Advice needed

[Jaders731]

Hi everyone... well this is my second time writing this post... as I just lost the entire thing I had just finished.. so here I go again...

I got engaged the last week in July (wooohoo) and got my new ring: 1.056 RB D in color, SI I, set in a four prong stuller soltice platinum solitaire ring. Pictures to follow

Two weeks after I got it, I noticed that I could slip my fingernail under one of the prongs (translation: there was a clear gap between the top of the diamond and the underside of one of the prongs) I immediately called my jeweler and he assured me that as long as the diamond was not moving, that it should be fine, and to get it fixed when I could.

I got it fixed! But then a month later, I noticed that the same prong had the exact SAME problem.. grrrrrr... so While I was home planning our wedding.. I took it into a very reputable jeweler (been in business for 30 years). This is a different jeweler than the one who we bought the diamond and setting from. He came out to discuss his concerns with me and here is what he said:

1. He very tactfully told me that he doesnt like to critique another jewelers work, but there was a serious issue he sees with my ring, and that he would have "seated" the diamond differently. He claimed that too much metal was removed from the prongs when the diamond was originally seated, thus allowing the diamond to sit into the prongs too much, allowing a gap between the diamond and the prong. (so at this point, I am having a heartattack, this ring is my baby.. and I worked hard for it darnit!!!) he suggested the following options:
a) Reset the diamond, but cutting the prongs down below the original seating and resetting it MUCH lower. This makes me sad as I ADORE my high set solitaire
b) Fill in the seating on the prongs so that the diamond is properly supported in the prongs. This also makes me sad as I dont like the idea of adding some "other" metal to my ring.
c) Contacting the original jeweler and asking them to send me a new setting so that the ring can be properly set, by the new jeweler. I would then send the empty, flawed setting back to the original jeweler

Ok.. so this is my dilemma. I dont know what to do.. or how to handle this. Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreaciately.. I would be forever grateful!

I''ll follow this with some pictures... None of them actually show the bad prong... just some pretty pictures so you can see my ring!
Thank you all in advance.. I cant wait to hear what you all think!!!

 

[Jaders731]

Ok.. here is the first pic.

Sorry I have to do multiple posts.. as I dont know how to upload multiple pics.

Thanks...

 

[Jaders731]

Here is a side view

 

[diamondseeker2006]

If you want to avoid dealing with the old jeweler, why not ask the new one to just put a new head in the current ring? That would probably be better than trying to repair the prongs on the current one. But it sounds like the first jeweler really does owe you either a new head or whole ring. Getting him to give it to you to have set elsewhere is going to be hard to do, I''d imagine. But good luck!

 

[Jaders731]

Here is a half hand shot!

 

[firebirdgold]

A new platinum solstice head should cost about $120 (depending on markup and current platinum prices) not including labor charges. I think pretty much all jewelers have Stuller catalogs and can order it for you so your new jeweler should be able to. While the old jeweler does owe you a new head, personally I'd just eat the cost rather than risk their setting skills again!

Good luck!

 

[Stone Hunter]

Congrats on the engagement and ring! The ring looks very nice. Too bad about the setting issue. But the stone looks nice and the setting looks nice in your photos. How about some closeups?

 

[Jaders731]

Thanks everyone!!!

Ok.. so I''m not exactly sure how getting a new head works... can ya''ll clue me in?

thanks for the compliments on the ring.. I adore it... I will try and get some close ups later... I have to figure out the focus on the camera...