ORLANDO, Fla. — A St. Cloud woman claims a jewelry shop switched diamonds when it fixed her ring, and she lost nearly $8,000.
“As soon as they handed it to me I could tell," said Jackie Wise.
Wise said the diamond on the ring returned by Ken's Jewelry was far smaller than the rock she left for repairs.
“I've just been devastated ever since," she said.
Wise claims someone switched diamonds, so she called Kissimmee police. Investigators said they could not identify a person responsible, and Wise claims the cops told her, “It would be my word against their word, and I would never win.”
Wise sent her diamond to the International Gemological Institute. An expert there found the returned diamond was half the size and far inferior than the original appraisal.
Action 9 talked to shop owner Luis Marquez.
“According to appraisals, she didn't get her original ring back,” said Action 9's Todd Ulrich.
“OK,” said Marquez.
Marquez said appraisals showed it was the same diamond and nothing was switched.
“No two diamonds in the world are exactly alike,” said Marquez, who then challenged Action 9 to find experts who disagree.
Ulrich called GIA in New York, and the institute sent him to a local graduate gemologist.
“Is that the same diamond?” asked Ulrich.
"Not even close," replied GIA graduate gemologist David Gruber, who said it appeared Wise lost thousands.
“This would be an $8,000-$10,000 diamond, and (the new one) would be $2,000-$3,000 tops,” said Gruber.
Ulrich took those results back to Ken's Jewelry.
“Our experts said you were dead wrong, and it’s not the same diamond,” said Ulrich.
“OK, well, I beg to differ with you,” said Marquez.
Marquez now said Wise's first appraisal was wrong and that her diamond wasn't that big. He said his surveillance video shows no one switched anything.
“I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t switch anything. I’ll put my hand on the Bible to God,” Marquez said.
Ken's Jewelry told Ulrich it's only had six complaints in 28 years, and the employee who fixed the ring had never been accused of wrongdoing.
Wise wants Kissimmee police to reopen the investigation.
Read the full response from Ken's Jewelry:
Dear Mr. Ulrich:
Ken’s Jewelry & Repairs, Inc. has been wrongly accused of stealing a customer’s diamond by switching it with an inferior one. This accusation we absolutely deny.
Ken’s Jewelry has been in business for over 28 years, and has had only six known complaints during that time. This includes the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, Yahoo, and other popular online sites.
The jeweler who did the work has been with the company for 14 years, and has handled over 125,000 pieces of jewelry during that time. He has never been accused of any wrongdoing.
The security footage was given to the Kissimmee Police department, and they determined that the customer’s complaint was inconclusive.
The store manager offered to show all video surveillance to the customer, but she refused.
The written appraisal was not conducted by a G.I.A. or E.G.L. approved agency. Appraisal states that the diamond measured a diameter of 5.80mm. When measured in front of police the current stone measured 5.70mm - a difference of only 0.10mm.
Appraisal included a “mapping” of her diamond which is very similar to the diamond that is currently in the ring. The original mapping has same rare natural outer markings (indented naturals) only less inclusions. Adding to the notion that the original was embellished in quality just as it was in size.
Appraisal is incorrect and inflated. It states that it is a 1.02 carat diamond but that is disproved by the remainder of the measurements in the same document. Mrs. Wise's husband, Stephen, a professional, agreed with the fact that when he calculated the numbers (measurements) came to a smaller number of .92 carat, which simply proves the inaccuracy.
Mrs. Wise was "scared to leave her diamond" and asked her Aunt (a long time customer) if her "diamond would be safe" and seemed predisposed to expect that it would be stolen.
We will do everything in our power to save our business; therefore, Jackie & Stephen, can expect to hear from our attorneys shortly.
Sincerely,
Naida Marquez ~ President
Luis Marque Sr. ~ Co-owner
Luis Marquez Jr. ~ Manager
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