Jewellers accused of selling fake diamonds

Mainland visitor paid HK$9,800 for glass

Two jewellery shops in Hong Kong have been accused of selling fake diamonds to mainland tourists, according to an investigative report by China Central Television (CCTV).

One store in Hung Hom allegedly sold a fake diamond necklace to a visitor when his tour group was led to the store during a three-day trip last month. The store denied the allegation last night and threatened legal action against the state media.

The CCTV report claimed the tourist, surnamed Yang from Shandong province , paid HK$9,800 for the diamond necklace in white gold. Later that day, the group was led to another shop, in Kowloon City, where a couple from Hebei province paid HK$16,000 for a diamond Seculus watch.

On the same day, 16 members on the tour group spent close to HK$200,000 at various shops, according to the CCTV investigation, whose reporter had joined the 450-yuan shopping tour.

Back on the mainland, the necklace and the watch were inspected at the National Gemstone Testing Centre. The buyers were told that the diamonds on the necklace were actually glass and that the necklace was not white gold, according to the report.

The report cited a reply by the Swiss consulate that Seculus was a Swiss brand but it had not released a diamond model. The diamond-like materials were cubic zirconia.