While on a Carnival Cruise March of I attended a shopping seminar where Diamonds International was highly reccommended. We were told that Diamonds International was trustworthy and if we wanted to feel safe about our purchases we should deal with the jewelers that Carnival reccommends. The Carnival rep named "Hollywood" assured us that as long as we register our purchases with the cruise line any problems that occur would be fixed 100%.
I purchased two rings that day, in St Thomas; a diamond ring and an Alexandrite ring. I traded my diamond (wedding ring) and payed the difference of $3250.00 for what was represented to be a much nicer diamond.
I registered my purchases immediately and upon returning home learned that the two rings I purchased from Diamonds International were not the quality represented. I was lied to and cheated. The Alexandrite had a chip in it that really degraded the stone. The diamond was 3 grades lower and had clouds, surface graining and a laser groove that what were not represented.
I contacted Diamonds International, Carnival and PPI (the company that is supposed to guarantee for Carnival). It has now been almost a year and this situation is still not resolved.
I wanted my money and my ring that was traded returned to me. Diamonds International refused to refund my money on the Alexandrite.
The only thing they would agree on after many months was to issue me a credit on the Alexandrite ring of $1485 to be used in their store. As for the diamond, they finally agreed to refund me $2325.00 towards the diamond and to return my ring that was traded. This occured in August of five months after the purchase was made.
Months went by (along with many emails and phone calls) and I was still waiting for my ring that was traded to be returned to me. Finally, on October 31 I was notified that they could not locate the ring I had traded in. They wanted to replace it instead. I told them that I wanted my money back and supplied them with an appraisal of the diamond that they "lost"
They have refused to pay me for my diamond that they lost/sold. I wanted my money back. As difficult as they have been to deal with I didn't want anything more to do with them. I just wanted my money back so I could go elsewhere to someone I could trust. I also didn't want anything that didn't have a GIA report.
Recently, I agreed to consider a replacement diamond if the value of it included both; my trade-in that they lost and the $1485 credit. Two days ago I was sent a list of 15 diamonds that I may choose from as a replacement. Once again, the prices were inflated and the quality was inferior. None were GIA or AGS.
I am convinced that Diamonds International has zero integrety and does not want to do business in good faith. They have had many, many opportunities to make this right and haven't. It has been almost a year now and I am still without a wedding ring. They could care less. Every time I begin to believe they might just make this situation right, they try to cheat & lie to me again.
I checked the BBB reports and found that they have numerous complaints against them. Many unresolved. I don't understand how the cruise lines can continue to promote them. I guess the money that Carnival and the other cruise lines receive from Diamonds International for promotion means more than anything else.
DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH DIAMONDS INTERNATIONAL. They are not trustworthy. They are criminals. They cheat and lie. It appears they make their profits by stealing from their customers.
Carnival Cruise line has made no effort to help this situation.
Tara
Unionville, Virginia
U.S.A.
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