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Help! Jeweler says the box/setting is no good!

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aggieram786

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 9, 2009
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My boyfriend proposed to me on the 2nd of December, and since then I've had to go back to a jeweler twice. My boyfried (eep! fiance) bought the ring itself from a Dublin, Ireland company called Shanore, and the loose diamond from another company. The two were set together locally at a family owned jeweler. The first problem was that ring needed to be sized down (no biggie... how was I supposed to know the BF was fishing for a LEFT hand measurement with his casual question...) but the second problem I've come to is the setting itself, with the prongs. After less than 5 days of wear, I could hear the diamond rattle in the setting.

The ring itself is 14 carat white gold and the diamond is a princess cut. My jeweler, who I took the ring to to be sized and for the prongs to be tightened, said the ring was very nice but he did not like the "box" and recommended replacing it. Replacing it?! It's beautiful, it came from Ireland, and its design matches perfectly with the celtic trinity knots on the band. Plus, on two sides of the box/setting, there are two small hearts with two very small diamonds inside. My jeweler asks me, "Which is more important, two small stones on the side or the big stone on top?"... well obviously it's the big one. But I hate to lose the original setting. I know whatever I replace it with will not be as nice or special to me. I even hated resizing the ring because I felt like it was taking away something... or changing this very special ring.

The jeweler told me that the prongs on the setting were too small and there was not enough metal on top of the corners of the diamond to hold it in place. He said it will need to be tightened from time to time, and all that retightening over time will weaken the prongs. He showed me in a book other settings that were more "beefy" and sturdy. I wasn't a fan of them.

When I told my fiance this, he was heartbroken that the jeweler was basically saying his choice of ring was less than perfect. I absolutely love the ring though, and will do anything to not have to replace the box... but I can't lose the diamond either
8.gif
Does anyone have any suggestions?


I can post a picture of the ring later, if someone needs to see what the prongs look like.
 
Get a second opinion from another jeweler?

Definitely post a image up.
 
This is not exactly MY ring, but it''s the same style, from the company it was bought from. You can see the size of the prongs, how it''s set (or should be set, I guess), and you can almost see the heart diamond I was describing on the side of the box. It''s not the best picture, I''ll admit, but it''s all I can access for now.

ShanoreRing.jpg
 
Prongs does not look too small to me... Get a second opinion.
 
That’s not a design problem and the prongs should be sufficient unless there’s something about your particular ring that’s causing the problem. There are quite a few possible issues. You’re in a tricky situation. I would go get an opinion from another jeweler to see what alternatives he/she can offer. A more common issue than defective prongs is defective craftsmanship by the setter and there are other alternatives for how to repair it. It’s a tough question to ask of the original setter and it’s a tricky issue for a second jeweler to disparage a competitors work. This is one of those cases where an 'independent' professional may be worth the cost but start by getting a free estimate from a competitor and very carefully having the conversation.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver
 
Although my art work is not pretty, a good jeweler could remove the diamond and add four bars to join the prongs together more firmly just below the widest part of the diamond. I have roughly drawn in two that would be placed. These bars would be nearly invisible from the face-up view and only visible really from the side where they would look quite normal. They would prevent the prongs from being able to move so easily. Just like it is easy to bend a long wooden stick it is difficult to bend the same stick when it is cut very short.

A good shop could do such work, reset the diamond and not change the true design.

ShanoreRing1.jpg
 
Couldn''t see it. Sorry.Possibly filling in from the prong wires to the heart wire in all 8 places around the setting will stabilize the prongs in the same was as I suggested previously.
 
Neil and David, I very much appreciate your expert input. I''m considering taking it to the original jeweler who set it - maybe they can fix their own work. Neil, what kind of "independent" professional are you speaking of? I will definitely get a second or third opinion on this matter.

I am attaching three pictures of my ring. You can see in this one, there is a side bridge below the diamond.

Copy of IMG_0890.JPG
 
Here in the front view, you can see the heart. It is the same on the back.

Copy of IMG_0891.JPG
 
And finally, the top view. This is where my jeweler was concerned. He said there is not enough metal around the corners and on top of the diamond to keep it stable.

Copy of IMG_0894.JPG
 
Date: 12/9/2009 12:20:40 PM
Author: aggieram786
Neil and David, I very much appreciate your expert input. I'm considering taking it to the original jeweler who set it - maybe they can fix their own work. Neil, what kind of 'independent' professional are you speaking of? I will definitely get a second or third opinion on this matter.


I am attaching three pictures of my ring. You can see in this one, there is a side bridge below the diamond.

Thanks. Isn't it the original setting jeweler who is telling you to replace the prongs and who you've been talking to all along?

The key question has to do with the seats, which are the little pockets in the prongs that hold the stone. There's going to be no way to tell from a photo but looking at the piece. That mounting was made to hold a slightly larger stone but it looks to me like they still should be able to make it work.

By independent professional, I mean an appraiser who has bench experience and who is NOT a participant in this transaction. Both David and I offer this sort of service and there may be one in you community. There's an appraisal search tool under the Resources tab at the top of the page.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver
 
Add U shaped, thin wires as drawn. They won't be nearly as clumsy as my drawn lines, thankfully. For some reason the photo is "attached" below the message for each photo.... Never had that happen before.

Copy%20of%20IMG_08903.jpg
 
second photo see attachment below message.... Strange

Copy%20of%20IMG_08914.jpg
 
Sounds to me like this needs to be addressed with the original seller of the ring. They should have a warranty or garantee of some kind. Hopefully this has not been voided by having another jeweler work on it.


This is no reflection upon your FI''s choice of ring - its simply an issue of workmanship by the jeweler or manufacturer of the ring.
 
Date: 12/9/2009 10:54:01 PM
Author: outatouch0
Sounds to me like this needs to be addressed with the original seller of the ring. They should have a warranty or garantee of some kind. Hopefully this has not been voided by having another jeweler work on it.

This is no reflection upon your FI''s choice of ring - its simply an issue of workmanship by the jeweler or manufacturer of the ring.

More likely the fault of the setter than the seller of the setting.
 
Date: 12/9/2009 8:56:56 AM
Author:aggieram786
My boyfried (eep! fiance) bought the ring itself from a Dublin, Ireland company called Shanore, and the loose diamond from another company. The two were set together locally at a family owned jeweler.
OIC - missed that part - I thought it came from one place.

Hopefully this wont turn into a "blame game" between the above parties
 
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