International Diamond Center — Local services in Alafaya

I am extremely disappointed with my experience with Waterford Lakes, FL IDC. I went in May and picked out my perfect engagement ring, gave ring size and all details I wanted. My fiancé went in Sept to buy the ring, again giving ring size. When he went next to finalize the purchase, the salesman, Sam, offered him a display ring without advising of size 6.5 (I am size 4.75). My fiancé, not knowing any better agreed and got the ring a week later. He asked at pickup if this ring would fit me and the sales rep told him to 'have her bring it in and we can resize it'. Fast forward to our once in a lifetime moment, he gives me the ring which is WAY too large. I ignore this part, wearing it on my middle finger, as it's a special moment, and around Thanksgiving, so I want to spend time enjoying this with our family. Unfortunately, all the questions surrounded why it's on this finger, etc. I proceed to go in on Dec 1st to have it resized. They inform me that the jeweler in the back says it's too large to resize and it has to be completely made from scratch. This will be 5-6 weeks per the receipt they gave me. Because of this, I then have to cancel a surprise engagement photo shoot (I have no ring), my mother who I haven't seen for 4 years doesn't get to see the ring, my father doesn't get to see it, my other family, friends and coworkers all question where my ring is. I have to relive this frustrating experience over and over and over again as each person wonders why I don't have the ring I so proudly text everyone in November. I get a call Dec 14th from IDC telling me, 'we confirmed the ring can't be resized and now the expected date is end of January (8 weeks from drop off). After trying to patiently wait for this ring... I call for status Jan 13th (original eta was 1/12), they tell me after calling Fana that it would be in NO LATER than Jan 20th. Ultimately, it doesn't arrive until Jan 27th. As you can see, there has been let down after let down with this experience. I am beyond frustrated with the lack of sympathy from Sam and Nevy at this location and will NEVER recommend this company, let along ever shop here again.

• KEEP IN MIND, this company will continue to deflect from the fact that they messed up to begin with. A custom ring should have been the ONLY option in my situation. Because of the lack of attention to detail at the time of sale, I am the one that had to go without a ring for two months after I was given it. And now have a 'brand new custom ring' that was not the original ring I was given...

They advertise that they buy designer pieces and that a “gemologist”, will look at your piece and make you an offer, “better than a pawn shop”, saying they “will pay better than estate buyers and jewelers”. All to get you to their door… that’s where they basically do a bait and switch. When you get there, they tell you they will only give you the price for the gold.

I had brought about a dozen LeVian pieces so I had mentioned if that’s the case- I’ll sell them online on eBay. But, the guy offered to take a look at what I had, and I agreed.

After the person looking at my pieces, finishes with the first tray and offers 1k, I tell him no need to look at the rest of the items- I knew it was a terrible offer. At that point, I didn’t want to waste any more time since he had already taken quite bit of time weighting my items. This should have only taken a couple of minutes but he was looking through a loop probably examining the gemstones, which he had already remarked that “they were very nice and intricate cuts”. If he was going to only pay for gold, then why look at the gemstones, unless they would later be sold (mind you, the diamonds and gemstones were going to be deducted from their gold price- but they would get to keep them, lol). That means they were absolutely intending to sell these pieces for what they were, not just buying gold weight.

I told him that I’d sell them online because they were high end pieces (again, I wouldn’t have wasted my time going there- trying to sell the pieces if I knew they were only paying for the gold).

I do have to say the young man was very polite and professional- it’s not his fault that this “family owned business” has such deceptive practices. My point being is that they should not advertise that they pay more for items, because they absolutely don’t.

In terms of what I was offered for the gold- they pay dirt cheap as I sold just a couple of little items (not designer stuff, either) and got $900 dollars at a place in Winter Park.

I also priced a bracelet before we started with everything and they were selling a bracelet with very tiny diamonds for almost 6k. It was probably a piece they bought from some poor person who they severely underestimated the value on- because the gold was in desperate need of a good cleaning.

I would not do business with them. They have bad business practices at best, and somewhat dishonest- if I’m being completely frank. They expect to give you pennies on the dollar, to then sell items way,...

My wife and I have been happily married 20 years. My wife has been unable to wear her band and engagement ring 15 of those years. She has rheumatoid arthritis which causes swelling frequently and distortion to the joints. I also have arthritis in my hands and therefore also started to develop issues wearing my band as well. We've always had the desire to wear them again. We thought-there is NO WAY IDC can accommodate what it would take to get them back on our fingers.

Oh I was very wrong. First steps included investigation (our rings were 20 years old and bought at a different location). We encountered Delia Robles who has the sweetest face/smile, who went right to her hard work immediately- she was all over this investigation from start to finish. She needed model/serial numbers ect.... she kept us posted as the the whole ordeal was processed.... she was personal, kind and knowledgeable in every way.

In the end..... not only did we get what we needed done: engagement ring/bands upsized, the engraved message I originally gave my wife on the inside of her band remained intact and the incredible attention to detail has them shiny and sparking as if they were brand new! The cost to do this? Ridiculously cheap-we'd thought it would've been more, which contributed to time wasted, we should've done this so long ago.

Recap: needs addressed, hard work prevailed, low cost, exceptional customer service in every single way possible... and I want to say: "thank you, thank you, thank you so much to everyone for their efforts" I am not sure exactly how much they are aware of the impact this had made to our glorious life/marriage and the sentimental value that our rings hold to the relationship. IDC-we will be back, but thank you for providing us a committed-caring relationship with us for 20years. I recommend ANY and EVERYONE to purchase from IDC bc you do NOT find care like this nowadays!...