These policies do not cover rings taken out of the home, and most policies do not cover the expense of a diamond ring replacement.

The reason behind the expense is because untraceable diamonds are easily stolen and then on-sold at a higher price, but there is now a solution.

Diamond rings in Australia now contain a laser code that is etched in the diamond.

The code makes the rings a “low risk” theft item because they are easily traceable by police.

Certified Diamond Insurance (CDI) etches the secret antitheft serial number onto the diamonds and makes them traceable.

The insurance comes from a partnership between the Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia and the Woodina Underwiting Agency.

CDI founding partner and head of speciality risks at Woodina, Isaac Garson, said the code was a game-changer.

“We are putting thieves and fraudsters on notice,” he said.

Now the CDI has begun work on a national database to return stolen or lost rings to their rightful owners.

“If they steal a certified diamond ring insured with CDI, it will be much more difficult to sell because the diamond’s unique ‘fingerprint’ is traceable and would be registered on a central database,” Mr Garson said.

This decreases a ring’s value on the black market as it is more difficult to move, but many older rings do not have the code.

“Many older engagement rings do not have this vital ‘fingerprint’ that make diamonds traceable,” Mr Garson said.

Mr Garson said families with expensive diamond heirlooms should get a diamond ring certification in their annual diamond check-up.

“Just like cars need an annual service to make them roadworthy so too do diamond rings,” he said.

Source: News.com.au

CDI Certified diamond jewellery insurance

World-class Cover

Your insurance is underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyd’s. Lloyd’s is the world’s specialist insurance and reinsurance market 

CDI Certified diamond jewellery insurance

World-class Cover

Your insurance is underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyd’s. Lloyd’s is the world’s specialist insurance and reinsurance market 

Certified Diamond Jewellery Insurance

Bespoke certified diamond jewellery insurance

      

                                            

   

Unlike other insurers, we only insure certified diamond jewellery.
As the diamond experts, we appreciate the worth of your diamonds and guarantee to replace them like for like if not better if they are ever lost or stolen.

Value Assurance

We combine superior knowledge in the diamond and insurance industries to create market-leading cover at the right price.

Accurate Claims

Your claim is overseen by diamond experts and vetted by a leading diamond laboratory, ensuring your replacement is of the same quality.

World-class Partners

Your insurance is backed by Lloyds, the most trusted name in insurance the world over.

Identification Recovery

Since your diamond is certified, we’ll also register and ID your diamonds, increasing the possibility of recovering them.

Certified Diamond Jewellery Insurance

Bespoke certified diamond jewellery insurance

      

                                            

   

Unlike other insurers, we only insure certified diamond jewellery.
As the diamond experts, we appreciate the worth of your diamonds and guarantee to replace them like for like if not better if they are ever lost or stolen.

Value Assurance

We combine superior knowledge in the diamond and insurance industries to create market-leading cover at the right price.

Accurate Claims

Your claim is overseen by diamond experts and vetted by a leading diamond laboratory, ensuring your replacement is of the same quality.

World-class Partners

Your insurance is backed by Lloyds, the most trusted name in insurance the world over.

Identification Recovery

Since your diamond is certified, we’ll also register and ID your diamonds, increasing the possibility of recovering them.