question - 14 carat gold
Discussion
Several years ago I bought a rather nice white gold ring set with diamonds while I was in the USA. OK - it was a bit cheap (in a sale) but was duly appreciated.
Every year since the ring has been in to a high street jewellers to have the mountings checked and the metal re-plated to keep the lovel shine.
Yesterday however I was told by the *same* store that they could not handle such a ring because it was 14ct gold. I don't remember exactly what was said but the premise was that it was illegal to sell 14ct gold in the UK.
First of all I'm stumped as to why this would make it a problem to handle the ring for the purpose of checking the mountings and re-plating, butg I am also stumped as to when and how this has all come about.
I know there are strict limits on the amount of nickel permitted now but since the ring was previously quite legitimate and was not sold as anything but 14ct gold I fail to see what the problem is.
Current plan is to find a "proper" jewellers instead of a high street chain.
So does anyone know what all the fuss is about?
Every year since the ring has been in to a high street jewellers to have the mountings checked and the metal re-plated to keep the lovel shine.
Yesterday however I was told by the *same* store that they could not handle such a ring because it was 14ct gold. I don't remember exactly what was said but the premise was that it was illegal to sell 14ct gold in the UK.
First of all I'm stumped as to why this would make it a problem to handle the ring for the purpose of checking the mountings and re-plating, butg I am also stumped as to when and how this has all come about.
I know there are strict limits on the amount of nickel permitted now but since the ring was previously quite legitimate and was not sold as anything but 14ct gold I fail to see what the problem is.
Current plan is to find a "proper" jewellers instead of a high street chain.
So does anyone know what all the fuss is about?
Load of cobblers. Antique or jewellry sourced from abroad can have different levels of purity as opposed to the UK. 10k gold is not unusual in the US for example.
Just take it to a proper jeweller instead of the idiots in the high street chains who know nothing about their jobs anyway.
Just take it to a proper jeweller instead of the idiots in the high street chains who know nothing about their jobs anyway.
Plotloss said:
So on that basis it sounds like a bunch of arse to me.
That was my sentiment and I seem to remember using a few choice words in my parting statement while walking out of the shop (nothing too offensive though - been barred from car dealer and I don't want to make that "mistake" again)
it is definitely arse.
It is illegal to sell 14ct gold and pretend it's 18 or similar (if you make something and send it to Goldsmiths for Hallmarking, and you say "this is 18...and they determine that tehre are any impurities or it isn't quite right and they will not only not hallmark it, they will also crush it. Considerijng how long it takes to make some jewellery that would relaly suck! luckily not happened to me yet...fingers crossed.
It is illegal to sell 14ct gold and pretend it's 18 or similar (if you make something and send it to Goldsmiths for Hallmarking, and you say "this is 18...and they determine that tehre are any impurities or it isn't quite right and they will not only not hallmark it, they will also crush it. Considerijng how long it takes to make some jewellery that would relaly suck! luckily not happened to me yet...fingers crossed.
I bought an 18k Gold chain for my wife, about 12 years ago and last year she had a Jeweller look at it who informed us that it was only 9k.
I wasn't happy as I paid 18k prices and so have been ripped-off but as I did not have the receipt or any proof of purchase after 10+ years, what could/can I do - it was a large reputable Goldsmiths/Jewllery shop (chain) that sells quality Jewellery and Watches.
I wasn't happy as I paid 18k prices and so have been ripped-off but as I did not have the receipt or any proof of purchase after 10+ years, what could/can I do - it was a large reputable Goldsmiths/Jewllery shop (chain) that sells quality Jewellery and Watches.
nightmare said:
that's quite surprising Catso...unless it was Ratners of course! For all you know, you could have taken an 18ct chain in and the jeweller returned a 9ct one saying 'oh bad luck mate'. It's happened a lot....and really..how would you know?
No the chain never left our sight when it went to the Jewellers (and it's distinctive enough to recognize) so it wasn't swapped and no I didn't get it from Ratners, it was a much more upmarket shop, one that you see in nice shopping centres with lots of Diamond rings and Rolex watches on show in a large display window, certainly not the sort of place you'd expect to get skanked.
I know I can't name the shop chain on here but their name describes their trade and it appears 'inadvertently' on this page (should be 'Robdogs'
) I suppose it could have been listed as 18k by mistake but I went there because they were 'reputable' and didn't want to risk getting any rubbish and it certainly wasn't cheap, but I got stiffed just the same. I certainly wouldn't buy anything else from them now but it just goes to show that even when you buy from a 'reputable' shop - beware.
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