kokopelli75
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2003
- Messages
- 2
I wanted to put out there my recent experience with Dirtcheapdiamonds.com.
I searched for a few months for the perfect ring for my fiance, probably browsed some few thousand designs. A friend of mine bought a ring from DCD, and said he had a good experience. Seeing the prices they offered, I thought I'd go the same route.
And so it began... I wanted a ring design I found at another site, a swirling platinum design with a round brilliant. I was promised the ring in 2 weeks, and after almost 6 weeks finally called Jim (DCD's president) to find out what was going on. I was told that the jeweler had some issues with the design of my ring and had to make it more than once, and that I should contact him directly. The jeweler was completely unresponsive and did not return my calls, or take my calls when we was in the office.
When I finally got the ring after 6 weeks, it looked pretty good, but had some flaws in workmanship that I did not expect from a professional jeweler. There were rough edges, bad polishing in some areas, and the ring in general wasn't symmetric. After a few weeks I was able to schedule an appointment with an appraiser. I found out there, that the ring was not platinum (for which I paid), but actually white gold! The stone was also loosely set.
I contacted Jim immediately, obviously upset with this revelation. He quickly suggested a solution, that I send the ring back to be re-molded in platinum. A week later I got a new ring, this time in platinum, but with the same flaws in workmanship. There are obvious seams and rough edges visible, after being told the jeweler said he got it perfect this time. I was also told by Jim that I would get a free appraisal sent with the ring - I never got this.
Conclusion: If you do choose to go with DCD, I DO NOT recommend using his jeweler. DCD's responsiveness is good, their prices are good, but their jeweler is poor in both quality and customer service. I would recommend if you go with DCD, to think about getting only the loose stone, and the ring elsewhere.
Good luck.
(see updates below)
I searched for a few months for the perfect ring for my fiance, probably browsed some few thousand designs. A friend of mine bought a ring from DCD, and said he had a good experience. Seeing the prices they offered, I thought I'd go the same route.
And so it began... I wanted a ring design I found at another site, a swirling platinum design with a round brilliant. I was promised the ring in 2 weeks, and after almost 6 weeks finally called Jim (DCD's president) to find out what was going on. I was told that the jeweler had some issues with the design of my ring and had to make it more than once, and that I should contact him directly. The jeweler was completely unresponsive and did not return my calls, or take my calls when we was in the office.
When I finally got the ring after 6 weeks, it looked pretty good, but had some flaws in workmanship that I did not expect from a professional jeweler. There were rough edges, bad polishing in some areas, and the ring in general wasn't symmetric. After a few weeks I was able to schedule an appointment with an appraiser. I found out there, that the ring was not platinum (for which I paid), but actually white gold! The stone was also loosely set.
I contacted Jim immediately, obviously upset with this revelation. He quickly suggested a solution, that I send the ring back to be re-molded in platinum. A week later I got a new ring, this time in platinum, but with the same flaws in workmanship. There are obvious seams and rough edges visible, after being told the jeweler said he got it perfect this time. I was also told by Jim that I would get a free appraisal sent with the ring - I never got this.
Conclusion: If you do choose to go with DCD, I DO NOT recommend using his jeweler. DCD's responsiveness is good, their prices are good, but their jeweler is poor in both quality and customer service. I would recommend if you go with DCD, to think about getting only the loose stone, and the ring elsewhere.
Good luck.
(see updates below)
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