Need some help regarding a diamond bracelet

[needsomebling]

Hello,

I need some assistance regarding a diamond bracelet I've ordered. I based my purchase on information from the jeweller's website which stated the diamond bracelet I was ordering had X number of diamonds at Y total carat weight of all the diamonds in the bracelet. I had calculated out the size of the diamonds from X and Y and proceeded with the order believing that was what I would be receiving. After some prolonged delays, I received some images of the bracelet, and I counted X+3 diamonds. When asked about that, they replied that yes there were X+3 diamonds at a CTW of Y+0.1. Now, I guess I should be thrilled to have 3 extra diamonds, but when I work out the numbers, overall each diamond would be smaller in weight theoretically using the calculation (Y+0.1)/(X+3).

I realize it only works out to be a small difference per diamond (ie. 0.004 per diamond), and visually who can see that small of a difference I guess. But instead of 0.102 carat diamonds I suppose they would be 0.0981 sized diamonds. It's like ordering a 1.0 carat diamond and getting a 0.996 diamond instead. Is this normal practice to vary the number of diamonds to get close to the total carat weight for a tennis bracelet? I can understand it must be difficult to get exactly X number of diamonds to total Y amount, but I'm just surprised that the total number is not what was shown on the website. I mean, I wouldn't have bought the diamond if it had X+11 diamonds at Y total carat weight as each one would be smaller than I would have wanted.

This small difference I guess I should overlook? It's just after waiting all this time and then finding out that what I ordered is not quite right that just doesn't sit well with me.

What do you think? Am I out to lunch here and being too picky? Considering that other jewellry items have very specific specifications, are diamond bracelets one of those exemption items where close enough is the norm?

Thanks for any help!

 

[kenny]

The price per carat goes up at milestones like 0.5 ct and 1.0 ct.
I'll bet there is a milestone at 10 points, so 9.8 point diamonds are cheaper than 10 point diamonds.

I'd object.
You paid for 10 pointers.

This is just as wrong as paying for a 1.0 ct and getting a 0.98 ct.
The weight and appearance will be negligible but their cost is lower so they are making more money and not giving you what you paid for.

Then again they gave you 3 'free' ones, or do I misunderstand your post?

 

[needsomebling]

They gave me 3 free ones at 0.1 more total carat weight of all the diamonds in the bracelet combined than was specified on the website but at the cost of all of the diamonds individually being slightly less weight I think.

 

[kenny]

Paying for diamonds over a milestone, but getting diamonds under the milestone means you were cheated.

I'd object, return it and insist on getting what you paid for.

The problem is. unless you take the diamonds out of the setting and weigh them you'll never know if they are all over the milestone or not.
They could tell you they remade the bracelet, but just hand you back the same bracelet.
You have already established they are not honest.

Then again maybe ALL diamond bracelet makers do this.

 

[needsomebling]

Thanks for the replies. Yes that's what I'm trying to figure out. With these smaller sized diamonds (3mm in diameter I'm estimating), maybe the tiny variances are within the normal practice? I just don't know enough as this is the first diamond bracelet I've ever purchased so I don't know if 10 pointers (0.1 carat I take it?) diamonds are actually considered anywhere from 0.998 to 0.102 for example and whether that is okay? All I can go on are my calculations. Is 0.004 of a carat just too small to fret over? I mean I'd like to think this jeweller is honest and really I don't think they would jeopardize their reputation over this. I would have thought though that they would stick to the original number of diamonds and ensure they were at Y combined total carat weight or slightly over.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Absolutely the diamonds will vary a little in weight! They can't possibly all be .100000. Some may be .995 and some might be .105 or even a greater difference. My tendency is to say to forget it, but you could go to an independent appraiser and at least have them measure the stones' diameter to see if they are facing like a 10 point stone should.

 

[needsomebling]

Yes, I certainly understand there will be some variances with each diamond as none are exactly the same. It's just with a 5 CTW bracelet with 49 diamonds, each one should be about 0.102 give or take a bit while the same 5.1 CTW bracelet with 52 diamonds would be 0.098 each roughly. Some certainly might be over the 0.1 mark, but then that would make some less than 0.098. Am I making a mountain out of a molehill?

I don't know. I just was expecting 49 diamonds, no more, no less at a total combined carat weight of 5. Should I see it as the cup is half full with three extra "free" diamonds at the cost of all of them being less than 0.1? I guess who can see 0.2 mm difference in size? Would you mind getting an extra diamond in an eternity band, but end up with each diamond slightly smaller but overall combined carat weight a fraction more? I just don't know why they could not stick with the specified number of diamonds on the website as that was what I based my purchase decision on and make the total CTW to be 5 or slightly more. I guess the other side of the coin is that they could have made it with 50 diamonds but made the CTW 4.9 and that would be okay too?

Ugh I think I need to take a break and think about this over the weekend as it's been a month and a half wait and now this unexpected surprise is just not what I need right now.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

If it is an item they stock, I'd just return it since you aren't happy. But I doubt there is any visual difference in the stones you received versus what you were expecting.

 

[crown1]

Is this a standard 7" bracelet? Is it custom or from regular stock? Bezel set, prong? If it needed to be longer than 7" maybe that may account for using 3 extra stones. Maybe not valid. Just a thought.

 

[needsomebling]

This is a standard 7" bracelet. Custom as in 18K instead of 14K. X-prong. I didn't request any lengthening as my wife's wrist is slim to begin with so I was concerned from the start about the length and contemplating ways to shorten it if need be, but my calculations and estimates based on 3 mm wide diamonds plus some spacing seemed to be okay. I think the added 3 diamonds would add at least one centimetre more to the length which makes things a bit worse in terms of looseness.

Thanks for your replies. Unfortunately this is not what they consider a "stock" item as I requested an 18K white gold bracelet instead of the stock 14K white gold so apparently there are no returns. There were no other alteration requests when ordering. On their website I think they should put 52 diamonds instead of 49 if that is what the final result will be or if they cannot be sure maybe put a range of 49-52 diamonds? It does state that the width and stone count vary by carat weight, but I thought that was refering to the various CTW selections available. For example their 3 ctw bracelet are supposed to have 60 diamonds while the 5 and 6 ctw ones are supposed to have 49?

I realize that optically one likely can't see the difference between a 0.1 carat diamond and a 0.98 one, but then again most people probably can't tell an E coloured diamond from a H colour or a VVS1 from a SI. I don't think it's okay to substitute one for the other as long as the odds of the consumer not having the diamonds evaluated are small. I don't think it is good practice to vary the number of diamonds in a bracelet like this without informing the buyer as it makes all the diamonds end up being smaller and the length being increased. Do other people who buy diamond bracelets end up having different numbers of diamonds than what they ordered?

I just need some more background information and opinions to try to help to decide what to do in this case. I'm just trying to consider all the factors involved as I don't have any experience in diamond bracelet ordering or manufacturing so I want to be reasonable. I have no other concerns about this jeweller as our interactions over email have been very nice and friendly, but I do need to have this issue resolved somehow. I'm sure they will work something out hopefully.

 

[needsomebling]

Does anyone know whether it's possible to cram 3 more diamonds into a 7" bracelet while increasing the total carat weight by only 0.1-0.2 carats? I'm just confused as their 14K 5 CTW bracelet is stated on their website as having 49 diamonds. The jeweller is saying that the length is the same 7", but for my 18K bracelet, it came from their supplier with 52 settings for diamonds which they did not expect. They said the diamonds are all 2.95-3mm in diameter at 0.10 carats each so I guess they use the same ones for the 49 and the 52 diamond bracelets? They also seem to be saying the CTW is closer to 5.2 now even though in their invoice it shows 5.1 carats.

Something doesn't seem to be adding up. I have a weird feeling these diamond bracelets are more of a throw it together sort of product than a carefully measured and calculated design?

 

[needsomebling]

I just thought I would update this thread just in case any one is interested as it may hopefully help others encountering problems buying a tennis bracelet or if anyone is curious.

The latest news is that the jeweller has admitted to a mistake on their website and has adjusted the specifications for the 5 carat tennis bracelet to state that it comes with 52 diamonds now instead of 49. I'm not sure if that was intended to make me feel better as it seems to be more a correction for their benefit to avoid future customer problems like mine. I did do a screen capture before the changes so I still have the page showing the 49 diamond specification. They also did change their original invoice to reflect 52 diamonds.

So far I've had a couple of toss and turn, sleepless nights thinking about this. Even though I placed the order for this bracelet present at the beginning of August, it ended up missing my wife's birthday which was two weeks into September. I did give her some flowers though! She has noticed the extra stress it has placed on me while I try to keep this all a secret from her. I normally don't hide things from her so it's quite a burden, and she is quite perceptive!

I just want a 18K 5 carat bracelet with 49 diamonds to give to my wife. That's what I ordered, and they never mentioned any problems with making that. Luckily I counted the diamonds on the images they sent or else it would have been shipped and that would have been more trouble to ship it back or deal with it then. No one informed me of the diamond count difference until I mentioned it to them. Apparently the total weight measured is 5.1 carats with the 52 diamonds.

I've given them a few options.

1. They can deliver me to what I ordered with the correct specifications as was on their website originally.
2. They can refund me my money without any deductions as it was a mistake on their end.
3. They can ship me the bracelet "as is" if they think I am being unreasonable and if they think I should accept whatever they make for me regardless of what it said on their website.

In hindsight maybe I shouldn't have offered option 3 as they might actually go that route. Who knows. Oh well, I find the loss of sleep and stress over this might not be worth the trouble. So others do be careful to double check what you are getting as sometimes what appears to be a straightforward process may not be what you expect! I'll update this with further updates to see which way the story goes...