Advice please - Have I been scammed?? Xmas present is a fake

Woodyrocks

I am so confused right now Please read and advice me as to what to do and where I stand.

I bought my brother a curb gold bracelet from a jewellers in Barking last Friday. As far as I knew it weighed 17.7grams (was weighed in front of me) and cost me £170 discounted from £210.

Gave it to my brother on Tuesday for Xmas and he loved it. Unfortunately it was too big width (8.5") wise and I said we can get it shortened no problem by removing links and if the worst comes to the worst I will take it back and get a 7" one as a replacement.

He took it into a repair shop in Croydon today and he was told that the bracelet is NOT REAL GOLD.

Where do I stand consumer right wise? I bought it from one of those station jewellers and not some high street chain which I deeply regret now. Please advice. My brother is dropping off the bracelet tonight and I am off to Barking in the morning to sort it out.

I don't want a confrontation but I don't want to be fobbed off either

nopot2pin

Does the bracelet have a hallmark ?

There is quite a few sites if you google "gold hallmark"
It might be worth while having a little look through them to see if you can find any more details of the bracelet

Woodyrocks

Definitely saw hallmarks on it, however I didn't check it out against known hallmarks using google.

OddjobKIA

it could be a gold plated bracelett. Or the shop in croydon was just fobbign you off as you didn't buy it from them but you wanted them to resize it

Woodyrocks

OddjobKIA, that would definitely mean I have been scammed. I was told I was buying a 9ct solid gold bracelet - I would never have paid £170 for gold plated junk They told me I was getting it cheaper than I would in Hatton gardens. I feel like such a mug

The shop in Croydon were happy to resize for £12, they just mentioned it to my Brother and Mom as aside.

nopot2pin

The hallmark for 9 carat gold in this country used to be 375....

This LINK might help you a little

geordie_joe

I may be wrong, but I though only solid gold had hallmarks?

The item may have "marks" on it but they may not be genuine hallmarks. After all, who understands them? You just buy an item, are told it is gold, see the "hallmarks" on it and assume it is gold.

Then again, maybe there's a hallmark for gold plate.

nopot2pin

geordie_joe wrote: »

I may be wrong, but I though only solid gold had hallmarks?

The item may have "marks" on it but they may not be genuine hallmarks. After all, who understands them? You just buy an item, are told it is gold, see the "hallmarks" on it and assume it is gold.

Then again, maybe there's a hallmark for gold plate.

I dont think there is a hallmark for gold plate

I know 375 used to be 9 carart... and 750 was 18 carat. There are other marks on gold but those refer to where when ect that the jewlery was produced. Also, it depends which country the item was made.
It is a bit of a minefield