Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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My ring fraudulently swapped, but how to prove it?

When I married my husband many years ago we both decided on platinum wedding rings. They have both worn extremely well and I would tell anyone to buy Platinum because they always look good without the need for polishing etc. However, after my pregnancy my wedding ring and platinum engagement ring need to be increased in size. The wedding band had previously become stuck and it took many days for me to cut it off, unfortunately, it went straight through the hallmark. I took the ring back to the jewelry shop with whom I had bought it from years earlier for them to re size. On returning to the shop the platinum ring they gave me was in fact not mine and weighed only 3grams, mine was a heavy weight ring and matched my husbands ring of over 12 grams, the shop is still refusing to give me my original wedding ring back. They have also caused damage to my engagement ring as they have used 18 kt white gold for re sizing the gap, this has left a cut mark which they have tried to hide by using Rhodium plating. They have suggested the wedding ring was worthless any way as there was no hallmark and are insisting the ring weighed between 3 and 6 grams only, but 3 grams was lost through polishing. The shop still has the ring and it won't give me a refund.

How can I prove the ring they are trying to pass off as mine does not belong to me. The shop is family owned business and does not seem adverse to ending up in court. please help.

Nicola Wood
jewelry - Grays, Essex, England
2003

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You first of all need to prove you bought a ring with a known specification and description. Then you must be able to show that the jeweller received that ring and that he returned a second rate one. You can then take the jeweller to court. I would also suggest you talk to your local Trading Standards Office and seek advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2003