Passenger "Duped" over Lab Grown Ring
February 12, 25
(IDEX Online) - A cruise passenger claims she was duped after handing over $1,200 for a "half price" diamond ring, only to discover later that she'd bought lab growns.
She's adamant the jewelry salesperson on Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas never mentioned that the diamonds were lab grown.
And she says it was only after the store closed, on the last day of the seven-night cruise, that she was able to collect her certificate of authenticity.
"There was a lot of confusion with many passengers buying jewelry," said the passenger, identified only as Amy G by the Consumer Rescue website.
"The salesman told me to come back at 9.30 p.m. to pick up the certificate of authenticity."
She didn't examine the certificate until they day after she arrived home.
It said the 14K white gold ring was prong-set with 11 lab grown white diamonds, weighing a total of 1.00-cts (color F-G, clarity VS-SI).
Amy contacted Starboard Group, the company that runs luxury shops onboard Royal Caribbean ships, demanding a refund because they were lab growns.
She claimed the late delivery of the certificate was a deliberate scheme cooked up by the jewelry store.
Starboard initially refused her request, citing an "all sales are final" policy.
They relented after Consumer Rescue intervened but maintained the salesperson had made it clear the diamonds were lab grown.
They told Amy: "After further review and investigation of your case, we would like to inform you that the specialist who was assisting you on board the ship did specify the piece did contain lab grown diamonds.
"The marketing in the store and in the display case as well [indicates lab grown diamonds]. The specialist has been retrained on how to deliver this information correctly."
Pic shows Rhapsody of the Seas.