Thoughts on this diamond bracelet?

tfc_diamondlvr · Dec 11, 2018

Hello folks!
I posted this question in 'show me the bling' as I wasn't sure if it was appropriate to ask this question here.

However, some other members suggested I post here, so that's what I'm doing

I'm looking to purchase a nice piece of jewelry for my mother for Christmas. I've been on the hunt for over a month.

My budget is around $1.4 k Canadian.
I missed out on a lovely Temple St. Clair necklace, so I'm feeling a bit bummed out as I was really pumped to gift that to my mother.

I found this bracelet and figured it might work.
The seller says it's a 3 ct diamond bracelet. The quality is VS and F color with 18k gold (or so they claim).

The seller wants around $1.7. I'll try and talk them down a few hundred.

I know my mother likes a bit of bling and she doesn't have a nice tennis bracelet. I see her wearing stuff that hurts her skin (because it's not real gold) and that kills me.

So, what do you folks think? I figured I should ask PSers here first. I must admit, although my 5 stone ring isn't of the highest quality, everyone on here is correct. It's really hard to tell with the naked eye past Si1 - VS2. The 5 stone ring looks great and no non-PSer would know the difference

Any suggestions are welcomed. I've really scoured the internet looking for something nice. I know my mother would love something from VCA, Cartier or Tiffany's. I just can't find anything decent for my price in Canadian including taxes/duties/customs etc.

Thanks in advance!

Bron357 · Dec 11, 2018

Hi, firstly it’s 14k not 18k as per the listing.
It’s also under 7 inches so if your mum has a bigger than average wrist, it may be too tight.
The seller only has 61 feedback of which only 11 are previous sales and she has set them to private which means you can’t see what type and value items she has previously sold.
As a 15 year over 1,500 feedback ebayer I wouldn’t buy from her. If I’m spending over $1,000 I don’t want it to be from a seller who sold 11 items maybe worth 99 cents each. I want to see her sales history to understand the quality and value of items she has sold. I am suspicious of anyone who isn’t an established business seller who sets their seller feedback to private - like why?
You have no way of knowing if the bracelet actually contains diamonds, you can’t assume anything these days, let alone them being F colour and VVS quality. On what basis does she make these claims? Her carat weight calculation however would seem appropriate.
That said, of course you can buy the bracelet take it in to a jeweller and pay to get it checked and then if not as stated go through the dramas of a “not as described” return to get your money back.
Her price, $1,299 US, if the bracelet is as stated, is a fair price. Whether or not she’ll take a few hundred extra off the price, who knows, you can but ask politely.
If you aren’t experienced or knowledgeable enough to ID diamonds from Moissanite etc you’ll have to take it to a jeweller. They might test for free but they might also charge you. If you want to do all that before Christmas you might run out of time.
So first, think about your Mums wrist size, if small or less than average, you’re good. Make her an offer. If she accepts pay via PayPal using a credit card (it’s like have 3 levels of protection - the eBay guarantee, PayPal dispute resolution and your credit cards dispute service as well).
Make sure it’s signed for delivery to you, insured. As soon as you get it, like same or next day, go to your jewellers and get it tested. If not diamonds (I wouldn’t get hung up on colour or clarity because they will inevitably be around H or I colour, VVS2 or even SI clarity, if it was set in 18kt gold then I’d be more inclined to consider them being F colour) get your jeweller to write out something on letterhead describing said bracelet as NOT containing natural, from the earth diamonds and set about getting your money back.
It’s a beautiful bracelet and if it all lines up for you, I’m sure your Mum will be thrilled to bits.

tfc_diamondlvr · Dec 14, 2018

Bron357 said:
Hi, firstly it’s 14k not 18k as per the listing.
It’s also under 7 inches so if your mum has a bigger than average wrist, it may be too tight.
The seller only has 61 feedback of which only 11 are previous sales and she has set them to private which means you can’t see what type and value items she has previously sold.
As a 15 year over 1,500 feedback ebayer I wouldn’t buy from her. If I’m spending over $1,000 I don’t want it to be from a seller who sold 11 items maybe worth 99 cents each. I want to see her sales history to understand the quality and value of items she has sold. I am suspicious of anyone who isn’t an established business seller who sets their seller feedback to private - like why?
You have no way of knowing if the bracelet actually contains diamonds, you can’t assume anything these days, let alone them being F colour and VVS quality. On what basis does she make these claims? Her carat weight calculation however would seem appropriate.
That said, of course you can buy the bracelet take it in to a jeweller and pay to get it checked and then if not as stated go through the dramas of a “not as described” return to get your money back.
Her price, $1,299 US, if the bracelet is as stated, is a fair price. Whether or not she’ll take a few hundred extra off the price, who knows, you can but ask politely.
If you aren’t experienced or knowledgeable enough to ID diamonds from Moissanite etc you’ll have to take it to a jeweller. They might test for free but they might also charge you. If you want to do all that before Christmas you might run out of time.
So first, think about your Mums wrist size, if small or less than average, you’re good. Make her an offer. If she accepts pay via PayPal using a credit card (it’s like have 3 levels of protection - the eBay guarantee, PayPal dispute resolution and your credit cards dispute service as well).
Make sure it’s signed for delivery to you, insured. As soon as you get it, like same or next day, go to your jewellers and get it tested. If not diamonds (I wouldn’t get hung up on colour or clarity because they will inevitably be around H or I colour, VVS2 or even SI clarity, if it was set in 18kt gold then I’d be more inclined to consider them being F colour) get your jeweller to write out something on letterhead describing said bracelet as NOT containing natural, from the earth diamonds and set about getting your money back.
It’s a beautiful bracelet and if it all lines up for you, I’m sure your Mum will be thrilled to bits.

Thank you very much for your thoughtful and lengthy reply. I have been feeling quite ill lately, so staring at computers has been less than ideal for me

I actually emailed the seller twice without ANY response back about the authenticity of the diamonds.

The fact that the seller won't respond to my inquiries coupled with the lack of public sale disclosures made me feel uneasy about the whole thing.

It's because of PSers like you that I've got a bit more wherewithal regarding pre-loved jewels!

Thanks again for your insights and taking the time to help a fellow PSer trying to give her mom a more joyful Christmas!

Now, to continue my hunt!