craftmanship issue? uneven prongs? please help!

[huangt0n]

I recently received my engagement ring. The prongs were handcrafted because there is pave work on each of the four prongs. I think the diamond head from the profile view actually looks like it is done well (I don''t have a loop (sp??) so I am judging from normal eye view), however from the top view, I feel that the prongs are bulky and they look uneven. When I picked up my ring from the jeweler, I never mentioned anything because I did not want to offend anyone. She said that the maker did a great job. However, the more I look at it... the more I notice it. I really do enjoy my ring, but I do not know if it is really unnoticeable and I am just being picky. Are the prongs this way because it was handcrafted? Do the prongs appear this thick because of the pave work on the side?

My ring does sparkle alot more then the pictures shows. I can''t seem to take good pictures. I really really appreciate any advice... I haven''t told my fiancee about this yet. I did ask him what he thought, but never expressed how much it bothers me.

 

[huangt0n]

another one

 

[huangt0n]

3rd one

 

[huangt0n]

last one

 

[March-8-2008]

Hello there! Did Bock make this ring for you? I remember you were asking about Bock in another post but can't remember if they were making your engagement ring, your wedding band, or both.

The important thing here is to make sure the ring is perfect to YOU. If it bothers you, get it fixed. I suspect the more you look at the prongs, the more the lack of symmetry will bother you. Over time, it's going to become more apparent to you rather than less.

The design of your ring is GORGEOUS... but I think I see the same asymmetry that you do. Is it that the prongs at 10 and 2 (like the hours on a clock face) are spaced too far apart? (I'm referring to your third picture.)

 

[huangt0n]

Yes. This is the one that Bock made. Would it be hard to fix the asymmetry issue? Also are the prongs bulky because of the pave work on the side so the bulkiness would have to stay?

 

[March-8-2008]

Someone more knowledgeable than I will have to answer the prong-thinning question. I don''t know much about benchwork and whether shaving/thinning the prongs would compromise the structural integrity of your ring.

Sorry!

SURELY, though, they can fix the prong symmetry issue. That''s just not right! You should have the simple pleasure of looking at your ring and seeing PERFECTION, not issues that bug you.

 

[denverappraiser]

The symmetry shouldn’t be a big problem but I can’t see enough in the pictures to really tell. Talk to your jeweler about it. The pave and the way it’s done makes it that they can’t really shave down the prongs much in the areas around the prongs but they may be able to reshape the tips a bit to reduce the bulky appearance from the top view. Maybe more of a 'claw' shape rather than a ball. As with the above, talk with your jeweler about it.

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

 

[huangt0n]

Thanks for the response. I was able to show pictures to my jeweler, but since we were in different cities, I could not really explain the issue and point it out to her. My jeweler said that they would try to file down the prongs to make it look more symmetrical. I would be able to wait in the store for the whole process to be complete. Given that it would not take a long time, would this solution really fix the symmetrical issue? It seems that you would need to change the placement of the prong from the bottom? Your help is much appreciated!

 

[oldminer]

From the top view I was going to say the prongs looked rather wide and sort of clumsy in proportion to the diamond, but once I saw these prongs were pave' I understood why they were heavy. The angle of the ring to the camera lens may be accentuating the amount they are off from perfect placement at 90 degrees from one another and how they align at 45 degrees to the shank. It is difficult to say.

The prong tips could be more delicate, but you can't take away their needed strength or the fact that they are attached to pave' set parts below the diamond. I don't think it looks "bad". How long have you had it and what made you look at it this critically?

 

[huangt0n]

I''ve had the ring for about two weeks. I was looking for a ring that would very dainty and delicate given my thin fingers. I believe the top view of the prongs really take away from this effect. I would prefer to have more of a "claw" look to it, but I got the impression that the jeweler would not want to do this because they already made the custom pave head. Any recommendations on the next approach? Be satisfied with the filing they suggested? Thanks so much for the comments... it''s really stressing me out because I am not as knowledgeable as a jeweler but I would like to be 100% comfortable with my ring.

 

[oldminer]

The issue of "custom" and what it really means comes to my mind. Custom should mean somewhat unique and made according to your design and instructions. What you have now would have been part of the design since there is no getting thin prongs out of pave'' ones.
A delicate prong line is accomplished without any pave'' set in it easily, but not any way with diamonds set into the wires. The wires need to broad enough to be sucure and have strength. SOm uhc metal is removed in order to hold the tiny diamonds that extra width is mandatory.

No one sees the pave'' prongs when you wear the ring. Maybe you''d be happier with a regular, die struck 4 prong setting which will be delicate, and totally symmetrical so long as the stone is set carefully. Was that ever suggested as an alternative? You might like the look better and the pave'' head could be removed and replaced with a plain one.

 

[huangt0n]

I wanted the pave on the prongs just to make the ring more unique because many girls often choose this style. However, I was not informed by the jeweler that I would have the affect of the larger prongs from the top view. I requested to see a CAD design of some sort, however she kept assuring me that the people making the ring are artists and to not worry about anything. My fiancee and I paid about $700 extra for this special diamond head. Do you think it is worth it? I think I would prefer to keep it if they can make it less bulky from the top view.

I know the claw look can be done (see attachment from a ring I found on PS). However, I am getting the impression from my jeweler that they would not redo the prongs, just file them done to make it look slightly. Any advice?