Bad setting job??

[Demelza]

Date: 8/26/2005 4:04:43 PM
Author: ame
They do look a little off. Nothing major but definitely a little crooked


I dunno, I realize this is a temp setting but why have it less than perfect till you change your mind and go back to the other?

Because I guess I''m just so frustrated with this whole process. And I also don''t want to leave my ring yet again. This should be a very simple setting job -- I don''t quite understand what happened. I should be getting my old mounting back next week, I''m thinking that maybe I should just put it back in that and either a) wear the rings together and don''t worry, or b) wear my wedding band on one hand and the ering on the other. Or maybe I should just put everything in a safety deposit box and be done with it all!!

 

[Demelza]

Date: 8/26/2005 4:10:54 PM
Author: Wink

Date: 8/25/2005 10:54:45 PM

Author: ame

At this point I just think the setting is scrap.

I must disagree. The head may need to be replaced, but the mounting will survive the operation just fine. I agree that the head is probably ruined, but I will leave that to a bench jeweler to decide. We would replace the head in this mounting if you were upgrading to a larger stone, there is no reason that a head replacement can not fix this problem and end up with you having a better ring than you started with as instead of lowering a stone in an existing and worn head, you will have the ring with a completely new head.


Wink

Thanks for responding, Wink. Can you tell anything from the pictures?

 

[WinkHPD]

Date: 8/25/2005 11:02:24 PM
Author: Demelza
Signed Pieces is putting a new head back into my old mounting at no additional charge (since they wouldn''t refund the repair cost, it was the only way I could not lose money in the deal) and I''m starting to think I should just go back to that ring. I don''t want to shell out another few hundred bucks for a new platinum mounting! And I don''t want to have to argue with anyone just to get things right. I want to cry!

If they are putting in a new head, and assuming that they do it correctly, you will be in great position in my opinion. Ame is right that they can not undo what they did to the old head, and it seems as if they know that. Just check the ring carefully when you pick it up that it was done correctly. Check for sloppy soldering, the head not being straight, the stone being tilted, etc. Their bench made a mistake and is rectifying it. Just be sure that it is done correctly prior to leaving the store.

I am sorry that it did not get done correctly and that you are having to go through this, but I am pleased for you that they are trying to make it right by putting in a new head for you.

Wink

 

[WinkHPD]

Date: 8/26/2005 11:45:23 AM
Author: Demelza
Wow! Thanks for all the great advice. This has been really helpful. I''m planning a trip to the jeweler this morning. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Psmith -- is this the shot you were looking for?

WoW! I see I came too late to the party and you have already received excellent advise from some of our resident guru''s.

That sure is a VERY nice looking diamond!

Wink

 

[Demelza]

Thanks Wink. I just wanted to clarify, though. Signed Pieces did not do this setting job. This mounting is a temporary solution to a problem I had with my old Signed Pieces mounting when I upgraded the center stone. This stone was set locally in a Stuller solitaire. The first time around it was set way too high. I asked if it could be lowered and he said yes, though not easily. When I got it back on Wednesday it looked fine to me (much lower than I expected), but I started to notice a few things that were off yesterday. So, that''s where all the frustration comes in.

 

[WinkHPD]

It is some times amazing how badly a simple job can go. I wish you well with this and for a quick end to the frustration.

Wink

 

[PhillipSchmidt]

The second photo is what I was after. Nice rock too.

I''ll hold off on the pliers. The prongs are not that crooked, but the seats definately are. The ring tilts to the side. It should never ever in a million years have left the store like that! Place it that way and look at it next time. They will understand. This is setting 101.

The head can be fixed. The head can be reused. Putting a new head in or swapping it for a new stuller casting is your choice. Those are your three options.

1) Fix the seats. Cheapest & easiest, but definately do not have it done at the same place. It is not that hard to do, but there are two different trades at work here. The soldering is not the setters job. Neither job is complicated.

2) New head. If platinum solder was used it must be cut out. Unlike gold it can''t be heated and pulled out. It is easier to use a new shank then re-use one that has a head cut from it, but not to a proffessional ring mounter/assembler. I am not sure if the stuller casting (not a brand I use) is cast in two pieces or one. Mounting a new setting head adds another avenue for mistakes. The setting job is easier if your jeweller is not experienced. Perhaps now is the time to look for a jeweller who you can rely on.

3) New ring - now what can you do with two temp rings? Does having a CZ mock up interest you. Imagine if you reused the old setting with a CZ (for holidays etc) and they managed to set it perfectly... (They tend to have thicker girdles and your seats would need adjusting and possibly that adjustment may well do it)

Don''t worry about damaging the diamond. You have a better chance of winning the lottery.

Good luck. Your stonker of a rock deserves a ring with class.

 

[MrsFrk]

Oy, you poor thing...The saga continues, eh?

You definitely need to find a local jeweler that you trust, and make friends with him/her.
I have had new heads put on rings in one day. I drop it off 1st thing in the AM, come back right before closing.
Then I sit there and scrutinize for 15 minutes. My jeweler is very tolerant, he just sits there and smiles. I often bring him cookies or similar, I think it helps with the level of tolerance.
It is a great boon to be able to do this, to have a repair done by someone I trust, quickly.
Good luck!

 

[Demelza]

Date: 8/26/2005 7:10:43 PM
Author: Platinumsmith
The second photo is what I was after. Nice rock too.


I''ll hold off on the pliers. The prongs are not that crooked, but the seats definately are. The ring tilts to the side. It should never ever in a million years have left the store like that! Place it that way and look at it next time. They will understand. This is setting 101.


The head can be fixed. The head can be reused. Putting a new head in or swapping it for a new stuller casting is your choice. Those are your three options.


1) Fix the seats. Cheapest & easiest, but definately do not have it done at the same place. It is not that hard to do, but there are two different trades at work here. The soldering is not the setters job. Neither job is complicated.


2) New head. If platinum solder was used it must be cut out. Unlike gold it can''t be heated and pulled out. It is easier to use a new shank then re-use one that has a head cut from it, but not to a proffessional ring mounter/assembler. I am not sure if the stuller casting (not a brand I use) is cast in two pieces or one. Mounting a new setting head adds another avenue for mistakes. The setting job is easier if your jeweller is not experienced. Perhaps now is the time to look for a jeweller who you can rely on.


3) New ring - now what can you do with two temp rings? Does having a CZ mock up interest you. Imagine if you reused the old setting with a CZ (for holidays etc) and they managed to set it perfectly... (They tend to have thicker girdles and your seats would need adjusting and possibly that adjustment may well do it)


Don''t worry about damaging the diamond. You have a better chance of winning the lottery.

Good luck. Your stonker of a rock deserves a ring with class.

Thanks for all the wonderful advice, Psmith!! I think I will do nothing with this mounting until they replace the damaged head in my original mounting and just put my diamond back in there (let''s hope that job goes well).

I''m curious, though, is there anything unsafe about this mounting as far as you can tell from the pictures? Should I not be wearing it until I either get it fixed or have the stone reset?

 

[Demelza]

Date: 8/26/2005 8:12:38 PM
Author: MrsFrk
Oy, you poor thing...The saga continues, eh?


You definitely need to find a local jeweler that you trust, and make friends with him/her.

I have had new heads put on rings in one day. I drop it off 1st thing in the AM, come back right before closing.

Then I sit there and scrutinize for 15 minutes. My jeweler is very tolerant, he just sits there and smiles. I often bring him cookies or similar, I think it helps with the level of tolerance.

It is a great boon to be able to do this, to have a repair done by someone I trust, quickly.

Good luck!

Thanks for the sympathy. I really need it. All of this just seems so silly. None of this should be so hard. Anyway, I would very much like to find a jeweler I trust. I didn''t get a good feeling about the place I checked out this morning at the recommendation of my insurance company. There''s another jeweler nearby recommended by someone on PS, but they don''t have a goldsmith in the store. I kind of like the idea of being able to talk to the person who will be doing the work. I checked with Birk''s jewelers (the Tiffany''s of Canada, if you will), but they send their work out as well. Sigh...

 

[MrsFrk]

Bummer! Oh, so aggravating.
It should not be this difficult. This setting is pretty simple.

The diamond is magnificent.

I guess I''m spoiled...there''s a jewelry store every 1/2 block around here.

 

[PhillipSchmidt]

Better if they can do your work ''in house'' but it looks like an issue of cost and time.

Low paid ‘in house’ jewellers are not always good and there are many jewellers who contract their work out for skilled works and they should know how to get good results. Expect to pay a bit more, but for peace of mind (especially with the rocks you like), it should be worth it for them!

I have worked for a designer who had 6 jewellers (in house) but had another 10 on his books. He would swap any of his 6 for the other 10 but never could. It is a specialised trade.

One jeweller might be as good as all 10 but the designer needs ‘5’ at least to handle the work flow. This guy (in point) might have the fussiest customers ever known and I for one charged them double knowing the standards they worked to - that jobs might come back.

Saying that, a 4 claw is too easy and anybody can improve what you have got.

I feel bad for you. Your troubles must be rare as most tradesmen; know too much to let allow mishaps like the one you are bogged down with to pop up.

 

[PhillipSchmidt]

The setting is safe

 

[Demelza]

Date: 8/27/2005 5:53:05 AM
Author: Platinumsmith

I feel bad for you. Your troubles must be rare as most tradesmen; know too much to let allow mishaps like the one you are bogged down with to pop up.

Thanks. I feel bad for me too

It's very strange because up until now, this jeweler has always done good work (as far as I can tell). He did a custom piece for my mom that turned out beautifully. I know he was hesitant to lower the diamond because it would require him to monkey around with the prongs a bit. He said it might be difficult to get them even. But I would have been much happier if he had just told me that this is as low as it could go rather than messing up the head. I don't even want to wear it because everytime I look at it I feel sick. A little extreme, I know, but so much time and energy and money went into getting this diamond -- it just kills me that I can't fully enjoy it. The other thing I'm obsessing about is the fact that I noticed a line right near the prong that touches the pavilion. I'm hoping it's just a reflection from the prong, but I worried at first that it was a crack. I think I'm just being paranoid and I should probably stop inspecting it (hi Ame!!), but I can't stop. We're going away tomorrow for a few days. I'm hoping that by the time I get back my other mounting will have arrived and I can get this taken care of ASAP.

 

[MrsFrk]

I rue the day I bought a loupe.
Pieces that I loved with all my heart suddenly became "flawed".
I now use it to remove those eensy splinters that you can feel but not see.
No more neurotic jewelry inspection.

I hope your saga ends soon, and you can enjoy your ring 100%.