Buying lightly used Cartier Trinity Ring, does it look real?

[moodselektor]

I already purchase the ring but it has 14 day return policy. the seller has pretty good reviews and it's priced reasonably. the pictures look great as well, but i think the Cartier Trinity rings come with "Cartier" engraving on the outside. Is that a red flag?

I could see the engraving inside but outside seems smooth.

Thank you for your help


http://www.ebay.com/itm/281226424917?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

 

[canuk-gal]

Re: Buying lightly used Cartier Trinity Ring, does it look r

HI:

Not all models have the engraving on the outside--I've had two and neither were engraved....one was 25 years old and had diamonds, rubies and sapphire set in it, hence it couldn't be engraved; and my new one was bought in Paris 2 years ago and one of the bands is ceramic.

It is likely possible to date the rings based on writing/no writing/style of writing, as I know it varies from time to time. At any rate, you have a liberal return policy in case this isn't the ring for you. But from the pictures, it is stamped/marked inside.

cheers--Sharon

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Buying lightly used Cartier Trinity Ring, does it look r

I normally exclude items not sold in the US because of the pain of returning an item if it was bought out of the country, concern about getting refunds, etc. (learned this lesson from buying a defective computer battery which I never received replacement and it was too late to file ebay claim).

I agree that Cartier has made the ring without the Cartier engraving on the outside at some point. But I think you'd have to take it to a Cartier boutique to have it authenticated, though. That vendor has really low prices and that would be the thing that makes me suspicious. Let us know how it turns out!

 

[moodselektor]

Re: Buying lightly used Cartier Trinity Ring, does it look r

thank you for your response. I was comfortable about the purchase then i started doing some research online, and i didn't really come across too many examples of unengraved outter side. It got me concerned. thank for clarifying that for me, i think i will take to the store in NYC when i get it. do you know if there is a danger to me, if the ring turns out to be fake?

 

[moodselektor]

Re: Buying lightly used Cartier Trinity Ring, does it look r

I generally never buy anything of value on ebay. this time, i figued it's an amount i may be willing to risk for used jewelery based on how many good feedback the seller has accumulated so far. fingers crossed!

I normally exclude items not sold in the US because of the pain of returning an item if it was bought out of the country, concern about getting refunds, etc. (learned this lesson from buying a defective computer battery which I never received replacement and it was too late to file ebay claim).

I agree that Cartier has made the ring without the Cartier engraving on the outside at some point. But I think you'd have to take it to a Cartier boutique to have it authenticated, though. That vendor has really low prices and that would be the thing that makes me suspicious. Let us know how it turns out!

 

[canuk-gal]

Re: Buying lightly used Cartier Trinity Ring, does it look r

HI:

There are several Cartier rings on Oakgem.com ranging from $650-850, depending on the width of band and size of ring, so the price you paid, IMHO, isn't all that "out of line".

http://www.oakgem.com/Designers/Cartier-Rings_0.aspx

I agree with DS on the hassle of exchanging from out of country vendors....Let us know how it turns out after you've taken the ring to Cartier.

cheers--Sharon

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Buying lightly used Cartier Trinity Ring, does it look r

Yes, that item is not too far out of line but there are a lot of Tiffany and Cartier items on there that are priced lower than I normally see. This ring has kind of a suspicious hallmark unless Tiffany is now using what appears to be laser engraved hallmarks.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Auth-Tiffany-Co-Atlas-Open-Ring-in-White-Gold-18k-Band-US5-EU49-9021-/281228310587?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item417a83783b

But I'll be the first to say, if their things are proven authentic, I may buy from them myself! I have bought more expensive pieces than that off ebay, but you just have to be careful.

To answer your question, I don't know what Cartier would say if an item is brought in and found not to be authentic. If you really like the ring, you can just keep it and not worry about getting it authenticated since the price isn't bad.

 

[yssie]

Re: Buying lightly used Cartier Trinity Ring, does it look r

Cartier does not authenticate jewellery bought second-hand in-store. The only way to be 100% sure your piece is authentic is to have them service it (and pay for the servicing, not the free cleaning they'll do whilst you wait in the boutique). They also will not issue a verification report for insurance unless you're the original buyer or can prove that you're a descendant of the original buyer (I'm not sure if they will accept other family like sibling, cousin, etc.?) If you take a piece in to be cleaned I'm pretty sure they run the serial... but a negative match is no guarantee either as it won't register pieces originally purchased outside North America. Hoping to run into a friendly and knowledgeable SA who is willing to give you his/her educated opinion is probably your best bet without any paperwork!

I was looking for a Trinity piece and started on the secondary market but some of their collections are copied SO often - the secondary market is absolutely swamped with fake Trinity and Love pieces! My advice would be to buy only from sellers you have the utmost confidence in. For me that translates into resigning myself to buying Trinity and Love pieces directly from boutiques, as I could wait a very long time for the few sellers I trust to come up with the right size(s) but for other collections that aren't faked so often I'd be perfectly happy eBaying 'til the cows come home