surfergirljen- I remember reading your story about the fleurette on the VCA thread. I seem to recall that you said back then that the pendant was real VCA, but the center diamond was replaced with a non-VCA diamond. Did you later on find out that it was not VCA at all? I'm just curious because I'm wondering if the fakers out there are reproducing the VCA hallmarks (i.e. name stamp, etc.). I've seen it done on Cartier and Tiffany pieces, but not really VCA pieces; so I'm just curious.
Would / do you buy jewellery on ebay?
- Thread starter Splurgeface
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WHOA they gave you fake Cartier papers with your VCA pendant??? Sneaky but stupid! Everything you wrote down is really helpful . . . document EVERYTHING about the purchase as proof/evidence of fraud. B&M places, I've learned, aren't the best either - the diamonds from my mom's heirloom from my grandma got switched out by what we thought were our "family friend" and "family jeweler." So I am possibly more paranoid than the next person. I may give eBay a try again in the future. I just need to do A LOT of research, especially on the items I'm buying, before I bid/purchase on eBay 
Thanks again for the great advice!
Thanks again for the great advice!
I bought all my David Yurman jewelry from ebay (2 rings, 2 necklaces, earrings. etc.) and have not been disappointed with any of them. They were mostly vintage pieces, all in excellent condition. I also saw a pair of Roberto Coin diamond hoop earrings that I recognized from a pair I was eyeing in Bloomingdales for $1,000 less than retail - the specs were exactly the same, as well as the photos (I know, because I had just tried them on but they were slightly heavy at 1.53 ct, otherwise, I would have grabbed them. I am currently having a pair made up by Whiteflash, but I digress....). Ironically, my biggest disappointments were with nonbrand jewelry and certain handbags (one I was able to return, the other I ended giving to the thrift shop); however, my latest bag - an LV damier marais bucket (allegedly used only once) - is gorgeous and in perfect condition). Good luck!
I would buy online, but ya gotta know your seller. I learned my lesson with the Cartier bracelet.
My SO bought me an elsa peretti bean from a trusted seller on www.bonanza.com. He got it for a GREAT price, it was from some woman in Greece, just selling some of her stuff out of her closet, you know?
I had bought a RTT oval tag choker from someone on the Bonanza site too, and it was the same thing; just a regular person like you or me, selling stuff she no longer wanted. I also got that for a GREAT price.
Ebay makes me nervous. It has changed alot. I remember the days when it was mostly people like you and me, just trying to make a few bucks selling stuff out of their closet or whatever. Now it is a whole bunch of bigwigs.
I just say, buyer beware.
My SO bought me an elsa peretti bean from a trusted seller on www.bonanza.com. He got it for a GREAT price, it was from some woman in Greece, just selling some of her stuff out of her closet, you know?
I had bought a RTT oval tag choker from someone on the Bonanza site too, and it was the same thing; just a regular person like you or me, selling stuff she no longer wanted. I also got that for a GREAT price.
Ebay makes me nervous. It has changed alot. I remember the days when it was mostly people like you and me, just trying to make a few bucks selling stuff out of their closet or whatever. Now it is a whole bunch of bigwigs.
I just say, buyer beware.
I've bought jewelry from ebay, but they tend to be vintage/estate pieces and/or costume jewelry. For all my "big" stuff, I'll go to the brick & mortar store to purchase. I will say that for some of the pieces I've gotten, they've always appraised for higher than I bought them for. Buying a name brand from ebay makes me queasy though.
Over the last 8 years or so, I have purchased rings and gems on eBay. I've had some hits and some colossal misses! (I'll never forget the fake sapphires but am still wearing my blue diamond!) I've learned a LOT about how to 'read' a seller and find a good one. Also, I've got a great jeweler who is a great help in authenticating my finds.
There's such a high markup in jewelry that i have a lot of trouble paying full price for it. When I get it from a RL store, I try to wait for sales...and enjoy the fact that I can return it to the RL stores!
There's such a high markup in jewelry that i have a lot of trouble paying full price for it. When I get it from a RL store, I try to wait for sales...and enjoy the fact that I can return it to the RL stores!
I buy most of my jewelry/watches on eBay. I do have a good jeweler to authenticate non-designer items, as for designer watches, I do my homework and do it myself. Last year I bought an authentic Chopard Happy Sport watch with diamond bezel, that retails for $16.5K, for $2.6K. I had since serviced it at Chopard repair center, so I know for sure it's not a fake. I would advise anyone to find a good experienced jeweller and treat him well, rather than paying hundreds or thousands more for retail! HTH!
I think the girls are right in that it's almost safer to buy from people who are like us - I for example sell a TON of clothing with tags still on it (DVF etc) because I missed the return date or b/c I'm a bit of a binge shopper and run out of room! LOL. I've sold some Tiffany silver from ex boyfriends etc. and a VCA piece I changed my mind on and I don't think very many people like me who don't have 10000 feedbacks would risk a nasty one for a fake necklace. It's the ones who have 6 or 7 that make me nervous. Plus people like us usually have ALL the paperwork etc. and those shops never do.
YES, Kholmascara - THEY SENT CARTIER PAPERS with a VCA necklace!!! SO retarded. That's how I know for sure it wasn't even a VCA piece with the diamonds switched out.
Darkangel when you showed me your seller (before you got your fake!) the one red flag I saw was that he had the same Cartier bracelet in like 7 sizes or something. I find it easy to believe a pawn shop/reseller would have one or two... but to conveniently have almost every size seems too good to be true, KWIM?
Someone had asked about my VCA Fleurette - I believe completely that they had made a mold and were having them churned out. He seemed to have a steady supply of WG or YG ones "coming in" from other buyers around the world and that should have been my first clue!! The necklace itself was apparaised at $2500 which is what I paid for it so really I felt like I could have kept it and not been too out of pocket... but then again the idea of it bugged me too much that they lied and I sent it back.
YES, Kholmascara - THEY SENT CARTIER PAPERS with a VCA necklace!!! SO retarded. That's how I know for sure it wasn't even a VCA piece with the diamonds switched out.
Darkangel when you showed me your seller (before you got your fake!) the one red flag I saw was that he had the same Cartier bracelet in like 7 sizes or something. I find it easy to believe a pawn shop/reseller would have one or two... but to conveniently have almost every size seems too good to be true, KWIM?
Someone had asked about my VCA Fleurette - I believe completely that they had made a mold and were having them churned out. He seemed to have a steady supply of WG or YG ones "coming in" from other buyers around the world and that should have been my first clue!! The necklace itself was apparaised at $2500 which is what I paid for it so really I felt like I could have kept it and not been too out of pocket... but then again the idea of it bugged me too much that they lied and I sent it back.
i think most are fakes especially by sellers who is buying and selling. there are real ones people who sell their personal items. its hard to tell but at least pay with paypal or credit card for protection!