Ugh think I’ve been duped......diamond-heaven.co.U.K. GIE cert

[RoxyK]

I’m pretty sure I made a mistake buying from diamond-heaven.co.U.K. I’m usually good at spotting a scam but looks like I fell for it. Reviews I’d seen were positive, I knew GIE wasn’t as good as GIA but when ring arrived yesterday no certificate was included......just valuation which was quite a bit more than I paid making me suspicious. I emailed saying the cert wasn’t included and they replied saying it was there and they’d post it out, and was the address the correct one to post it to. Alarm bells ringing again.....cert arrived today and wouldn’t have fit in the envelope the original paperwork was sent in. I go to check the GIE number but nothings comping up. Turns out it’s GIElabs which is in India

I love the ring but having seen a friends genuine carat trilogy today something is definitely off. I haven’t sent an email yet.....I was going to get it valued but tbh don’t think it’s worth wasting money on it and would confirmation that I’m right. And would also love suggestions of decent online UK places to go for an alternative. It was supposed to be a special ring and more than we’ve previously paid. Thanks for your help!

PS in hindsight regret paying the extra for a GIA cert.....but not sure this company can be trusted!

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10222625451417629

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I'd return and start over. Honest jewelers will have GIA graded stones. That's the only way to be able to compare prices and know if you are getting a fair price.

 

[Bron357]

Hi.
I don’t think it’s a scam as such, but with an Indian lab report it’s unlikely that the diamonds would be graded as F VVS2 with GIA.
The company is selling completed rings, you aren’t actually selecting the individual diamonds and more than likely the rings are manufactured in India. That’s not a huge issue except that the quality will be similar to mall jewellery or jewellery from a Home Shopping Network.
With diamonds it’s not just colour and clarity, it’s cut.
Cut is very important because it’s how a diamond sparkles. A poorly cut diamond will not sparkle like a well cut or excellent cut diamond and I suspect that’s the crux of the issue here. The diamonds just aren’t excellent quality so don’t perform well.
If you are unhappy I would return the ring and start again.
Keep in mind that as diamond quality increases so does price and a setting hand cast or made in say the UK will cost more than one made, in bulk, in India.
You can have a look at a vendor like James Allen and there you can select your individual diamonds and chose a setting that they will set for you. It will likely be more expensive and involve import fees but you will be buying exactly what you are buying.

 

[lovedogs]

I'd return and start over. Honest jewelers will have GIA graded stones. That's the only way to be able to compare prices and know if you are getting a fair price.

Yup, this. Only consider diamonds with GIA or AGS certificates, period.

 

[RoxyK]

Thank you for your prompt replies, much appreciated. Ring is boxed up now and will be going back. Now the battle to get my money back....I paid by CC so can always contact them.

 

[lovedogs]

Thank you for your prompt replies, much appreciated. Ring is boxed up now and will be going back. Now the battle to get my money back....I paid by CC so can always contact them.

Do they have a return policy? If yes, then there shouldn't be a battle at all

 

[RoxyK]

Hi.

The company is selling completed rings, you aren’t actually selecting the individual diamonds and more than likely the rings are manufactured in India.

Thanks for your reply, I actually ‘designed’ the ring choosing setting then the various diamond specs I wanted, but of course could still have been made in India. Lesson learnt..... it’s frustrating that their misleading so many customers sending just a valuation which most customers won’t even quibble.

 

[RoxyK]

They do, but I just read they can be slow at actual processing the refund. It’s a considerable amount which they’ve already had for 6 weeks. I’ll email them now to start the process.

 

[lovedogs]

They do, but I just read they can be slow at actual processing the refund. It’s a considerable amount which they’ve already had for 6 weeks. I’ll email them now to start the process.

Good. I would just make sure that you are still within the return "window" and that you email them immediately to start the process.

 

[RoxyK]

Good. I would just make sure that you are still within the return "window" and that you email them immediately to start the process.

It only arrived yesterday so well within the 30 day window thankfully. Email has been sent off. Thanks for all your help!

 

[gerryb92]

Have a look at Blue Nile - they're a popular choice for people in the UK and only have GIA graded diamonds. I also found them to be well priced.

For clarity, I've never used them personally but I know people who have and I believe they also come recommended on here by some users - have a look at the search function.

 

[RoxyK]

Have a look at Blue Nile - they're a popular choice for people in the UK and only have GIA graded diamonds. I also found them to be well priced.

For clarity, I've never used them personally but I know people who have and I believe they also come recommended on here by some users - have a look at the search function.

Thank you, they are well priced unfortunately very few trilogy platinum options which is unusual.

 

[gerryb92]

You could always buy diamonds there and get a different jeweler to set them - just a thought. Good luck!

 

[lovedogs]

Thank you, they are well priced unfortunately very few trilogy platinum options which is unusual.

If they have trilogy options you like in gold I would inquire about having them made in plat

 

[Snowdrop13]

I’m glad you escaped from this one, the ring doesn’t look well made in addition to the worry about the stones. You don’t mention a budget but have a look at Whiteflash too, they have some lovely trilogy settings. They are easy to deal with from the U.K. especially if you know exactly what you want.

 

[MillieLou]

I am in the UK and have bought successfully from Blue Nile a number of times. Highly recommended. If you see a setting on their US site they can usually get it in 3-4 weeks. There are a lot of good local jewellers in the UK too, depending on where you are, some of us could make recommendations.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Jumping in the thread to suggest that since you are based in Europe, GIA is probably your best bet. AGS is hard to find outside of America. HRD is also considered reliable in Europe (and would be easier to find there than AGS). At an absolute last resort, IGI is also an option but it is not considered as reliable as the others I believe. Stay away from EGL and the other random labs like GIE (I’m hearing about this one for the first time!) But GIA is definitely preferred and you will find plenty of GIA stones on Blue Nile etc.

 

[MrsDiamondHeart]

Hi OP, I recently purchased from Blue Nile UK and was really pleased with the service.

I’ve found 8 trilogy styles in platinum on their website.

I was originally considering a trilogy ring and I chatted to a sales rep at Taylor & Hart, a UK vendor. They advised they could amend a style that I enquired about which had some additional embellishments I didn’t like so might be worth an enquiry with them.

 

[MillieLou]

I had a quick look on BN UK for you OP, and can see what you mean about the platinum 3-stone selection not being brilliant (assuming you want a simple 3-stone round design like in the photos above).

However, there are two promising ones from the US BN site:

Build Your Own Engagement Ring® - Settings | Blue Nile

Design your own custom engagement ring. Choose from a large variety of engagement ring settings to find the perfect fit.

www.bluenile.com

If you like these, ask a customer service rep if they could order them in for you. They are very responsive on the chat function and I'm sure could give you an answer straight away.

 

[RoxyK]

I’m glad you escaped from this one, the ring doesn’t look well made in addition to the worry about the stones. You don’t mention a budget but have a look at Whiteflash too, they have some lovely trilogy settings. They are easy to deal with from the U.K. especially if you know exactly what you want.

Wow is it that obvious?? Sheesh....admittedly even I can see one stone looks different and not the same size as the other. Am mad I fell for it

I’ll have a look at Whiteflash too, I’ve not heard of them before.

We paid £4K for the ring inc a 10% discount though DH is flexible for the right ring.

 

[gerryb92]

Wow is it that obvious?? Sheesh....admittedly even I can see one stone looks different and not the same size as the other. Am mad I fell for it

I’ll have a look at Whiteflash too, I’ve not heard of them before.

You can get some lovely diamonds from Whiteflash and Brian Gavin Diamonds in the US. I've currently bought from BGD and I'm awaiting shipment to UK. One thing to bear in mind is that it'll be harder to return to original vendor for a re-size if required and you'll need to pay your own VAT and import duty when buying from the US (believe its 24% on top of the price you see online).

 

[RoxyK]

You could always buy diamonds there and get a different jeweler to set them - just a thought. Good luck!

Great idea.....I did find looking at all the diamonds quite daunting as a newbie. I need to learn more

 

[RoxyK]

I am in the UK and have bought successfully from Blue Nile a number of times. Highly recommended. If you see a setting on their US site they can usually get it in 3-4 weeks. There are a lot of good local jewellers in the UK too, depending on where you are, some of us could make recommendations.

Thank you I will look at their US site I’m in Weston-Super-Mare, SW, nearest city is Bristol.

 

[RoxyK]

You can get some lovely diamonds from Whiteflash and Brian Gavin Diamonds in the US. I've currently bought from BGD and I'm awaiting shipment to UK. One thing to bear in mind is that it'll be harder to return to original vendor for a re-size if required and you'll need to pay your own VAT and import duty when buying from the US (believe its 24% on top of the price you see online).

Thank you, I need to make a list now of all these suggestions

I did try and convert my ring size which is a k and it didn’t covert so something to think about as returning would be a huge pain. I knew import costs would be added but 24% is good to know for comparison.

 

[RoxyK]

Just a quick thank you to all of you for your help and advice. It’s helped me feel better about the whole situation, though I still feel stupid for falling for it. I’ve not heard back yet about the return.....but it’s the weekend so no huge surprise. At least I was suspicious from delivery rather than finding out months later!

 

[RoxyK]

Jumping in the thread to suggest that since you are based in Europe, GIA is probably your best bet. AGS is hard to find outside of America. HRD is also considered reliable in Europe (and would be easier to find there than AGS). At an absolute last resort, IGI is also an option but it is not considered as reliable as the others I believe. Stay away from EGL and the other random labs like GIE (I’m hearing about this one for the first time!) But GIA is definitely preferred and you will find plenty of GIA stones on Blue Nile etc.

Thank you, there are even 2 GIE labs! One is GIE Cert which looked ok at first glance and where I tried to enter my cert no. It was when I realised the cert was from GIElabs that I knew something was off. No doubt both are rubbish though.

 

[Izzy70]

I am in Guernsey and have purchased 2 diamonds now from Whiteflash, the first in a platinum pendant setting and the second a loose diamond.
I am pretty sure you can ask Whiteflash for a ring sizer. I received one with my loose diamond.
I also helped my colleague along with the members here for him to find a solitaire engagement ring , his fiancée was really pleased and it is 100 times better than what could be sourced locally.

 

[MillieLou]

Ring size K is US 5.25-5.5

It does vary slightly between companies (even in the UK, the same size will fit sliiiightly differently depending the shop - but also the thickness and profile of the ring).

 

[gm89uk]

I shopped there before in Birmingham. Be aware the refund policy is only for online bought, rather than in store.

I originally advised on a GIE stone, then eventually an IGI stone. In the end, after some back and forth, I just managed to use my deposit to contribute towards the the bands and eternity ring, and I bought the stone from GIA.

I do not think they are scamming you, but GIE stones are definitely not that they seem.

Durham Rose are very good and sell CBI stones.

 

[RoxyK]

I am in Guernsey and have purchased 2 diamonds now from Whiteflash, the first in a platinum pendant setting and the second a loose diamond.
I am pretty sure you can ask Whiteflash for a ring sizer. I received one with my loose diamond.
I also helped my colleague along with the members here for him to find a solitaire engagement ring , his fiancée was really pleased and it is 100 times better than what could be sourced locally.

Thank you and good point about the ring sizer. Hopefully it’s better than the plastic tie thing I got from Diamond Heaven.