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Semantics Spinoff: Calling out incorrect carat size?

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wakingdreams53

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My married friend's husband just bought her a wedding set that she had no say in.
Before sending me a pic or anything, she told me to guess the carat size.
Because that's a pretty personal question and I had no idea what shape, I conservatively guessed 1.25ct. Since in my mind/opinion/PS-after-affect, that's substantial bling to flaunt about.

She then almost offendedly asked, "Is that total weight?" I'm like, you told me nothing about the setting, Idk how intricate it is...
Then she said that it's 18 carats and the necklace is too.
Automatically, I was flabbergasted. Like WOAH, that's massive bling! The sets we see on PS aren't even that big!

Then I found the pics posted. I couldn't help but ask "Are you sure it's not 1.8?" She said "yea."

It's a channel-set 3-stone RB with a matching channel set band. It's far from taking over her finger, as an 18ct total weight would, and the center looked about .75ct.
It had the proportions of this: http://www.kay.com/product1%7C10101%7C10001%7C-1%7C990510202%7C15051%7C15051.15059
but the head of this, but with a smaller center stone: http://www.b2cjewels.com/Create-Your-Three-Stone-Ring/18K-White-Gold-Diamond-4385-1.aspx

The necklace is a 4 prong solitaire, but it's harder to gauge so I searched neck shots and it most closely resembles Cath's .55ct [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/forum/download/file.php?id=17193']https://www.pricescope.com/forum/download/file.php?id=17193[/URL]

Now I don't know if she's misinformed or embarrassed to have anything smaller than Beyonce, but given her response to my "are you sure?" she seems to be sticking to her guns.

So I told her to wear it in health with a smiley. No response. I think that as long as she likes it then size really doesn't matter. Yet, I think I offended her...

What would you do if your friend had insanely misjudged her carat size?
 
I wonder if she's confused carat and karat ... if he told her it was an 18K setting and she knew NOTHING about jewelry, I can sort of see that turning into a "Who's on First" sort of a routine.

That said, I would totally set my friend straight, because the people I'm friends with tend to value having accurate information over being wrong and happy. Depends on her personality and how close you guys are, I think ....
 
Did she mean 18 karat as in the gold? As in she doesn't have a 9 karat gold ring?
That's the only thing I can think of as to why someone would insist they have "18 carats".
 
maybe when you see her again, I don't know if/when the opportunity arises (hopefully sooner than later) just reiterate "oh I can totally see that beautiful/luscious 18KARAT goldor white gold ring... and ask again about the weight of the diamond. She may just say "I just said it was 18ct" then you have the opportunity to maybe educate her on the metal of her ring vs. the actual carat of diamonds?
 
Wow, when somebody is off by such a ridiculous stretch it kills me not to say anything. I think I would've done it in a similar way you did. Question it politely, but (try to) let it go if they insist. Then again, she asked you what you thought the carat weight was....
 
You know, I think I would have an honest but kind talk with her and gently inform her of your opinion of the carat size - and in the long run you'll be doing her a favor because IMO she's going to look silly and uninformed if she goes around telling everyone it's 18 carats! She's off by so much that I think it's ok to say something. It does sound like she may be confusing 18 carats and 18 karat gold.
 
WHY DIDN'T THAT ENTER MY MIND?! Wow, damn. I think you're all right! It must've been a 18kt gold type deal.
I just remember her searching e-rings and whatnot and always said she wanted platinum, so I think that's what threw me. WOW!

Really hope she doesn't get offended now...

Also, when I asked what shape it was, she said she didn't know because she had no say in the purchase...
Can't she tell its a 3-stone ROUND diamond ring?
So perhaps she just generally doesn't understand the whole ring deal... although I have completely jewelry-illiterate friends who would be able to classify her ring with ease.
 
Once someone mis-stated/was misinformed about her diamond size. I know I gave her a funny look, because she was so clearly wrong. Later, I found out the real size and felt so vindicated... but I didn't say anything. I realize most women can't look at a solitaire and tell if it's 2 or 4 carats, but it does needle me when I know someone is mis-stating it.
 
I would definitly (gently) let her know that its probaby 18k gold and your not really sure on the setting but the center looks
more like...whatever you think it is.
 
Circe|1320983985|3059292 said:
I wonder if she's confused carat and karat ... if he told her it was an 18K setting and she knew NOTHING about jewelry, I can sort of see that turning into a "Who's on First" sort of a routine.

That said, I would totally set my friend straight, because the people I'm friends with tend to value having accurate information over being wrong and happy. Depends on her personality and how close you guys are, I think ....

OMG. I agree with Circe here. Please do not let her go around saying her ring is 18 carats if that is what she really thinks. People will think she is insane. :o
Though I agree with everyone here and she probably meant 18K gold so she probably knows her ring is not 18 carats in size LOL.
 
18 years ago I proudly showed off my new 1.5ct solitaire to a colleague of mine. She asked what the metal was and I stated what I thought was the obvious, platinum. She tried to conceal a somewhat bewildered look and congratulated me and walked away. Later on that day I thought about her response and the fact that she is someone I respect and shared the experience with my fiance. We took it to another jeweler for an opinion and sure enough it wasn't platinum. Dh then contacted the original jeweler and explained the problem. He was extremeley apologetic and embarrassed and rectified the situation.

I suspect that your bewilderement has left a sense of doubt in her mind too. She has probably already googled 18ct stones, realized her gross error and is somewhat embarrassed, perhaps explaining her silence.
 
Oh man, I'm sure Circe is right and she's thinking 18k gold vs. 18 carat weight. :shock:

I think I'd tell her, and act like it's your own confusion that caused the misunderstanding, "I'm so silly, I thought you meant the weight of the diamonds when I *think* you meant the gold being 18 karat!" If you aren't going to see her anytime soon, I'd probably just shoot her a short Facebook message or something casual so it doesn't seem like a big deal. Then maybe she can Google and figure it out herself. You could also include a photo of the ring that looks the same size as hers and say someone you know on PS has a ring similar to hers that's a .75 carat center but hers is prettier, or something, to soften it somewhat. :oops:
 
oohh yes! it definitely sounds like she has mixed up diamond weight with gold content. are you friendly with her husband at all, such that you could mention to him that she might be confused about her ring's specs and he might want to set her straight to spare her some possible future embarrassment? maybe it would be easier coming from him casually talking about her ring and dropping the specs (again)?

you know.... 'hey honey, you enjoying that gorgeous x.xx carat ring in 18k yg i hit you up with?' or 'isn't your hubby a stud for getting you an x.xx diamond carat weight ring??' ;)) :bigsmile:
 
There is actually a very similar misunderstanding with Kate Middleton's famous blue sapphire engagement ring. It's set in 18k white gold, and somehow that got translated into an 18-carat sapphire. There was an article in a British paper sometime this year saying that the stone was about 10mm x 12mm and therefore was more likely to be between 8-12 carats.

Is it me, or is it odd that a famous jeweller like Garrard would set such a large and valuable stone, plus the many surrounding diamonds, in white gold instead of platinum? It's not as if the cost difference is an issue for people buying large stones from Garrard! Also, I always thought that the white gold shank looked a bit odd with the brassy yellow of the Welsh Clogau gold that is used for royal wedding rings. I know my rings are only a .70 solitaire with a plain platinum wedding band, but I think they look simple and chic. (My diamond is a Hearts on Fire from Long's in Boston though!) Wearing blue, yellow, and white on one finger wouldn't look right to me. Still, I guess she doesn't have much of a choice! Wonder if she longs for a more modern look - she could have had a really stunning top-quality diamond and platinum concoction!
 
Smith1940|1321026517|3059627 said:
There is actually a very similar misunderstanding with Kate Middleton's famous blue sapphire engagement ring. It's set in 18k white gold, and somehow that got translated into an 18-carat sapphire. There was an article in a British paper sometime this year saying that the stone was about 10mm x 12mm and therefore was more likely to be between 8-12 carats.

Is it me, or is it odd that a famous jeweller like Garrard would set such a large and valuable stone, plus the many surrounding diamonds, in white gold instead of platinum? It's not as if the cost difference is an issue for people buying large stones from Garrard! Also, I always thought that the white gold shank looked a bit odd with the brassy yellow of the Welsh Clogau gold that is used for royal wedding rings. I know my rings are only a .70 solitaire with a plain platinum wedding band, but I think they look simple and chic. (My diamond is a Hearts on Fire from Long's in Boston though!) Wearing blue, yellow, and white on one finger wouldn't look right to me. Still, I guess she doesn't have much of a choice! Wonder if she longs for a more modern look - she could have had a really stunning top-quality diamond and platinum concoction!
That's an interesting anecdote, and might help WakingDreams smooth things over with her friend if she uses it correctly!

As for wondering why a high-end jeweler setting valuable stone would use white gold instead of platinum, well, them's fighting words around here! I know a few PSers, myself included, dislike the "patina" or color or some other trait of platinum and choose white gold for reasons totally unrelated to expense.
 
Ha ha, I had no idea that was fighting talk!

I thought one of the reasons for platinum is that it holds larger stones more securely because it's hard and eternal and so doesn't wear down over the years - meaning that the prongs have greater stability. I actually prefer the white shiny look of rhodium-plated WG too; I think that platinum can look like stainless steel. But anyway, Princess Diana didn't ask for WG as the ring was off-the-peg, so to speak. It just seems odd that a jeweller like Garrard wouldn't use platinum for such a high-end piece. I mean, it cost 28,000 pounds sterling in 1980! (About $43,000).
 
Totally sounds like someone is confused about the difference between kt and ct!!! I would want to tell her because she will surely be embarrassed when she realizes she has been showing off her "18ct" ring thats actually an 18k, 1ct ring. I wonder if she thinks the metal stamp on the inside of the band is the ct weight? I would try and say something gently when you see it, like "ooooh, pretty! You said it's 18k white gold, right?"
 
I wonder if I can call my Solasfera a 95-ct diamond. :o :o :o
The ring says 95 PT. :mrgreen:
 
I wouldn't say a word. She'll just get mad at you! It's just not worth it to me in those kind of situations.
 
Laila619|1321039669|3059742 said:
I wouldn't say a word. She'll just get mad at you! It's just not worth it to me in those kind of situations.

I agree.
If she is THAT uninformed and is the type to bring attention to her bling being an "18 ct" diamond" I would not want to be around when that balloon pops. :errrr:

I also would not care to be her husband when she finds out the truth, since there's a good chance he described the jewelry to her at 18 carat, intentionally or accidentally.
 
Send her a picture of Kim Kardashian's ring and say :"OMG? are you serious, and I thought Kim got a honker, but the center is only 16ct!, and you say yours is 18ct ? It must be humongous!" that should send her off on an instant internet search!
 
jaysonsmom|1321042937|3059778 said:
Send her a picture of Kim Kardashian's ring and say :"OMG? are you serious, and I thought Kim got a honker, but the center is only 16ct!, and you say yours is 18ct ? It must be humongous!" that should send her off on an instant internet search!

Haha! That is a good idea!

Or, if you are chicken like me, just send her this anonymously in the mail!

http://pics.bluenile.com/assets/chrome/pdf/diamond_carat_size_0810.pdf

All I can say is, I wonder what cave she has been living in??!!! I mean seriously, I can see guessing wrong when we are talking about under 2 cts., but I think my 16 year old would know that an 18 ct. diamond is something only movie stars (or royalty, etc.) have!
 
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