Crooked Bezel

[Kimmy]

I recently inherited an approximately 1.25ct pear shaped stone. It belonged to my great-grandmother so it's not perfect, but has nice sentimental value. I worked with a local vendor to have the stone set in a platinum bezel slide. I had seen the vendors work and was impressed. The stone was originally in another setting so I did not closely examine before it was bezeled. The CAD looked great, but I've received my pendant back and I'm having mixed feelings. The bezel looks crooked! The jeweler says that this is due to the shape of the actual stone, but I would have thought that a bezel would be able to disguise some asymmetry. The jeweler says that they can play with the bezel a little, but that I will have gapping in some areas. I'm concerned that it will end up looking worse. Am I just being overly critical?

Please forgive the terrible quality of the photos. I'd really appreciate your thoughts.

 

[lknvrb4]

To my eye, it looks like he followed the shape of your pear. I am guessing he had to in order to make sure your stone was secure.

 

[chrono]

To my eye, it looks like he followed the shape of your pear. I am guessing he had to in order to make sure your stone was secure.

I think so too. Hard to tell since we never got to see the pear loose.

 

[Missy]

I agree with lknvrb4 and Chrono and think from your pics that it is organic and pretty but of course you have to be pleased with how it looks. Do you have any close up pics showing the details more clearly?

 

[momhappy]

It's really tough to tell from those pics, but it doesn't look obviously flawed to me. As others have said, it looks like the bezel follows the shape of the stone, so some inconsistency is inevitable for a tight/proper fit.

 

[liaerfbv]

My e-ring is bezeled and my stone old and wonky, aka is not symmetrical - the bezel is not perfect. It can't be. It looks great the way it is.

 

[marymm]

It does look crooked - whether it is a manufacturing defect or if it actually follows the shape of your particular stone, we cannot know. Was the prior setting a bezel or prongs? Either way, I would have thought you'd have noticed if the pear-shape was not symmetrical... and, even if you did not, for sure I would have thought the jeweler would have contacted you once the pear diamond was loose, to advise/discuss the wonky pear shape *before* completing the new bezel setting.

 

[Kimmy]

It does look crooked - whether it is a manufacturing defect or if it actually follows the shape of your particular stone, we cannot know. Was the prior setting a bezel or prongs? Either way, I would have thought you'd have noticed if the pear-shape was not symmetrical... and, even if you did not, for sure I would have thought the jeweler would have contacted you once the pear diamond was loose, to advise/discuss the wonky pear shape *before* completing the new bezel setting.

Thank you all for your feedback!

The stone was last prong set with a halo of gold rope, but the original setting was a platinum bezel. I would have thought that in the prong setting I would have noticed such asymmetry. I think I am most surprised that the jeweler didn't consult me. The jeweler called to let me know about a small scratch on the tip that I was unaware of. I love the pendant overall, but the shape is irritating me. I was not prepared for it to look so wonky. If the stone truly is quite uneven, I'm surprised that the jeweler was not able to use a little more material or maneuver things to at least give the illusion of some symmetry.

Should I just live with it or try to have it corrected?

Here are some more pictures. My camera is broken so I'm trying to work with my phone.

 

[kelmel]

I'm not sure if a bezel setting is the best option for this stone. The stone's shape may have dictated the shape of the bezel outline. It is noticeable to me. If you think seeing it daily is going to bother you, I would choose another setting. Speaking from experience, sometimes when jewelers try to "tweak" existing settings, they end up looking worse.

 

[Kimmy]

I'm not sure if a bezel setting is the best option for this stone. The stone's shape may have dictated the shape of the bezel outline. It is noticeable to me. If you think seeing it daily is going to bother you, I would choose another setting. Speaking from experience, sometimes when jewelers try to "tweak" existing settings, they end up looking worse.

Like you said, I'm worried that if the jeweler tries to "tweak" it I'll end up with something looking worse. I wish the jeweler had consulted me before completing the bezel. The price ended up coming in at twice the original quote. I've already spent a pretty penny on this custom platinum bezel and I don't have it in my budget to get another setting. Had I been aware of how lopsided my bezel would be, I might have opted for another style. I don't know what to do at this point

 

[Kimmy]

I'm still having mixed feelings. The pendant is growing on me, but I'm still a bit disappointed. The original pictures I showed the jeweler had a thicker bezel. The jeweler chose to go thinner because they thought it was daintier, but I think a thicker bezel would have disguised the asymmetry. The jeweler is going to get in touch in a couple of days to see what I want to do.

Should I just live with it and learn to enjoy the imperfections?
Do you like the thin bezel or would a thicker bezel be preferable?

 

[swingirl]

To my eye it looks like the point of the stone and the point of the setting is not aligned. That would bother me and it seems the jeweler could have made the points line up. However, I am not a jeweler so that might not have been possible. Why was the cost so much higher than your original quote?

 

[MollyMalone]

Would you clarify something, Kimmy: do the photos of a bezeled pear mounted on a yellow gold base depict your stone in its original incarnation as a pendant, or are they pics of another piece altogether which you included for our consideration of the question of a thicker bezel?

 

[Missy]

I'm still having mixed feelings. The pendant is growing on me, but I'm still a bit disappointed. The original pictures I showed the jeweler had a thicker bezel. The jeweler chose to go thinner because they thought it was daintier, but I think a thicker bezel would have disguised the asymmetry. The jeweler is going to get in touch in a couple of days to see what I want to do.

Should I just live with it and learn to enjoy the imperfections?
Do you like the thin bezel or would a thicker bezel be preferable?

In my experience if something bothers you now it will probably not bother you less with time rather more so with time. If a thicker bezel is what you want and the jeweler thinks it will disguise the asymmetry better that might be a good option for the setting. Speak with your jeweler and see what they think. But I don't think learning to live with it as it is now is a great alternative just because I find these things tend to bother us more with time. Wishing you a successful resolution so you can get down to the business of enjoying your lovely new bling!

 

[Kimmy]

To my eye it looks like the point of the stone and the point of the setting is not aligned. That would bother me and it seems the jeweler could have made the points line up. However, I am not a jeweler so that might not have been possible. Why was the cost so much higher than your original quote?

It seems this way to me too. The jewelers first gave me a quote which I agreed to. After meeting with their bench jeweler and unsetting my stone they told me that they were incorrect and that the price would be double their original estimate. They already had my stone and their price wasn't crazy so I agreed. However, it left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. At double their original estimate, I expected flawless work.

Would you clarify something, Kimmy: do the photos of a bezeled pear mounted on a yellow gold base depict your stone in its original incarnation as a pendant, or are they pics of another piece altogether which you included for our consideration of the question of a thicker bezel?

I don't know what you mean. All of the photos are of the same stone in the same setting. It is a platinum setting, but perhaps my poor photos showed some yellow cast? I have a attached a few with better lighting.

In my experience if something bothers you now it will probably not bother you less with time rather more so with time. If a thicker bezel is what you want and the jeweler thinks it will disguise the asymmetry better that might be a good option for the setting. Speak with your jeweler and see what they think. But I don't think learning to live with it as it is now is a great alternative just because I find these things tend to bother us more with time. Wishing you a successful resolution so you can get down to the business of enjoying your lovely new bling!

Yes, I'm worried it will continue to bother me. The jeweler does not advise a thicker bezel, that is just my thought. In fact ,the jeweler feels that manipulating the existing bezel so that there is gapping would be preferable to adding to the bezel. I do not want gaps. I'm worried that if they mess with things it will end up looking worse. I really don't want to spend more money on a setting. I can live with what I have now.

 

[junebug17]

Hi Kimmy, sorry about this, I know it's disappointing to be excited about a piece and then not completely love it - but FWIW, I really can't detect any glaring issues with the pendant - if I stare at the up-close pic, I can see a subtle asymmetry but on your shots from further away and the neck shot I can't notice it. I also think it looks good in that last batch of pics. I don't know, I'd probably just wear it and enjoy it. I think I would prefer the way it looks now rather than have a gap. It does look beautiful on you. I love pears as pendants. This is just my 2 cents, ymmv.

 

[MollyMalone]

Would you clarify something, Kimmy: do the photos of a bezeled pear mounted on a yellow gold base depict your stone in its original incarnation as a pendant, or are they pics of another piece altogether which you included for our consideration of the question of a thicker bezel?

I don't know what you mean. All of the photos are of the same stone in the same setting. It is a platinum setting, but perhaps my poor photos showed some yellow cast? I have a attached a few with better lighting.

I have no idea why the weird discrepancy in what's showing on my screen: the 2nd photo in your first posting & the last 2 pics in your second posting with photographs don't depict a delicately bezeled slide, but rather a crudely bezeled (with tarnish) pear mounted on a pendant base with triangular carvings, so that's why I asked.

I like the slide, but my opinion isn't what matters most. I am wondering, though, if some tweaking of the back so the slide rests on the chain (and therefore "sits") a smidgen differently might be easily accomplished & make it more pleasing to you?

 

[Kimmy]

Would you clarify something, Kimmy: do the photos of a bezeled pear mounted on a yellow gold base depict your stone in its original incarnation as a pendant, or are they pics of another piece altogether which you included for our consideration of the question of a thicker bezel?

I don't know what you mean. All of the photos are of the same stone in the same setting. It is a platinum setting, but perhaps my poor photos showed some yellow cast? I have a attached a few with better lighting.

I have no idea why the weird discrepancy in what's showing on my screen: the 2nd photo in your first posting & the last 2 pics in your second posting with photographs don't depict a delicately bezeled slide, but rather a crudely bezeled (with tarnish) pear mounted on a pendant base with triangular carvings, so that's why I asked.

I like the slide, but my opinion isn't what matters most. I am wondering, though, if some tweaking of the back so it rests on the chain (and therefore "sits") a smidgen differently might be easily accomplished & make it more pleasing to you?

Ohhhhhh I understand what you're talking about. Those photos are of the back of the pendant. I'm sorry that I wasn't more clear. There is no tarnish, just a cell phone camera and poor lighting. I like how it sits, my issue with with the actual asymmetry of the bezel. I'm getting more and more used to it. I think I might need to just accept what I have now and learn to love it.

The attached photo is what I had pictured, so I was surprised with what I received. The thin bezel does look nice on my neck, but I wasn't expecting something dainty and asymmetrical. I was expecting something even and a little more substantial.

 

[Kimmy]

Hi Kimmy, sorry about this, I know it's disappointing to be excited about a piece and then not completely love it - but FWIW, I really can't detect any glaring issues with the pendant - if I stare at the up-close pic, I can see a subtle asymmetry but on your shots from further away and the neck shot I can't notice it. I also think it looks good in that last batch of pics. I don't know, I'd probably just wear it and enjoy it. I think I would prefer the way it looks now rather than have a gap. It does look beautiful on you. I love pears as pendants. This is just my 2 cents, ymmv.

This made me feel better. It is a beautiful pendant and the stone in special. I was just surprised when I received it. I'm probably being overly critical. This process has been a bit of an up and down with the price changes and such.