Is this plausible?

[valentinebabi5]

I recently dropped off my e-ring off at kay jewelers for it to be replated because the white gold band was yellowing. When I picked it up all was well except on close exam in the sunlight on the way home I saw a visible inclusion I never saw before. At once we returned to the store and was told that it was always there and that the oil in my skin masked it. I was made to feel like an idiot, but I know my ring never had a visible inclusion . Is it possible that oil can mask visible inclusions? To my eye this inclusion is huge. It is in the center stone of a 3 stone ring, the center stone is round cut .5 carat. I''d greatly appreciate any info regarding this and I am really upset.

 

[Skippy123]

Did your diamond come with a certificate?

 

[valentinebabi5]

No certificate. They looked up the value of my diamond and told me it was woth over $900 for the center stone but I recieved no paper work.

 

[neatfreak]

I don''t mean this negatively toward your ring...but Kay''s is not known for having the best diamonds around. Most of the rings that I have seen in their stores have visible inclusions, with the exception of the crazy overpriced "top notch" stuff.

So, if it is indeed from Kays, with no certification, it is likely that there might have been a visible inclusion. How often do you clean your diamond? If you don''t clean it, it is amazing what can build up on your diamond, which CAN affect both the brilliance and what you can see inside. If you don''t ever clean your stone, it is likely that a good cleaning from a store (they usually steam it or put it in an ultrasonic cleaner) will make it squeaky clean, uncovering anything unsightly inside the stone.

So yes, I would think it was possible and unfortunately unless you have a certification that plots the inclusions in your stone you have little recourse.

 

[Skippy123]

Oh no, I am so sorry. Usually a certificate helps. Again I am sorry; I wish I had a better answer for you.

 

[valentinebabi5]

We are in the process of gathering all the paperwork for this ring. We had our rings cleaned by the store every six months for our warranty. No visible inclusion. When first engaged I stared at this ring constantly, it would have been noticed. It was originally purchased at a rogers jewelry but has been cleaned and inspected and replated at Kays.

 

[CaptAubrey]

The odds that the staff at a chain store like Kay would have switched your stone are very slim, especially if their valuation is accurate.

You might try getting it cleaned a second time. It''s possible this is just a new piece of dirt that got under your stone.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 7/12/2007 8:02:01 PM
Author: CaptAubrey
The odds that the staff at a chain store like Kay would have switched your stone are very slim, especially if their valuation is accurate.


You might try getting it cleaned a second time. It's possible this is just a new piece of dirt that got under your stone.

I agree with Capt. Could be a piece of polishing compound or something like that too. Especially if it's worth only $900, a LOT of effort would have had to been put in to switch the stone on you. If they're going to switch your stone they need to know what they're doing and I doubt even someone who knew what they were doing would bother unless the stone in question was worth a ton of $.

If you have paperwork with a plot it should have all the inclusions mapped out for you. That would be the best way to ensure that it's the same stone you bought before.

best of luck!

 

[Skippy123]

I am sorry about your ring. $900 is a nice amount to spend on a ring, honestly!!!! I hope it works out Valentine.

 

[strmrdr]

sounds like a spot of polishing compound on the stone, this is very common.
It can sometimes be a real pita to remove and the quick dip in the ultrasonic after the plating didn''t get it off.
Have it steam cleaned and ultrasonic cleaned before freaking out too much.
With a loupe you might also be able too see if there is something on the outside of the stone if its in an open area.

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

Hopefully it is just a piece of dirt, but at 900 dollars for a .5ct diamond is close to the prices of a VS2-SI2, an in a local jewelry store might run to an I1 or I2. A lot of possibilities in that relative price range and ct size. If the papers put it as SI2 or below though it is very possible that it has always been around, only why you never saw it I couldn''t imagine.

I suppose it is also possible someone else had a very similar ring in to be cleaned? but very unlikely?


Regardless though it sounds like a nice ring. You inspired me to go and check. I had thought about this before but for personal reasons didn''t want to get a diamond under .61 cts. I just went to look and for the same price I paid I could have gotten a .50ct center, two .2-.25 ct sides of colorless and VS2 for all three and have made a three stone ring! I wonder which one she would have prefered, but I bet the three stone would look more impressive than my solitaire

I hope I made the right choice! so hopefully it can be cleaned off now, but if not I don''t know what to say. Very upsetting.

 

[valentinebabi5]

Thank you for all of your info. I really appreciate the effort. The only thing I was wondering about is if instead of replating my ring they just gave me a similar ring they had in stock? But I guess I might take this as a lesson learned. The ring was $1999 originally. We spent about $4000 for jewelry there but I guess it was a mistake. Again thanks everyone. I''ll look into the idea of polishing compound.

 

[denverappraiser]

Internal inclusions aren’t something that can be added so I think the theory of a piece of crud stuck to the stone is pretty likely. This is definitely not a defense of sloppy work, every item should be checked and cleaned before it’s returned to the customer, but it’s not evidence of a damaged or switched diamond either. If they can’t clean it, try one of their competitors who has a steam cleaner in the shop. It shouldn’t be difficult to clean

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Jewelry Appraisals in Denver