Here's something very few people know: Not all rings in the Jeweler's Showcases are NEW!
Used, Worn, or Pre-Owned Rings are sold everyday and people never realize it.
Shocking? You bet!
Why does this happen?
For a variety of reasons:
1) The Ring was a Customer Return
2) The Ring was a Trade-In or Exchange
3) The Ring was Pawned or Sold to the Jeweler
4) The Ring was Refurbished
So let's take a closer look at these topics.
1) The Ring was a Customer Return
It happens. Jewelry Stores often have 30 Day Money Back Guarantees. That means someone else probably wore the ring for weeks and for some reason, either didn't like it, or things just didn't work out for them. If this happens, the ring comes back...
2) The Ring was a Trade-In or Exchange
People Trade-In, Upgrade, and Exchange their rings all the time. It's just a fact of life.
We do this with Cars, Homes, and sometimes even our Relationships. People are always looking for bigger and better things.
Jewelry and Diamonds are no different.
3) The Ring was Pawned or Sold to the Jeweler
A lot of Jewelry Stores buy Merchandise directly from the Customers. Everyday you hear Advertisements and see Ads and Billboards for "Sell your Jewelry for Cash!" "Not Wearing It? Sell It!"
And boy do people sell... Daily people are either Pawning their Diamonds and Gold, or Selling them outright.
If you need Cash, selling your goods and valuables is a good way to go.
4) The Ring was Refurbished
Some rings are Fixed up and Repaired by the Jeweler, others are Refurbished (made to look new again) by the actual Manufacturer.
If there's a chance to fix a ring up and sell it, why not do it?
It just makes sense.
As long as it looks brand new again and is in excellent condition, then I have no problems with this.
That's the cool thing about Gold, Metals, Gemstones and Diamonds. They can be Recreated and Reworked to make brand new beautiful pieces of Jewelry.
A lot of times these pieces will end up in Estate Jewelry Sales or Pre-Owned Jewelry Cases. Areas that will inform people that the pieces were previously owned and worn.
But, sadly, this isn't always the case...
And often they show up mixed in with the New Jewelry and few people realize it!
Look for the Signs!
There are plenty of things you can look for that will indicate if a ring isn't brand new, or if it's not in the best condition it could be.
1) The Ring Size is not Normal
2) The Prongs are Low or Worn
3) The Shank is Thin or Worn Down
4) The Band is Scratched
5) The Channels aren't Perfect
6) The Stones are Chipped
Now let's take a closer look at them...
1) The Ring Size is not Normal
The industry standard for Ladies Rings are around a size 6.5. Sometimes they'll be size 6, sometimes they'll be 6.75 or 7, but this is the normal size. Men's sizes are usually a size 10 or 10.5. If the rings you try on are either way too big, or way too small (smaller or larger than other rings in the case), then more than likely it's been worn and sized before and someone didn't like it.
Sometimes this isn't the case. Sometimes a ring was ordered for someone in their correct ring size and they then cancelled the order. It happens. Special Orders are exceptions to the rule. :)
2) The Prongs are Low or Worn
Always check the Prongs (4 or 6 Prongs). This is probably the best indication ever that a ring is worn or used.
Prongs don't lie!
Prongs should be built up, rounded on top of the stone, durable and securely holding in the Diamonds or Gemstones.
If the Prongs look flat, cracked, low, thin, crooked or bent, then I would strongly advise you to NOT buy this ring!
Worn Prongs are a huge warning sign that they'll break off, bend back, catch on things and make your Diamonds and Gems fall out of the mounting.
Not such a pretty though is it?
3) The Shank is Thin or Worn Down
The bottom of the band (the shank) is the part of the ring that wears down the fastest. It's the part that gets hit, bumped, rubbed, scratched, dinged... It takes a lot of abuse every single day.
Shanks wear thin. Thin Shanks can crack, ruin the structure of the mounting, bend back and even crack your stones. Shanks can be fixed by cutting off the old Band and adding a newer, thicker one. But, this isn't cheap. Sometimes a new Band will cost up to $350 or more.
If the ring in the case has a thin Shank, that's a really good sign that the ring's been worn by someone else for quite a while.
4) The Band is Scratched
A brand new ring should be perfectly clean and scratch free. You shouldn't be able to detect any nicks or see any dings or dents in the metal.
If you're spending this kind of money for a ring, it should be mar free.
5) The Channels aren't Perfect
Channels that wear down (see picture below), get rough, jagged with not so perfect lines.
They are a disaster just waiting to happen.
Worn Channels tend to lose Diamonds pretty quickly. They are a pain to rebuild the walls, and can get very expensive, not to mention replacing the lost stones.
If the Channels don't look crisp, clean and new, pass on the ring!
6) The Stones are Chipped
People buy rings with Chipped Diamonds and Gemstones all the time and don't even know it.
Stones that have been abused show signs of wear and tear. Gemstones often get rounded off Facets or a Dull Finish. Gems and Diamonds also get hair line chips or cracks all the way around the Girdle of the stone (called Bearded Girdles).
This is why you MUST microscope a Diamond before you buy it, just to make sure it hasn't been chipped during Sorting, Shipment, or Setting.
Even Certified Diamonds can chip after they've been Certified.
In fact, you can Chip a Diamond just by holding it with Diamond Tweezers!!!
Microscope everything well.
You'll be amazed at what you'll find.
The good thing about all of this is the fact that it can be fixed.
It CAN be Fixed!
Rings can be Polished to remove scratches.
Prongs can be rebuilt.
Channels can be reworked.
Everything can be made to look brand new again except for one thing: Chipped Stones!
Once a Chip, always a Chip!
...Unless you pay to have the stone Recut and Repolished! (costly)
This is why it's wise to slow down and really look at what you're buying. Ask the Jeweler to show it to you under a scope. It's your money, why not?
There's nothing wrong with buying rings or jewelry that's been worn before (the circle of life). But if the Mounting is too Worn, Cracked, Stressed or Fragile and Weak, then you'll probably have lots of problems in the future.
So check for signs of wear and tear and chips...
You'll be happy you did.
And happier not to lose your precious Gemstones and your precious money! :)
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