Anyone ever find any jewelry?

[Linda Lou]

If you did, I'm sure you made every effort to find the original owner, right?

Afriend of mine got engaged with a 3 ct. diamond. It was loose, she intended to have it sized down, but didn't. She went shopping at Christmas time in the local mall, and to her terror, discovered it gone when she was loading her bags in the car. Did a wild search, involving security in the mall. What had happened, was a young girl of 7 seen something sparkly in the parking lot, picked it up and put it on. She then told her mother of the "toy" ring she found. The mother seen the 18k. inscription, and realized it was no toy. She put an ad in the paper and happily, my friend got her rock back. Very luckily too, I might add.

[pebbles]

She sure was lucky. That mom did a wonderful thing to teach her daughter about honesty.

I have a friend who always finds things. She found a big heavy gold bracelet, another bracelet with big topazes in it, etc. I told someone about it and she said that maybe the items were found before they were lost if you get my drift. I don't know about that because my friend studied to be a minister at one time.

[Linda Lou]

Yes, pebbles, that Mother surely did the right thing, but lets face it; it couldn't have been easy. I mean that diamond was gorgeous and HUGE!


My friend gave the Mother a dozen roses, but between you and I, I would have given a little more, considering that diamond was worth $30,000!!! Not many people would have returned it either, IMHO.

I found a old-style engagement ring once, in a church parking lot. Told the pastor, he made an announcement, and put it in the church bulletin with my phone number, the following Sunday. Nothing. Tried again the next month. Same thing. Put an add in the local paper, got a lot of whackos, but none could describe the ring to me. So, I put the 3/4 ct. diamond in a pendant. At least I could say that I tried.

[kittyinthecity]

I found an old-fashioned diamond wedding set sodered together in the parking lot of the hospital where I worked. I turned it into security. They held it for 90 days and after 90 days going unclaimed they returned it to me. I was really surprised when they called me down to security and said that was their policy. Ha! They also tried returning a cane I found and turned in. I declined the cane, but I still have the wedding set.

[Linda Lou]

Kittyi.t.c,
Wow! Did you ever have it inspected by a jeweler to see what the quality of the stones were and approximate size?

Maybe you should've taken the cane as well. You might need it, someday.;)

[mystylady]

LOL.... that was funny!

I've never found any jewelry but If I ever do, I would have to try & find out who it belonged to. I need my sleep ya know!!!

That was a real uplifting thing to hear...happy endings! I needed that!

[pebbles]

I agree that honesty is the best policy. I know how I feel when I have lost something and I wouldn't want anyone else to go through that. I found a wallet stuffed with money and credit cards at the supermarket. My son was with me and he was only about 7. His eyes got really big when I turned it in to the cashier. It was a very good lesson for him to see. Kids follow your example much more than your words.

[bookchick]

absolutely! modeling good behavior always works better than pounding it into their little heads

that feeling in your stomach when you've lost something of value-sentimental or monetary- is terrible
i almost can't breathe when i realize i've lost something
i realy do believe in karma--you get back what you put out-but i'd like to think that i do the right thing just because it's right, not out of fear of getting bit in the tail by bad karma!

:-)
bookie

[mystylady]

Right! What goes around comes around! Great lesson, Pebbles! I bet it really made an impact on him! Good for you!

[beekeeper]

Totally agree bookchick! Karma ... who needs bad karma?!? Not me! It can be hard, always doing the right thing and seeing bad people move ahead in life ... but I just keep telling myself ... they will get theirs ... one day they will get theirs!

[mystylady]

I wonder what REALLY happens to all the gemstones that get "flung" out of my tweezers, never to be found again (at least by me; my color-change Garnet *sob* comes to mind)???
And what about all the lighters, sunglasses and pens I've lost in my lifetime, for that matter?
George Carlin has a theory that there's a huge pile "in Heaven" where all of the things you've ever lost immediately goes into, and when you die, you get everything back!!!

[jewelfreak]

Wouldn't that be great if George Carlin was right?
Then I would get back my grandma's giant, vintage aquamarine ring and my mom's huge emerald cut garnet ring she got for her graduation that were both given to me years ago and were both lost. I have a feeling they were stolen from one of my first apartments, but I still hold out hope that they'll turn up in a box somewhere, someday...
Mysty, do you really never find some of the gems you accidentally 'tweeze" across the room? When I fling one, everybody stops whatever they are doing until I find it!!!! You'll never see any of my gemstones pictures on the side of a milk carton!!! LOL

[beekeeper]

Yesterday at the grocery store, I found a diamond ring in the parking lot ... looks like somebodies wedding ring. My first thought was to turn it in, inside the store but I just didn't trust the people behind the customer service counter. I did go in and let them know that I found "a ring" in their parking lot, along with my phone number in case the owner back tracks and calls around looking for it. I didn't show it to the girls (at counter) so the person who calls me has to have a close description of what the ring looks like.

Other than that, I'm not sure what else to do to find the owner. I feel badly for the woman who lost it, I'm sure she is freaking out!

[jewelfreak]

Bee, you are smart to do what you did, the person who gets it back will be very thankful. Around here, sometimes people put ads in the paper looking for someone who might have found what they lost. You might want to check your local paper.
Let us know what happens! Just out of curiosity, is it pretty? Is it a whopper?

[beekeeper]

It is pretty, but it's not a whopper. Princess cut center stone, probably 3/4 carat ... with tapered bagettes down both sides of the shank. I will keep my eye out in the paper ... that's a good idea, thanks! :-)

[pebbles]

Aww, poor lady. And she lost it around Mother's Day. I hope she is reunited with her ring.

A friend's husband was in a Mex. restaurant and had his pocket picked. They got everything because he was carrying his Soc. Sec. card. So far $50,000. has been withdrawn from the bank by the thieves. These are wealthy but frugal people. They are insured for the loss but the paper work has been horrible. They have opened 2 new bank accounts and both have been corrupted. He has to get a new Soc Sec #. Warning to all: Do not carry your Soc. Sec. card or anything that has that # on it. Make a record of all of your credit card #'s and keep it in a safe place at home. And finally, they sell pickpocket proof wallets on the net. They have a special surface that makes it impossible to slide them out of a pocket.

[mystylady]

Holy Crap! That poor guy! You'd think it wouldn't be that easy to steal someone's identity but it really is. Great advice about the SS card! I never take mine out of the house.

Bee, you can also put a "Found" ad in the paper... I don't think it costs much at all, maybe a few dollars. Could you imagine losing your ring like that? It must be devestating for her. Smart move too, not just turning it over. Just because they're behind the Customer Service desk doesn't mean that they're honest people. "Ring? What Ring?"
What is this world coming to?
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Jewelfreak:
Mysty, do you really never find some of the gems you accidentally 'tweeze" across the room?

*boooohooooohooooo*
I never did find my color change Garnet despite the fact that I looked for it for an entire month (before I caved and vacuumed!) and I still sifted through the cup on the vacuum cleaner every time I emptied it after that! I have since moved from there and God knows I tried, but no dice. I also lost a 5mm round yellow Zircon by the "death fling". I had a pair of Tanzanite Zandrites stolen from my apartment too. The problem was that I had had like 10 people (all girls from work) over right before I realized that they were missing so I don't know who took them. Needless to say after that I kept them all under lock and key! Sheesh, you hardly know who to trust anymore! It sucks big time, but it's true.

[jewelfreak]

Wowzers - 3/4 ct is a whopper in my book!!
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Mysty-
Man, doesn't it make you sick to think that someone you know could have stolen from you?
I must say I am lucky, though. As much of a shoebox my house is, it does have one redeeming feature. The whole upstairs is only one large room which is our bedroom, which means that when compamy comes over, they have absolutely no reason to go upstairs where my jewelry is kept. If you have an area of the house like that, keep your stuff in there or move it to there when you are having people over. I have also heard that you can also buy a small safe for your home for a reasonable price nowadays.
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Bee-
Does it look like the ring is a nice quality, possibly certified diamond? If it is, that may help you seperate the real owner from a bogus one, if they can provide the certificate that matches the number. Also, If you have a jeweler who has a microscope, you could take it in and have them see if there is a number inscribed on it - usually the girdle. If there is, and you haven't heard from anybody yet, and you feel like making a few phone calls, you could call some of the gemmological institutes like GIA and ask around until you find which place inspected and inscribed that item number. They should know who the owner is, or at the very least which jewelry store it was sent to be sold, and then the jewelry store should know who it was sold to, so you can contact them. If it costs you anything, you can always ask the owner to reimburse you - which they shouldn't have a problem with. And if you don't find them, well at least you tried, and you'll have a free diamond ring!

[mystylady]

Mysty-
Man, doesn't it make you sick to think that someone you know could have stolen from you?
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Yes it does. I never looked at any of them the same after that. <sigh>

[beekeeper]

Jewelfreak, I don't think the diamond is the best quality, there is a visible black speck and a feather ... so I highly doubt that it's been mapped. I have a friend who owns a jewelry store, and I'm going to visit him this weekend so I'll see what he thinks ...

I could never feel right about wearing it or even using the diamond loose ... if I don't find the owner, I'll probably donate it or auction it off and donate the money to a charity.

[Hellfire]

I'm just here to let everyone know that I lost a wedding set at a hospital and a ring at the grocery store;)

P.S. I'm willing to give a reward.

[jewelfreak]

I could never feel right about wearing it or even using the diamond loose ... if I don't find the owner, I'll probably donate it or auction it off and donate the money to a charity.
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Yeah, I hear ya there. Though I suppose I would probably waer it if I did what I could to find the owner first. That's a great idea about auctioning it and giving the moolah to charity. I would have nevr thought of that.

That sucks that it's not great quality, because that could have helped you find the owner if it was certified. Hopefully the person will be smart enough to ask around all the places they were that day.

[beekeeper]

I'm crossing my fingers ... but so far, nothing ... :-(

Hellfire ... you crack me up!

[francesca]

Ha ha ha ha! Good one Hellfire!

Bee, if there's a community bulletin board at the grocery put up a notice.

There's always the chance that a hissyfit resulted in someone THROWING the ring out the window! ???? LOL

[beekeeper]

Actually, thats what I kind of thought Francesca! there is a deeply scratched area on the side of the band, where it looks like it could have possibly been thrown out a window or something ...

I did this once ... WAAAAAY back in high school. Threw a promise ring out the window after I found out my bf had been lieing to me. lol ...

[mystylady]

So Bee, any luck with the ring? What became of it?
Your bf was lucky you just threw the ring... you could have thrown a brick!
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Jewelfreak:
Mysty, do you really never find some of the gems you accidentally 'tweeze" across the room?
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Actually, I heard a GREAT TIP today watching PBS on a show called Haley's Hints. He said if you ever lose a diamond out of a ring, or in my case, fling a gem out of my tweezers or to find anything small that you've lost on a carpet, first you cut the leg off of an old pair of pantyhose. Then you slip it onto the wand of your vacuum cleaner and secure it there tightly, perhaps with a twisty tie. Then Vacuum the area where you lost the item. The suction from the vacuum will draw whatever you lost onto the pantyhose and voila! Wish I'd had that tip when I lost my color change garnet dammit! I get mad every time I think of it!

[jewelfreak]

Hey, kick ass tip Mysty! I'll have to remember that one!

Do any of you have the newest book that JTV is selling? I think it is called "Secrets Of The Gem Trade" or something. I was wondering if it was any good. I'm thinking of buying a kit I saw in one of the Top of the Hour emails. It was 25cts, a tray 2, the book, and the tool kit for 79.99. I thought that was a pretty good deal just for the book and whatnot. I already have the tool kit, but I could use another one for home since I just took mine to work, cuz I'm tired of people coming in to work asking me to look at a piece or a loose stone and there is no decent loupe, tweezers or a mm gauge to be found in that place! Now I know that is not really our bussiness to deal with loose stones, but we have remounting shows all the time, and I see answering people's questions about stones thay have, some are inherited, as oppritunities to get bussiness for the remounts.

God, I'm just the best little jewelry store employee aren't I??? lol

[Danielle]

bump for beekeeper :)

[beekeeper]

Thanks Danielle

Still no calls on the found diamond ring. :-(