Am I being too picky?

[rkny]

Hi all,

New here...

Just bought my first engagement ring, online from a reputable dealer, a round 1.26ct solitaire, in a platinum setting by a known "boutique" designer. The setting was done on the premises of the designer.

Let me stop here and mention that I am a photo retoucher by trade, cursed with a keen eye for flaws and imperfections.

I ordered the ring in April. Upon delivery, there were issues with the quality of the setting work. It went back to the jeweler, who then sent it back to the setter/designer. Upon receiving the ring for the second time, the jeweler informed me he didn't like the job they did. Rather than waste time sending it to me again, he returned it to the setter for another go.

After receiving the ring the second time, the jeweler told me it looked great. I received it today.

One thing the setter got right the first time they did the job was the rotation of the stone, in relation to the setting, as viewed from directly above the ring looking downward onto the table. Having never bought a diamond ring before, I was pleased with that aspect, and I assumed that's how it should look...totally symmetrical to the setting.

When I got the ring today, the other issues had been corrected, but the stone was rotated in the setting. When looking at it, all the highlights and glitter are off by several degrees. The stone just looks crooked to me.

The illustration below shows what I'm talking about. Fig. A is how the stone was set the first time, and Fig. B is what I got today.

I called the jeweler and asked him whether the rotation of a round stone was one of the qualities of a proper setting. He said the only time he has seen a setter pay special attention to the rotation is when dealing with a laser engraved serial number, so as not to hide it under a prong. Now, this jeweler has been very courteous, knowledgeable, and helpful throughout this whole process, so I would tend to defer to his expertise, but I can't help but think, based on getting a perfectly rotated stone the first time, that the setter simply missed the mark on the rotation this time around. The rotation of a marquise cut or pear cut would be critical...why should a round stone be any different?

So, I ask you all, am I being too picky? I know my girlfriend probably won't notice the issue, but it bugs me. On the other hand, I've been waiting for the ring for almost 2 months since ordering it and I don't want to send it back yet again unless it's absolutely wrong.

Thanks,

rkny

 

[D&T]

umm,,, I''d let your GF/future wife decide if it bothers her, because she wears it and will be looking into it everyday... Let her enjoy it first before you need to take it in if need be.

 

[oldmancoyote]

It''s an unusual cut with a pentagonal table and simmetry; as such it probably stands out a little more "asymmetrically" than most other stones based on an octagonal table/symmetry, and thus I understand your feeling. However, I have not noticed round stones being set with particular regard to symmetry in most pieces (some jewellers do pay attention to it, though).

I don''t think going back and asking for a reset given the particular cut of the stone is unreasonable, but it depends on what was the reason for the first one.

 

[rkny]

Date: 5/29/2009 4:39:41 PM
Author: oldmancoyote
It''s an unusual cut with a pentagonal table and simmetry; as such it probably stands out a little more ''asymmetrically'' than most other stones based on an octagonal table/symmetry, and thus I understand your feeling. However, I have not noticed round stones being set with particular regard to symmetry in most pieces (some jewellers do pay attention to it, though).


I don''t think going back and asking for a reset given the particular cut of the stone is unreasonable, but it depends on what was the reason for the first one.

Thanks for the reply. First off, (this shows how little I know about this stuff) I just realized that the stone does in fact have an octagonal table. I grabbed the first decent image of a table I could find on Google, not considering it might be incorrect.

I have redone the red area to reflect the octagonal shape...it still sits over an image of a stone with a pentagonal table, but you get the idea.

The first time I sent it back, the culet was not centered in the "basket", and thus the table was slightly sloped...the whole stone was tipped up to one side. Also the girdle peeked out from one side of the prongs, but not the other. One prong stuck up way higher than the other 3 when viewed from a side. The girdle was not properly set into the seat of one of the prongs. Two of the prongs had large noticeable puddles of unpolished flux that had spread onto the diamond surface. There were bits of black polishing compound or some other kind of debris sitting in the base of the "basket". And the inside of the basket was not polished.

rkny

 

[Lula]

My husband is a graphic designer -- this would bother him a lot. Is it a picky detail, sure, I suppose, but you''re paying for it and it should look good to your eye. I have noticed that the pictures of the rings posted on the Show me the Ring forum are typically set in a way that shows off the arrows.

But if you''re ready to give the ring to your gf, you might want to wait until you give it to your girlfriend first to double-check on sizing, and if it needs to be re-sized they could rotate the stone then...just a thought...she may not notice or care about the rotation and you may decide it doesn''t bother you as much either.

 

[AprilBaby]

I am ridiculously symmetrical so that would drive me NUTS. I would just get it done right so I didn''t have to think about it again.

 

[swingirl]

It would bother me too. It seems many people don''t care or notice this detail but if you are an artist, engineer or detail-oriented person it seems "off". I would want it rotated. I have learned from my time on PS to always request the symmetry from a setter, just in case they don''t automatically do it.

 

[DiamondExpert]

No, you are not being too picky! This is a factor which I always consider when my bench jewler sets a stone...even with melee...all the star facets should be oriented in the same direction...

...unless the client doesn''t care.