Problems with the authentication process.

[ljon1945]

I have sold jewelry for years and never had. Problem until this process of sending it to California to get it authenticated. I just sold a gold diamond pendent on EBay. It was unmarked 14k yellow gold.I took it to a jewelry specialist in St Louis they said it was 14k with 98 diamonds. I tested it myself but now had two test to back up my ad on eBay. It sold without a problem. After it arrived at the authenticator two days latter I received a notification from the buyer that they called him to tell him it was 10k so he demanded his mon back from me. I informed him this not the way it works. I thought it was some kind of a a scam because I had two test that said it was 14 K. I received the item back very quickly. eBay said I need to be more careful with my descriptions to keep this from happening. I relisited as a 10k even knowing it was not. It sold quickly. The new buyer said he did not care if it was 10 K but he new it was going to be authenticated again. I decided before I shipped it again I took it to a very well know jewelry store in Ft Lauderdale and asked them to appraise it. The appraiser cane back and said they did 5 test and it was 14k without a doubt. With all the cost of this sale I lost $6.00 and lots of time on a 750. Item.  

[jklfindings]

GIA (the authenticator) uses an XRF machine to test the gold, so they are going to be right.  I know it's frustrating, I just had a 14k piece get rejected because it tested as 11k at the authenticator.  Frustrated, I went to a big gold dealer in my area who has an XRF, and they tested it for me..... .461 karat gold... or 11k.  It was a custom piece and the jeweler who made it, just under karated the gold.  If your appraisers don't have the heavy equipment, they are only going off what is stamped on the piece, and maybe an acid test.

[ljon1945]

I have taken all my jewelry off of EBay because it is just too complexed to sell now. I know the the customers that are shopping on eBay looking for bargains so we need to keep the prices as low as we can . The problem now is my appraiser said each item will cost over 100 dollars or more to have an appraised then pay EBay their percentage so what’s to point when I can just take it to a gold scrap buyer and be done with it. Lots of nice  jewelry is going to be lost and turned into bars for Costco to sell.  

[belluscioformals]

The exact same thing is happening to me. I just had a ring that did  not pass inspection because it tested at 13.6% gold and not 14k. This is well within the industry standard. They also said it was not topaz that it was possibly citrizine or quartz. I know where it was purchased and I know what it is. I am in absolute shock. I'm not going to be selling any more jewelry on eBay.  I don't trust this authentication process. Very few pieces stamped fourteen 14k will test at exactly 14k. That's the industry standard. What a ridiculous inconvenience. The buyer is very disappointed and still wants the ring. They should have at least given her the option to say so. She even called ebay and told them she still wanted it and they said no. Not doing this again. 

[idealgems1]

Plumb gold has been a legal requirement since about 1980.  Now technology has caught up to manufacturers who intentionally or inadvertently did not meet the legal standards.  If our retail jewelry store were still open today, we would certainly have an XRF unit.  The prices on them are dropping; still too much for a retired jeweler to justify, but maybe someday!