Few Qs about damaged setting

[Scrutinizer]

These questions all refer to a Scott Kay
1. Does anybody know if a smashed and sharp prong can be fixed by polishing it?
2. If an engraved ring has been damaged, can it be repaired or should it be sent to the designer?
3. Should the sizing be noticeable? I can see where he cut it and soldered it back together. The shank is thinner all the way around but especially thinner where he had cut it. And the size went from a 6.5 - 5.5.
4. When they size it do they have to do anything with the top stones that woudl have caused the prongs to be smashed and scratched?

Thank you so much! I have to go pick the ring up tomorrow and if he won''t give me my money back he''s going to have to replace the entire setting and send it to SK for the diamond to be set.

I''ve been waiting for this for many years and to experience this? I''m sad....

 

[msterling21]

I posted in your other thread. I personally would not deal with this seller any more especially if he refuses to give you a refund. If you can, file a complaint with the credit card company. Otherwise, I would just walk away from this dealer and go work with an "authorized" dealer so that they can get SK to fix this ring for you. It my cost you some extra money though but you''ll save yourself a lot of stress. Good luck.

 

[denverappraiser]

Boy do these seem like questions with a story behind them. I HIGHLY recommend immediately hiring an independent expert who can actually see the piece and can make an informed opinion.

1. Does anybody know if a smashed and sharp prong can be fixed by polishing it?

It depends on what the damage being described as ‘smashed’ is. Almost everything can be fixed but some are more work than others.

2. If an engraved ring has been damaged, can it be repaired or should it be sent to the designer?

Again, this will depend on the damage and also the skill of the repair person. There’s nothing about engraving that makes things unrepairable but it does make certain jobs more difficult. I don’t know about Scott Kay but some manufacturers also have warranties that are affected by who works on them. Sometimes this includes their authorized dealers and sometimes it doesn’t.

3. Should the sizing be noticeable? I can see where he cut it and soldered it back together. The shank is thinner all the way around but especially thinner where he had cut it.

No.

And the size went from a 6.5 - 5.5.

Presumably that was the point. No?

4. When they size it do they have to do anything with the top stones that would have caused the prongs to be smashed and scratched?

‘Smashed’ is a loaded word and it depends on what you mean. Sizing down will sometimes loosen up the stones because the shape of the ring is changing slightly and they need to be tightened. This in turn can leave tool marks on the prongs that will need to be removed.

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

 

[Scrutinizer]

Thank you very much for your response. By "smashed" I mean it almost looks like the top of the prong was hammered or pinched down to the top of the stone. Instead of the top of the prong being rounded, it is flat and pinched toward the very tip of the prong leaving a very sharp edge.

The reason I said it went from a size 6.5 - 5.5 was because the band looks thinner and I would think that this should or could only happen when sizing to a larger size. The bottom of the shank is very thin as if it has already been worn away.

I''m not sure if I was clear about the engraving....it is not custom engraving on the inside of the ring, it is all the way down both sides of the shank with only a small area at the bottom smooth. He swears that the shank is round but it''s clearly "flat" on one of the outside portions of the shank.

Again, thanks so much for your response. As you can tell, I''m not experienced with this at all.....but I''ve learned quite a bit in the last three weeks!

Kathryn

 

[denverappraiser]

1) Have it inspected and documented by an independent pro.
2) Call Scott Kay and ask them how they handle problems involving new merchandise and their authorized dealers (this is the case, correct?)

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

 

[Scrutinizer]

his authorization is questionable...he''s not listed on the Scott Kay site. I was able to squeeze the name of his rep out of him but of course he refused to give me his contact info. So I went on linkedin (social networking site) and found him and emailed him. We''ll see if he responds.....

 

[denverappraiser]

Date: 11/12/2008 1:50:23 PM
Author: Scrutinizer
his authorization is questionable...he's not listed on the Scott Kay site. I was able to squeeze the name of his rep out of him but of course he refused to give me his contact info. So I went on linkedin (social networking site) and found him and emailed him. We'll see if he responds.....

Did you buy it new? I would expect the SK website to be a pretty good source of who is, and who is not one of their representatives but I suppose there may be an error there. Have you asked the jeweler this question flat out (Are you a Scott Kay authorized retailer?) Most that I know have signs and such in their showrooms and are quite proud of this fact. I wouldn't expect this to be a difficult question.

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

 

[Scrutinizer]

I asked him flat out....he said he is and doesn''t know why he''s not listed on their website. He has the little signs in the jewelry case but that''s it. He never offered to show me the Scott Kay selection binder nor have I even seen one in his store and he doesn''t have anything listed on his website about carrying the designer or that he''s an authorized dealer. My suspect that he may have been an authorized retailer at some point but is not currently.

I can''t find a phone number for Scott Kay or I would call them directly....I''m going to continue looking.

 

[startech]

Scrutinizer, I found a number for Scott Kay so hopefully you can sort this out asap. Good luck!

Tel: 201-287-0100
Toll Free: 800-487-2724

 

[Scrutinizer]

Wonderful! Thank you so much! I''ll keep you posted as to the outcome....

 

[Scrutinizer]

Update: So I just got back from the jeweler. He presented me with my "repaired" ring...as I inspected it I quickly noticed that the bottom of the shank had two large cuts (don''t really know how else to describe them). The jeweler told me that because I complained that the shank looked thinner, they had to insert another piece of metal to fix it. To make a long story short...I left the "repaired" ring there and ended up leaving the store with the loose diamond and a new setting that still needs to be sized. I really just wanted to be done with him and I definitely didn''t want him messing it up again.

I''m going to call the number from startech for Scott Kay tomorrow. Hopefully they will let me send the ring and the stone directly to them to size and set. I''ll keep you posted....

 

[Scrutinizer]

Scott Kay was great to deal with, but they don''t accept items directly from consumers, instructed me to go to an authorized retailer. I went to Ben Bridge and ended being assissted by their AGS certified appraiser...it was OUTSTANDING! He took the time to really explain everything and map out the diamond under the scope. He said my stone is beautiful! That makes me happy! Now it''s just a waiting game till I get the ring back in two weeks!

 

[flowerladytoo]

Date: 11/14/2008 1:58:50 AM
Author: Scrutinizer
Scott Kay was great to deal with, but they don''t accept items directly from consumers, instructed me to go to an authorized retailer. I went to Ben Bridge and ended being assissted by their AGS certified appraiser...it was OUTSTANDING! He took the time to really explain everything and map out the diamond under the scope. He said my stone is beautiful! That makes me happy! Now it''s just a waiting game till I get the ring back in two weeks!

I am SO GLAD this is working out for you.

I gather the original jeweler was not actually an authorized Scott Kay dealer? Thank goodness you were able to get your diamond and a new setting and get this straightened out with a competent jeweler!

 

[denverappraiser]

I’m glad to here that Scott Kay and Ben Bridge are taking care of you.

Date: 11/13/2008 12:41:51 AM
Author: Scrutinizer
The jeweler told me that because I complained that the shank looked thinner, they had to insert another piece of metal to fix it.

Comments like this is one make me crazy and I just have to comment. Because YOU complained they had to replace the shank? This is now somehow YOUR fault? Does this mean that if you hadn't noticed or had been too timid to complain then it wouldn't have been a problem? They're the ones who are supposed to be experts at this, not you.

Their benchman did a crummy job. Strike one.
The QC person failed to notice it before presenting it to the customer as completed work. Strike two.
When the customer complained about it they made excuses that tried to make it the customers fault. Strike three, you're out.

Be glad you’re done with these people.

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