Under a ridiculous rule of the Federal Trade Commission, the jeweler is not required to disclose that the diamond is laser drilled. So this is something you should ask a jeweler about and also ask any appraiser who double checks the jeweler. One leading jeweler and gemologist, John Anthony Jr., of John Anthony Jewelers of Narberth, PA, once told me that he does not even carry laser drilled diamonds. Anthony also told me that now even the smallest diamonds may be laser drilled, and they may be undetected. That's because it is time consuming to check small diamonds for laser drilling, and it may not be worth the labor cost to do so.
Diamonds are also laser drilled and then filled with glass or some other substance.
That has to be disclosed, even under FTC rules. I'll have more on diamond rip-offs and how to protect yourself in my next column.