Help! My diamond was enhanced!

[ljpb]

Hi to everyone!I have browsed this forum for weeks and finally decided to join in!

Please bear with me while I try to get to my point...
I purchased the most beautiful .80 Si1/J RB solitaire from a very popular auction site.I purchased this ring at an incredible price (3 digit figure) from a reputable seller there with 100% feedback.
The price wasnt a red flag for me as Ive purchased some of the most beautiful diamonds in the past for ridiculously low prices(including a gorgeous OEC VS1/G .75 stone for $250).
I received the ring and loved it! This beautiful diamond clean diamond with an outstanding cut was so lovely that I took it into Jared''s galleria (where I have alot of work done) and had two .12 RB side stones added.They mapped the center when I dropped it off and I gleefully noticed that there is only a single tiny inclusion on this map.
I picked the ring up on my way to work.I louped it when I got home that night where I could spend more time and get a better view of the stone.I first noticed that a couple of prongs needed finishing on the added stones and when I looked without the loupe,I noticed for the first time what looked like a scratch on the table.After more viewing,I realized it wasnt on the surface and could not be seen head-on with my loupe.I cleaned it over and over,but every time I focused my eyes and held the ring at the right angle-this thin almost transparent line extended across 1/3 of the table very close to the surface.
Convinced it was a figment of my imagination,and that if it was there- Jareds would map it when I took it back to polish up the work.
But again,they only mapped the single inclusion.The salesperson also noted that one of the prongs on my center needed to be tightened.They told me to pick it up in a couple days.
When I came back to pick up the ring,I was met by the same salesman.He then informed me that he had been trying to reach me.He stated that when the jeweler torched the center stone,it began glowing bright green and that it must be color enhanced!I was devastated.This beautiful diamond,that was stated as non-enhanced turned out to be just that!The salesman then informed me that they would NOT be able to fix this prong as they couldnt take the chance of working on an enhanced diamond.
So here I am.Returning the diamond is not an option.Ive already spent more than I paid for the diamond in having the ring altered.
So my questions are this:
What does this mean? Im not very familiar with color enhancement for a white diamond,only irridation to produce color. How is it done? What happens if it IS heated? How will I have it set or worked on in the future?And who will do it? Does it dramatically lower its value?
Now Im wondering if this transparent line Ive been seeing is some kind of clarity enhancement as well.But I can figure out why that wasnt noticed by anyone but me.
Please help!

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

I doubt you have much hope. If you try so very hard to buy diamonds at below market price you should expect to get diddled.
I very much doubt that any of the bargain diamonds you bought are real bargains.

 

[ljpb]

Wow,thats not exactly the help I was expecting.I have certainly found some real steals-natural,fine diamonds-at well below wholesale.
In all my years of collecting,this is the first time Ive gotten less than expected.This is also the first time I didnt bother to appraise my purchase...
That is certainly my mistake.I should know better.
But overpriced,jewelrystore diamonds are not the only fine diamonds on earth...
There seems to be alot of distaste here for those who look elsewhere...

Lets try this again.
Does anyone have any helpful advice on color treated diamonds?I have been unable to find reliable,information about them.
Thank you.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Date: 1/14/2010 4:04:12 AM
Author:ljpb
Hi to everyone!I have browsed this forum for weeks and finally decided to join in!

Please bear with me while I try to get to my point...
I purchased the most beautiful .80 Si1/J RB who said it was that grade? and was it certified - it clearly is a fracture filled diamond - and these trade below half the price of equivalent diamonds, so if this trusted vendor sold it to you for a barggain price then clearly the vendor knew what was happening. solitaire from a very popular auction site.I purchased this ring at an incredible price (3 digit figure) from a reputable seller there with 100% feedback. others here will explain how vendors gain high ebay ratings - its a sad world

The price wasnt a red flag for me as Ive purchased some of the most beautiful diamonds in the past for ridiculously low prices(including a gorgeous OEC VS1/G .75 stone for $250). again how do you know it was VS1 G and natural unclarity enhanced?
I received the ring and loved it! This beautiful diamond clean diamond with an outstanding cut was so lovely that I took it into Jared''s galleria (where I have alot of work done) and had two .12 RB side stones added.They mapped the center when I dropped it off and I gleefully noticed that there is only a single tiny inclusion on this map.
I picked the ring up on my way to work.I louped it when I got home that night where I could spend more time and get a better view of the stone.I first noticed that a couple of prongs needed finishing on the added stones and when I looked without the loupe,I noticed for the first time what looked like a scratch on the table.After more viewing,I realized it wasnt on the surface and could not be seen head-on with my loupe.I cleaned it over and over,but every time I focused my eyes and held the ring at the right angle-this thin almost transparent line extended across 1/3 of the table very close to the surface.
Convinced it was a figment of my imagination,and that if it was there- Jareds would map it when I took it back to polish up the work.
But again,they only mapped the single inclusion.The salesperson also noted that one of the prongs on my center needed to be tightened.They told me to pick it up in a couple days. so the jewelry firm missed the clarity enhancement, they did a botched job on the new side claws, and they then messed up the center stone setting?
When I came back to pick up the ring,I was met by the same salesman.He then informed me that he had been trying to reach me.He stated that when the jeweler torched the center stone,it began glowing bright green and that it must be color enhanced! I doubt the stone was glowing green from any color enhancment - it is probably the fracture filling - but i have never experianced that because (touch wood) we have always picked up fracture filled diamonds before heating them. I was devastated.This beautiful diamond,that was stated as non-enhanced stated by who? turned out to be just that!The salesman then informed me that they would NOT be able to fix this prong as they couldnt take the chance of working on an enhanced diamond. people set fracture filled diamonds all the time - so why could they not pull the diamond out, work on the prong, then reset the diamond?
So here I am.Returning the diamond is not an option.Ive already spent more than I paid for the diamond in having the ring altered.
So my questions are this:
What does this mean? Im not very familiar with color enhancement for a white diamond,only irridation to produce color. How is it done? What happens if it IS heated? How will I have it set or worked on in the future?And who will do it? Does it dramatically lower its value?
Now Im wondering if this transparent line Ive been seeing is some kind of clarity enhancement as well.But I can figure out why that wasnt noticed by anyone but me.
Please help! again - it seems you have a FF diamond - it is pretty unlikely that you got a type II HPHT diamond in a small round that was fracture filled as well.

What can you do?
Ask for a refund from the ebay vendor, give them bad reviews on the site and on the BBB.
Ask the retailer to fix the ring as is per advice above

 

[serenitydiamonds]

Date: 1/14/2010 5:36:59 AM
Author: ljpb
Wow,thats not exactly the help I was expecting.I have certainly found some real steals-natural,fine diamonds-at well below wholesale.

In all my years of collecting,this is the first time Ive gotten less than expected.This is also the first time I didnt bother to appraise my purchase...

That is certainly my mistake.I should know better.

But overpriced,jewelrystore diamonds are not the only fine diamonds on earth...

There seems to be alot of distaste here for those who look elsewhere...


Lets try this again.

Does anyone have any helpful advice on color treated diamonds?I have been unable to find reliable,information about them.

Thank you.

Gary has excellent points and is a very knowledgeable and very highly respected individual in the industry. While there are some vendors (top tier, i.e. Graff, Harry Winston) with very large markups, you must understand that in jewelry you really get what you pay for. When you buy a gemstone from Graff, while it has a very high price tag, you will not find a gemstone that is it's equal.

No one sells below wholesale. Why would a vendor sell you a diamond for less than they paid for it? Would you be in business selling houses if you always sold them for less than you bought them? Some vendors will sell with less markup, but typically stones that are 'below wholesale' were sold to the vendor at a really low cost. Why? Because the stone has a problem, and you don't know what that problem is.

Yes diamonds are color treated using various methods and can be fracture filled. Depending on what was used the diamond may or may not be stable with heat. Treated diamonds are not durable and worth significantly less than an untreated diamond, hence the 'deal' you got.

I agree with Gary, send the diamond back, and write negative feedback on the vendor. Take the money you spent as a lesson learned, and truly learn from that experience.

--Joshua

 

[oldminer]

Garry does know what he is talking about, but I need to know a bit more before advising you. It really sounded initially like you had a concern about the clarity, the line in the diamond. Did you aklso have some concern about the color which was graded as J? When you got the diamond back after it had been heated, what did the color look like? Did the color change? Did the clarity get worse? Did the line in the stone appear far larger and more visible?

Why did the store heat the diamond or the prongs if they were just not on the stone? Pushing the tips down or into place on a diamond does NOT require use of a torch. Detail the requestd repair job and the reasons for using heat at all.

You have created a situation for yourself by not concentrating on getting real value for your money, but falling victim to a price that probably was too low to actually exist. It happens all the time, but those who prey on price first shoppers are doing just fine and consumers are getting taken on a regular basis. It eats up any previous savings you may have made and in the long term, it is best to use truly legitimate sellers with stellar reputations.

 

[dssxxxx]

Kind of like.........you get in direct relation what you pay.

 

[AprilBaby]

Excellent advice from excellent vendors. If it sounds to good to be true, it usually is.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 1/14/2010 1:15:24 PM
Author: AprilBaby
Excellent advice from excellent vendors. If it sounds to good to be true, it usually is.

yep, 99.99% of the time!!

 

[tradergirl]

Yep. People believe what they want to believe. I''m as cheap as they come but I''ve yet to be able to buy anything decent at less than $10 per point and when I get that price, it''s usually from a very distressed seller. $250 for a .75 OEC is a pipe dream.

 

[LD]

You have my sympathy - it''s not nice feeling you''ve bought something that turns out to be different. I got caught once myself in a very similar way to you and it doesn''t feel good.

I have to agree that you CAN find bargains on Ebay (from both private sellers and companies) but for every "deal" there are 100s that aren''t as good as they appear. Clarity enhancement is, I''m afraid, one of those things that is conveniently "forgtton" when Vendors write their descriptions. Unfortunately it does sound like your jeweller has seen a flash from the filling in the diamond and the line you''re describing sounds very much like a laser line. I''m guessing that this is clarity rather than colour enhanced????

So what can you do?

1. You can contact the Vendor (and if you paid via Paypal or a credit card them as well - but after you''ve spoken to the Vendor). Tell him that the diamond was misrepresented and you want a full refund including the costs you''ve incurred for setting etc.

2. If you want to keep the diamond, you could always ask for a partial refund.

or

3. You can chalk it up to experience (which is what I did) and keep the diamond as a reference to remind you to not take things for granted and check, check and check again!!! You mentioned that the diamond is very pretty so in time (and it won''t be immediately), you might get some pleasure wearing a pretty, albeit clarity enhanced, diamond.

Just a word of caution about your jeweller - if you found the problem with the diamond BEFORE they did, you have to wonder about their general capability and skill level. It might be worth investing a little time in finding an alternative jeweller to use in the future.

Many many many people (outside PS) wouldn''t even know what a clarity enhanced diamond was so you can always call it your learning stone and just wear it with a sneaky smile!

 

[T L]

Date: 1/14/2010 4:04:12 AM
Author:ljpb
Hi to everyone!I have browsed this forum for weeks and finally decided to join in!

Please bear with me while I try to get to my point...
I purchased the most beautiful .80 Si1/J RB solitaire from a very popular auction site.I purchased this ring at an incredible price (3 digit figure) from a reputable seller there with 100% feedback.
The price wasnt a red flag for me as Ive purchased some of the most beautiful diamonds in the past for ridiculously low prices(including a gorgeous OEC VS1/G .75 stone for $250).
I received the ring and loved it! This beautiful diamond clean diamond with an outstanding cut was so lovely that I took it into Jared's galleria (where I have alot of work done) and had two .12 RB side stones added.They mapped the center when I dropped it off and I gleefully noticed that there is only a single tiny inclusion on this map.
I picked the ring up on my way to work.I louped it when I got home that night where I could spend more time and get a better view of the stone.I first noticed that a couple of prongs needed finishing on the added stones and when I looked without the loupe,I noticed for the first time what looked like a scratch on the table.After more viewing,I realized it wasnt on the surface and could not be seen head-on with my loupe.I cleaned it over and over,but every time I focused my eyes and held the ring at the right angle-this thin almost transparent line extended across 1/3 of the table very close to the surface.
Convinced it was a figment of my imagination,and that if it was there- Jareds would map it when I took it back to polish up the work.
But again,they only mapped the single inclusion.The salesperson also noted that one of the prongs on my center needed to be tightened.They told me to pick it up in a couple days.
When I came back to pick up the ring,I was met by the same salesman.He then informed me that he had been trying to reach me.He stated that when the jeweler torched the center stone,it began glowing bright green and that it must be color enhanced!I was devastated.This beautiful diamond,that was stated as non-enhanced turned out to be just that!The salesman then informed me that they would NOT be able to fix this prong as they couldnt take the chance of working on an enhanced diamond.
So here I am.Returning the diamond is not an option.Ive already spent more than I paid for the diamond in having the ring altered.
So my questions are this:
What does this mean? Im not very familiar with color enhancement for a white diamond,only irridation to produce color. How is it done? What happens if it IS heated? How will I have it set or worked on in the future?And who will do it? Does it dramatically lower its value?
Now Im wondering if this transparent line Ive been seeing is some kind of clarity enhancement as well.But I can figure out why that wasnt noticed by anyone but me.
Please help!

If it's any consolation to you, I think you paid a fair market price for a clarity enhanced diamond of that color and carat weight. At least you didn't spend thousands of dollars on it.

I am sorry that you didn't know it was clarity enhanced, and I hope you can get a refund.

HPHT (high pressure high temperature) treatment will sometimes improve the "whiteness" of a diamond, as far as color is concerned. However, as Gary ponted out, it is doubtful that HPHT was used on a clarity enhanced diamond. Typically, HPHT diamonds need to be very clean with before they're treated.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Other than the obvious

, what is a fracture filled diamond? Is this a technical term? I have not heard it before.

 

[jet2ks]

Date: 1/14/2010 5:57:47 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie
Other than the obvious

, what is a fracture filled diamond? Is this a technical term? I have not heard it before.

Fracture filled is where a polymer is injected into the diamond to mask inclusions such as feathers. It can also be used after laser drilling and an acid bath (used to remove black carbon inclusions) to fill those holes and cavities, as well.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/14/2010 6:02:05 PM
Author: jet2ks

Date: 1/14/2010 5:57:47 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie
Other than the obvious

, what is a fracture filled diamond? Is this a technical term? I have not heard it before.

Fracture filled is where a polymer is injected into the diamond to mask inclusions such as feathers. It can also be used after laser drilling and an acid bath (used to remove black carbon inclusions) to fill those holes and cavities, as well.

Ahhhh. I was thinking "fracture filled" as in "full of fractures" to describe a very fractured stone.

But I see it means "a fracture that has been filled". Makes sense.