Dealer diamond switch

[candleberry]

I originally purchased a ring from a somewhat local vendor a few weeks ago. I was referred to him by a few people and I believe he is trustworthy (stating this up front). He called me Monday (was supposed to pickup Sunday, minimal wiggle room) stating one of his safe was locked out and he has to bring someone in from the company to open it. He's been updating me all week but due to the holidays he can't get them to come until Monday.

He reached out to other dealers and is offering me another as a replacement and he will set in the next two days. Looking for advice on whether I should just try and get an overnight Monday delivery or accept the trade.

Original:
1.41, G, SI1, 3EX
No fluorescence
HCA: 1.2
Depth: 61.3
Table: 56
Crown Angle: 34.5
Pavilion Angle: 40.8
Girdle: 3.0
No culet
GIA #: 2178984887


New:
1.40, E, SI1, 3EX
Medium fluorescence
HCA: 3.7
Depth: 61.7
Table: 59
Crown Angle: 34.5
Pavilion Angle: 41.2
Girdle: 4.0
No culet
GIA #: 2176808000

He's referring to the color being two letters higher to negate the 0.01 and fluorescence not being a factor. He says the stone looks great but I am unable to see it before pickup. Do you guys think this is a fair trade?

Any help is much appreciated.

 

[WillyDiamond]

Locked out of his safe?..........Run away as fast as you can.

 

[TitanCi]

Locked out of his safe?..........Run away as fast as you can.

LOL!!!


Well obviously between the TWO choices you have, one is worth further investigation. Should be no contest - I wouldn't even consider the second one.

 

[Dancing Fire]

The first stone is a much better cut.

 

[marymm]

OP - up front I have to say I just do not find your vendor's whole "locked out of safe" story believable - with the plethora of diamond vendors available, online and bricks-and-mortar, frankly I'd find someone else to work with, even if it means you have to adjust your timetable.

 

[ame]

The original is better but I'd find another dealer swap and I hope you have no money tied to this person.

 

[AprilBaby]

Given a choice by no means take number two.

 

[candleberry]

All - thank you for the quick responses. I was giving him the benefit of the doubt due to the holidays and the referrals. I told him that I wasn't going to accept the second diamond; currently searching for other vendors/diamonds in the meantime. It didn't seem right and I'm glad I wasn't just overreacting as I originally thought.

Thanks again for all your help.

 

[candleberry]

I just wanted to say thanks again for everyone's help. After posting I jumped on JA and found what I believe is a pretty good deal. Currently on hold getting the idealscope, but here's the stats. The 25% BF coupon will end before the idealscope is done so I'm debating ordering the setting I want now and waiting on the results.

1.45, I, VVS2, 3EX
No fluorescence
HCA: 1.0, all excellents
Depth: 59.9
Table: 59
Crown Angle: 33
Pavilion Angle: 41
Girdle: 3.0
No culet
GIA #: 1175901970

 

[ame]

If still pass on this one. The table is a bit large and I'd like something more in the 34.5 crown angle and a 40.7ish range!

 

[marymm]

I just wanted to say thanks again for everyone's help. After posting I jumped on JA and found what I believe is a pretty good deal. Currently on hold getting the idealscope, but here's the stats. The 25% BF coupon will end before the idealscope is done so I'm debating ordering the setting I want now and waiting on the results.

1.45, I, VVS2, 3EX
No fluorescence
HCA: 1.0, all excellents
Depth: 59.9
Table: 59
Crown Angle: 33
Pavilion Angle: 41
Girdle: 3.0
No culet
GIA #: 1175901970

As another point of view, this is a 60/60 flavor stone - on the HCA, it scores "1.0 - Excellent within TIC range," with Excellent in all 4 categories (Light Return, Fire, Scintillation, and Spread). On the AGA Cut Class Tool, it scores a 1B total (with half the categories scoring IB, and half scoring 1A); as I recall (and I may be wrong), the AGA Cut Class Tool does not favor 60/60 stones.

I think this will be a beautiful, bright, spready stone - since you can cancel the entire order (including the setting) should the Aset not be positive, if I was someone who favors a well-cut 60/60 stone (and I am one of those people!), I'd probably snap it up now so you can take advantage of the 25% Black Friday sale on the setting.

 

[candleberry]

Posting up a followup to this.

Ended up going on JA and finding three alternatives, waiting IS on each. Bought the setting during their cyber sale so was able to save some money that way as well.

In terms of the vendor, I wanted to share his name in case anyone possibly uses him in the future.

Benjamin Private Jewelers out of Charlotte NC
Benjamin Abraham - Owner

So our deal didn't work out, no major problems with that. My issue is that I notified him this past Sunday via email about starting the refund and I've yet to get confirmation he's sent it. I provided all my bank information for the wire transfer and I keep getting the "I'll call you back when it's done". I call him back a day later and I get the "i'll forward the email" shortly comment.

Sent him a message today saying I'm going to contact authorities if I dont receive some sort of notification showing it's at least been started. Got a response instantly saying it'd be done within a half hour and then a "please don't talk to me like that" message saying i've been in the business 30 years and so forth. That was two hours ago.

Not happy at all about the service, but trying to figure out the quickest possible means to get the money back. The vendor is about six hours away and if it takes that I'd go drive there and not leave without a cashier's check from his bank. Other than that route, which would be the best route? BBB? Local police? NC Attorney General?

 

[LLJsmom]

Hi OP,

I'm sorry. I have nothing to add except I hope you get your $$ back soon. I cannot believe some vendors. It would take me two minutes to write a check and three more to find an envelope, stamp and mail it. How horrible! Please let us know what happens.

 

[AprilBaby]

Sorry you are having problems but in the end you are going to have a real beauty!

 

[CharmyPoo]

This is sorta funny but I can imagine that happening .. however, I would be concerned about the dealer's attention to detail.

 

[candleberry]

This is sorta funny but I can imagine that happening .. however, I would be concerned about the dealer's attention to detail.

Maybe I explained it wrong but I don't really see what's funny. The vendor has several thousand dollars of mine and I haven't been able to get it back yet.

If you want to give me the money I can let you go after him instead?

I filed with the BBB last night. Hopefully he has some sort of notice this morning about it and it puts a fire underneath him.

 

[CharmyPoo]

This is sorta funny but I can imagine that happening .. however, I would be concerned about the dealer's attention to detail.

Maybe I explained it wrong but I don't really see what's funny. The vendor has several thousand dollars of mine and I haven't been able to get it back yet.

If you want to give me the money I can let you go after him instead?

I filed with the BBB last night. Hopefully he has some sort of notice this morning about it and it puts a fire underneath him.

Sorry - I didn't read the whole thread. What I was referring to as "funny" was me imagining a jeweler being locked out of his safe and freaking out. Hope you get your money back soon.

 

[yssie]

I admit, I giggled reading your original post too - locked out of his safe, really!? And yet... somehow I can actually see this happening to one or two (very lovely) absentminded-professor-esque jewellers I know

That said ditto Charmy - the delay in processing your refund is NOT acceptable, and it's NOT amusing, and I hope it comes through soon

 

[candleberry]

Sorry - I didn't read the whole thread. What I was referring to as "funny" was me imagining a jeweler being locked out of his safe and freaking out. Hope you get your money back soon.

Haha no worries. I was able to get about half of it back so far. Waiting on the other half. Seems that he's just not good with money management and had to float the purchase. Good riddance.

 

[motownmama]

You used a credit card, right?