Fake jewelry-would you be upset

[Imzadi]

Sorry, I’ve been working all day. Believe me..he could afford the real one. We’ve been together on and off for 8 years.
he is currently Covid quarantining and being moody. He left it at my house, crudely wrapped. He sent me a message telling me to enjoy the Cartier Braclet and to “let it grow on me”. I’m honestly stumped if he thinks it’s legit. Of course I will ask him when I see him face to face.
I will say it is a very good knock off.

Thanks for getting back with some context. That changes things a bit.

Prior to gifting me the braclet he was telling me stories of all the gold his niece received for her birthday. When I received the braclet I just assumed it was purchased at the same time her jewelers was purchased.

Or there was a possibility the niece was given the bracelet at some point and didn't want the bracelet. Since she gets so much jewelry, it was nothing to her to hand off the bracelet. Your friend may have just assumed that the person who gave her the bracelet would of course, have given the real thing.

Did he give you jewelry often? And were all of them real pieces (that you know of) in the past?

 

[MamaMermaid]

This is a tough, weird situation. I'd tell him it's fake and see what his response is. The fact that he mentioned it growing on you is odd...

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Am I understanding this is a bracelet that kind of locks on the wrist and you can't remove it? So like a handcuff?

That would be a quadruple no for me regardless of 'real-ness.' I have to remove any jewelry for activities I do (not that I'm wearing anything but my rings in the first place), so something that didn't come off would be terrible. Just the thought of that makes me uncomfortable.

 

[happily single]

Thanks for getting back with some context. That changes things a bit.


Or there was a possibility the niece was given the bracelet at some point and didn't want the bracelet. Since she gets so much jewelry, it was nothing to her to hand off the bracelet. Your friend may have just assumed that the person who gave her the bracelet would of course, have given the real thing.

Did he give you jewelry often? And were all of them real pieces (that you know of) in the past?

It was not a gift for the niece that was re-gifted. The pieces she received were purchased for him in his home country by his sister (nieces mom) at his specific request. He had sent the sister money to purchase the jewelry for the niece, among other things he wanted. They recently come here to visit. I assume that maybe when he gave her the list of things to purchase my bracelet was on the list.

 

[tasha99]

I've told my DH not to buy me grocery store flowers. I'd rather not have a bouquet at all than those.

We're the opposite. My husband came up to me with some roses while shopping, and was going to buy them. I asked him how much, and he got all sheepish, afraid I'd be mad. They were on sale for 2.99 because they needed some serious surgery to look good. I was thrilled--I'd have been mad if he'd paid full price! He pulled off the outer petals and made them look like new. Half the beauty of bouquets from DH is the care he takes in arranging them.

As for OPs question, I don't know how I'd feel. It would depend on how it was presented. I wouldn't wear a bracelet that locks on and isn't easily removable, though. Not at any price point is that an attractive feature.

 

[TLSnell1981]

FYI if interested In purchasing a Love bracelet.

https://brilliancejewels.com/how-to-spot-a-fake-cartier-love-bracelet/

 

[Dan Murphy]

FYI if interested In purchasing a Love bracelet.

https://brilliancejewels.com/how-to-spot-a-fake-cartier-love-bracelet/

Thanks, I'll refer to that if I buy one for Marie.

 

[Dan Murphy]

We're the opposite. My husband came up to me with some roses while shopping, and was going to buy them. I asked him how much, and he got all sheepish, afraid I'd be mad. They were on sale for 2.99 because they needed some serious surgery to look good. I was thrilled--I'd have been mad if he'd paid full price! He pulled off the outer petals and made them look like new. Half the beauty of bouquets from DH is the care he takes in arranging them.

Very nice.

 

[Imzadi]

It was not a gift for the niece that was re-gifted. The pieces she received were purchased for him in his home country by his sister (nieces mom) at his specific request. He had sent the sister money to purchase the jewelry for the niece, among other things he wanted. They recently come here to visit. I assume that maybe when he gave her the list of things to purchase my bracelet was on the list.

I'm not saying HE bought it for her. Maybe she received it from someone else for her birthday, didn't want it and he then got it from her for you, not knowing it isn't real.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I would be upset if I had anyone spend $10K in a single item of jewelry for me. If they did and it was my spouse or kids, it would show they totally did not know or understand me. If it was someone further away, it would be too much to accept.

In this case, a person going back to a "home" country to buy jewelry, I'd assume it's probably "real" but not real...so it's the real metal, just not made as Cartier b/c few people would care. I have a knock off Bogg bag that I purposely made sure didn't have the "b"s, b/c I wanted a bag for the beach and pool, and the knockoff (which makes sure to not look "real" b/c it doesn't have the branding) worked as well for 45% of the price. It was the perfect gift from my spouse to me b/c he knows I don't care about fashion brands, I care about function and look.

 

[TLSnell1981]

This one has all of the Cartier makings including a serial number. I knew it was fake because of the clasp and the weight

After reading an article on fakes I learned the clasp is different on some. Although the weight would be concerning too.

I’m not sure how or if you should approach him regarding the gift. If he genuinely believes it’s authentic..can’t imagine his embarrassment. If it’s fake and he knows…maybe he will come clean on his own. It’s an uncomfortable situation for sure.

 

[Imzadi]

I would be upset if I had anyone spend $10K in a single item of jewelry for me. If they did and it was my spouse or kids, it would show they totally did not know or understand me. If it was someone further away, it would be too much to accept.

Yes, I think about all the art equipment and supplies I could get for that money. Or how it could be rent for most of the year in a larger shared art studio space so I could work in larger format than I have the space for now.

I was even pricing out a tour of Scotland earlier in the month. That could be for one of the better tour groups.

Yet, we each have different joys and passions. If having real jewelry is one of the OP's loves, more power to what makes her happy and bring on the real baubles.


OP, maybe bring up the subject of whether he knew it is real or not by first thanking him for the gift, how thoughtful it was for him to think of you as you do love Cartier jewelry. Then say you hope he didn't pay the price for a real Cartier Love bracelet as it is definitely a fake. You could tell immediately as you picked it up that the clasp and weight are not of the real bracelet.

His response will hopefully be telling. If he's meh, yeah he didn't spend a lot on it, then he probably knows it's fake. If he seems shocked or surprised because he did spend thinking it's the real deal, then you know his intentions were in the right place.

 

[_19disnA]

Even experts/jewelry stores can have trouble determining if certain items are fake vs genuine. Regardless of how well off he might be, I would think the person giving the gift would certainly want to know if it appers to be fake. Seems unlikely he would have been sold an imitation if purchased from a reputable store charging thousands of dollars for what should have been genuine. If it was purchased when he was traveling internationally, may not be convenient for him to return to the store where purchased. However, you can have the gold content tested locally at any number of places.

 

[happily single]

Yes, I think about all the art equipment and supplies I could get for that money. Or how it could be rent for most of the year in a larger shared art studio space so I could work in larger format than I have the space for now.

I was even pricing out a tour of Scotland earlier in the month. That could be for one of the better tour groups.

Yet, we each have different joys and passions. If having real jewelry is one of the OP's loves, more power to what makes her happy and bring on the real baubles.


OP, maybe bring up the subject of whether he knew it is real or not by first thanking him for the gift, how thoughtful it was for him to think of you as you do love Cartier jewelry. Then say you hope he didn't pay the price for a real Cartier Love bracelet as it is definitely a fake. You could tell immediately as you picked it up that the clasp and weight are not of the real bracelet.

His response will hopefully be telling. If he's meh, yeah he didn't spend a lot on it, then he probably knows it's fake. If he seems shocked or surprised because he did spend thinking it's the real deal, then you know his intentions were in the right place.

I do not enjoy jewelry. I may have mentioned a beautiful ring several years back, but it was something I choose. I had no idea this Cartier Love bracelet even existed. When I see him face to face I’ll address the fact that it is fake

 

[Skywalker]

I do not enjoy jewelry. I may have mentioned a beautiful ring several years back, but it was something I choose. I had no idea this Cartier Love bracelet even existed. When I see him face to face I’ll address the fact that it is fake

If you do not enjoy jewelery and also didn't know this even existed...then what is there to be upset about?

Now, if it meant a lot to you to get one and then he gave you a fake, I could see being miffed. But it was just a random gift of a pretty something you had no idea was even a thing, where is the offence?

If you like it, wear it. If not, don't.

The answer to your OP is no, I would not be upset.

 

[Marrila]

I do not enjoy jewelry. I may have mentioned a beautiful ring several years back, but it was something I choose. I had no idea this Cartier Love bracelet even existed. When I see him face to face I’ll address the fact that it is fake

If you don't enjoy jewelry and are not familiar with luxury brand items it might be hard to truly confirm a fake. Anyway, is there an upside to confrontation?

 

[SirDuff]

I do not enjoy jewelry. I may have mentioned a beautiful ring several years back, but it was something I choose. I had no idea this Cartier Love bracelet even existed. When I see him face to face I’ll address the fact that it is fake

You had no idea it existed but could tell right away it was a fake?

 

[sam_gordon]

You had no idea it existed but could tell right away it was a fake?

I was thinking the exact same thing.

 

[Imzadi]

If you do not enjoy jewelery and also didn't know this even existed...then what is there to be upset about?

Now, if it meant a lot to you to get one and then he gave you a fake, I could see being miffed. But it was just a random gift of a pretty something you had no idea was even a thing, where is the offence?

If you like it, wear it. If not, don't.

The answer to your OP is no, I would not be upset.

Yes, I'm confused. I thought this whole premise was based on loving and wanting authentic Cartier jewelry and knowing when one is a fake?

But, you are not really into jewelry, didn't even know this existed and your SO got you a pretty piece of costume jewelry. . . as you do not even enjoy wearing jewelry anyway. And now you are miffed that it's a fake?

Or are you miffed that he bought you jewelry when you do not enjoy wearing jewelry? And that after 8 years of being together on and off, he should know that? Except he did make that odd comment to “let it grow on you,” so he DID know you might not enjoy wearing it and hoped it would grow on you.

 

[focusondisney]

I've told my DH not to buy me grocery store flowers. I'd rather not have a bouquet at all than those.

So funny what people prefer. My husband insists on spending a fortune for very average flowers form a florist. Meanwhile, wegmans has amazing bouquets for less than half the price. Even their roses for Valentine’s Day are beautiful. I’d much rather he spends $24 & gets them from wegmans than $100 just because they came from a florist.