Band ISSUE- Opinions needed!! (Especially jeweler)

[Ahope2277]

Hi everyone! I''ve lurk here a lot but I have an issue to post about now! I''ve been dealing with this since January, but now it''s all coming to a head. My fiancee and I bought a beatiful ring from a local jeweler and received it around Christmas. About a week later, a side diamond fell out. We took it back and they sent it to the manufacturer to be fixed and all the stones to be checked. I was very happy with the service I had received up until about that time. When we got the ring back, it looked funny. (I will post two side pictures). The replaced diamond seemed to be set lower and the beads appeared flatter or lower. The diamond also looked smalled than the rest. Also there were two large scratches underneath the head. We were NOT happy with this and asked it to be fixed so that it looked as it was. The jeweler told us nothing was wrong with it. He offered to take back the ring but I really liked my setting and wanted to keep it. He reluctantly said he would would send it back to the manufacturer in good faith to us. Well, it was gone for THREE weeks, no one ever communicated anything to us about it, AND it was untouched when it was returned to us (by mail- the jeweler is 2 hours away).

Needless to say, we were furious. We asked if for the refund but he said he needed to "crunch his numbers" to figure out his loss. A week later, he called and offered us $1000 for the $1700 setting. We will NOT be taking that offer. So we have been taking this ring to other jewelers to see if this side issue can be fixed. Thus far, we have been told it would be a very diffcult fix if even possible at all. I am no jeweler, but I''m baffled as to how this is completely unfixable. Could I get some opinions, especially from the jewelers on here if there is anything that can be done?? Or do I have to just live with it?

Thanks in advance!
Andrea

 

[Dee*Jay]

Can you post any pictures?

If you want the same setting I would require that the jeweler get you a complete new one from the designer.

 

[Ahope2277]

If I attached the correctly, this is the UNTOUCHED side.

 

[Ahope2277]

This is the "fixed" side

 

[Ahope2277]

You can see the scratch under the head. Also the last diamond was the replaced one (like I even need to say that!)

I don''t think a remake is possible without a HUGE fight: A. This jeweler is not a nice man nor has he been good to work with (his assistant was the helpful one) and B. He is INSISTING there is nothing wrong with it and we can''t find another jeweler to say that it''s an issue OUTSIDE an acceptable range. I don''t know how to argue that.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I hate to say it, but I''ll bet 90% of jewelry won''t stand up to that level of magnification. Can you see this without magnification? Can you take a picture of the ring on your hand so we can see if we can see the problem at a greater distance?

 

[Ahope2277]

I will when FI gets home (he is better at it)

Yes it is visible by the naked eye. I can hide it on my finger by wearing it on the inside, but as soon as it's off, you can easily see it. It makes the ring look misshapen.

 

[Ahope2277]

Here is a pic with my awful camera. It's more of a realistic view though. Am I being too picky??

 

[lisa1.01fvs1]

I am having a hard time making out what are the problem areas?

Under the head/scratch? and the sides are not even?

Hard to tell w/ the pics.

 

[Kaleigh]

How about a head on shot, not one from the side... From these pics, I can''t see where the problem is.

 

[Ahope2277]

This might be bothering me more than it should BECAUSE it looked perfect for only the first 5 days I had it. Maybe if it had been a year or even a MONTH.

 

[Ahope2277]

The problem is really only visible from the side, as the two sets of beads are almost flattened. When looking at it any other way, it''s hard to see. I guess I just expected the ring to look good from ALL angles, not just on my finger.

 

[Kaleigh]

I see it now, I would ask for a new setting at this point. But worry about the manufacturer''s skills. As in, if this happens again, they can''t fix their own rings properly? Hoping an expert chimes in.

 

[lisa1.01fvs1]

OK now I see what you''re saying about the sides.

Definitely get it fixed by whomever can do it!

I know that w/ my OCD it would bother me constantly to know it is screwed up!

What does your return/service policy state?

Can you talk to corporate about it? I would go over the SA & manager''s heads on this.

my 2 pennies.

 

[mrssalvo]

what is the store''s refund policy?

honestly, something like that would drive me nuts but i am overly super picky. who is the maker of the ring? is it a designer?

 

[Ahope2277]

The owner of the store offered to return it and give us $1000 (we paid $1700). He is NOT a nice man, and is charging us for a $150 new head (to resell), $100 for the labor to put said head on, $300 for "depreciation", and $150 b/c he has to sell it as a "used" ring. I just don't think that's acceptable. I've only had it in MY posession for about a month TOPS. Also, I really don't think it's an option to have it remade b/c the owner of the store is insisting there is NO problem and we cannot find an outside jeweler that WANTS to fix it (we've taken it for estimates at 3 different places). I'm at a complete loss. I'm driving FI crazy but we just don't know what to do.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Can you contact the manufacturer directly and explain the situation? Maybe if they knew you were getting the run around they would intervene in some way since it is their merchandise/brand that at the center of this?

 

[Ahope2277]

I cannot for the life of me find ANY contact info for the manufacturer. It''s written as "OD Custom" Jewelry on our paper for insurance. Anybody know anything?