Being deceived... (jewelry store, again)

[that_someone_special]

OK, so since most of my quotes were in a range that I was not comfortable with spending right now (well the setting, plus shipping plus setting the stone, plus this, plus that) I stopped into one more jewelry store tonight. I LOVE this store. They are so nice!

I again, asked about fixing the prongs, since I figured this place would be cheaper (or average, compared to the high-end one I went to yesterday). Long story short, the last place that fixed my ring (and the time before that) instead of tipping the prongs with platinum tipped it in white gold (even though I paid for platinum). I mean WTH

The weird thing is that last August when I got the ring back from getting the shank and prongs fixed it was SUPER white and very shiny. In the last year, the prongs have become misshaped and weird and unsafe.. Oh, and yellowish. I told my fiance several times that they look like gold but didn't follow my gut instinct because, I mean, WHO would deceive their customers like that?

Last August I had 4 or 6 of the prongs fixed (out of 8..), I can't remember. Thing is.. ALL of the prongs had gold, which means they did this the time before when it was brought in when my grandma still had it. It has only been brought in twice, ever, and both to the same place.

The other thing? All of the prongs were rhodium plated to cover the yellowish tinge. So, it's not like "WHOOPS" we didn't even notice.

I am SOOO SOOO SOOO mad. And upset. And sad. I feel like every fricken person out there is scamming people.. I mean.. who can you trust anymore? (ok, I'm being dramatic, I know.)

Arg.

So the jeweler and I had a good chat, and due to what was done to the ring before, he suggested just replacing the entire setting, which I wanted to do anyways, but now I know a temporary fix won't be good right now. It is hanging by it's last bit of mooshy gold on top

I found 3 settings I liked. Two solitares and one 3 stone. If I do solitaire, I am moving the side stones to studs for the time being. I REALLY want to go with a certain online vendor but the shipping cost is turning me off. I think I have found some nice temporary settings for now. It's not that I am opposed to an $1000-$1600 setting, but I have new kitchen appliances being installed next week, and the wedding is next month... so...

I am just mad. Thank you for reading this.

 

[sphenequeen]

Hi Bean,

I am sorry that you feel like you have been deceived .

I went in to have prongs re-tipped and a very knowledgeable salesperson explained to me that they cannot simply "retip" a prong in platinum because the melting point is too high and they can burn the diamond. The process with white gold is much simpler and the melting point much lower, thus it is the method used most often.

If you want the prongs to be built up, I believe they have to remove the stone, add the platinum, and then reset. I imagine that the salesperson was not aware of this as they were not doing the work - this is no excuse, but can be a reason for the mix up.

 

[that_someone_special]

Ahh.. that is a very good explanation! I see why or how that could happen, but they did tell me it would be platinum, and I paid for that

I feel like 3% better now since they did it for a reason instead of just to be jerks.

 

[sphenequeen]

I am sorry you paid for platinum and they gave you white gold. Did they offer to refund you the difference? What was the price difference for platinum, or did she just tell you it would be in platinum when in fact she (the salesperson) did not know the job would be in white gold?

Hmmmmm... These are the situations that make us chose which businesses we become loyal to!