Hello Ipcress
Thank You that is very helpful and appreciated ...."they shall not pass"
I will contact you privately with the auction house, the guy I am texting seems very well enough qualified
he is a qualified gemmologist and diamond grader. He is a Diamond Member and Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, has many years experience working in the antique and jewellery industry, including time with Christie’s. The company appear to have two directors and he is one of them, if I have had problems in the past with auction houses they "usually" sort it then an there as they want to keep a good reputation
So with his experience im surprised at his replies, I haven't demanded anything, or gone off on a fit!, ive kept it very civil and his replies are also polite but at the same time mugging me off!! the last mail which so patronisingly informing me I was lucky to have the new clasp fitted and such a good job done on the repair is almost surreal in its cheek and he,s covering himself on all grounds i.e. the repair is a plus as its a plus it doesn't detract from his description so aren't I the lucky one! (he actually said that the owner of the piece noted how it had a old base metal clasp type and thought it would be better to replace it with the expensive gold and diamond one we see!)
The necklace on the website was est at £1200 when it started it had a bid of £1100 and I went in at £1200 the auctioneer thanked the internet so perhaps she had a bid on the books or someone was bidding in the room there were two bids to my knowledge. I am aware of bidding up a piece by the owners, I have been around auctions for over 40 years, but never bought from this house before
I know the condition report was scant but I took it that if there were any major flaws to the piece they would have been noted, normally a condition report is several pictures from different angles and a detailed examination of the piece i.e. repair, damage, wear and tear etc but as I left it till the morning of the sale I believed the scant report, but not to have mentioned the partial restringing or repair is more than neglectful and then his patronising attitude in the further replies to me sounds like a Dell Boy sketch something like - "No! no! guv that's not a repair!:) god bless u guv,:) No wot that is guv is that's yer actual maintenance innit, in fact I should charge u more! cause that now makes even betterer than I thought it was before innit"
I will wait for his reply to my last mail as apparently they are still on holiday, which is no excuse in these days of instant communication, then I may speak to the other partner/director as I feel he is playing with the companies reputation and his own, i know what i think about the piece and his stalling and unwillingness to refund me but i cant say so here, not now, but im sure the experienced buyer knows what im thinking.
Anyways thanks again Ipcress i never thought to contact the trade gazette.
i will be raising another Q about the trade and the internet on here soon.
Thanks
Scot