F.A.O Steve - fake hallmark?!!

[silverlining]

Without wondering which well known company, This would make sense if an actual bona fide ring had been substituted by a crooked staff member who pocketed the proceeds off the books?

Possible! Interestingly, it transpires that the fiancé also purchased it through another site they sell through rather than their own, at a lesser price than it was meant to be. However, the selling through that site is meant to be through them themselves. So wonder if somebody is up to something a bit crooked there

[Dennis]

This is like a real life who done it and we all like a mystery, so please let us know the eventual outcome.

Mercury contamination is rare, unless the wearer works in a laboratory or a dental practice, where the hazard would be well known.

There is also a pass the parcel element, in that the last person to handle it falls under suspicion. Imagine if you had accepted an item like that for repair. Dennis.

[ps_bond]

No problem. I was a bit wary of it but wanted to be able to give a roundabout way because I was quite surprised by it tbh and it made it more difficult to believe. It will certainly be interesting to see how it goes though.

Thanks for being understanding. I'll double-check my assumption - but it'll have to be during working hours.

so the question being asked now, ignoring the diamond issue, is whether there is anything at all that can cause gold to progressively turn silver. I've heard mercury can temporarily cause a silver colour. The jewellers it was taken too were quite shocked,said they'd never seen this happen before and due to the state of it asked her if they could test the diamond aswell.

Could it really be possible for both something happened to the gold (mercury?!) and the diamond tester have been wrong?

Did the jewellers not test the gold at the same time - given they had it in because the ring was changing colour, that perhaps ought to have been the focus rather than the diamond?
Mercury exposure I would assume would have to be recent to have caused a colour change now - there's some more info here: http://www.finishing.com/130/44.shtml
Toxicity issues may cause many jewellers to be twitchy about it.

As for the diamond test - yes, the hand held testers do occasionally throw a false negative, but it's down to the stone not being clean, the probe not being clean or user error. If there's doubt, then pulling the stone and checking RI & SG are simple. My tester threw a false negative the other week that was down to the stone not being clean - rechecked because I was pretty sure the stone was diamond.

If the ring is plated, then AIUI an X-ray fluorescent spectroscope won't be fooled (no, I don't have one but there's a company in Winchester makes cute hand-held ones), while the diamond really requires a proper appraisal. Given it's got Brum's mark on it they'd perhaps be the best people to write it up.

This is part of the reason that anything I get in for repair has non-specific descriptions. If the customer tells me it's a diamond, it is a colourless stone until such time as I have checked it. Gold is not gold, it is gold coloured. Won't completely cover me, I know, but it's an indication that I have not verified the actual makeup of the thing.

[silverlining]

No they didn't test the gold,just took one look nd instantly wanted to check the diamond!

Have been sent a pic now,not a great pic though.

So here's the offending article:

[SteveLAO]

I think as others have said that your first port of call would be to the vendor, and ask for an explanation. If that's not forthcoming then the next step would be to citizens advice who would probably get trading standards involved if required. TS would then get the appropriate assay office involved if necessary for authentication.
There is little point in going straight to the assay office, because although they will be able to confirm (or not) the metal and hallmark for you, if it turns out to be wrong in some way, the assay offices have little power to enforce the law...that would be a trading standard issue...
Please keep us posted with your progress.

[pearlescence]

Caution: pass on this advice (especially Steve's cos he knows) and then keep out of it all. You could get sooooooooooo sucked into this and spend hours listening while the people involved dither about. Keep us informed yes, but be a bystander at a distance if you can

[silverlining]

That was my plan I know how easy it can be to get sucked into such things!

[Dennis]

If your first port of call is to be the vendor, then you must be sure of your facts, ie: you need an assay of the metal and a valuation of the stone.

If you have an unsatisfactory response from the vendor, then presuming it was paid for by card, the credit card company is equally liable and should take up the case, ultimately refunding you.

Dennis

[CJ57]

That was my plan I know how easy it can be to get sucked into such things!

You sort of have by offering to provide advice as if that goes badly they are likely to add you to the mix. Recently advised of an accident that occurred to a friend but also a Joe public visitor to an event and they shot the messenger rather spectacularly instead of thanking me. Won't do the right thing again

[silverlining]

Matter resolved. Firstly, it is a diamond but it's not the size it's meant to be.

The bizarre bit. The ring is indeed gold BUT it's white gold that the manufacturer had plated with yellow gold as they didn't have the right ring in stock in yellow and didn't want to lose the order....