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ť Story behind HOF Wondrous...

Story behind HOF Wondrous...

P: 9/17/2006 8:27:30 AM
bae7 Cut Rock Total Posts: 164 Last Post: 8/3/2007 Member Since: 9/15/2006	It has been a few weeks of high emotions and about the lowest I could go. Here's the background: I was engaged at 18 to a senior in college (USMA). He couldn't afford a diamond and I said I would wait until we'd been married 5 years. Well, the year of our 5th we just had our second child. I said, "Don't get me a ring now, I'll wait until our 10th but you have to buy me 1 carat." I researched the diamond and we bought it for our 10th (it was a pretty round but had a flaw just off one of the prongs - kinda looked like a brown feather). Sadly, I was widowed (hub killed in a military helicopter crash, 11/90). A year later I had the diamond reset into a right hand ring. When I got engaged 4 years after that, I had the diamond reset into a pendant. Deciding that the setting was a little too flashy for me I had the diamond reset once more into a very plain setting - all three redone at the same store. I have the receipt for the ring resetting, I have the mounting for the second resetting (it was a designer that this store carried locally), but for the final remounting I remember it being so inexpensive that I paid in cash. I'm not even sure I got a receipt. So, when my current hub said I could trade in my 1.08 Lazare for a bigger diamond, that sent me on an adventure that has been a blast up until this incident. I got this brainstorm and thought, "I'll give my son-in-law the diamond that my daughter's father gave me for our tenth, and he can have it set as a gift for their 5th anniv." I took the pendant in to the jewelry store where I am purchasing a 1.75 H VS1 diamond in a HOF Wondrous setting and asked him if he could give me an appraisal so I could give it to my son-in-law. I watched him take it, put it under the microscope and say, "This is not a diamond." I probably sat in shock for a few seconds before I jumped up to look. Sure enough, there was no flaw and the stone looked kinda blurry, rather than having crisp cuts. I've rarely worn it since I last had it reset, and have NEVER taken it in to have prongs checked or cleaned. I barely made it out of the store before I broke down. I called my DH and could barely talk. He was beside himself and insisted I not drive home (I was dealing with a respected jewelry store an hour from home) and go to my parents house (who lived around the corner). My mother thought someone had died (actually, I felt like he had, again). I just could not believe it. My first husband and I could not afford a gorgeous, huge diamond. I waited 10 years for this one and was so excited that I was going to pass it down to our daughter. I've found the first receipt, the second setting and am getting everything together to write the jewelry store in Virginia. I'm sure after all this time nothing will be done but hopefully I will feel better. Is this unusual?????? I mentioned this at a meeting (I feel like an advocate now for watching your diamond!) and a woman said, "You know, I used to work in a jewelry store when I was in high school. The owner had all CZ's in the case because they showed better than some of the lesser quality diamonds. When someone purchased the item he would switch the CZ for a diamond." She said to him, "Isn't that kinda like false advetising. They are seeing a flawless stone and you are putting one in with flaws." His reply, "But they are getting a diamond." Sheesh... So, how do you get prongs fixed? Do you sit in the workroom while they fix it?? I'm sorry this is so long, everytime I retell the story I get reworked up. Deb
Posted: 9/17/2006 8:27:30 AM

There are 8 replies to this message. There are 8 replies on this page.

P: 9/17/2006 8:52:32 AM
diamondsrock Ideal Rock Total Posts: 964 Last Post: 11/17/2009 Member Since: 5/5/2005	that's a really sad story. I have to say that I have heard it is pretty unusual for a diamond to be switched out but it does happen on occassion. I remember a couple of years back a jeweler in my area was caught doing that and got in big trouble. I am extra cautious about leaving my diamond for repairs, but I would be even more cautious if it was a carat in size (mine is about a half carat). The jeweler I go to now actually does a plot diagram of your stone under the microscope and then when you pick it up they show it to you again so you know it's yours. This is an AGS member store so they are very strict, most jewelers probably don't do this and the average consumer wouldn't think to ask. I know that some stores use CZ's in their settings in the showcase and I don't think that is unusual. Of course they tell you it's a CZ and your particular diamond won't look exactly like that. Practice an attitude of gratitude!
Posted: 9/17/2006 8:52:32 AM

P: 9/17/2006 9:02:39 AM
Ellen Ideal Rock Total Posts: 22,894 Last Post: 11/6/2009 Member Since: 1/13/2006	bae, I am SO sorry to hear this. I can somewhat imagine how you feel. Long story short, we purchased a pair of studs, only to find out years later they were not the clarity we paid for, much lower. While they were still diamonds, it made me sick to think of the money we wasted. And if the cheating jeweler who did this wasn't already deceased, I would have killed him. So I can imagine how sick you are over this. My heart truly goes out to you. There are a couple ways to tell your diamond. One is get a loupe, and get to know all your inclusions. A second, easier way, is have the girdle inscribed. When you pick your ring up, have them put the stone under high magnification and show you the inscription. Again, I'm really sorry. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "It is also important for the State to inculcate in its subjects an aversion to any 'conspiracy theory of history' for a search for 'conspiracies' means a search for motives and an attribution of responsibility for historical misdeeds." -Murray N. Rothbard, in The Anatomy of the State John Swinton [1829-1901] Chief Editorial Writer of the New York Times (Considered "the Dean of his Profession" by his peers), when asked to toast an 'Independent Press' in a gathering at the National Press Club, circa 1880 "There is no such thing in America as an independent press unless it is in the country towns. You know it, and I know it. There is not one of you who dare express an honest opinion. If you express it you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid... for keeping my honest opinions out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for doing similar things.... The business of the New York journalist is to distort the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of Mammon, and sell his country and race for his daily bread, or for what is about the same thing, his salary. You know this, and I know it and what foolery to be toasting an 'independent press.' We are tools, and the vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are jumping-jacks. They pull the strings and we dance. Our time, our talents, our lives, our possibilities, all are the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes."
Posted: 9/17/2006 9:02:39 AM

P: 9/17/2006 9:37:50 AM
diamondseeker2006 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 17,609 Last Post: 11/18/2009 Member Since: 1/11/2006	That is such a very sad story!!! I am so sorry, too. It does make me really nervous to leave my diamond, especially now that I have a good one. But I'd try to go to the most reputable store you can. These hearts and arrows diamonds are not common, so it is harder for them to be switched. But I just left mine with a jeweler to set for me, and I just have to trust them as they are a very reputable store in an expensive area. I'd think you'd be safe with your Lazarre jeweler, too. Like Ellen, I was cheated on a pair of studs before. Now I don't even want them and am replacing them with ideal cut stones with a grading certificate so I know what I am getting. Was the first stone insured by any chance? If so, I'd make a claim and replace it. Not that it can ever really be replaced, of course. ~~~ When in doubt...don't.~~~
Posted: 9/17/2006 9:37:50 AM

P: 9/17/2006 12:06:31 PM
Jelly Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,476 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 7/20/2005	I'm so sorry!! Your story breaks my heart.
Posted: 9/17/2006 12:06:31 PM

P: 9/17/2006 12:07:30 PM
*DeeJay** Ideal Rock Total Posts: 6,491 Last Post: 9/23/2009 Member Since: 3/26/2006	bae - that's just tragic! So sorry to hear of this and I hope you do manage to achieve some sort of "resolution" with that jeweler.
Posted: 9/17/2006 12:07:30 PM

P: 9/17/2006 12:42:31 PM
Cehrabehra Ideal Rock Total Posts: 7,597 Last Post: 11/21/2009 Member Since: 6/29/2006	omg I am SO sorry!!! soooo sooo sorry... I can't imagine :( I have no advice to you other than I'd sue the bat sard. But you won't get that* stone back Sounds like your current husband is a gem as well... so sweet that he understands. Only other thing I have to add is that you've given me a sense of peace over the stone I've been nutty about because it is so unique there's no WAY someone could switch it out on me LOL I'd feel so sick over it, I'm so sorry... I hope you can find some peace and resolution there... Sara The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious - the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. ~ Albert Einstein ~
Posted: 9/17/2006 12:42:31 PM

P: 9/17/2006 6:04:53 PM
Sundial Ideal Rock Total Posts: 4,590 Last Post: 7/14/2009 Member Since: 3/14/2005	That is just awful Bae7! Just get to know as much about your stone as possible so you can be sure it is yours and remember that the vast majority of jewelers are very honest. Please don't let this take away from your enjoyment of your beautiful new ring.
Posted: 9/17/2006 6:04:53 PM

P: 9/17/2006 8:36:37 PM
bae7 Cut Rock Total Posts: 164 Last Post: 8/3/2007 Member Since: 9/15/2006	Thank you all for your replies. My husband floored me when he said, "Don't tell your daughter what happened and give her your 1.08 Lazare (instead of using it for a trade-in). VERY generous for a step -dad. He is an awesome guy, I mean, that's why I married him!! Anyway, son-in-law called and bless his heart, now that he has graduated and started work as an RN, he would like to buy my daughter a ring on his own. Do the women in my family know how to pick their men?? He is an such a great guy and so very, very good to my daughter. We have helped them in the past and I think now that he is making (he's trippled his salary) more money, he wants to do things on his own - can't blame him. I'm about to write the original jewelry store. I'm anxious to see what they say.
Posted: 9/17/2006 8:36:37 PM

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