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
EditorsSep 12, 2025
Out & About: Mining Sapphires in Rock Creek, MontanaAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore headed out West for a visit to Potentate Mining’s operation hosted by gemstone wholesaler Parlé Gems.
TrendsSep 12, 2025
Piece of the Week: Arunashi’s Fordite and Rhodolite EarringsFordite is a man-made material created from the layers of dried enamel paint that dripped onto the floors of automotive factories.
Events & AwardsSep 12, 2025
Al Gilbertson Wins 2025 Robert M. Shipley AwardGilbertson has worked as a researcher, jeweler, lapidary artist, appraiser, and business owner throughout his decades in the industry.
Brought to you by
reDollar.com Is Rolling Out the Next Level Jewelry, Diamond & Watch Consignment ProgramWith their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.
Policies & IssuesSep 11, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case in November A decision likely won’t come until January 2026 at the earliest, and the tariffs remain in effect until then.
Weekly QuizSep 12, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsSep 11, 2025
Tabayer Opens Nordstrom Shop-In-ShopLocated in the revamped jewelry hall at the retailer’s New York City flagship, this opening is Tabayer’s first shop-in-shop.
SourcingSep 11, 2025
Need to Sell More Natural Diamonds? De Beers Has an App for ThatThe new, free app offers accessible educational content, like games and podcasts, for U.S. retailers.
Brought to you by
Rallying Call for the Jewelry Industry on Tariffs and Other Key IssuesJewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.
MajorsSep 10, 2025
Stuller to Swap Gold Scrap for Full Credit to AccountAs the gold price rises, the manufacturer is offering a 100 percent payout through Sept. 30 for gold clean scrap.
SourcingSep 10, 2025
Tech Meets Style in the New Loewe x Jacob & Co. HeadphonesJacob & Co. partnered with the German technology company on two pairs of headphones, one set with diamonds and the other with sapphires.
TrendsSep 10, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Archival Jewels Bring Life to ‘Frankenstein’Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 “Frankenstein” will feature 27 jewels and objects from the storied brand, including pieces from its archives.
MajorsSep 10, 2025
24 Karat Club of New York’s Banquet to Return to Waldorf AstoriaThe Waldorf Astoria New York’s grand reopening this past summer means a homecoming for the industry group’s annual event.
SourcingSep 09, 2025
Anglo American to Merge With Canadian Copper Miner Anglo plans to merge with Teck Resources Ltd. to form Anglo Teck. The deal changes nothing about its plans to offload De Beers.
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
‘The Mellon Blue’ to Return to Auction, This Time at Christie’s The 9.51-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, which set two world auction records at Sotheby’s in 2014, is estimated to fetch up to $30 million.
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
Phillips Names Dianne Batista Head of Jewels, New YorkThe industry veteran joins the auction house as it looks to solidify its footprint in the jewelry market.
MajorsSep 09, 2025
MJSA Education Foundation Announces 2025 Scholarship WinnersThe nonprofit awarded four students pursuing a professional career in jewelry making and design with $2,250 each.
IndependentsSep 08, 2025
Take a Look Inside the New Korman Store in AustinThe Texas-based jeweler has also undergone a brand refresh, debuting a new website and logo.
MajorsSep 08, 2025
MJSA Is Officially Now Under JA’s UmbrellaThe two organizations have finalized and signed the affiliation agreement announced in May.
AuctionsSep 08, 2025
Sotheby’s To Auction ‘Exceptional’ Collection of JAR, Suzanne Belperron JewelsThe single-owner sale will headline Sotheby's inaugural jewelry auction at the Breuer building, its new global headquarters, this December.
Events & AwardsSep 08, 2025
27 Can’t-Miss Converge Sessions, Events From sunrise yoga to tariffs talks, these are some events to check out at the upcoming inaugural event.
ColumnistsSep 05, 2025
Peter Smith: A Lasting Lesson From Maurice Tempelsman Smith recalls a bit of wisdom the industry leader, who died last week, shared at a diamond conference years ago.
CollectionsSep 05, 2025
Piece of the Week: Jamie Turner’s ‘Victoria’ Necklace The “Victoria” necklace features a labradorite hugged by diamond accents in 18-karat yellow gold.
Policies & IssuesSep 05, 2025
Trump Takes Tariffs Case to the Supreme Court Two lower courts have moved to block the import taxes, which will remain in place as the legal battle continues.
WatchesSep 05, 2025
Patrick Mahomes Is the New Hublot Brand AmbassadorThe Kansas City Chiefs quarterback shares Hublot’s dedication to pursuing greatness, the Swiss watchmaker said.
SourcingSep 04, 2025
Lucara Unveils Unusual 37-Carat Pink DiamondThe Type IIa stone, recovered from Botswana’s Karowe diamond mine last month, features unique coloration.
WatchesSep 04, 2025
Breitling Takes Its NFL Game to the Next Level Breitling is now the NFL’s official timepiece partner, a move that puts the brand in front of the millions of Americans who watch football.
