Too good to be true? Look what I found...

[mommy-of-4-kids]

I ran across an ad that advertized a size 6 ring with a 1/4 carat diamond.

The problem is, when I looked at the picture, the diamond sure looked larger than 1/4 carat.

I emailed the seller, and she said she thought it was 1/4 carat because it is a little over 1/4 inches across the top of the diamond.

Now, I''m not an expert, but I think that''s at least a 1.5 carat diamond and probably larger.

I asked her if she would meet me at a jewelry store so I could verify that it was a real diamond, and she said yes and I picked my trusted jeweler. She said no problem and agreed to meet me there tomorrow at noon.

She wants $250.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/30/2009 4:04:16 PM
Author:mommy-of-4-kids
I ran across an ad that advertized a size 6 ring with a 1/4 carat diamond.

The problem is, when I looked at the picture, the diamond sure looked larger than 1/4 carat.

I emailed the seller, and she said she thought it was 1/4 carat because it is a little over 1/4 inches across the top of the diamond.

Now, I'm not an expert, but I think that's at least a 1.5 carat diamond and probably larger.

I asked her if she would meet me at a jewelry store so I could verify that it was a real diamond, and she said yes and I picked my trusted jeweler. She said no problem and agreed to meet me there tomorrow at noon.

She wants $250.

That is a lot larger than a .25, looks much bigger to me and I mean MUCH BIGGER! You will probably find if it is a real diamond the jeweller will tell you the size and the seller will realize the price should be much more. Did she say if the stone has a lab report such as GIA and the colour and clarity?

 

[chrono]

Ditto what Lorelei posted. Even if the seller has extremely skinner finger, that's a good sized diamond, well over 1.5 ct.

 

[mommy-of-4-kids]

She said that it is from her first marriage and that she''s never had it appraised.

She lists her town as a very affluent one.

I thought for sure that it was a scam and was shocked that she said she would meet at the jeweler.

 

[chrono]

Sounds like there''s no lab cert (hence no idea about the clarity, cut, weight and other cutting measurements). It also appears she has no idea about its worth which I''m sure your jeweller will probably advise her on once the size is determined. While there, she will also be able to see the market price for something similar.

 

[mommy-of-4-kids]

Yeah, I thought that also. She must have a hunk of a rock from a subsequent marriage if she thinks this is 1/4 carat!

I have to go there and get some rings sized, anyway, so if she decides not to sell it to me it won''t be a wasted trip.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I would meet with her at Starbucks and just hand over the $250 in hopes that it''s real! Why take the chance. . .if she finds out it''s larger than 1/4 ct? Then you''re out the possibility of having a massive rock!

 

[Stone Hunter]

Well Good Luck! Maybe it has bad memories and she''ll still want to sell it when she finds out that it''s bigger than 1/4 ct?

WOW by her measurement system a 1ct diamond would be an inch across!

 

[decodelighted]

Could it be *stolen*? Someone who has never owned a diamond might have funny ideas about size like that ...

 

[D&T]

Date: 6/30/2009 4:19:36 PM
Author: MC
I would meet with her at Starbucks and just hand over the $250 in hopes that it''s real! Why take the chance. . .if she finds out it''s larger than 1/4 ct? Then you''re out the possibility of having a massive rock!

I thought about this too! hey you could be gambling out $250 or hit the jackpot!

 

[mommy-of-4-kids]

If it is stolen wouldn''t they get more from a pawn shop?

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 6/30/2009 4:25:20 PM
Author: D&T

Date: 6/30/2009 4:19:36 PM
Author: MC
I would meet with her at Starbucks and just hand over the $250 in hopes that it''s real! Why take the chance. . .if she finds out it''s larger than 1/4 ct? Then you''re out the possibility of having a massive rock!

I thought about this too! hey you could be gambling out $250 or hit the jackpot!

Oh, I don''t know...integrity maybe? You know...who you are when no one is looking and all that mumbo jumbo?

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 6/30/2009 4:25:41 PM
Author: mommy-of-4-kids
If it is stolen wouldn''t they get more from a pawn shop?

I think these days pawn shops have to keep records about where they get things. People might even have to show an id? Don''t know for sure but get a funny feeling about this transaction. I wonder if its just to mug you for your $250 in cash? Seriously. People on craigslist & stuff these days are scary!

 

[D&T]

Date: 6/30/2009 4:27:09 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 6/30/2009 4:25:20 PM
Author: D&T

Date: 6/30/2009 4:19:36 PM
Author: MC
I would meet with her at Starbucks and just hand over the $250 in hopes that it''s real! Why take the chance. . .if she finds out it''s larger than 1/4 ct? Then you''re out the possibility of having a massive rock!

I thought about this too! hey you could be gambling out $250 or hit the jackpot!

Oh, I don''t know...integrity maybe? You know...who you are when no one is looking and all that mumbo jumbo?

aaahhh Schucks! TGAL- I know my evil twin was thinking this

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 6/30/2009 4:29:11 PM
Author: decodelighted

Date: 6/30/2009 4:25:41 PM
Author: mommy-of-4-kids
If it is stolen wouldn''t they get more from a pawn shop?

I think these days pawn shops have to keep records about where they get things. People might even have to show an id? Don''t know for sure but get a funny feeling about this transaction. I wonder if its just to mug you for your $250 in cash? Seriously. People on craigslist & stuff these days are scary!

True Deco. I can''t imagine someone not knowing that ring was bigger than 1/4 carat. It would unnerve me enough to bypass the transaction/meeting entirely. But I''m hugely cynical.

 

[mommy-of-4-kids]

The jeweler is in a highy visable and busy shopping area. I don''t know how they could mug me in a jewelry store. There is a uniformed security guard inside the store, too. ???????????

 

[Ara Ann]

Did she say if it''s a solitaire? The pic is blurry, but it almost looks like a smaller center diamond, with some kind of ring guard or wrap around it...could be why the surface size is larger, but the main stone could be a .25.

 

[mommy-of-4-kids]

She didn''t specifically say it was a solitare but she said the diamond is a little more that 1/4 inch across the top.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 6/30/2009 4:27:09 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 6/30/2009 4:25:20 PM
Author: D&T

Date: 6/30/2009 4:19:36 PM
Author: MC
I would meet with her at Starbucks and just hand over the $250 in hopes that it''s real! Why take the chance. . .if she finds out it''s larger than 1/4 ct? Then you''re out the possibility of having a massive rock!

I thought about this too! hey you could be gambling out $250 or hit the jackpot!

Oh, I don''t know...integrity maybe? You know...who you are when no one is looking and all that mumbo jumbo?

Oh, you''re no fun! lol

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 6/30/2009 4:39:43 PM
Author: MC

Date: 6/30/2009 4:27:09 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 6/30/2009 4:25:20 PM
Author: D&T

Date: 6/30/2009 4:19:36 PM
Author: MC
I would meet with her at Starbucks and just hand over the $250 in hopes that it''s real! Why take the chance. . .if she finds out it''s larger than 1/4 ct? Then you''re out the possibility of having a massive rock!

I thought about this too! hey you could be gambling out $250 or hit the jackpot!

Oh, I don''t know...integrity maybe? You know...who you are when no one is looking and all that mumbo jumbo?

Oh, you''re no fun! lol

I know, lol. I''m a big believer in karma though...I believe if she went in there with the idea that she was going to get away with something, most likely things would not turn out in her favor.

Will be interesting to see how this turns out.

 

[radiantquest]

i would go ahead with it. she might even still sell it to you for $250 because that is what was agreed upon and she just wants to be rid of it. let us know what happens

 

[mommy-of-4-kids]

If I wanted to get away with something, I wouldn''t have specifically told her that I didn''t think her ring was 1/4 carat. I explained that since she is a size 6 finger and that the diamond covers a such a large portion of her finger, that it is a larger diamond. She said she didn''t know how to guess carat sizes and that was her only reply. I told her I was interested if it is a real diamond and she said that as long as I can find a jewelry store who will verify the stone for free, she would meet me. But, I''ve been upfront with her from my initial inquiry that I thought she was wrong on the size.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 6/30/2009 4:48:52 PM
Author: mommy-of-4-kids
If I wanted to get away with something, I wouldn''t have specifically told her that I didn''t think her ring was 1/4 carat. I explained that since she is a size 6 finger and that the diamond covers a such a large portion of her finger, that it is a larger diamond. She said she didn''t know how to guess carat sizes and that was her only reply. I told her I was interested if it is a real diamond and she said that as long as I can find a jewelry store who will verify the stone for free, she would meet me. But, I''ve been upfront with her from my initial inquiry that I thought she was wrong on the size.

Is that the only pic? Because it may not be a solitaire, as someone mentioned.

And just to be clear, I didn''t think it sounded like you wanted to get away with anything at all.

 

[decodelighted]

Look, I''m pretty cautious. I lock the doors when I''m sitting in the car to help ward off "carjacking". Which my DH thinks is hilarious.

Can you take someone with you to the meetup ... OR let the jeweler know someone is coming to meet you and then call the jeweler for a sneak peek review of the person before you go there yourself?

If its a specific time & not a well-traveled store, an accomplice could mug you while you''re heading toward the store. Like I said -- I''m paranoid. But I''m sure those Craigslist masseurs didn''t expect to get attacked either. ** shiver **

 

[D&T]

Date: 6/30/2009 4:48:52 PM
Author: mommy-of-4-kids
If I wanted to get away with something, I wouldn''t have specifically told her that I didn''t think her ring was 1/4 carat. I explained that since she is a size 6 finger and that the diamond covers a such a large portion of her finger, that it is a larger diamond. She said she didn''t know how to guess carat sizes and that was her only reply. I told her I was interested if it is a real diamond and she said that as long as I can find a jewelry store who will verify the stone for free, she would meet me. But, I''ve been upfront with her from my initial inquiry that I thought she was wrong on the size.

well at least you tried to educate her in the size wise, so you''re honest, Do come back with your result though. Interesting to see.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 6/30/2009 4:50:59 PM
Author: decodelighted
Look, I''m pretty cautious. I lock the doors when I''m sitting in the car to help ward off ''carjacking''. Which my DH thinks is hilarious.

Can you take someone with you to the meetup ... OR let the jeweler know someone is coming to meet you and then call the jeweler for a sneak peek review of the person before you go there yourself?

If its a specific time & not a well-traveled store, an accomplice could mug you while you''re heading toward the store. Like I said -- I''m paranoid. But I''m sure those Craigslist masseurs didn''t expect to get attacked either. ** shiver **

I''m with you Deco. Say she gets there and the ring is obviously not as represented. The woman goes on her merry way as does the OP. She gets followed out of the store because they know she has 250 bucks of cash on her and then she gets attacked.

I also keep my car doors locked when I am sitting in it. I should note here that I am from Los Angeles and Deco lives in NYC, so that might have something to do it!!

 

[isaku5]

Date: 6/30/2009 4:50:59 PM
Author: decodelighted
Look, I''m pretty cautious. I lock the doors when I''m sitting in the car to help ward off ''carjacking''. Which my DH thinks is hilarious.

Can you take someone with you to the meetup ... OR let the jeweler know someone is coming to meet you and then call the jeweler for a sneak peek review of the person before you go there yourself?

If its a specific time & not a well-traveled store, an accomplice could mug you while you''re heading toward the store. Like I said -- I''m paranoid. But I''m sure those Craigslist masseurs didn''t expect to get attacked either. ** shiver **

I like this idea! Frankly, I''d be curious enough about it to find out especially since you add that it''s in an affluent area and the store has an armed guard.

Please keep us posted.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/30/2009 4:48:52 PM
Author: mommy-of-4-kids
If I wanted to get away with something, I wouldn't have specifically told her that I didn't think her ring was 1/4 carat. I explained that since she is a size 6 finger and that the diamond covers a such a large portion of her finger, that it is a larger diamond. She said she didn't know how to guess carat sizes and that was her only reply. I told her I was interested if it is a real diamond and she said that as long as I can find a jewelry store who will verify the stone for free, she would meet me. But, I've been upfront with her from my initial inquiry that I thought she was wrong on the size.

It sounds like she has no idea of diamond sizes. I would proceed with extreme caution also I would not go unaccompanied.

 

[mommy-of-4-kids]

I emailed her again and asked for another photo of the ring. I stated again that I believe her ring is more than 1/4 carat, based on the photo. I asked if she will want more than $250 if we confirm that the stone is larger. I''ll let you know what she says.

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Date: 6/30/2009 4:36:12 PM
Author: Ara Ann
Did she say if it''s a solitaire? The pic is blurry, but it almost looks like a smaller center diamond, with some kind of ring guard or wrap around it...could be why the surface size is larger, but the main stone could be a .25.

I was thinking the same thing.
Good luck to you! Hopefully you will get a really huge rock at a great price!