Last time I posted to show you my CAD design from a local jeweler. I got feedbacks from you all and passed it to my jeweler. When I was there, I saw a band that I like, so I told him to coordinate the design of the band to my ring. The salesperson/owner said yes.
The salesperson is one of the owners (2 owners). The other owner is the designer, but not working on my ring. There are other designers/goldsmiths work in the back room, and one of them designs my ring. Of course, everytime I come in, it''s the salesperson/owner I talk to, and he communicates back to his team.
The designer emailed that the band I like is very thin, and the stones I choose are big, can''t do it. He suggested to design something else for me to see. I said ok. He then sent me this CAD below. I concerned about the cut-outs on the shank are too deep (to me, it''s like 2/3 into the shank) and would like to keep the orig design. The head of 3 stones are fine. He emailed back that he will do the wax as-is, and if I think it''s too deep still, we will talk about it. I got a call to come in, but it''s not the wax to see, it''s the ring in raw metal, just put the stones in, polish and done. Yes, the cut-outs are too deep into the shank which I do not like, and there are other minor things (like the square shape of the shank, the weight of the setting) I do not like comparing to the sample ring he shows me, but these minor things didn''t write down on paper, more like verbal communication b/w me and the jeweler, so now when I refer to it, he seems like never heard of it before. He convinced me that once the stones are set, it will be nice, and the design looks fine to him. If it''s the wax, they will be more willing to change it, but since it''s almost a finished product, they try to convince me to accept it. I made a mistake to go ahead.
I picked up my ring, the diamonds are smaller than what we agreed on (the 3 stones are mine, the small stones on the shank are theirs, and we did write down the size of those). This time, the jeweler I usually dealt with is not there, but the other owner is there, who is also the designer (but not the one designs my ring), so he said he will put the bigger stones in. I raised the concern that the band might not fit for the bigger stones, he said it will be fine.
I came back to pick up my ring. It''s nicer. I forgo all other minor things then. I paid. Walk out to my car and see it in the day light, realize that the prongs on those small diamonds are poorly done. I think they use the saw to cut. The diamonds are overhang on the band. The prongs are forced to open up to fit the bigger stones. I came right back, he said it looks ok, he has been designing ring for so many years, blah blah blah... At one point, he said that if I am happy for no reason, he will give me money back. Nobody offers me to look at my diamonds or setting under microscope or whatever... They gave me their appraisal which has the info of my stones and their stones on there. I did fax them my certificates.
I made another mistake that I should have said OK, give me my money back. But I was busy digesting his saying that i am not happy for no reason, so I told him that I will take it home to think about it. I asked my friends and family to look, they kept saying "bigger stones are better right"... I mean, I would like bigger stones, that''s what I paid for, but it has to fit the setting. The setting is custom made to accomodate the stones, not the other way around, else I would just pick up any stock setting. They think I am too picky. Btw, the jeweler did know that I will make the bands to wear with this ring, I delay on it because I want to see what this first piece from them turn out to be ... so w/ the diamonds overhang, it will cut into the bands and chipped. Then my family said "but u will custom the bands anyway, they will work around it, don''t worry"... Why would i spend money to get custom piece after custom piece because the first one didn''t work well so the next one has to be customed to work around it, what if I decide to buy the stock bands? KWIM...
I am not a confrontational type (whatever it means), I am scared to go back and argue, not argue, but will be since the designer disagrees with me, and the salesperson/owner is more aggressive. I am thinking of getting an independent appraisal ($100), and if my concern is valid, I will bring it back to get my money to go somewhere... I guess I will tell them that i have the independent appraisal to back me up, is it going to offend them? Should I just simply return it and not get the appraisal? My SIL''s rings are still in work there, and she works with them because I brought her to their store in one of my visits, so I am afraid that they might take it on her rings, u know... I don''t know what to do... Btw, if the appraisal disagrees w/ me, I guess I have to lower my expection on custom work, or I have to understand that this is normal, educate myself... I mean, I am easy, that''s why I got pushed around.
Tell me what u think... Long email. I can''t take good picture of the actual ring to show you
