Swapped diamonds

[colleen321]

Can you tell if you diamonds have been swapped , seems the prongs holding the diamonds have been catching since I picked it up the ring and the diamonds dont look as clear and brilliant.What should I do???

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Colleen..

We need more information. Did you bring it to the jeweler for repairs? Cleaning? Did you leave it overnight? Did you return it to the jeweler who you purchased it from? Are the stones certified?

With more information, we can help provide you feedback...

 

[colleen321]

I got it from a pawn shop took it in to have it buffed up and sized .Told the jeweler what I paid for it 300 dollars the diamonds were brillant I think he was shocked he looked at it with the scope really good the tested the diamonds.I then told him I got a really good deal he said yes you did ,left 5 days went to pick it up and the girl told me I had to wait it wasn''t ready they needed to clean it up that took about 30 mins.I am almost positive he swapped the diamonds there not as bright and shiney as they were before.

 

[AChiOAlumna]

It''s hard to say whether your diamonds were swapped, although anything is possible

. Did you know the jeweler that cleaned/sized your ring? Or was this the first time you worked with him?

Sizing and cleaning normally doesn''t take 5 days to do unless the jeweler is swamped with prior orders. I got my rings set, sized, and cleaned in less than 24 hours.

Hopefully, some of our resident experts can provide you with some advice. I would probably question the jeweler and find out EXACTLY what he did and why you''re doubting his integrity. Also, check the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints against this jeweler. Also, was this jeweler a GIA gemologist? (On his business card, after his name, you''ll see initials like "G.G.")...

 

[colleen321]

He is not with the Better Business Bureau and has a GIA cert I have used him once before.Well thanks for the advice.Colleen

 

[colleen321]

Well I guess you have some good points.The ring is probably worth 1,000 dollars or more.I do have lots of jewelry form jewelers but stumbled upon this ring wich I am sure it was mispriced.But your probably right I had only had wore it for a few days before I took it in.Thank you Colleen

 

[strmrdr]

Someone left some buffing compound on the diamond is my guess.
Take it to another jeweler who does cleaning in front of you and have it cleaned.
If im right it will go back to looking nice and shiny.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

I'm in agreement with Steve's assessment.

You can have it checked out though. When diamonds are switched there are usually tool marks left on the prongs. No tool marks, no switching.

If there are tool marks, it's a good indicator, but still not a positive ID of switching. They could have gotten there some other way. Checking other features (such as prong notching and "fit" factors) will either confirm or belay switching suspicions.

 

[niceice]

Date: 5/18/2005 4:20:26 PM
Author: colleen321
Well I guess you have some good points.The ring is probably worth 1,000 dollars or more.I do have lots of jewelry form jewelers but stumbled upon this ring wich I am sure it was mispriced.

With all due respect, this is not likely... We''ve never known a pawn dealer (or a jeweler for that matter) who was giving anything away for less than it was "worth" (could be sold for)... If the ring was worth a thousand or thousands of dollars more, you can bet that the pawn dealer would have been selling it for that amount. Pawn is not the neverland of bargains, just another outlet for selling jewelry... We''ve known a lot of pawn dealers over the years and every one of them makes serious bank!

Have you considered taking the item back to the pawn dealer to ask them to look at the diamond? You might be surprised at how well they know the piece...

For future reference, it is always a good idea to have an item evaluated by an independent Graduate Gemologist appraiser to determine the quality and the value of the item for insurance purposes... This type of documentation would be invaluable at this moment... And it would serve to verify whether the item was worth only the $300.00 that you paid for it or thousands more regardless of how unlikely we think that may be...

 

[denverappraiser]

It’s usually a good idea to document important purchases when you buy them. This process of matching an item to the prior documentation is the reason that plotting diagrams and/or photomicrographs are included. If the examination and grading on the stone was done by the seller, they are the ones you should talk to about it. If you had it appraised after you bought it, you should contact the appraiser to see if they can shed some light. If you didn’t have it appraised, how did you come up with the $1000+ valuation figure that you''re using?

Now would be a good time to seek out an appraiser to examine the piece. Even if it doesn’t answer the prior question, it will help to avoid similar worries in the future. While your at it, schedule an appointment to include the other valuable jewelry you’ve bought where you don’t have complete documentation or where you have only materials supplied by the seller.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ISA NAJA
Independent Appraisals in Denver

 

[noobie]

Date: 5/19/2005 11:02:42 AM
Author: denverappraiser

Now would be a good time to seek out an appraiser to examine the piece. Even if it doesn’t answer the prior question, it will help to avoid similar worries in the future. While your at it, schedule an appointment to include the other valuable jewelry you’ve bought where you don’t have complete documentation or where you have only materials supplied by the seller.

http://www.gemlab.us/

I wouldn''t bother to do this in this case, unless you want to satisfy your curiousity. You paid $300 for it. A good appraisal will cost around $100 give or take depending upon where you are, who''s doing it and how complex the piece. Even if the appraisal comes back at $1000, it''s highly unlikely unless you you are in the trade that you could sell it for anywhere near appraised value.

My view: you paid $300, you like it, you feel like you got a great deal ..... enjoy it for what it is.

 

[colleen321]

I have a friend in the family that worked at a jewelry store for 15 years I am going to call her in the morning, also noticed a prong was broken on the ring since I have had it back.Maybe its all in my head or like someone said it might be polish on the diamonds I will send you all a pic of the ring in the next couple of days and let you know what becomes of this.Colleen

 

[colleen321]

Here is a picture of the ring I have been talking about.Colleen

 

[colleen321]

OOps having problems uploading it.Sorry.

 

[belle]

hey colleen,
try changing the name of the file. each and every pic loaded has to have a unique name.

 

[colleen321]

Renamed it and still didn''t work I wonder why I could upload my picture under my profile and cannot upload this picture oh well I will try again later.Colleen