Hello
an lang may yer lum reek for 2014
I am Looking for help please on the legality of an auction house description and their condition report, if you have a few minutes please I would appreciate your knowledge, Thank you.
Basically I bid and won an expensive £1200.00 pearl necklace recently from a uk based auction house, as the catalogue description had only one pic and a vague description, so I asked for a condition report which was rather short and just two lines and no pics and said the condition of pearls was good and well matched in size and colour etc and the stringing was good and clasp worked well.
Now when I received them there was a glaringly obvious repair to the stringing from the clasp down to the fourth pearl on each side so as to match, the new stringing was obvious and a bit rough and was attached to the original pearls and clasp with a metal wire wound through a metal loop attached to original stringing and also to the clasp
Concerned I asked him about this and his reply was, it was "part of the general maintenance" of a string of pearls and was considered a plus point so it wasn't mentioned in his report!!! I asked him for a refund and got another mail about how pearls are restrung every few years etc etc
I then took them to a private jeweller who said that one would never do a repair such as that as it would be almost as quick to restring the entire piece, ....And importantly that the eight pearls on the new stringing were NOT original to the rest as they were much lighter, when this was pointed out it became quite obvious.
So I again sent them a mail with the pictures of the repair and of the pearls but I did not mention the they weren't original as I wanted to see if he would note this and as a test to his knowledge as the pic was obvious they were lighter
I then received quite a stunning reply! - He had sent the pics to the vendor who told him *** that as the original clasp was an old standard base metal type the vendor had it removed and the new attractive diamond clasp replaced this involved restringing to the fourth pearl and that this was a "Major Improvement To the Piece" and will have improved its beauty and value and durability" also no pearls were removed from the piece all the pearls were originally there and.... !!! as it was only the clasp that was changed there was no description or condition issue.
He also Damingly notes that they were not asked for a condition report until the morning of the sale and ideally they would prefer more time for a report!! the auction started at 2pm I asked for report prob about 10am
Well talk about B S**T the guy is determined not to admit to anything!! the clasp is a typical loop n catch it looks like from the 20,s and has a couple of small diamonds and a white metal value about £30.00 I think he is jepordising his and the companies reputation with such a negative view to a clients concerns and then playing Dell Boy tatics
Below is a copy of my reply to him which has yet to be answered as it was over the xmas holiday I did make it so he could refund without egg on his face as ive blamed the vendor...
Any help on the legality please as the auctions are hiding behind the veil of any info given on a piece is only there "opinion" and not legally binding,.... but as I did ask for a condition report I hope that may carry some weight?, I find it hard to believe that such a piece wasn't scrutinised before acceptance for sale and the repair not noticed, other condition reports I have had from other auctions have had several photos and a detailed description.
Many thanks
Dear S****
I have had the piece professionally assessed, i think you need to have a word with the vendor.
The necklace has had an addition of four pearls added to either side which are most certainly not the originals, it is her opinion that this repair was done cheaply as most jewellers would restring the entire piece, it probably was done as the piece was broken and the pearls lost and other newer pearls added to each side of inferior quality to balance it, when one looks at it you can see what she means and it becomes quite obvious, you should be able to see this in the image i sent you.
So the vendor told you it was partially restrung so it could have the new clasp added to increase the value and that no new pearls were added i would take issue with him.
So S**** i shant take this to my client tomorrow, i am sure you were unaware of these adjustments to the piece so i would ask again to be reimbursed, it does sound as though the vendor has spun a story to fit the situation. (sounds like the monty python sketch with the dead parrot!)
If you wish i can have a full written assessment done for you to take to your client but as you know these are not cheap and i would want to be reimbursed for that cost my time will be free.
Kind regards
Scot
