Misold Engagement ring

pembsgtr

I bought an engagement ring for my now fiance from an antique shop, I paid cash and the white tag on the ring and on the receipt stated that the ring was 18ct gold and diamond. We were looking at wedding rings in a High Street jewellers and they checked the hallmark on the engagement ring and it turns out it is 9ct gold not 18 ct.

My fiance loves the ring and does not want to change it.

The issue is the true value of the ring knowing now that it is 9ct and not 18ct gold.

Can I ask for a refund for the difference in value of the gold?

Hintza

A 9ct ring will be much harder wearing an much more suitable for an engagement ring.

I imagine it is a simple error. You can always ask but what are you going to do if they just offer you a refund?

fluffnutter

Is it a mis-selling or a simple mistake in labelling? I doubt you'd be able to prove the former.

somethingcorporate

It would be difficult to come to an actual difference in value, I would certainly go back and talk to the shop though. No harm in it!

fluffnutter

somethingcorporate wrote: »

It would be difficult to come to an actual difference in value

That's very true. There's so much differentiation between prices of jewellery anyway, particularly vintage stuff that they might well argue that, whilst the label accidentally said 18ct, they'd priced it up as 9ct and the cost was therefore correct.

pembsgtr

I think it is probably a case of mislabelling by the retailer. My other half did tell the shop that they did misled me by telling me it was 18ct gold.

Shop just got back to other half. She popping over there on Saturday. They sound like they are being very reasonable and have given some options.

A full refund (that other half has said is not going to happen)

Remake the shank of the ring in 18ct gold

A refund in value of difference between the two types of gold, this refund being full or part value towards a wedding ring for other half or myself.

I think we are going go for option three.

fluffnutter

pembsgtr wrote: »

I think it is probably a case of mislabelling by the retailer. My other half did tell the shop that they did misled me by telling me it was 18ct gold.

Shop just got back to other half. She popping over there on Saturday. They sound like they are being very reasonable and have given some options.

A full refund (that other half has said is not going to happen)

Remake the shank of the ring in 18ct gold

A refund in value of difference between the two types of gold, this refund being full or part value towards a wedding ring for other half or myself.

I think we are going go for option three.

I'd go for option 3 too. Bear in mind though, if they're giving you the scrap value it might not amount to much.

It's also worth remembering that 18ct and 9ct do differ in colour so if she wants an absolute match between engagement and wedding ring she'll have to go for a 9ct wedding ring too.

If she has her heart set on an 18ct wedding ring, option 2 might be better in the long run.

McKneff

Just out of curiosity, why didnt you check the carat of the gold when you bought it. Its clear enough to read by the human eye,

Mine has been on nearly 44 years non stop and I can still see the 9ct mark

fluffnutter

McKneff wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, why didnt you check the carat of the gold when you bought it. Its clear enough to read by the human eye,

Mine has been on nearly 44 years non stop and I can still see the 9ct mark

It's not been on non-stop or you'd never have been able to see the hallmark.

McKneff

fluffnutter wrote: »

It's not been on non-stop or you'd never have been able to see the hallmark.

Ive been married 44 years in march and it has never been off my finger;)

I have my mother's wedding ring on another finger, used non stop since 1949 and i can still read that hallmark too.
She had it on all her married life and ive worn it since she died 28 years ago.

Pollycat

pembsgtr wrote: »

They sound like they are being very reasonable and have given some options.

A full refund (that other half has said is not going to happen)

Remake the shank of the ring in 18ct gold

A refund in value of difference between the two types of gold, this refund being full or part value towards a wedding ring for other half or myself.

I think we are going go for option three.

I'd think about what carat wedding ring your OH is going to want.

If she wants 18 carat and will want to wear her engagement ring with it, a 9 carat ring will wear the 18 carat wedding ring down as it is harder.

And Fluffnutter has already mentioned the difference in colour between 9 ct & 18 ct.

If she does want an 18 carat wedding ring and the jeweller can remake the shank in 18 carat gold at no cost to you, I'd go for that option.

However, it will be re-hallmarked as 18 carat gold.

If you and your OH want to keep the original hallmark of the ring, especially if it is an antique ring and the hallmark is say 1903 then I'd keep the ring as it is and go for a 9 carat wedding ring.

Nice to hear the jeweller is being amenable.