A VENT: I quit! I give up! I wave the white flag!

[ame]

I am still working on getting shots of the Vatche, I thought I had one but it was way out of focus all blown up.

So here's a few shots of the things with the flyer, not great but better. Stuff snags particularly badly on the smooshed stone bec of the lifted prongs there. Both ends have really serious roughness too.

 

[Maisie]

Which stone is crooked? The first or second. I'm asking because it looks like its the second stone on the first photo and the first stone on the last photo...

 

[ame]

The first two pics it's the 2nd stone from the end, on the last pic it's the one on the very end. It's not "centered" in the ring.

 

[Maisie]

Ah I see what you mean. One stone has sunken into the setting but the one on the end is sort of tilted up?

 

[ame]

Yea kind of. The one next to it is "level" with the rest mostly. Then that one is like jammed in there. The last one is just not centered in the ring right and the girdle is exposed.

 

[Laila619]

Ame, have you figured out what you're going to do? Sell the rings? Get new ones? Or try to get them fixed once more?

 

[TristanC]

Hi Ame, any resolutions so far?

We are all sending dust and consolations, but eventually you would want to move on I believe.

Why don't you sell the settings. I can't imagine them having anything but bad memories for you.

Then save up what you get for them, save up a while more on your own and get Victor Canera to do a ring for you. If he can't give you the perfection you seek, likely nobody can.

 

[Maisie]

I can't help thinking it shouldn't be this hard to get a plain solitaire right.

 

[ame]

I have not talked to the jeweler yet nor have I talked to Jon again. I don't know what else to do about the Vatche, but the Flyer I feel like they should be remaking, and it shouldn't be this big of an ordeal. For a company that rambles on about being customer service oriented and all that, telling me no is kind of the wrong answer!

I was going to wait til about next week midweek to start onthis again. I know a lot of vendors are closed still from new year.

 

[Gypsy]

Ame, I would see if you can get a refund from any one. I don't think continuing to try to work with Flyer is going to work. I just don't. Definition of insanity and all that. Regardless of what they ' should do'... what you should do, IMO, is just ask for a refund and walk away and start over. I think if you work with a really good CAD bench that is used to dealing with PSers and understands just how much attention you pay to detail you will get the best results, even if they upcharge you for super duper attention to detail.

I think you are losing sight of the forest by being stuck on the trees. Your goal is to get a set you happy with. That's the forest. Vatche and Flyer are the trees. Walk away and just focus on finding the best bench with the most understanding and anal vendor you can find.

 

[decodelighted]

I guess I'm wondering if the Flyer CAME that way? Originally? (And, if so -- why was it accepted?)

Or if it BECAME that way -- either through design defect or damage. If it's the 2nd -- they have a way out I guess -- as it would be hard to prove it wasn't damaged through abuse etc.

 

[ame]

When it initially arrived to me, the stones aside from a few having chips or cracks already, were set perfectly. That was probably grammatically butchered. But the stones were set perfectly. There were three with cracks/chips, two were right in the table, and til I louped them I thought it was gunk. I asked that they be replaced, and that's how it came back, I had sent it back again asking for that to be fixed, and they did "something" that it looks only slightly better than before, but the issues were not remedied. I think if they were reset, into a new ring, it would probably be fine. But you're right, forest and trees.

I think I will always feel I "Settled" if I can't come up with some solution. I am going to talk to DK next week and see what his proposition is for Flyer, if we can do ANYTHING. The stones now are fantastic, but they are not set really well and the snagging is insane. I just don't wear my rings much. The Vatche....I dunno. I have no idea what to do there either. I just cannot keep dumping money into this stuff. I have no idea if anyone would buy either of these in the condition they're in, and I know I will lose my a$$ on the Flyer.

I keep trying to walk away for a while and every time I come back to see them I just...get so aggravated that I dumped money into branded stuff and it was just as poorly executed as anything I owned that was NOT branded. If I had a choice regarding what metal, I would go with other than plat, but it's one of like two options I have to not have a rash and blisters.

Those are the best photos I've been able to get of the issues though, but still not great.

 

[Laila619]

Ame, I would see if you can get a refund from any one. I don't think continuing to try to work with Flyer is going to work. I just don't. Definition of insanity and all that. Regardless of what they ' should do'... what you should do, IMO, is just ask for a refund and walk away and start over. I think if you work with a really good CAD bench that is used to dealing with PSers and understands just how much attention you pay to detail you will get the best results, even if they upcharge you for super duper attention to detail.

I think you are losing sight of the forest by being stuck on the trees. Your goal is to get a set you happy with. That's the forest. Vatche and Flyer are the trees. Walk away and just focus on finding the best bench with the most understanding and anal vendor you can find.

Agree, great post.

Tell them you will not accept these rings as is, and you are so upset that you want a refund. Just keep being persistent until they get so tired of you they give in.

 

[Gypsy]

I don't know how to tell you to walk away without some tough love. So I hope you'll give me a little latitude.

You are using up precious brain space, patience, and emotional and physical resources stressing about something that is ultimately just a ring. And I'm saying this as a picky pain in the arse PSer.

Why do you care what Flyer's advertising is? Unless you plan to sue them, it doesn't matter. It's not worth the pedestal you are putting them on. You are giving a ring enough importance to -- month after month, stress you out and make you unhappy. It's just not worth your resources. It's not. Use their customer service slogan against them, tell them they have proven they can't do this and you've given the ample opportunity, and get a full refund from them. That's it. Hand the faulty ring back and WALK AWAY. You are doing this to yourself. You are abusing yourself by continuing to do this. And you can't see it. And that's really sad.

Don't you value yourself, your emotional well being more than this?

This is going to be your Waterloo. You can't win this. Because with all the stress and aggravation you are ALLOWING this problem to cause you, you've already LOST THIS BATTLE. You cannot, even if you get a perfect band from them somehow, win this one. That's it because you've already put too much of yourself into it. And whenever you see it, even if it's perfected, you will ALWAYS remember the negative journey to it. And why would you do that to yourself?

Really ame, it's not the money. It's the self abuse that's scary. You really need to get a grip on yourself and just: Get. A. Refund.

 

[decodelighted]

I once had a car. A Land Rover. It was my first NEW car. Oh how I loved it. Cute, perfect, adorbs. I loved what it said about me: CLASS. Oh yeah - it was a total lemon. Even though that same style had been sold in Europe for years it totally sucked. Like leave you on the side of the road 500 miles away from home in a snowstorm full of Xmas presents sucked. After reaserching online I started to see that other people were having these same problems but that the company wasn't fixing it. I realized I needed to sell it before the warranty was up or be TOTALLY SCREWED. So I did. To a dealer because I felt bad saddling some regular old person w/what I knew to be a lemon. Guess what: Land Rover DISCONTINUED that model & never did squat to help any of the original buyers. Out of random curiosity my husband looked up the vin about six months after we sold it -- and it had already been crushed for scrap.

But they're still "Land Rover" and people still think they're super awesome etc.

I could be p****ed at this and rail at the world and how did they ruin my first new car experience and wasn't I buying LUXURY etc etc etc -- but, honestly, once it was out of my driveway I've not given it a bit of a care.

I've released it. In fact, I was only reminded of it during your "but it's BRANDED!!!!" comment. Wal-Mart is a brand. C'mon now. Get them out of your "driveway". You think you'll think you always settled --- but sometimes its best to just move on & be happy. Let someone else send 'em to be crushed. And realize what you've TRULY PAID FOR -- is the WISDOM that throwing $$ at things doesn't mean they'll be better & "fixing" something can make it worse & "branding" is just a bunch of letters thrown together by marketing folks (not artisans).


ETA: I bought a Toyota.

 

[ame]

Well Toyota, IME, is always a step up from Range Rover. But I used to work in the car industry. lol And I might be extraordinarily biased in favor of Toyota, Honda and Subaru.

You are right, you are. I have to wrap my head around the fact that I did lose again at Waterloo. I will be talking to DK next week about the Flyer probably. I don't know what the solution to that one will be. But for that expensive of a ring, I have to come to grips with having lost my butt on that thing. God I overpaid for that. It was so great at first!

I know I cannot get a refund on the Vatche. There's no way. It's in writing that they don't offer them, period, ever, because every item is custom to them. So I have to decide if it's worth making them fix/remake it again, or wear it til I can figure out a solution. I keep telling myself I clearly need a different type of setting bec 6 prong solitaires are not cutting it apparently!

 

[Laila619]

Well Toyota, IME, is always a step up from Range Rover. But I used to work in the car industry. lol And I might be extraordinarily biased in favor of Toyota, Honda and Subaru.

You are right, you are. I have to wrap my head around the fact that I did lose again at Waterloo. I will be talking to DK next week about the Flyer probably. I don't know what the solution to that one will be. But for that expensive of a ring, I have to come to grips with having lost my butt on that thing. God I overpaid for that. It was so great at first!

I know I cannot get a refund on the Vatche. There's no way. It's in writing that they don't offer them, period, ever, because every item is custom to them. So I have to decide if it's worth making them fix/remake it again, or wear it til I can figure out a solution. I keep telling myself I clearly need a different type of setting bec 6 prong solitaires are not cutting it apparently!

Yes, but that's for rings that aren't defective! If yours is defective, then they need to eat the cost. Honestly, I would call up my credit card company and look into doing a charge back. It's just not right that you are stuck with it.

 

[Sky56]

Letting go and getting a refund is the best way to go. I do know how you feel, I recently lost $55,000 in a business deal.
But I no longer own some real estate that was nothing but headaches and worry, and I actually feel pleased...mainly.

Your diamond is beautiful and it would be great to see it in a set that you love.

 

[mrssalvo]

It sounds like the Flyer was messed up from the get go so I really would become the squeaky wheel and demand a refund. I think you've given them ample chances to up the quality that should be there and hopefully they will just do it.

Re: the vatche. I really don't think you should go another round with them. I know you think the setting is worth nothing or that no one would want it but you may be surprised what you can still get for it. I know it's not perfect to you, but it might be perfectly acceptable to someone else buying second hand. As for what solitaire you should get? I have no advice. I don't know anyone that has a ring that is perfect down to every last angle, curve etc. Even the designers mentioned here as being the best have someone who has not been 100% satisfied. I do think you'd probably be a good candidate for a cad/cast piece and maybe from someone like Brian who understands PS'ers and would be willing to make sure your ring is loop perfect?

I'm sorry Ame, I really am. I know how important it is to have the perfect wedding set that you can just love everything about and I"m sorry that the Vatche and the MF didn't live up to their reputations.

 

[ame]

Thank you, I really hate admitting that they disappointed me so much, and I have NO idea who to go to for a setting at this stage. But I don't think Vatche can satisfy me, which sucks. Then again, I don't know who will.

I will see what we can do with the Flyer ring, and if there's anywhere to go with that. Ill go see him next week about that probably.

I know I cannot get a refund on the Vatche. There's no way. It's in writing that they don't offer them, period, ever, because every item is custom to them. So I have to decide if it's worth making them fix/remake it again, or wear it til I can figure out a solution. I keep telling myself I clearly need a different type of setting bec 6 prong solitaires are not cutting it apparently!

Yes, but that's for rings that aren't defective! If yours is defective, then they need to eat the cost. Honestly, I would call up my credit card company and look into doing a charge back. It's just not right that you are stuck with it.

They don't think it's defective though. It's just IMO unsatisfactorily made. And I'd have to do a chargeback to the local guy, bec that's who I paid, not to vatche directly.

 

[sapphirering]

ame, I know I recommended Dimend Scaasi for your future rings in another thread, but after reading this I'd recommend going to a B&M store that has its own bench so that you're dealing directly with the people who are making your ring. And I think it's easier to resolve things in person when you have an issue (but hopefully you won't run into this again!) Where are you located? If you were in the bay area (Northern CA) I'd recommend Union Street Goldsmith. I've been to their store a few times and their work is amazingly well-crafted (although they do charge enough for it) and it's where I'll go to reset my wedding bands once I'm not longer taking care of toddlers at home. (Pushing stroller and picking up toys really ruin the finish on my bands.) So I would recommend you going to a store like USG in your area. Good luck and I hope you get some peace soon.

 

[Laila619]

I would only go to a PS vendor, personally--for one reason: they go out of their way for PSers and they don't want any bad publicity on the forum.

 

[Gypsy]

I would only go to a PS vendor, personally--for one reason: they go out of their way for PSers and they don't want any bad publicity on the forum.

Yup. Absolutely. And they understand, when you tell them from the get go that you will be louping the thing to death. Like I said, there may be a 'super picky customer' upcharge, but for you that might be worth it.

Diamonds by Lauren seems to have made Yssie happy, and he does do CAD and it seems like he's trying to build a custom portfolio so maybe that's another vendor to try.

 

[tulip928]

Oh Ame! I feel for you! I have a Vatche Royal X-prong that I reset my diamond in and everything I picked that setting for is not the ring I have! This is years ago now, and I never got satisfaction.

It was set by the authorized dealer - I asked if they were sending it to Vatche and they said no, they do it there. When I picked it up, the diamond was slanted, so I left it with them to correct. The next day I got a call saying the benchman said the reason it was slanted was because my diamond was cut lopsided. That upset me because I had waited over 25 years for a diamond, and my husband told me what a great diamond he finally found. (since I've never had it appraised, I am not sure that the cut is that great, but the color and clarity are excellent). They supposedly tweaked it to make it look better. It was less noticeable, but still the ring wasn't what I had hoped for. I just felt really stupid at that point for purchasing a platinum setting for such a poor diamond.

Not too long ago, I was at a different jeweler for setting a diamond in a Whiteflash necklace, and asked him about my diamond in the setting. He said it's not lopsided because of the diamond, the other jeweler trimmed the prongs uneven. From the side, my the diamond is sitting at a slant. And what I hoped would be the lovely swoopy shoulders are at a straight angle.

After reading your story, I am thinking after all these years, and being more assertive now, I want to meet up with the owner of that jewelry store and address this whole issue.

Thanks for reading my sob story again after 6+ years! Are these Vatche trellis and Royal Crowns that much a challange to set?