Mountings and Complete Pieces: Polish them up brand new and put them in a case...the Estate Case. Or have an "E" printed on the tag and item description in the computer, and have it print out on the sales receipt. No guilt there since the customer has the full disclosure. Estate jewelry, as a term, exists for a reason. Loose stones: I'd consider this "reclaimed raw materials", and feel that, unless you have big claims about "direct from the mine" and importing, you can sell them without saying they were purchased from a customer. If your customers know that you buy from the public, then you can feel even less guilty since "they should know" that since you'd buy THEIR diamond, they might be buying one originally owned by another person off the street. Last note: how can you claim that all of your diamonds are "conflict free" unless you contact the original seller of the diamond to the customer? That opens up a can of worms, doesn't it?

I have thought about buying diamonds from the public and know that I would have a much better profit margin however, you just can not know where that diamond originated from. I do not want to state that my store sells only "Conflict Free" and buy from the public not knowing if that is a true statement. I know they (the customer) would never know and they really do not ever ask, but I can't look myself in the mirror not knowing exactly where each diamond came from and possibly representing my store falsly. All I have is my reputation and I have to be honest with myself and my practices to be honest with my customers. They are the reason I am open and have what I have and can only do my best for them to thank them. Being a small independent I have to compete with the mall chains and One wrong move, one wrong statement, one wrong misrepresentation and my credibility is gone and then no one wins.

devils advocate question: how do you comply with the Kimberly process when purchasing previously owned diamonds?

Very good question. Do any others purchasing from the public have an answer to this question? What about those who have pawn shops and purchase diamonds from the public? Side note: Last month I asked one of my brands for proof all the diamonds in their rings complied with the Kimberly Process and the company said we have no such paper.

I love pre owned.... People in the South love Tradition and to have a great ring with a history makes it even so much more exciting, I wish I had 100 in my case. I do not buy loose diamonds .

Our business is all about integrity. Pre-owned jewelry that is displayed after a cleaning is an estate piece with the rich history that it brings. Stones that are separated from their original metal, polish and sold either loose or in a new mounting is a part of the raw materials needed for a new finished product and doesn't need any other information. The "conflict free" certification cannot be made and that should be disclosed if asked.

HAHA...reading this is funny....would you buy a house if you knew that a family was murdered in it?.......well it depends on the price...........if you were selling the house that had a tragic history, would you tell the potential buyers?.......But a house is just raw material........"Please comment with a pseudonym because we all look forward to what you have to say" <--translation=i know that the retail jewellery industry is full of bottom-feeding, money-grubbing, deperados that will say anything to make a dollar.