My Experience Buying an Uncertified Diamond from Jewels by Grace

[MarionC]

I read this all very carefully.

I am so sorry the OP had this experience.


A while back I purchased a diamond from another PS vendor after being assured [verbally by the salesman whom I trusted] that I could trade up, something very important to PSers. When it came time for me to trade up, the owner of the company had someone give me the message that he denied anyone ever said I could trade up and told me to read the [very] fine print at the bottom of the receipt. Since I only purchase on the condition of being able to trade up [in this case, 5k to 16k] I had reconfirmed the trade up policy before saying yes to the purchase. [lesson learned: get everything in writing].

In the case of jbg, I want to give my experience from the "other side of the coin".
I purchased an OEC [GIA] from jbg a couple of years ago and since then have had two professionals give unsolicited positive comments on it. My local gemologist thought it was a lovely diamond & said that he could not have matched the price, and the other, a specialist in antique diamonds in NYC, commented on what a fine stone it was.

My 2 cents

 

[msop04]

msop04: Sorry to hear you had a bad experience as well, but I really appreciate you sharing it. Neglecting to return your box with your consignment item just showed the lack of respect she had for items you entrusted to her care, and is a reflection of how she might handle things in more important situations. Grace treated my wife similarly when she sent in some pieces for consignment and later asked for them back -- a T&Co pouch and box were missing when we got back the items. Grace has also repeatedly shown a complete lack of communication, an unwillingness to take accountability for her actions, and a certain apathetic tone when she's confronted with criticisms. I'm glad other people have had positive outcomes with JbG and don't have anything negative to say, but it's sad when someone who does have an experience to share omits it due to the fear of how others might react. If it's not too much trouble, could you provide a link to the other thread you referred to? Anyway, I hope your setting sells soon!

@MrBlueshift ...you hit the nail on the head -- it all comes down to her obvious lack of respect -- plain and simple.

I don't know the name of the thread, but it was one where the OP wasn't happy with Grace's treatment of her regarding a pendant/necklace she'd had made... If I find it, I'll definitely link it for you in this thread.

I'm very sorry about your bad experience as well...

 

[SimoneDi]

@MrBlueshift ...you hit the nail on the head -- it all comes down to her obvious lack of respect -- plain and simple.

I don't know the name of the thread, but it was one where the OP wasn't happy with Grace's treatment of her regarding a pendant/necklace she'd had made... If I find it, I'll definitely link it for you in this thread.

I'm very sorry about your bad experience as well...

I remember - @pearaffair started the thread, here it is: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/dh-and-i-bought-our-first-diamond.222258/

 

[msop04]

I read this all very carefully.

I am so sorry the OP had this experience.


A while back I purchased a diamond from another PS vendor after being assured [verbally by the salesman whom I trusted] that I could trade up, something very important to PSers. When it came time for me to trade up, the owner of the company had someone give me the message that he denied anyone ever said I could trade up and told me to read the [very] fine print at the bottom of the receipt. Since I only purchase on the condition of being able to trade up [in this case, 5k to 16k] I had reconfirmed the trade up policy before saying yes to the purchase. [lesson learned: get everything in writing].

In the case of jbg, I want to give my experience from the "other side of the coin".
I purchased an OEC [GIA] from jbg a couple of years ago and since then have had two professionals give unsolicited positive comments on it. My local gemologist thought it was a lovely diamond & said that he could not have matched the price, and the other, a specialist in antique diamonds in NYC, commented on what a fine stone it was.

My 2 cents

OMG, I would be VERY upset about them denying the upgrade! I'm so sorry.

Regarding your JbG experience... there's no doubt she has lovely pieces, and I've drooled over many of her stones (as have many others, I'm sure)... The issue is *lack of* respect, customer service, ethics, admitting fault, and making it right when an issue or problem arises.

I'd LOVE to have a big honkin' old cut one day, but I will NEVER give JbG my business... which is for the best, as I probably wouldn't spend enough to get decent customer service from her anyway.

 

[msop04]

I remember - @pearaffair started the thread, here it is: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/dh-and-i-bought-our-first-diamond.222258/

Thanks, @SimoneDi!

 

[pearaffair]

Thanks, @SimoneDi!

+1 thanks @SimoneDi! I don't want to make a big thing out of it but it is probably useful for consumers to see my review. The more extensive one can be found here: https://www.pricescope.com/communit...val-antique-diamond-necklace-from-jbg.226909/

 

[MrBlueshift]

I never heard back from the moderators about the title change so I've started a new thread here.

 

[marymm]

OP, just want to say, I am shocked and saddened and rather appalled that Grace chose not to do the right thing by you and your wife. Certainly your entire purchase price should have been refunded along with the expenses you incurred in obtaining the GIA grading report; and of course she should have footed the shipping bill to get the empty ring setting, loose diamond and GIA cert sent by you to her.

Not sure she could have given any apology appropriate to what occurred, as it seems clear she is more sorry the whole shebang came back to her door than she is sorry she knowingly and purposefully mis-described the ring in question.

I am certain you and your wife's future bling purchases will be fantastic ... and thanks for sharing your unfortunate transaction.

 

[MrBlueshift]

marymm: I really appreciate your comment. I'm going to respond to you in the new thread I started here.

 

[Fancygems]

It wasn't a true Ziplock bag, but it was clear plastic with a zip securing thingy... you get my point though...

Oh my gosh, I had purchased an antique diamond from her and eventually sent it back for her to reset in a setting and both came in a beautiful box when I communicated that the setting (Antique) filigree was broken/flimsy (not disclosed) and I wanted to send it back, she obliged, unset the diamond, kept the box, and sent the diamond in a ziplock bag!!!!!

 

[msop04]

Oh my gosh, I had purchased an antique diamond from her and eventually sent it back for her to reset in a setting and both came in a beautiful box when I communicated that the setting (Antique) filigree was broken/flimsy (not disclosed) and I wanted to send it back, she obliged, unset the diamond, kept the box, and sent the diamond in a ziplock bag!!!!!

Until this had happened to me, I would have been shocked. Now, I'm finding these practices quite the norm for Grace. You'd think after her huge screw up, the least she could do was not steal my jewelry box...

 

[soxfan]

I'm so sorry about what happened to you, OP. Especially that you found out via their own video that they'd straight up lied by telling you they'd graded your stone after it was set... inexcusable.

I just wanted to chime in to say that I had a very bad experience with Grace of Jewels by Grace as well.

Very long story short, I sent my setting to be consigned on her site. For weeks and weeks she kept assuring me it would be listed in the newsletter... it was not. During the time I was waiting for it to be listed, I had someone contact me who was ready to buy it for a family member to use for an upcoming proposal. I told the buyer it was available from Jewels by Grace, and gave her Grace's email and phone number. The buyer contacted me after a week or so to say that she'd been trying to contact Grace, but no answer. I emailed Grace for the umpteenth time to verify when the listing would be up, and again she assured me it would be up "next week" in the next newsletter. A week and another newsletter came and went and still no listing. After 2.5 weeks of trying to buy my setting, the buyer contacted me and said that she had basically given up trying to reach Grace to purchase and had to go with another setting.

Grace's excuses and lies cost me the sale of my setting... I was LIVID. It's been a year and a half, and I'm still trying to sell it -- this time with a wonderful vendor who has followed through on every single thing she has promised. Novel concept, right??

I asked Grace to send the setting back, and she answered me promptly and said she'd return it. Why she didn't answer the calls and emails from the buyer is beyond me.

To add insult to injury was the actual return of my setting. I sent it in a nice mahogany and leather presentation box... it was returned in a ziplock bag. So at the end of the day, I lost the sale of my setting and even the freaking box it came in... I didn't even bother contacting her. It's not about the box at all; that's just the nail in the coffin for the horrendous level of service that was given at almost every facet of my experience with her. I've mentioned this experience in another "bad Grace experience" thread, but never started my own because I just didn't feel like seeing the backlash from JbG fangirls that others have experienced.

I understand that each vendor will have it's slip-ups and unsatisfied customers. However, after multiple bad reviews regarding her lack of ethics, excuse after excuse for why she'd dropped the ball, and the lack of remorse/failure to make it right, I now see this a disturbing trend with Grace/JbG.

Oh my gosh, I had purchased an antique diamond from her and eventually sent it back for her to reset in a setting and both came in a beautiful box when I communicated that the setting (Antique) filigree was broken/flimsy (not disclosed) and I wanted to send it back, she obliged, unset the diamond, kept the box, and sent the diamond in a ziplock bag!!!!!

WHY is she keeping people's ring boxes??????

 

[Ariadne_Theia]

When I sent her my setting to have the head reworked and my new diamond set, I sent it in a ring box. I got it back in one of her soft jewelry pouches and didn't get the box back. I thought it was fairly odd to send an engagement ring not in a box and even weirder to not get the box I sent returned.

Seems she has a no box policy.