(PRESS RELEASE)CARLSBAD, CA — In mid-August, as reported in the media, police in Surat, India, uncovered a fraudulent scheme involving counterfeit inscriptions linking lower-quality diamonds to GIA diamond grading reports for higher-quality stones. In the investigation, police seized several diamonds and what appeared to be several GIA diamond grading reports.
The police requested assistance from GIA India Laboratory Pvt. Ltd. (GIA India) in determining the characteristics of the seized diamonds and reports. GIA India determined that some of the reports were legitimate GIA reports and some were counterfeits using legitimate GIA report numbers. GIA India also determined that of the diamonds presented with reports stating they were natural, untreated diamonds, most were treated or laboratory-grown diamonds.
GIA India is continuing to cooperate with local authorities. In addition, GIA India requested the police conduct the necessary investigations and take the necessary steps to identify and arrest the perpetrators of these malicious acts against GIA and the innocent people who this fraud may have deceived.
This unfortunate situation reinforces why it is important, especially in any transaction where the buyer does not have a trusted relationship with the seller, to have the diamond grading report updated by GIA before completing a purchase.
Ready to Relocate? Wilkerson Makes Your Move Seamless
When Brockhaus Jewelry decided to leave their longtime West Main Street storefront for a standalone building elsewhere in Norman, Oklahoma, owners John Brockhaus and Brad Shipman faced a familiar challenge: how to efficiently reduce inventory before the big move. Their solution? Partnering with liquidation specialists Wilkerson for a second time.
"We'd already experienced Wilkerson's professionalism during a previous sale," Shipman recalls. "But their approach to our relocation event truly impressed us. They strategically prioritized our existing pieces while tactfully introducing complementary merchandise as inventory levels decreased." The carefully orchestrated sale didn't just meet targets—it shattered them.
Asked if they'd endorse Wilkerson to industry colleagues planning similar transitions—whether relocating, retiring, or refreshing their space—both partners were emphatic in their approval. "The entire process was remarkably straightforward," Shipman notes. "Wilkerson delivered a well-structured program, paired us with a knowledgeable advisor, and managed every detail flawlessly from concept to completion."
