Hiya Folks -
I have an issue that I am seeking some educated assistance with. Please forgive me if I have posted in the wrong place - If you would provide me where to go (other than "straight to hell"), I would be more than happy to oblige.
Ok - In a nutshell scenario - I purchased parcel of bracelets from a website called Govdeals.com. I have made several purchases from this site before - with some being hits, and some markedly less-so. The problem here is I don't know what I have purchased - whether it is genuine...fake etc. This lot was a confiscation so there is no attached paperwork such as receipts or indicators of size, quantity or quality...nada. The text from the ad is below. I based my decision on only visual data and experience.
One indicator I use is a general measurement of what kind of response is the auction receiving? How many bidders etc. usually indicates that "someone knows something somewhere." The folks selling the items allowed prospective buyers to preview the items before bidding. Thats great - if you happen to be on the East Coast. I am in Los Angeles, but the auction volume was telling (at least I hope it was saying "Buy Me".) This particular auction had more than double the bids than a typical one. Unfortunately there is no way to contact any of those other bidders to see if one of them happened to see the lot in person.
The verbage for this particular auction was as follows:
"1 Lot consisting of (6) Items of Jewelry. It# 1: (1) - Silver Colored Bracelet with Stones, marked 14K; It# 2: (1) Silver Colored Bracelet with Stones, marked 14K; It# 3: (1) Silver Colored Bracelet with Stones, marked 14K; It# 4: (1) Silver Colored Bracelet with Stones, marked 14K; It# 5: (1) Silver Colored Bracelet with Stones, marked 14K; It# 6: (1) Silver Colored Bracelet with Stones, marked 14K. All listed items are in new/unused condition."
Now I am aware of the risks here and take them quite knowingly, but I usually stick to things that I know well - like precious metals. I generally stay a long ways away from diamonds - simply because of my lack of knowledge and the quantity of variances of stones. Oftentimes I will make purchases of items that happen to have diamonds or other stones in them, usually when the weight of the metal is substantial - leaving the diamond as a kind of "bonus" (if I can get it out of the setting intact.)
As I said, this lot did not come with any paperwork, other than the receipt. That means No certification of any kind. So exactly how screwed am I? I paid what I thought was a great price for the lot. Does anyone have a gut feeling or instinct? I do feel that the metal is genuine, as I don't see double clasps like that very often in anything other than gold and platinum. Some of the stones look to have intentional color to them (photo quality is so poor) - not "color" like the variances in natural stones (like when you line up a D-color next to a J-color) - But actual colors like pink, blue and yellow.
Thoughts (other than I am a dumbass) are greatly appreciated. Crappy photos are attached.
BB




I have an issue that I am seeking some educated assistance with. Please forgive me if I have posted in the wrong place - If you would provide me where to go (other than "straight to hell"), I would be more than happy to oblige.
Ok - In a nutshell scenario - I purchased parcel of bracelets from a website called Govdeals.com. I have made several purchases from this site before - with some being hits, and some markedly less-so. The problem here is I don't know what I have purchased - whether it is genuine...fake etc. This lot was a confiscation so there is no attached paperwork such as receipts or indicators of size, quantity or quality...nada. The text from the ad is below. I based my decision on only visual data and experience.
One indicator I use is a general measurement of what kind of response is the auction receiving? How many bidders etc. usually indicates that "someone knows something somewhere." The folks selling the items allowed prospective buyers to preview the items before bidding. Thats great - if you happen to be on the East Coast. I am in Los Angeles, but the auction volume was telling (at least I hope it was saying "Buy Me".) This particular auction had more than double the bids than a typical one. Unfortunately there is no way to contact any of those other bidders to see if one of them happened to see the lot in person.
The verbage for this particular auction was as follows:
"1 Lot consisting of (6) Items of Jewelry. It# 1: (1) - Silver Colored Bracelet with Stones, marked 14K; It# 2: (1) Silver Colored Bracelet with Stones, marked 14K; It# 3: (1) Silver Colored Bracelet with Stones, marked 14K; It# 4: (1) Silver Colored Bracelet with Stones, marked 14K; It# 5: (1) Silver Colored Bracelet with Stones, marked 14K; It# 6: (1) Silver Colored Bracelet with Stones, marked 14K. All listed items are in new/unused condition."
Now I am aware of the risks here and take them quite knowingly, but I usually stick to things that I know well - like precious metals. I generally stay a long ways away from diamonds - simply because of my lack of knowledge and the quantity of variances of stones. Oftentimes I will make purchases of items that happen to have diamonds or other stones in them, usually when the weight of the metal is substantial - leaving the diamond as a kind of "bonus" (if I can get it out of the setting intact.)
As I said, this lot did not come with any paperwork, other than the receipt. That means No certification of any kind. So exactly how screwed am I? I paid what I thought was a great price for the lot. Does anyone have a gut feeling or instinct? I do feel that the metal is genuine, as I don't see double clasps like that very often in anything other than gold and platinum. Some of the stones look to have intentional color to them (photo quality is so poor) - not "color" like the variances in natural stones (like when you line up a D-color next to a J-color) - But actual colors like pink, blue and yellow.
Thoughts (other than I am a dumbass) are greatly appreciated. Crappy photos are attached.
BB



