Appraisers and Experts Help Pls! - prong dilemma

[echelon6]

I just received my ring and noticed one of the prong tips is not touching the crown facets like the rest. All other prong tips snugly touch the crown facets except this one, and I worry that might snag on fabric. In any case, I''d like to get this fixed as it bugs me, and was hoping for an opinion from the experts regarding how safe and feasible it is to fix this problem.

The pic I attached below is a collage of the same prong, taken from both sides. As you can see, it is slightly not touching the crown facet. My questions are:

1) Are there any risks involved with fixing this?
2) Will the force of pushing it down transfer onto other prongs and warp the whole head?
3) Is there a risk of cracking / chipping the diamond?

For reference, mine is a Mark Morrell Flame setting.

Keep in mind, now, that I only have access to LOCAL JEWELERS in my area, and I feel that the par skill level of jewelers in my area is much lower than that of the US (not to mention Mark). I''m worried about handing over my ring to an average skilled jeweler to fix this problem as I don''t want to risk the current state of my ring - its currently perfectly symmetrical and just the way I want it. If this job seems "hard" or bears high risks to the ring''s current structural symmetry, then I might just live with the loose prong.


Please provide your input, I greatly appreciate any help!

 

[denverappraiser]

Did Mark set this? If so, call him and discuss it. If not, who did?

Although your pictures are fabulous, I still can’t tell an important detail, specifically the shape of the top part of the prong. In most cases this is straight, not with the little protrusion that you show in your picture. The solution will be different depending on the answer to this question and the difference is important to the answer of your first question about the safety and effectiveness of simply pushing on the prong. In either case it’s not a very difficult job but there’s no way for us to estimate the skills of your local jeweler.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[echelon6]

Hi Neil

Yes, Mark set this. I''m currently waiting for his email reply but the more opinions the better.

After very close examination with my 10x loupe, I''ve concluded that the slight protrusion you point out is present, but the prong sort of curves away from contact. i.e. it makes contact initially, then ever so slightly curves away. The curvature from my diagram is a slight exaggeration of the true curvature.

-What difference would it make regarding the risks and method used to fix this?
-Also is there a risk of deforming the heard-prong head when the jeweler presses down on it?

Thanks

 

[denverappraiser]

When you press on the tip of a prong, where it bends is right at the girdle line. Pushing the tip all the way down to touch the crown causes a pinching action between the portion that’s supporting the pavilion and the little lump we’re talking about. Jewelers have a very small saw that they can get in there with and saw off that lump so that the portion laying against the crown is flat. You can even do it with a little piece of sandpaper that slips between the stone and the prong. I’m not going to take the time to draw a picture but if you take yours and ‘bend’ the prong a few degrees right at the girdle plane you’ll see what I mean. It’s not all that hard to do but I suspect Mark would rather do it himself than to trust an unknown and possibly unqualified jeweler to do it on his behalf.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Jewelry Appraisals in Denver

 

[echelon6]

Thanks Neil. Unfortunately shipping to and from the US costs about $150 USD per way - $300 round trip, so shipping it back to Mark is not really a feasible option.

I''m going to have to find a local jeweler I''m afraid...

Would the tool used to push the prong down cause deformation on the heart-prong tip?

 

[echelon6]

bump

 

[strmrdr]

run it gently over a lose woven sweater.. does it snag?
if no then don''t worry about it there is plenty of meat holding the stone.

 

[echelon6]

It wouldn''t snag, but over time it might deteriorate. Also seeing as how this is the only imperfection in my ring (that I can find), I''d like to do everything I can to fix it. Its like the first scratch on your dream car. If it was a scratch on an 8 yr old car with a few dings here and there already, then I wouldn''t mind. Same analogy

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 11/14/2007 1:30:30 AM
Author: echelon6
It wouldn''t snag, but over time it might deteriorate. Also seeing as how this is the only imperfection in my ring (that I can find), I''d like to do everything I can to fix it. Its like the first scratch on your dream car. If it was a scratch on an 8 yr old car with a few dings here and there already, then I wouldn''t mind. Same analogy

bite the bullet and send it too Mark then, no way id let anyone else touch one of his rings when new.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 11/14/2007 1:34:17 AM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 11/14/2007 1:30:30 AM
Author: echelon6
It wouldn''t snag, but over time it might deteriorate. Also seeing as how this is the only imperfection in my ring (that I can find), I''d like to do everything I can to fix it. Its like the first scratch on your dream car. If it was a scratch on an 8 yr old car with a few dings here and there already, then I wouldn''t mind. Same analogy

bite the bullet and send it too Mark then, no way id let anyone else touch one of his rings when new.

Yup, totally agree.

 

[echelon6]

I''m not made of $300 dollar notes. Sad but true.

Also not to mention all the paperwork I''ll have to fill out to dodge the duties I''ll be slapped with prima facie. So sending it back is currently not a realistic option.

 

[denverappraiser]

I would would be very nervous to use a local jeweler for this unless Mark is involved in hiring them. You went through a fair amount of trouble to get a piece that is 100% MM original and this is what you're messing with by taking it somewhere else. I would not take this step lightly. It will only deteriorate if the stone is moving in the setting. He may know someone in your neighborhood that he trusts. If Mark doesn't have a solution that works for you, I agree with Storm that you should either live with it or be prepared to ship it back to him. Does he sell his work through dealers or only directly? If so, does he have a dealer anywhere in your country that you can ship to without needing to deal with customs and such? If you want to find someone, go visit their store with your loupe in and and inspect their work using the same standards that you’re applyling here. There are jewelers out there with the skills and patience that you are asking for but they’re fairly unusual. Very few jewelers hold themselves to a standard that pieces must be perfect under 10x, even among those who claim they do. If you find one, and they're willing to work for an acceptable price, remember them for your next project.

By the way, I found a good way to test for snagging is with a nylon stocking. They’re cheap, plentiful and will snag on darned near anything.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 11/14/2007 1:36:14 AM
Author: Kaleigh

Date: 11/14/2007 1:34:17 AM

Author: strmrdr

Date: 11/14/2007 1:30:30 AM

Author: echelon6

It wouldn''t snag, but over time it might deteriorate. Also seeing as how this is the only imperfection in my ring (that I can find), I''d like to do everything I can to fix it. Its like the first scratch on your dream car. If it was a scratch on an 8 yr old car with a few dings here and there already, then I wouldn''t mind. Same analogy

bite the bullet and send it too Mark then, no way id let anyone else touch one of his rings when new.

Yup, totally agree.

I agree. If it were me, I would also talk to Mark about covering some of if not all of the shipping costs since it really shouldn''t have been sent out to you like that to begin with.

 

[belle]

Date: 11/14/2007 7:26:55 AM
Author: mrssalvo

Date: 11/14/2007 1:36:14 AM
Author: Kaleigh

Date: 11/14/2007 1:34:17 AM

Author: strmrdr

Date: 11/14/2007 1:30:30 AM

Author: echelon6

It wouldn''t snag, but over time it might deteriorate. Also seeing as how this is the only imperfection in my ring (that I can find), I''d like to do everything I can to fix it. Its like the first scratch on your dream car. If it was a scratch on an 8 yr old car with a few dings here and there already, then I wouldn''t mind. Same analogy

bite the bullet and send it too Mark then, no way id let anyone else touch one of his rings when new.

Yup, totally agree.

I agree. If it were me, I would also talk to Mark about covering some of if not all of the shipping costs since it really shouldn''t have been sent out to you like that to begin with.

absolutely. i was actually thinking he should cover the entire amount but mrss is more generous than i.

 

[stebbo]

Date: 11/14/2007 7:26:55 AM
Author: mrssalvo


I agree. If it were me, I would also talk to Mark about covering some of if not all of the shipping costs since it really shouldn't have been sent out to you like that to begin with.

Unfortunately this is the sort of thing that make companies decide it's just not worth dealing internationally anymore.

Actually I didn't think Mark Morrell shipped straight to the customer anyway?

 

[echelon6]

I guess I'll have to look for a skilled local jeweler then since I'm definitely not shipping it back (too much hassle with insuring it on its way back since parcel pro doesn't do retail, and also all the paperwork to dodge customs)

It was shipped to WF before shipping to me. WF shipped it maybe 5 hrs after receiving it. Impressive but in situations like this, not appreciated. The sad thing is I actually pointed this out to Mark via email before he shipped it, but he must have missed my email and his assistant went ahead and shipped it. This detail was also missed by the independent appraiser WF hires.

If shipping back and forth was actually only $300 hassle free, I'd be willing to.

Sigh......

 

[echelon6]

Also wanted to add that Mark replied and told me to seek out a local jeweler, so I take it that he thinks this job can be done by someone else.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. Can I have some estimates on how much the job itself will cost, if done by a high caliber jeweler?