eBay

jaymor8 · ‎10-02-2003

I recently have come upon a jewelry seller who consistently marks the following disclaimer in her auction description, "Item is unmarked but tested for 14K...test does not determine whether it is karat gold, gold filled or gold plated!"

Does this make any sense to anyone? I would dearly love to know!

Jackie...

firedept10 · ‎10-02-2003

Jackie,

I have seen this seller as well. There is also another seller who has at least 4 selling ID's with not a one of them over a 94% feedback rating and states it is gold or silver and that she is not sure of the content. All of the bracelets they sell are just junk plated bracelets. But they lead the buyer to believe it is solid silver or karat gold. I feel sorry for the newer buyers who get taken by this. I also find these sellers make it harder for the honest sellers like you and I. I acid test all my gold so I know if it is gold filled, solid karat gold or plated. Would you buy from them? At least I can live with myself.

Don

jaymor8 · ‎10-02-2003

Thanks so much Don. I know the seller that you're talking about with the bracelets. I think it's total BS when people do that. And they DO ruin it for honest sellers.

I always test my gold too but I never realized that there were tests for GF & GP. Also, anyone who sells in a huge volume and doesn't have a test kit is full of it. That would shout volumes to me and the red flags would go up!!

Jackie...

firedept10 · ‎10-02-2003

Gold filled will not test gold but will show gold color no matter how deep you scratch as the gold is mixed with the base metal in very small amounts. Most gold plated will flake when you scratch deep enough and show either brass or silver color underneath. Tricks I learned from a friend of my that produces gold plated and gold filled jewelry findings and custom made jewelry. Gold filled is much better quality findings.

kpamber · ‎10-03-2003

What really surprises me is the prices that people who "gloss over" or B$ customers can get. We have a Canadian ring seller who has lovely looking things, but they are all heavily plated gold. I've seen his auctions bring more than my 10k, at the least, and sometimes even surpass my 18k...you see the same thing on many auctions that are titled 18k, but end up being 100mls of heavily plated 18, or what is even more annoying, and I believe, against ebay policy, is the people who advertise diamonds, but you read the listing, and it is a "simulated diamond", or "cubic zirconia diamond" of "highest quality"...wtf is a high quality cz, I mean, I know that the Russian ones are supposed to be the best, but the best of what?
kp

jaymor8 · ‎10-03-2003

LOL K...you are so right. I have seen the lisitngs with the 18K and Platinum jewlery that as you read on... diminishes in value. These people are counting on folks not reading clearly or quickly and then they've got em. Poor saps have no recourse but to neg the seller and the seller doesn't care. With his volume, a couple of negs is negligible. Plus...he responds the same all the time, "Read the listing..item as described"

Let's not forget the ever popular 'Victorian Princess Cut CZ Ring'. People can be their own worst enemies.

Jackie...

chrispenner · ‎10-09-2003

Do you guys know where locally (non ebay) I can get some stones, I want to have a necklace made for each or my girls for their 16 birthday, I wanted to be able to see the stones and examine them instead of just a pic... I live in the hamilton Ontario area and I am looking for a Ruby, Garnet, Sapphire and a Yellow topaz.. NOT cheap stones. lol.. any help would be appreciated thanks!

btw, you guys have great items up! I love looking at rings! where do you find such nice items?!

jaymor8 · ‎10-09-2003

Chrispenner - Have you tried a local Estate Jeweler's? Often times they purchase estates and then pluck the stones out of the settings (for whatever reason) and they use them to make new pieces. You might be able to score some nice stones that way. Or...even Birks or People's would have loose stones but I don't know what the prices would be. That's pretty much all I can think of. Hopefully Kpamber will see this thread and have a better answer. She is a jewlery afficiando.

K...are you there??? Hope this helps, Chris!

Jackie...

chrispenner · ‎10-09-2003

Thanks Jackie
Where do you find an estate Jeweler? are they in the phone book or just word of mouth? sorry to seem dumb but I don't buy much Jewelry so I really have no idea, but I have designed a cool necklace for each of the girls.. so in that end I am ok.. lol
Thanks Again
Kathleen

jaymor8 · ‎10-09-2003

Kathleen...your welcome. I'm sure you must have some small local jewelry stores in town...have you ever noticed if any of them have Estate Jewlery in their window? If so, then you have a shop that does Estate stuff. Actually though...you prolly could look it up in the Yellow Pages or on the internet on Canada 411. More often than not they are small private businesses as opposed to chain stores like People's and Birk's. In a pretty little town like Hamilton...I'm sure there are some family jewelry stores.

Good luck with that, kiddo!

Jackie...

kpamber · ‎10-09-2003

Hi Chris,
Your proximity to Toronto would make it very easy to find custom jewelers who not only would have the stones, or access to them, but also the ability to make fabulous jewelry. I am sure that if you looked up "goldsmith" in the yellow pages in Hamilton, you would have a few who are local as well. We have some talented
I'm not sure of the price that you want to pay, however, there is a fabulous seller on ebay...nitefaze, who is a fine and reputable guy and wouldn't steer you wrong on anything. His name is Chad, and his items are very high end, but he is terrific.
Best,
k

kpamber · ‎10-09-2003

Don't know what happened to that line, but it should say that we have some talented smithies here in Canada...
k

jaymor8 · ‎10-09-2003

Thanks K...for taking that one. Good advice. Now, is there anything we can do to help you with your typing problems??? 😜

Jackie...

chrispenner · ‎10-09-2003

Super idea,
Thanks so much for your help! I will look up that seller and check out what is in my area
Thanks again
Kathleen

kpamber · ‎10-12-2003

Chris,
If you are looking for a store with magnificent estate jewelry, and gorgeous gems, and quality workmanship for a very special piece for each of your daughters, here is a link to a Canadian store...in Strathroy, a half hours drive from London. I know that they could help you! I'll even come with and drool over their estate stuff...look around on the link, and go to photo gallery for some pics.

http://www.poags.com/
Have a great Thanksgiving weekend!

jaymor8 · ‎10-13-2003

So, after spending a day with my kid sister, she tells me that she would love to purchase some loose gemstones on ebay but she needs to be able to rely on the seller, because she's not knowledgeable about such things. Any suggestions?

Jackie...