Post # 1
Member
2491 posts
Buzzing bee
Bit of a back story, I went to my jeweller where my ring was purchased to get it sized up 1/2 size, redipped and cleaned. After it was returned it was BEAUTIFUL. On top of that, I’ve never seen my stones shine like they do now– even when it was new.
The problem is this…
I used to have a black inclusion in one of my three stones. It was very tiny and you only saw it in the perfect light and on a weird angle, but it was there and it was mine. I always wore my ring with my inclusion closest to me.
After picking up my ring I went to look for my inclusion and I am 95% sure it’s gone!! People think I’m crazy saying this, but I have looked at this ring from every angle and no inclusion. My mom says they just cleaned it well (not sure how they could clean out an inclusion) and Fiance says it is likely too shiny to see it, but I cannot find it.
If this is the case, and my diamond and/or ring has been switched, what can I do? The jeweller said NOTHING about switching diamonds or rings out and I signed the reciept to pick it up that said I was satisfied.
GAH! I am almost upset that I knew about the inclusion and grew to love it. If it wasn’t there, I would have been clueless and happy.
Post # 3
Member
4710 posts
Honey bee
@takemyhand: SAY NOTHING! If they did switch out the stones for some reason then let it be. They could have also given it a really good cleaning and that ‘inclusion’ might have been a bit of glue or metal stuck to your diamond (underneath) on the outside and just came off…
Post # 4
Member
1456 posts
Bumble bee
If your diamond is certified by a reputable company (GIA, etc) you should have a map of the inclusions in your diamond. Then take it to any jeweler and see if it matches up. If your diamond isn’t certified then yeah maybe it was just a piece of dust or something.
Post # 5
Member
2699 posts
Sugar bee
@takemyhand: My betting is it was dirt and the cleaning got it out!!
Post # 6
Member
3450 posts
Sugar bee
Another one here who is going to say that it was probably dirt or dust and the thorough cleaning got rid of it.
Post # 7
Member
1361 posts
Bumble bee
I think it’s really, really, really, really unlikely they switched your ring or your diamond. Why would they do that? I think either it was dust, or the cleaning made the inclusion less visible.
Post # 8
Member
8734 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
If you are worried about it, take the ring and GIA cert to an independent jeweler/appraiser. They should be able to check that the diamond in your ring matches your certification.
Post # 9
Member
359 posts
Helper bee
There was a 60 Minutes investigative story many years ago about jewelers who would switch diamonds on the sly, but somehow I think they were taking better diamonds and swapping them with a lesser quality, not the other way around. So I think I agree with PPs, maybe it wasn’t an inclusion, just a really stuck-on bit of something.
That 60 Minutes story always stuck with me, though. I’m having a hard time committing to having an antique family ring reset because I’m paranoid that the old european cut stones could be swapped, and any jeweler would know that I wouldn’t have any way to identify these particular stones. Probably completely irrational.
Post # 10
Member
3175 posts
Sugar bee
@gertrude: My mom’s worried about this, too. She inherited a beautiful stone from her mom & wants to have it put back in her mom’s original setting, but she doesn’t want it getting swapped!
Post # 11
Member
5146 posts
Bee Keeper
@gertrude: Well, most jewelers (except for specialized ones who deal with old diamonds and might be willing to buy them from you) won’t want your old cut diamonds anyway as they have little resale value for them. They just are not as generally marketable as modern cut stones. I have seen jewelers encourage people to RECUT old stones into modern cuts, because many just do not see them as “valuable” as they are.
Not dissing old cut stones here at ALL, they are my favourite types of cut and I have some very small diamond OMC’s and such (as well as a moissanite OEC cut as I love the older cut style so much) but they just are not as popular outside of certain diamond collectors and forums! They are a bit more of a niche area as they are very different (for example, not as “flashy” as modern cuts and not cut to excellent/ideal standards and often have lots of “wearker” performance areas, wonkier cuts, etc).
Old cuts are PRETTY identifiable compared to new stones. It would make very little sense for them to swap in a modern cut stone for an old cut stone. You would notice as soon as you picked up the ring that the stones were VERY different!
Also, reputable jewelers will be able to PLOT your stones before you give them your rings right then and there (so you can see too), and they should also write down a description that includes the type of cut for your pick up slip, etc.
Post # 12
Member
429 posts
Helper bee
I wouldnt be worried about it. If they were going to switch your diamond it wouldnt be for a better one without inclusions. I would say they just cleaned it very very well. I also just got my ring ized on the weekend and I could not believe how clean it was it looks brand new! A good cleaning can do wonders!
Post # 13
Member
5146 posts
Bee Keeper
Reputable jewelers will NOT risk their business to switch stones out. I am not sure of the stone sizes, but this is even LESS the case for smaller stones. It is just SOOOOO not worth it for them to swap for lower quality diamonds or CZ or whatever.
Maybe if you went to some sketchy place, but reputable ones are not going to want to risk their business, their licenses, and so on to swap stones that they can buy wholesale without risking their business.
It sounds to me like the inclusion may have been some really stuck in dirt, or polishing compound, that has been removed with the cleaning.
Do you have grading reports? Do they show the inclusion?
Post # 14
Member
359 posts
Helper bee
@RayKay: Ahh, thank you so much for that info. See how little I know?!
Post # 15
Member
2782 posts
Sugar bee
Not to make you guys paranoid…but who says they swapped it for a diamond? Couldn’t they have taken the diamond and swapped it for a CZ?
But OP, I do think the odds of that are HIGHLY unlikely. As PP suggested, is it possible the inclusion was actually just dirt?
Post # 16
Member
417 posts
Helper bee
I would definitely check with the jeweler for clarification. If they’re still showcasing the ring you originally liked, you can check for the inclusions.