Is It Real? Identifying Fake Diamonds & Estate Sale Scams

Question
Hello
I am extremely upset as I recently bought what I thought was a real diamond at an estate sale. I told the seller that I thought it looked ridiculously flawless and bright to be a diamond. She said it was a vintage ring from the 40's and that diamonds were cut better back then. I tried to ask her if I got it appraised and it wasn't real would she refund me but she quickly quieted me saying no one would set CZ or a synthetic in 18 k gold. I thought that was stupid-it had been her personally ring and she could have had whatever she want done to it-anyway I never got her to officially say I would get a refund. I bought it for 350.00 thinking I was getting an incredible deal on what looked to my inexperienced eyes like a F color vvs1 clarity diamond at .70 carat weight on 18 k gold. I thought this women was stupid and didn't know the value of her jewlery and I left feeling smug only to find out from my jewler that  it was not a diamond-too jewlers said this actually and neither even had to do a full appraisal to realize that-they said they didn't know exactly what it was but that it wasn't moissanite or CZ-maybee white sapphire or quartz-I don't know?Now looking at it I see it gives of the color orange-the only color my research tells me diamonds do not refract. It has a slight bluish tint and I think it could be sapphire. Do you think I have to show documentation from a gemologist to get a refund? Can I take her to small claims court if she refuses? or report her to the Better Business Bureua or the California dept. for consumer affairs. Even though my receipt says all purchases final I didn't see that till she handed it to me after I made the purchase. Plus we had a verbal agreement that I was buying a real diamond. I am so upset and I want to make this right
Thanks

Answer
The receipt you were given is the final truth.
If the receipt says it's a diamond then she owes you a diamond because thats what you were sold. If it says a gold ring with an imitation stone thats what it needs to say.

If you have no receipt your out of luck.
If you have a receipt that does not specify,take her to small claims court for confusion.

Arthur DeMello GG (GIA)
http://www.nationalgemologicallaboratory.com