HELP - need some advice urgently regarding Cartier e-bay buy

[Jsbasket]

Hello,
I am in desperate need of some advice. I purchased a Cartier 1895 platinum e-ring with a 1.30 carat diamond on e-bay from a seller with good feedback but a "no return" policy. (I know, I have already kicked myself for this). The ring arrived today, and though the Cartier hallmarks look authentic, and the diamond comes with a GIA certificate, a couple of things are red flags to me:

1) Inside the shank, along with the hallmarks is the word REMOUNT. This was not disclosed in the auction.
2) The mounting does not look exactly like the 1895 mounting. Instead, it has a "floating basket" similar to the Kwait floating basket setting. This was not discernable in the pictures because there was no "short" side view, where you can most easily see that the prongs do not extend to the shank of the ring.

The diamond is beautiful (VS2, I color, measures 7.07-7.12-4.29, very good cut, no fluorescence), but I am not sure it is worth what I paid ($6200) if the setting is not Cartier. And, since I tend to be fickle, and am always looking for the next perfect diamond, I wonder if I would be able to resell it based on these factors.

The e-bay listing is # 221566252176. I have contacted the seller, who has offered to let me return the ring, or to give me a $200 refund on it because of the REMOUNT issue. I don't want either of us to be taken advantage of. What should I do??????????

Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[ame]

Re: HELP - need some advice urgently regarding Cartier e-bay

Hello,
I am in desperate need of some advice. I purchased a Cartier 1895 platinum e-ring with a 1.30 carat diamond on e-bay from a seller with good feedback but a "no return" policy. (I know, I have already kicked myself for this). The ring arrived today, and though the Cartier hallmarks look authentic, and the diamond comes with a GIA certificate, a couple of things are red flags to me:

1) Inside the shank, along with the hallmarks is the word REMOUNT. This was not disclosed in the auction.
2) The mounting does not look exactly like the 1895 mounting. Instead, it has a "floating basket" similar to the Kwait floating basket setting. This was not discernable in the pictures because there was no "short" side view, where you can most easily see that the prongs do not extend to the shank of the ring.

The diamond is beautiful (VS2, I color, measures 7.07-7.12-4.29, very good cut, no fluorescence), but I am not sure it is worth what I paid ($6200) if the setting is not Cartier. And, since I tend to be fickle, and am always looking for the next perfect diamond, I wonder if I would be able to resell it based on these factors.

The e-bay listing is # 221566252176. I have contacted the seller, who has offered to let me return the ring, or to give me a $200 refund on it because of the REMOUNT issue. I don't want either of us to be taken advantage of. What should I do??????????

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Those things were not disclosed, I'd want to return and get a full refund.

 

[arkieb1]

Re: HELP - need some advice urgently regarding Cartier e-bay

The word Remount means the ring has probably been resized up or down a lot so much so they had to take the stone out and remount it or the stone might have been chipped or damaged and they had to take it out for whatever reason and remount it. It is possible the setting was worn or out damaged and they took the stone out, redid the metal work which is why it looks different and then remounted the stone.

Only you know if you can live with this or not, if not if the seller is offering a refund, then you should take it. I can't comment on the quality of the stone or the ring without seeing pics of it.

 

[tyty333]

Re: HELP - need some advice urgently regarding Cartier e-bay

I'd return it. Too many flags and you did not pay enough for it to be a real Cartier (IMO).

 

[nukezero]

Re: HELP - need some advice urgently regarding Cartier e-bay

If it is authentic Cartier, then it is a good price I think. But if it is not authentic, then all bets are off.

I didn't know Cartier uses GIA certification. I thought they would use their own. I know Tiffany uses their own certification.

First thing is, do you like the ring?

Second thing is, take the ring to a shop and have them check to see if the inscription numbers match the certificate and the diamond.

Third, the seller does seem legit as he has 100% feedback reviews, unless they were all buyer feedback.

 

[MollyMalone]

Re: HELP - need some advice urgently regarding Cartier e-bay

Cartier does indeed issue GIA certificates, but I don't remember when they started doing so. The GIA certificate depicted in the listing, however, is not a contemporary of that ring; it bears a date of February 24, 2014 -- and was issued to Kasson Jewelers in CT.

Might be helpful if you would post all the letters-numbers stamped inside the band that you can see --or do the eBay pics show all that are legible? (There would have been more, originally, than the P94(??) seen in the 4th pic)

 

[LLJsmom]

Re: HELP - need some advice urgently regarding Cartier e-bay

Too big a purchase to have these crucial uncertainties. Return it. Buy from a trusted preloved vendor.

 

[Circe]

Re: HELP - need some advice urgently regarding Cartier e-bay

To me it looks like the gallery was cut down to permit a band to sit flush. I don't know if that alone would have qualified Cartier to stamp it REMOUNT if they were doing the work, but it seems likely. I'd suggest contacting them directly to assuage your concerns. If it turns out that you did indeed get a really good deal because of the discrepancy ... I say get a massive diamond band with the savings to wear alongside it (flush!), and call it a day.

 

[Jsbasket]

Re: HELP - need some advice urgently regarding Cartier e-bay

I contacted Cartier, and they had no record of what REMOUNT might indicate. I also took it to my local jeweler who said it had indeed been cut down/modified. The modifications are visible with a loupe, and are not particularly well done, according to him. The seller has agreed to a return (not happily, I am afraid), so I have decided that's what I will do. Thanks to all for your help. Definitely learned my lesson on this one.

 

[telephone89]

Re: HELP - need some advice urgently regarding Cartier e-bay

I contacted Cartier, and they had no record of what REMOUNT might indicate. I also took it to my local jeweler who said it had indeed been cut down/modified. The modifications are visible with a loupe, and are not particularly well done, according to him. The seller has agreed to a return (not happily, I am afraid), so I have decided that's what I will do. Thanks to all for your help. Definitely learned my lesson on this one.

Please don't worry about this. They obviously made sure not to photograph certain things, and while I don't think they are trying to 'dupe' anyone, it is not entirely ethical and even with a no-return policy it's in their best interest to take it back. I'd suggest you also review the seller, and include that they DID take it back and 'made it right', but just so that others are aware of what happened. People put a lot of stock into those reviews!