My husband now 70 was an Assist DA, part of the NY SEC office, a senior litigator on Wall Street then General Counsel of a major brokerage firm. I was a VP of consumer and industrial products in Mktg Adv and PR for 18 years. I was self made from scratch and at age 25, was in charge of a $100,000 budget. This incident happened more than 2 years ago but not too long. But beyond the statute of limitations.
A little over 10 years ago I suffered a massive loss of jewelry with value of $250,000 plus. My Chubb agent, if she had not immediately quit the industry, would have been officially guilty of gross negligence. Chubb also closed down her agency in 18 months and absorbed the entire staff in another company, so by the time a claim was filed and we hired an attorney there was no one left to sue. I had been a very serious investor in excellent quality estate pieces in a historic East Coast City and the chief gemologist each year guided me to the best investments each annual Estate Sale ( all local top family pieces).
Naturally petrified about leaving anything with a new unknown jeweler I SHARED my story completely with Lisa and her great mom. I felt very warm comfortable with them. 16 months later I finally brought in one piece for repair. All was well. Then I chose a beautiful ring with three full rows of diamonds across with the middle row filled with larger stones. My eye immediately knew their clarity and unmistaken sparkle-- " yes she agreed, this was an outstanding piece H and VSI or VSII stones... and you have a good eye... it is from a couple whose wife has been ill and they are parting with it to help pay bills". It was $2000. I happily bought it and left it with them to resize.
Meanwhile I brought in my custom sapphire band my husband gifted to me on our 15 th anniversary which was a full circle of stones all matching in color but several were lose. I also brought in my oldest piece ever purchased, a Henry Dunnay (so??) tennis bracelet 18 K and solid gold setting so it was quite heavy in your hand. I wore it daily for 25 years so you know it's feel.
When I picked everything up, for Lisa resized the diamond ring, the mother sat there way back from the counter not smiling and a bit uncomfortable, not her usual friendly self. She remained on that stool the whole time I was there.
First my eye caught the center row of diamonds -- they were not sparkly they were not the same color. I said nothing for I never left with it, I had not gotten an outside appraisal. I had ust bought it from Lisa and had her immediately size it. I was frozen inside. ( I sold it this February in Florida to a jeweler who gave me $500. He said the big middle row stones were of S quality, not great )
Then I opened the envelope with my sapphire repaired band held it to the light to see the setting repair etc and four stones were darker than all the rest. Again I said nothing. I had worn the ring daily for 15 years. Then I picked up the tennis bracelet it was identical to mine but felt lighter, much lighter and the stones were not as sparkly. That I sent to my original East Coast Appraiser who stated she had not weighed the piece nor appraised each individual stone . Again I said nothing. But I know her mother who sat silent was not happy. I acted normal but was quieter.
I walked out the door with my heart pounding and crashing to my feet ( my husband and I started our life together dead poor)....... I never came back. read more