William Doyle Galleries

We were surprised and dismayed to receive your notification informing us that [redacted] had filed a complaint against Doyle [redacted] has been a client of Doyle [redacted] for over twenty years, and he is very knowledgeable in the terms of sale that govern the process of buying at...

auction in [redacted].
The purchase in question was lot [redacted] in Doyle [redacted]’s February **, 2014 auction of Fine Jewelry. Below is the description that appears in the auction catalogue, a copy of which was provided to [redacted]:
Lot [redacted]
Child's Jade Bangle, Carved Jade Pendant and Gold and Carved Jade Brooch,
2 carved jades ap. 52.0 x 36.0 x 11.6 mm. & ap. 24.0 x 40.0 x 1.8 mm., one pearl ap. 7.2 mm., brooch signed Made in Hong Kong. Inner cir. 6 1/2 inches.
Estimate: $1,000-1,500
The auction catalogue also includes the following notice:
SPECIAL NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE JEWELRY BUYERS
Prospective buyers of jewelry should exercise caution. We remind you that colored stones may be enhanced by heating or treatment using oil and natural and artificial resins. Doyle [redacted] cannot know what treatment stones have undergone prior to consignment, and makes no warranty whatsoever to the purchaser of a colored stone or diamond as to such stone’s status as natural, heated or treated.
The condition report for this lot states:
CONDITION:
1. Bangle. Inner cir. 6 1/2 inches.
2. Pendant: one carved jade ap. 52.0 x 36.0 x 11.6 mm.
3. Brooch: one carved jade ap. 24.0 x 40.0 x 1.8 mm., one pearl ap. 7.2 mm., signed Made in Hong Kong.
Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact and Doyle [redacted] shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. We advise that you or someone on your behalf inspect the lot personally before purchase.
Doyle [redacted] offers jewelry in approximately ten auctions annually in three different categories of value. Estimated at $1,000-1,500 with a reserve price of $500, this lot was offered in our mid-range auction category called Fine Jewelry. With such a moderate estimate, [redacted] of Doyle [redacted]’s Jewelry Department, very clearly communicated the modest quality of the jade in this lot. [redacted] is aware that jade of finer quality is offered in our auction category of Important Jewelry, where the best pieces are accompanied by certificates from the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.) affirming that the jade is natural with no enhancement.
It came as quite a shock when [redacted], a seasoned auction professional, purchased lot [redacted] -- a lot of very average quality -- for $11,875. Prior to each auction, [redacted] spends between one and two days at Doyle [redacted] thoroughly examining the jewelry in the sale. We were stunned that a buyer with his experience and expertise would pay ten times the estimate for this lot.
At no time did [redacted] or any employee of Doyle [redacted], communicate any information about lot [redacted] to [redacted] except that which appears in the catalogue and condition report.
Lot [redacted] was consigned to Doyle [redacted] by another owner. It was sold at public auction in our Manhattan salesroom, where [redacted] purchased the lot in full accordance with [redacted] State regulations. Following the sale, the consignor was paid according to the terms of the contract.
Months later, [redacted] requested that the sale be canceled and his money returned. We offered to accept the lot on consignment on [redacted]’s behalf for an upcoming jewelry auction at Doyle [redacted], an offer that he turned down.
There is no reason to cancel the sale of lot [redacted] -- it was a clean and lawful sale at public auction.

Review: After purchasing a group of jade jewelry (lot number [redacted]) in the February [redacted], 2014 Fine Jewelry auction at Doyle [redacted] I submitted the items to the Gemological Institute of America on February [redacted], 2014 for identification reports. The laboratory results detected that the jade has been dyed and filled with polymer impregnation. This artificial treatment drastically reduces the value of the jade. I feel the auction house misrepresented these items by not making this known to the potential bidders in the auction catalog. I contacted [redacted], the head of Doyle's jewelry department, asking to return the items in exchange for a refund. [redacted] told me she would look into it and get back to me. I awaited patiently for several weeks to receive [redacted]’s return phone call but I never heard back. On August [redacted], 2014 I sent an email directly to [redacted] and the Doyle client services department stating I was going to file a complaint with the Revdex.com if this was not resolved. This resulted in [redacted] contacting me on August [redacted] 2014 saying Doyle would not give me a refund but have decided they will let me consign the jade back to them to put in a future jewelry sale. I feel this is a further unethical remedy which would compound to another buyers dilemma.Desired Settlement: I would like Doyle to agree to accept the items back and to refund me my money.

Business

Response:

We were surprised and dismayed to receive your notification informing us that [redacted] had filed a complaint against Doyle [redacted]. [redacted] has been a client of Doyle [redacted] for over twenty years, and he is very knowledgeable in the terms of sale that govern the process of buying at auction in [redacted].

The purchase in question was lot [redacted] in Doyle [redacted]’s February **, 2014 auction of Fine Jewelry. Below is the description that appears in the auction catalogue, a copy of which was provided to [redacted]:

Lot [redacted]

Child's Jade Bangle, Carved Jade Pendant and Gold and Carved Jade Brooch,

2 carved jades ap. 52.0 x 36.0 x 11.6 mm. & ap. 24.0 x 40.0 x 1.8 mm., one pearl ap. 7.2 mm., brooch signed Made in Hong Kong. Inner cir. 6 1/2 inches.

Estimate: $1,000-1,500

The auction catalogue also includes the following notice:

SPECIAL NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE JEWELRY BUYERS

Prospective buyers of jewelry should exercise caution. We remind you that colored stones may be enhanced by heating or treatment using oil and natural and artificial resins. Doyle [redacted] cannot know what treatment stones have undergone prior to consignment, and makes no warranty whatsoever to the purchaser of a colored stone or diamond as to such stone’s status as natural, heated or treated.

The condition report for this lot states:

CONDITION:

1. Bangle. Inner cir. 6 1/2 inches.

2. Pendant: one carved jade ap. 52.0 x 36.0 x 11.6 mm.

3. Brooch: one carved jade ap. 24.0 x 40.0 x 1.8 mm., one pearl ap. 7.2 mm., signed Made in Hong Kong.

Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact and Doyle [redacted] shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. We advise that you or someone on your behalf inspect the lot personally before purchase.

Doyle [redacted] offers jewelry in approximately ten auctions annually in three different categories of value. Estimated at $1,000-1,500 with a reserve price of $500, this lot was offered in our mid-range auction category called Fine Jewelry. With such a moderate estimate, [redacted], [redacted] of Doyle [redacted]’s Jewelry Department, very clearly communicated the modest quality of the jade in this lot. [redacted] is aware that jade of finer quality is offered in our auction category of Important Jewelry, where the best pieces are accompanied by certificates from the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.) affirming that the jade is natural with no enhancement.

It came as quite a shock when [redacted], a seasoned auction professional, purchased lot [redacted] -- a lot of very average quality -- for $11,875. Prior to each auction, [redacted] spends between one and two days at Doyle [redacted] thoroughly examining the jewelry in the sale. We were stunned that a buyer with his experience and expertise would pay ten times the estimate for this lot.

At no time did [redacted] or any employee of Doyle [redacted], communicate any information about lot [redacted] to [redacted] except that which appears in the catalogue and condition report.

Lot [redacted] was consigned to Doyle [redacted] by another owner. It was sold at public auction in our Manhattan salesroom, where [redacted] purchased the lot in full accordance with [redacted] State regulations. Following the sale, the consignor was paid according to the terms of the contract.

Months later, [redacted] requested that the sale be canceled and his money returned. We offered to accept the lot on consignment on [redacted]’s behalf for an upcoming jewelry auction at Doyle [redacted], an offer that he turned down.

There is no reason to cancel the sale of lot [redacted] -- it was a clean and lawful sale at public auction.