Expert advice needed - My jeweler chipped my Blue Zircon

[zhuzhu]

I need experts here advising me on what I should do with a sensitive situation.

I purchased a beautiful Blue Zircon from a gem dealer, and immediate took it to my jeweler to have him set it into a platinum mounting I have. This was not done only on the same day, but also within the same building. Two weeks later I picked it up and discovered a chip on the edge of the table. This is most likely a result of tool slipping off and touched/chipped the table edge.

I left the ring with my appraiser right after I picked it up, and he called me to tell me about the chip. There is a pretty obvious explanation because the stone went from the gem dealer to me to the jeweler, all in one day and within 10 minutes, and when I picked up the ring it went directly into appraiser''s hand. So in essence I have never had the stone/ring outiside that building.

I am concerned because I know my jeweler does not have insurance, and I know the gem dealer did not sell me a chipped stone.

What are the things I can do next to get the stone fixed and redone to the shape it SHOULD be in???

Please Advise.

 

[denverappraiser]

Sorry to hear of your damage.

Start by going back and talking to the jeweler. Zircon is fragile as hell but that still doesn’t mean that they should be breaking things. Ask them what their breakage policy is. Some will cover the damages caused while in their shop and some won’t. Since you didn’t discuss the matter before you ordered the work, you’re sort of at their mercy at this point so be nice. You’ll catch more flies with honey …..blah blah blah.

To do the repair, talk to the gem dealer. He probably has connections with a lapidary who can do the work for you and you may be able to catch a break on the price because of the story. Depending on the extent of the damage it’s probably not going to be all that expensive but it’s necessary to pull and reset the stone to do it and this exposes you to the risk of further damage. As I said, zircon is extremely fragile stuff. Did either the dealer or the jeweler discuss this with you before you decided to put it into a ring?

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

 

[Modified Brilliant]

Sorry to hear about your blue zircon. Hopefully the jeweler who set the stone was aware that
blue zircon is hard but can be brittle. I''ve seen many blue zircons over the years and many have surface
abrasions and pit marks. If yours was in good condition at the outset, then your jeweler would have to
have it removed from the setting and repolished by a lapidary to remove any subsequent damage.
It wouldn''t hurt to have a discussion with your jeweler about replacing or repolishing the gemstone.
Good luck.

Jeff Averbook,GG
Graduate Gemologist since 1986

www.metrojewelryappraisers.com

 

[Modified Brilliant]

Looks like Neil and I were answering at the same time!!

Great minds think alike

 

[zhuzhu]

Thank you to the two great minds above

I heard from my appraiser that polishing it up is about $20, and I will lose a few points on the stone. In this case when I have no fault in the incidence who should I ask to pay for the cost?

 

[denverappraiser]

It’ll depend on the jewelers damage policy. In most cases, you get to pay. Hopefully you won’t need to pay for the pull and resetting as well. $20 is getting out of this cheap.

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

 

[marcy]

Sorry to hear about your zircon. I had a jeweler damage my emerald and they wouldn''t do a thing to help me fix it. I hope they pay the $20 to get it repolished. It sure irritates me when they don''t even bother to tell you they damaged your gemstone.