CrimeSep 19, 2023
Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison Following Bear Spray RobberyCrimeSep 25, 2023
Oregon Jeweler Accused of Selling Lab-Grown Diamonds as Natural
Police say Douglas Wayne Gamble also swapped natural diamonds for synthetic stones and failed to return customers’ repairs.
Douglas Wayne Gamble, owner of Timeless Jewelers in Salem, Oregon, faces 11 counts of theft related to stone swapping, diamond misrepresentation and failure to return repairs, police said.
Salem, Ore.—A jeweler in Salem, Oregon, remains behind bars for allegedly bilking customers out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by mispresenting lab-grown stones as natural diamonds and failing to return jewelry left for repair, among other charges.
According to a news release from the Salem Police Department, 57-year-old Douglas Wayne Gamble, owner of now-closed Timeless Jewelers, faces five counts of aggravated theft and six counts of theft in the first degree.
In Oregon, aggravated theft is a Class B felony involving stolen property worth $10,000 or more, while theft in the first degree is a Class C felony in which the property stolen is valued at more than $1,000.
Police said they first became aware there was a potential problem with the jeweler in late 2022 when 10 people who worked with Gamble to consign, design, or repair their jewelry reported they had lost money or property.
Some customers said lab-grown diamonds were sold to them as natural diamonds, or that the diamonds in their jewelry were swapped with synthetic stones.
Other customers said they never received jewelry they purchased or never got back pieces they left at Timeless Jewelers for repair, police said.
Related stories will be right here …
According to a news release from the Salem Police Department, 57-year-old Douglas Wayne Gamble, owner of now-closed Timeless Jewelers, faces five counts of aggravated theft and six counts of theft in the first degree.
In Oregon, aggravated theft is a Class B felony involving stolen property worth $10,000 or more, while theft in the first degree is a Class C felony in which the property stolen is valued at more than $1,000.
Police said they first became aware there was a potential problem with the jeweler in late 2022 when 10 people who worked with Gamble to consign, design, or repair their jewelry reported they had lost money or property.
Some customers said lab-grown diamonds were sold to them as natural diamonds, or that the diamonds in their jewelry were swapped with synthetic stones.
Other customers said they never received jewelry they purchased or never got back pieces they left at Timeless Jewelers for repair, police said.
The store closed suddenly in October 2022 without notifying customers or returning jewelry that had been dropped off on consignment or for repair.
The Salem Police Department said $250,000 is its “conservative” estimate of losses in the case.
Gamble surrendered to Salem Police Department detectives on Sept. 15. He remained in custody as of Sept. 22, the Polk County Jail confirmed.
His attorney, Kyle Dundas of Miller Bradley Law LLC, could not be reached for comment.
Gamble’s bail is set at $100,000.
More on Crime
The Latest
MajorsJul 26, 2024
Diamonds Direct Opens Store in AtlantaIt’s the Signet-owned banner’s first location in Georgia.
TrendsJul 26, 2024
Piece of the Week: Bea Bongiasca’s ‘Double Loop’ EarringsCommemorate “brat summer” with these green hoops.
EditorsJul 26, 2024
Out & About: A Dispatch from the Nation’s Smallest StateEditor-in-Chief Michelle Graff returns from Rhode Island with thoughts about in-store shopping and a trends report.
Brought to you by
The End of an Era? Lab-Grown Diamonds' Journey Towards Price StabilityAs the demand for lab-grown diamond jewelry may still be increasing, the most notable change we are likely to see is price stabilization.
Supplier BulletinJul 25, 2024
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionSponsored by Gemological Institute of America
Weekly QuizJul 25, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TechnologyJul 25, 2024
Amazon, BBB Sue Website Allegedly Peddling Fake Reviews They claim ReviewServiceUSA.com was selling both positive and negative reviews of products and businesses.
SourcingJul 25, 2024
De Beers’ H1 Revenue Falls 21% in ‘Weak’ MarketLab-grown diamond sales in the United States and ongoing economic challenges in China are impacting natural diamond demand.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionGIA®’s most advanced microscope has new features to optimize greater precision and comfort.
IndependentsJul 25, 2024
Store Designer Ruth Mellergaard DiesA longtime member of IJO, she’s remembered for her passion for design, learning, and environmentalism.
FinancialsJul 25, 2024
Boucheron, Pomellato Post Double-Digit Growth in Q2 The gains come amid a tough time for parent company Kering, which saw sales slide 11 percent in the first half of the year.
MajorsJul 25, 2024
Shane Co. Partners With Kids In Need Foundation to Donate 7,200 BackpacksThe fine jewelry retailer filled backpacks with back-to-school essentials for students in 13 states.
FinancialsJul 24, 2024
LVMH’s First-Half Jewelry, Watch Sales Dip 5%Tiffany & Co. is focusing on its “iconic” collections while the company has made changes at the top at TAG Heuer and Hublot.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
See Chaumet’s Paris Olympic Medals Inspired by its High JewelryThe Parisian brand is the first jewelry company in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to design the medals.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Jewelers Mutual Acquires Pawnbroker Insurance ProviderUnion Life & Casualty will join JM Insurance Agency Partners, expanding the provider’s pawnbroker coverage.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Ben Bridge Announces 2024 Lonia Tate Scholarship WinnerLos Angeles-based Bradlei Smith was selected for this year’s award.
ColumnistsJul 23, 2024
Peter Smith: The Case for Optimism in Sales In his latest column, Smith shares multiple reasons why people who look at the glass as being hall full often make better salespeople.
SourcingJul 23, 2024
De Beers’ Production Drops 15% in Q2The company also reported the $150 million sale of an iron ore royalty right, part of its ongoing effort to divest “non-core” assets.
IndependentsJul 23, 2024
Long’s Jewelers Is Giving Away a Luxury Cape Cod VacationThe giveaway is part of the New England jeweler’s summer bridal event.
CollectionsJul 23, 2024
Guzema Debuts ‘Flower Power’ CampaignThe ad features three celebrity florists creating floral sculptures while wearing jewelry by Guzema.
Policies & IssuesJul 23, 2024
Diamonds Do Good Announces Its 2024 Entrepreneurship Grant WinnersThe grant provided a total of $100,000 to support 13 entrepreneurs from diamond communities in Africa and India.
Policies & IssuesJul 22, 2024
JVC’s Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez Joins RJCThe organization also announced Effie Marinos as its new specialist advisor for technical standards, as well as four other appointments.
SourcingJul 22, 2024
AWDC Names Karen Rentmeesters as CEORentmeesters has served as interim CEO since April following former CEO Ari Epstein’s resignation.
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
Longtime D.C. Jeweler Brian Mann Dies at 70Mann, whose family’s jewelry store was located inside the Pentagon, is remembered for being a thoughtful champion of the industry.
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
The 1916 Company Opens New Tudor BoutiqueThe 500-square-foot boutique is located in Denver’s Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
CollectionsJul 19, 2024
Piece of the Week: Messika’s ‘So Move Max’ NecklaceDance all night long with the “So Move Max” set’s necklace.
WatchesJul 18, 2024
TAG Heuer, Hublot Will Have New CEOs Luxury giant LVMH is reshuffling the leadership in its watches division.
MajorsJul 18, 2024
New Etsy Campaign Prioritizes Creators Amid BacklashSellers and shoppers have spoken out against a rise in mass-produced merchandise on the platform meant to highlight handmade goods.
