Yes you make a good point. However I’ve noticed that things have changed over the past sixty ish or so years. Finding a “legit real jewelry store” is getting harder and harder. There’s not many of them left. Much like a woman that doesn’t have a high body count. We’ve all heard about them but finding one is a different story.
btw this is a timeless issue in our world.. basically getting fakes serviced
and always tons of discussions about it.. recently i came across 2 takes as to why jewelers/etc won't work on reps.. 15+ years in this pool and i've never thought of or read or even heard about these takes so sharing it here because i found it so true and interesting
1) Bait and Switch.. take a fake in to a jewelry shop for servicing... and then for the person to claim "you gave me back a fake when i brought in an original!"
real jewelry places would just avoid that mess alltogether so that may be a reason why they'd avoid working on fakes
2) if the cost to service a fake is worth more than the actual fake vs the price they can charge for said service.. I have a real trusted watchsmith here who charges $400 for a complete movement overhaul service.. if they want to charge a customer $400-$600.. and then knowing it's a fake the customer may not want to pay such a price.. well, they'd better be off not just wasting time. (this applies more to mom and pops and gray jewelers and other watchsmiths tbh)
anyways, just thought those 2 takes on why getting reps serviced is such a headache was interesting.. the bait and switch moreso than anything would explain why a legit jewelry place simply would avoid working on fakes to begin with.. imagine a customer dropping that crazyness on them
