i just got back from checking out a jewelry store i hadn't been to yet and a pawn shop (hoping to find some hidden gems) but both were a massive fail. 
the jeweler was friendly, but his colored diamonds pathetic.  he was all excited about a 1.8 ct dark brown IRRADIATED stone with a noticeable CHIP on the girdle (he said he thought the chip might be a "natural".  can this be?) some of his yellow diamonds were called "natural", but none had any certifications. when i lost interest in his rings he followed me around and tried to sell me some deeply flawed freshwater pearls 50% OFF!! but they just made me sadder. sigh..
then i went to the pawn shop and it took some time to get the girl to help me, the jewelry was only slightly less than retail, and all fairly unspectacular, then i wanted to see a fleur des lis pendant labeled 14K for $180, when i flipped it around it was very clearly stamped 14KGP, when i pointed this out the girl said "no it's not." she declared that they test all their jewelry blah blah.  i left.  sigh... when oh when will i get to go to new york and look at REAL jewelry!

I'm so sorry to hear of that less than fun experience!

I hate it when members of my trade represent poorly.


Listen to this one.....
A client of ours who had a lovely Daussi ring noticed a stone missing.
They thought it would be easiest taking it to a Major" jewelry store...(starts with a J)

So, the replace the little diamond with a piece of shit stone that did not match the quality of the others in there.
But she accepted it.
Then noticed that the center diamond was rattling.
Again back to the major jeweler who completely screwed up the prongs re tipped the prongs.
Now only three of the four prongs are on the ring, and the entire ring is just about un-fixable.
I feel terrible for the consumer.
When a large jewelry store assures someone they can fix a ring, but actually have no ability whatsoever to perform quality work, the consumer looses.

oh no! that's terrible, yuck, i can't stand big box jewelers.

You know - the thing that annoys me most is that when you catch them out (on the gold plated pendant), rather than trying to save face and say "oh, I'm sorry, I must have been mistaken - it's gold plated silver" they insist it's your fault/ignorance.

No wonder the retail jewellery trade is in a severe crisis.

  thanks trinkette, i'm hoping.
before i started reading DBL i really didn't know that much about jewelry or diamonds, but once my hubby started buying me jewelry for xmas, bday, etc., and then our engagement ring, i started reading more and more.  now i know whenever i go into a store within the first few moments whether they have quality or junk, and weather or not to trust the jeweler based on questions i know should be answered such a way if s/he's knowledgeable/trustworthy/etc.

And thankfully, and I believe I speak for all the forum, we have found a safe haven with incredible merchandise and service. 
Life is good - DBL is better. 

They get excellent value out of it. Nobody said anything about the customer getting value...

ROFLMAO!!!

You've got it exactly right OMC. How silly of me - I was looking at the 'value' part all wrong!

Seriously though, does this diamond sit up and do tricks or something? I won't post a pic because their website pics are very recognisable and I don't want a libel suit, but while it was an impeccable stone, there was nothing terribly amazing about it and it isn't an internationally recognised brand where you'd pay for the big name. I just don't get it. I've seen plenty examples of local stores with stones I think are more expensive than perhaps they ought to be but this one should win prizes!

It strikes me as being slightly foolish, too. At common law in Scotland (where this jeweller is trading, although they are based in England, where I don't think this applies) a buyer is entitled to rely on a seller's expertise. There is a corresponding obligation on the seller. If I'd bought that and then learned the truth, I would take that seller to court.

Price can be incorporated as part of the description in some situations, I think. There is a case on point, but I can't find it. I'll look later.

It's almost got me wondering if the price is an error - it's so far above anything comparable that I'm almost tempted to email and ask for more details.

Ok - if you put up the $65k stake, I'll split the profit with you...

that sounds fun, wish i had moolah to join in! 

Pshhh!  Easy peasy. 



and



for my ears...

(salad bowl setting)


and throw these on for good measure



I'm pretty sure I still came in under budget.