Is it possible that my diamond was switched by the setter

[simidoll]

Hi all, My fiance bought me a ring online they sent it with their appraisal stating the center stone was 3.00 ct and SI1, F color. I took it to GIA - they said you should remove the stone from the setting in order for them to grade it so we know the stone is what the seller sold us. So i took it to one of the exchanges in diamond district in NYC where I work, one of the setters in the exchange said he would remove my stone from the ring for $10. I was standing outside the booth and watching him while he removed my stone, for a few mins i lost concentration by looking a my phone and the jewelry in his showcase. Then he gets up from his toold along the wall and gives my stone in a diamond parcel back. Then I take it to GIA they say that diamond weights 2.6 ct not 3.00 ct. So I go back to the setter ask him if its the same stone he says yes. Then I call the seller, seller say that he put 3.00 center stone, so i threatened to him to call my credit card company and paypal and notify them that the item was not as mentioned then he says maybe his setter switched the stone. We are very nervous I hope my setter didnt switch the stone, is it possible that he did?

 

[stitch]

Is your stone laser inscripted? If it is you can check for the number. You can also try to match the inclusion profile on your report against that stone.

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 11/30/2009 7:45:54 PM
Author: stitch
Is your stone laser inscripted? If it is you can check for the number. You can also try to match the inclusion profile on your report against that stone.

Good ideas. Did you have dimensions on the original stone? You could also try matching those up. Is the stone insured?

Stones are hardly ever switched at reputable jewelers ... but I'm not sure about the stands in the Diamond District. Is the internet jeweler you purchased from a Pricescope advertiser/contributor?

 

[swingirl]

There probably was no inscription is it wasn''t graded.

Even though you had a store appraisal there is no proof that the stone was what they said it was. You can''t weigh a set stone and they can only guess at the weight based on measurements. They should have recorded those measurements and the should have recorded the inclusions and their locations. Did you visually verify the inclusions through a loupe?

However since you weren''t watching the setter you may never know what happened. Do you have insurance?

 

[yssie]

So let me get this right:

1. You buy ring from seller, whose in-house verification states that stone is 3.00 F SI1.
2. You go to GIA for grading (why now, and not before purchase?), they say you need to remove the stone.
3. You go to another vendor (not the seller) to have the stone removed.
4. You go to GIA, GIA states that stone is not as originally advertised.

There are a lot of things I don't understand. Why go to GIA after setting, and not get this large, valuable stone graded before it was set? You want to remove and reset as little as possible - any work is wear on the prongs. Why go to a different vendor to get the stone removed? You say you called the seller, though, and he questioned the integrity of HIS setter - does that mean you did go to the same vendor both times? You want to make sure you have every last bit of paperwork associated with this process in your posession...

Does the in-house verification letter have an inclusion plot, a notation of any girdle inscriptions, angles, anything other than weight, colour, and clarity? Get thee to an independent appraiser, who can tell you exactly what stone you've got now - and if it's anything like the diamond listed on the appraisal! He or she may also be able to look at the setting, and depending on design hazard some guesses as to whether it was made for a 2.6ct or larger 3.0ct stone based on basket size/head bezel.

Do you have insurance? If so you want to contact them, too.

To answer your question, yes, it's possible that the setter switched the stone, as it's possible that the seller gave you the wrong stone. If done deliberately, both are very risky manoeuvres on their parts, though, and thus unlikely, and I'm very curious as to what the actual explanation is.

 

[AprilBaby]

Is it possible the original owner stated the size of the stone based on diameter rather than weight? It is possible they just measured the mm and said it was the spread of a 3 ct? Where are the inclusions on the SI1?

 

[sonnyjane]

Personally, I'm inclined to believe that you were sold the diamond with misrepresented (or perhaps just estimated) specs, and not that the stone was switched, although I agree with the PP's that verification of specs should have been taken care of BEFORE purchasing, and not after. If you're in the market for a stone in the future, please keep that in mind.