PodcastsJul 22, 2026
Episode 7: Reinhold Jewelers on the Power of RelationshipsMildred Marcano Abrams and Yael Reinhold join the podcast to talk community connections, holiday plans, and preserving Reinhold’s legacy.
IndependentsMar 09, 2014
A lesson on remaining vigilant, even when it’s busy
On a busy afternoon in his store, one Illinois retailer strayed from the normal procedures used when buying diamonds over the counter and ended up with moissanite. He cautions other retailers to take their time when buying merchandise off the street and inspect the metal and stones carefully.
Rockford, Ill.--At Clodius & Co. in Rockford they have store meetings twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
While store security is important year round, it is emphasized during busy holiday seasons, when hours get long, the shop gets packed and employees are tired, factors that combine to increase the likelihood of a crime.
With decades in the business, this is certainly a lesson Mark Clodius, who owns the store with his wife and business partner Monika, knows well. But every lesson bears re-learning from time to time, as the jeweler discovered recently.
In the fall, during a day when the store was packed with people, a gentleman came in to sell a stone that Clodius understood to be a diamond.
Though the retailer normally cleans a stone and takes it in the back for an inspection under the microscope before buying, he didn’t in this case because the atmosphere in the store was so hectic. He notes also that the seller didn’t want the stone out of his sight, which is something that happens occasionally when buying over the counter but not frequently.
So Clodius examined the stone quickly using a loupe, noted that it was singly refractive and gave the man a “super-low offer,” which he took.
It was only after putting the stone in the ultra-sonic cleaning machine for an hour and looking at it more carefully that Clodius discovered exactly why the seller was so insistent that the stone not be subjected to further inspection--it was not a diamond. “After cleaning it and putting the loupe on it I [thought], ‘oh no’ instantly,” he says.
The stone was a moissanite with a flat culet that was abraded, meaning roughed up or worn away, that’s worth about half of what he paid for it. The abrasion masked the fact that the stone was doubly refractive, making it possible to mistake it for an old European cut diamond, which has a flat culet as well, instead of a moissanite.
Clodius believes the culet was abraded deliberately to defraud. (Charles & Colvard CEO Randy McCullough confirmed that the moissanite maker did produce old European cut moissanites at the request of a large wholesale customer but wouldn’t have shipped the stones with an abraded culet. He says they are working with authorities to assist in the investigation.)
The jeweler, who has the seller’s driver’s license
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
on file, put in an incident report with the Rockford Police Department.
Several other jewelers in the area had been fooled by the same seller, to the extent that the Chicago Jewelers’ Association issued a crime alert and the police department in nearby Schaumberg, Ill., launched an investigation. No charges were ever filed, though, because intent to defraud could not be proven.
Even though criminal charges may never come in these cases, the incident does bring up two important points for jewelers, Clodius says.
The first is for retailers to be aware of any scams criminals are attempting to perpetrate on jewelers, particularly in their area.
The second is for jewelers to establish proper procedures for handling different transactions, including buying goods off the street, and not to make exceptions, no matter how busy the store gets. He says jewelers need to take their time when buying merchandise over the counter and exercise due diligence in inspecting the metal and stones.
“When you are busy is when you can make mistakes,” Clodius says.
More on Independents
The Latest
Policies & IssuesJul 22, 2026
Trump to Put 50% Tariff on Canadian Goods The higher tax is set to go into effect in August and will apply to loose polished diamonds as well as precious and base metals jewelry.
CollectionsJul 22, 2026
Monica Rich Kosann’s High Jewelry Is FruitfulThe “Enchanted Garden” series features a cherry, lemon, and pear that each hold a little secret inside.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
Events & AwardsJul 22, 2026
NY Now Returns in August Under New OwnershipThe show, recently acquired by Rockview Management Group, will be held at New York City’s Javits Center from Aug. 2-4.
Weekly QuizJul 17, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
ColumnistsJul 21, 2026
Sherry Smith: Shattering the Illusion of the ‘Either/Or’ Diamond MarketSmith offers retailers guidance on creating an environment where natural and lab-grown diamonds can both thrive.
Events & AwardsJul 21, 2026
Apollo Funds Completes Emerald AcquisitionFormer Emerald President and CEO Hervé Sedky has transitioned to the role of senior advisor.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
CollectionsJul 21, 2026
Graff’s New Butterfly High Jewelry Brooches MetamorphosizeThe 12-piece capsule collection transforms from brooches to pendants.
SourcingJul 21, 2026
Anglo Reportedly Selects Gareth Penny’s Consortium as Top Bidder for De BeersA Botswana government official told lawmakers Anglo has selected The Global Diamond Consortium, an entity chaired by Penny, to buy De Beers.
Policies & IssuesJul 20, 2026
Tariffs on Brazil to Increase But Rough Gemstones ExemptThe new tariff, imposed after a Trump administration study, is 25 percent and will stack on top of existing tariffs.
CollectionsJul 20, 2026
Vhernier Transforms ‘Freccia’ Collection Into High JewelryThe collection from 2014 has been reinterpreted into high jewelry with its signature triangular-shaped elements.
MajorsJul 20, 2026
Krista Collins Walters Promoted to Publisher of InstoreShe will also take on the role of vice president of jewelry for SmartWork Media, a newly created position.
Events & AwardsJul 20, 2026
TJS Accepting Speaker Proposals for 2027 EventOrganizers are looking for presentations on topics like manufacturing, technology and research, bench work, gemstones, and sustainability.
CollectionsJul 17, 2026
HOWL Taps Shailene Woodley for ‘Home Sweet Home’ CampaignWoodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
U.K. Woman Pays £5 for £15K Diamond Ring at Car Boot SaleA WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
Diamond Dealer Jeff Pancis Pens MemoirThe founder of natural colored diamond wholesaler Pancis Gems shares stories from his five decades in the industry.
Events & AwardsJul 17, 2026
Gem Awards Opens 2027 Nomination PeriodSubmissions for the milestone 25th annual Gem Awards will be accepted across three categories from now through July 31.
EditorsJul 16, 2026
Q&A: Guzema’s Co-Owners On Its US Expansion, 10-Year AnniversaryValeriya Guzema and Mariana Lenha look back on the last decade and discuss the Ukrainian brand’s first U.S. store.
SourcingJul 16, 2026
Ekati to Close, Leaving Canada With One Diamond Mine The diamond mine, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is expected to shut down by mid-August.
FinancialsJul 16, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Sales Soar for the Seventh Quarter in a RowJewelry sales for the company, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vhernier, and Buccellati, rose 21 percent in the first quarter.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program Certifies First Advanced Apprentice GraduateThe graduate, Grace Barden, credited the program with helping her secure a job as a bench jeweler.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
Jewelers of Louisiana to Host 80th ConventionThe event, scheduled for next month in New Orleans, will include dinner, a custom jewelry design contest, and education sessions.
SourcingJul 15, 2026
1,305-Carat Diamond Recovered from Mine in BotswanaThe yet-to-be named stone is the 10th diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats to come out of Lucara’s Karowe mine.
FinancialsJul 15, 2026
Watches of Switzerland’s US Sales Jump 18%, Declines to Comment on Sale Report The watch and jewelry retailer had a strong fiscal year despite what its CEO described as a “complex operating backdrop.”
Events & AwardsJul 15, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in JulyThe open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.
CollectionsJul 15, 2026
Pomellato’s New High Jewelry Is LiberatingBold color, expressive gem-setting, and sculptural form define the three chapters that make up “Stile Libero.”
