Sotheby’s 18k white gold ring turning copper after 3 days

[LanaA]

I purchased a ring from Sotheby‘s buy now platform on Jan 26th and I received it 2 days later. It’s a beautiful ring however On the 31st i put the ring in a small bowl of distilled water and a little bit of basic fairy soap (mild dish soap) as I got lotion on the ring (all natural lotion from Lush). I have washed all my rings in the same way for the past decade. Anyways, I come back an hour later and see there is a orange spot on the ring that looks like rust. I’ve included pictures in this thread.

It doesn’t look like natural 18k white gold turning to yellow. I literally have a 100 year old ring that has not discoloured like this so I can’t help but feel that this isn’t 18k gold. I’m highly disappointed and have contacted Sotheby’s. Im wondering if anyone else has had a ring do this.

Its not been outdoors nor has it been exposed to anything other than lush lotion (helping hands), soap and water.

 

[A bottle of Red]

That's awful. Is there any marking inside as to what the metal might be?

 

[Deleted member 626500]

I purchased a ring from Sotheby‘s buy now platform on Jan 26th and I received it 2 days later. It’s a beautiful ring however On the 31st i put the ring in a small bowl of distilled water and a little bit of basic fairy soap (mild dish soap) as I got lotion on the ring (all natural lotion from Lush). I have washed all my rings in the same way for the past decade. Anyways, I come back an hour later and see there is a orange spot on the ring that looks like rust. I’ve included pictures in this thread.

It doesn’t look like natural 18k white gold turning to yellow. I literally have a 100 year old ring that has not discoloured like this so I can’t help but feel that this isn’t 18k gold. I’m highly disappointed and have contacted Sotheby’s. Im wondering if anyone else has had a ring do this.

Its not been outdoors nor has it been exposed to anything other than lush lotion (helping hands), soap and water.

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It appears the ring has been repaired. Poorly. It looks like what you're seeing are signs of solder which have discolored the metal. Either that or the prong replacement was done in yellow gold and plated--poorly.

If the repair or damage wasn't disclosed, it's not as described.
I would demand a refund, or if you like the ring and want to keep it you might be able to negotiate a lower price.

In any event, you will need to have an expert to look at it for two reasons--first, so you know exactly what's going on in order for you to decide what option you want to pursue, and second, because Sotheby's will want proof that this is in damaged condition.

Your best bet is to have a local jeweler or jewelry appraiser examine the ring and write a letter explaining what the issue is, which you can then send to Sotheby's. If costs are incurred, you should ask that these be reimbursed as well together with any other costs and fees such as shipping, etc.

If Sotheby's wants to see the ring or will accept it back, have them send you the shipping label. That way if the package is lost or damaged, it falls under their insurance, not yours.

Finally, if Sotheby's refuses to do anything, you can dispute this through your credit card company--assuming you bought it with a credit card. Again, they will want proof that there's something wrong with the ring and that it's not as described, as distinguished from a case of buyer's remorse.

Please keep us posted.

 

[LanaA]

It appears the ring has been repaired. Poorly. It looks like what you're seeing are signs of solder which have discolored the metal. Either that or the prong replacement was done in yellow gold and plated--poorly.

If the repair or damage wasn't disclosed, it's not as described.
I would demand a refund, or if you like the ring and want to keep it you might be able to negotiate a lower price.

In any event, you will need to have an expert to look at it for two reasons--first, so you know exactly what's going on in order for you to decide what option you want to pursue, and second, because Sotheby's will want proof that this is in damaged condition.

Your best bet is to have a local jeweler or jewelry appraiser examine the ring and write a letter explaining what the issue is, which you can then send to Sotheby's. If costs are incurred, you should ask that these be reimbursed as well together with any other costs and fees such as shipping, etc.

If Sotheby's wants to see the ring or will accept it back, have them send you the shipping label. That way if the package is lost or damaged, it falls under their insurance, not yours.

Finally, if Sotheby's refuses to do anything, you can dispute this through your credit card company--assuming you bought it with a credit card. Again, they will want proof that there's something wrong with the ring and that it's not as described, as distinguished from a case of buyer's remorse.

Please keep us posted.

Thanks so much happish, what you said makes a lot of sense. I’m going to try and take it to a jewellers this week and have them inspect it.
I emailed Sotheby’s yesterday but I’ve not heard back so I’m going to give them a ring. I‘ll continue to update here

 

[LanaA]

That's awful. Is there any marking inside as to what the metal might be?

Yes there is a 750 mark in the ring , and it even came with a certificate that said 18k white gold although it was from C. Dunaigre so I’m guessing they only looked at the sapphire and not the metal.

 

[Mcandy]

It should be easier to test the gold than the stone. Maybe tgey did a repair in the ring and they didnt use gold. Or they just replated it. I have a 14k gold antique ring and though its genuine gold, some parts turned blackish. My mom just redip it but the same areas turns black eventually. I couldnt remake the ring because it was my grandmas favorite ring. I want to preserve it as it is. So im thinking yours must have been so old that they did exactly that than ruin the original style. You can just have it checked in a pawnshop if its real gold

 

[jadie1]

It's very possible that the ring was made in yellow gold, but they dipped it in rhodium to plate it. When you plate a ring, sometimes it wears unevenly. You could see about re-dipping it.

 

[poopsie]

It appears the ring has been repaired. Poorly. It looks like what you're seeing are signs of solder which have discolored the metal. Either that or the prong replacement was done in yellow gold and plated--poorly.

If the repair or damage wasn't disclosed, it's not as described.
I would demand a refund, or if you like the ring and want to keep it you might be able to negotiate a lower price.

In any event, you will need to have an expert to look at it for two reasons--first, so you know exactly what's going on in order for you to decide what option you want to pursue, and second, because Sotheby's will want proof that this is in damaged condition.

Your best bet is to have a local jeweler or jewelry appraiser examine the ring and write a letter explaining what the issue is, which you can then send to Sotheby's. If costs are incurred, you should ask that these be reimbursed as well together with any other costs and fees such as shipping, etc.

If Sotheby's wants to see the ring or will accept it back, have them send you the shipping label. That way if the package is lost or damaged, it falls under their insurance, not yours.

Finally, if Sotheby's refuses to do anything, you can dispute this through your credit card company--assuming you bought it with a credit card. Again, they will want proof that there's something wrong with the ring and that it's not as described, as distinguished from a case of buyer's remorse.

Please keep us posted.

I would be careful using pre-paid labels
In the event that anything should happen, the carrier is only going to deal with the party that purchased the postage/insurance. As the third party you would be left out of the loop.
If the buyer purchases the services they are in control of the situation.

 

[LanaA]

Update - I did email Sotheby’s and they sent a shipping label for returns. I think i was lucky to contact them before the return period ended. I hated to return the ring as the stone was so pretty but the entire left side continued to turn gold after any sort of water touched it which made me doubt the ring itself as its not antique but newly made.
Thanks so much for everyone’s responses, it was very helpful in judging what I should do. For the price I paid, which isn’t an vast amount of money but it was a few thousand, I didn’t want to have to go get the ring fixed after a few days of purchase, and I started to hear the stone rattle as if it was loose as well. All in all probably the best thing was to return it. I’m happy Sotheby’s was decent about it. It’s already been shipped back so I’m just waiting for the refund.

 

[Deleted member 626500]

Update - I did email Sotheby’s and they sent a shipping label for returns. I think i was lucky to contact them before the return period ended. I hated to return the ring as the stone was so pretty but the entire left side continued to turn gold after any sort of water touched it which made me doubt the ring itself as its not antique but newly made.
Thanks so much for everyone’s responses, it was very helpful in judging what I should do. For the price I paid, which isn’t an vast amount of money but it was a few thousand, I didn’t want to have to go get the ring fixed after a few days of purchase, and I started to hear the stone rattle as if it was loose as well. All in all probably the best thing was to return it. I’m happy Sotheby’s was decent about it. It’s already been shipped back so I’m just waiting for the refund.

Congratulations. I'm glad it worked out.

 

[Purseloco]

I know this is an old thread, but if the ring is rhodium coated, it may need another coat of rhodium; you are probably seeing the real color of gold because the rhodium is coming off. It can be dipped for about 60 dollars. I had an 18k gold ring dipped in rhodium to make it white gold after a few years; you have to get it re-dipped if you want to keep it white gold because it will come off after afterwhile. This is not uncommon at all.