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Help - My jeweller did a terrible job

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jmiranda

jmiranda

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 7, 2009
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45
I''m sure a couple of people here know that I had purchased a ACA diamond from whiteflash and decided to have a ring custom made locally here in toronto. The diamond is stunning and I am extremely happy with it but all the time I spent designing the setting and the money I paid for it has gone down the drain and I don''t know what to do. Firstly, I told the jeweller to create the ring from 950 platinum with ruthenium as the alloy. He told me that it was going to be cast in one piece and that would be easier to work with. There was no mention of the polish and I thought it was safe to assume that it would be all polished with a mirror fininsh. I believe I even asked him once and he said yes. As I am not a jeweller I trusted him with the methods he said he was going to use to create the ring and went with it. I was totally dissapointed when I took a look at the ring. If you take a look at the pictures below you can see that the main stone bezel is only half polished because he says that he cant get in with the tools to polish that far. The insides of the band part still have the lines from the the wax mould. The small stones on the sides look like they have just been hammered in place quickly. The details are left in the cast state and it is not what I expected in any way. The overall design is there but there is no quality or craftsmanship and I have absolutely no respect for this guy anymore because he won''t admit that what he has done is unacceptable.

I am so dissapointed that I have spent all this time and money to recieve this piece of work and I just need some advice or suggestions on what to do. I am going to have to propose in 3 days so I will have to use this ring for now. Can I reuse the metal to create another ring??
 
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Oh no - I see what you mean about the craftsmanship - even though you have a beautiful diamond, the band looks like a piece of mass-produced silver jewelry. You should definitely return the setting and demand a full refund. If the jeweler is not cooperative, and if you paid with a credit card, you may want to try filing a dispute with your credit card company.
 
Date: 6/18/2009 8:40:09 AM
Author: vespergirl
Oh no - I see what you mean about the craftsmanship - even though you have a beautiful diamond, the band looks like a piece of mass-produced silver jewelry. You should definitely return the setting and demand a full refund. If the jeweler is not cooperative, and if you paid with a credit card, you may want to try filing a dispute with your credit card company.
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Ditto. I''m so sorry that this happened to you! I understand how disappointing that can be (I had a custom setting go wrong as well). And it''s BS that he can''t get in there to polish it - I''ve seen more intricate designs polished no problem. Definitely take it back, and I''m with vesper - I''d demand a refund.
 
Date: 6/18/2009 8:40:09 AM
Author: vespergirl
Oh no - I see what you mean about the craftsmanship - even though you have a beautiful diamond, the band looks like a piece of mass-produced silver jewelry. You should definitely return the setting and demand a full refund. If the jeweler is not cooperative, and if you paid with a credit card, you may want to try filing a dispute with your credit card company.
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Ditto.

If it were me, I''d take the stone out and have some else (reputable) slip it into a very simple setting for the proposal. Then maybe you and she could pick out the next setting together. That''s what I would do.

And I''m really sorry the jeweler didn''t come through and isn''t owning up to their work.
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Yikes. Can you possibly take the stone out to propose and put it in a temp ring?

He is bullshitting you completely. I think it''s time to step it up and tell him you will complain to whatever consumer protection agency you have there if he won''t give you your money back in full.

As for the metal-unfortunately you can use it but it won''t give you back much of your money. You can''t just remelt that same metal and make a new ring without significant added metal and cost.
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Date: 6/18/2009 8:40:09 AM
Author: vespergirl
Oh no - I see what you mean about the craftsmanship - even though you have a beautiful diamond, the band looks like a piece of mass-produced silver jewelry. You should definitely return the setting and demand a full refund. If the jeweler is not cooperative, and if you paid with a credit card, you may want to try filing a dispute with your credit card company.
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oh my, I am sorry you are having to deal with this. I don''t know how to say this lightly,
but this must be one of the worst examples of a jewellery gone wrong I have seen..I mean what was he thinking?!
Either this ""jeweller"" has never worked in platinum before, or he has extremely rudimentary skills..
the side bezels aren''t even round
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I completely agree with the above - have someone else that you can trust safely remove your diamond (just incase), return the setting and demand a full refund. In the meantime notify your CC company (did you pay by card?)..and let them know whats going on, incase you need to file a dispute.

I am really sorry - can''t you put off the proposal? Or, imho, what would be better at this stage is to propose with the gorgeous loose ACA diamond, and start over fresh together with your girl.
I know from reading on this board there seems to be a serious lack of decent jewellers in Canada - I can sympathize with you, as there''s not many where I live in Australia either - which is why I have all my jewellery made from trusted vendors in the US.

You should approach WF or BGD, they are both great with custom design and could nail this ring.!
 
Date: 6/18/2009 8:49:28 AM
Author: Ellen
Ditto.

If it were me, I''d take the stone out and have some else (reputable) slip it into a very simple setting for the proposal. Then maybe you and she could pick out the next setting together. That''s what I would do.

And I''m really sorry the jeweler didn''t come through and isn''t owning up to their work.
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Big fat ditto!! That is unacceptable and you shouldn''t use it to propose. Your future fiance will want to show her ring off and she won''t want to show off poor craftsmanship.

Hey, I have been in your shoes! Get the diamond reset in a simple setting and then dispute the shoddy setting. Then get someone like WF of BGD to make your setting, you get what you pay for and the shipping to-from Canada is pretty simple!
 
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Oh dear... So sorry! I do see what you are talking about... The design is nice, but it just doesn''t have a nice "finish"... Are you taking it back to them? Can you get your money back?
 
Thanks for the responses everyone. The funny thing is I trusted this guy because a couple of ''friends of friends'' went to him and got simple settings done that looked good (because its simple i guess). He offered me a cash deal so i went with it since it would save me a little bit of money. I will be definately going through the better business beureau of canada to sort this out if i can. I have to say that it does''nt look too bad from a 2ft distance but when you get up close its pretty bad. I can''t really postpone the proposal since i have booked a couple of things and its her birthday as well. This guy has pretty much ruined the whole thing for me. I spent $1100CAD for the just the setting, the 6 1pt diamonds on the side and the platinum so if i can somehow reuse the metal that would only put me in the whole about $500. I''ll see what i can do but it hurts real bad.
 
I agree with the other ladies here about possiibly putting the stone into a simplier setting. Maybe you can use the 6 1pt diamonds as side diamonds instead. (I have no idea how to post links so please bear with me). Imagine a platinum (hopefully reuse your metal) solitaire ring with 3 diamonds on each side of the main diamond. Or just go with the solitaire and on the next jewelry trip, see what she likes and incorporate the 6 1pt diamonds that way. Of course, try to get a full refund on the cost of the first ring, or see if the original jeweler will do all the work on the second one for free as well as give you some of the money back since you did say he was good at doing simple settings. I''m so sorry that you''re going thru this when this should be the most exciting part of the proposal for you (seeing the finished product for the first time) and the most nerve racking once you actually pop the question. Good luck! Keep us posted!
 
That looks like a terribly executed ring. I would not propose with that. I would much rather place it in a simpler setting and have your fiance decide.
 
I would demand my money back and have the stone set in a simple setting for now (you can have WF custom make something for you down the line with your fiance''s input). I''m sorry this is happening. Can you delay the proposal? I wouldn''t want you to propose with a ring that you aren''t happy with.
 
Nice design, shoddy craftmanship. I agree with the others that it is totally unacceptable and you deserve your money back. Good luck with the BBB. I'd be sure to first tell the jeweler that unless you get a FULL refund, then you will be filing the complaint. If he doesn't give the refund, file the complaint immediately. You shouldn't have to eat the cost of the metal and sidestones, so don't even go into the store thinking that is an option. It is the jeweler's fault for agreeing to do a design he knew he didn't have the skill or tools to do well and he should be the one to take the hit.

I'd also vote for a simple setting from someone else so that your gf/fiance will be able to wear and show off the ring for a while until you need to send the diamond to someone so they can do the setting right.
 
oh man, gorgeous design, gorgeous looking diamonds, but poor craftsmanship. I hope you get your refund back.
 
You have an extraordinarily lazy jeweler. Sometimes, I like the contrast of polished and rough, but in this case, it''s NOT what you asked for, and if he doesn''t know how to polish a ring, what the hell is he doing hanging out his shingle?

I really hope you get your money back.

Perhaps you could propose to your GF with just the stone, and choose the setting together? That has a certain romantic flair ...
 
Date: 6/18/2009 9:59:18 AM
Author: jmiranda
Thanks for the responses everyone. The funny thing is I trusted this guy because a couple of ''friends of friends'' went to him and got simple settings done that looked good (because its simple i guess). He offered me a cash deal so i went with it since it would save me a little bit of money. I will be definately going through the better business beureau of canada to sort this out if i can. I have to say that it does''nt look too bad from a 2ft distance but when you get up close its pretty bad. I can''t really postpone the proposal since i have booked a couple of things and its her birthday as well. This guy has pretty much ruined the whole thing for me. I spent $1100CAD for the just the setting, the 6 1pt diamonds on the side and the platinum so if i can somehow reuse the metal that would only put me in the whole about $500. I''ll see what i can do but it hurts real bad.
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LET THIS BE A LESSON TO US ALL!

If someone is willing to cheat the government then they are not a reputable and reliable person with whom to do business. I too have had bad past experiences with such "jewelers". The problem is, with a cash deal ,there is often no receipt and no work order and so proving that you didn''t get what you paid for is very difficult. There is no paper trail.

Sorry to use the booming proclemation voice, but this is just such a common story I thought it needed a little drama
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hi jmiranda

so sorry it turned out like it did.

just one other comment...is the setting around the central stone too big for the stone? it seems as tho the under-carriage setting protrudes out past the edge of the stone in front (and probably behind, also), so you''re looking at the setting UNDER the main stone. i have to say, apart from all the other problems, i''m not fond of that central bezel at all. it''s VERY heavy and much wider than it needs to be; i''d be looking for a delicate bezel to emphasize the stone and, proportionately, make the stone as large as possible.

i''m sorry this happened, but i''m sue your proposal will be wonderful anyway.

hoping for a satisfying resolution for you....
 
Sorry about your ring. . .is there time to get it reset into a simple temporary ring for the proposal?
 
The design is beautiful, but that is a shame that the craftsmanship is not. I hope that you are able to get a refund. Good luck to you.
 
I''m sure I could set it in a simple setting but i can''t affort to pay more if i don''t end up getting any money back. She wanted a ring with a design on it and she would''nt be to happy with a simple setting either. However, I have been with her for 7 years and i know that she is going to be very understanding of the situation and what has happened. I will have to take her with me to get another ring made, hopefully reusing the metal so i dont have to spend more money.
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Oh MY! I am so sorry you have to deal with this. But I do see why you are unhappy with the craftsmanship. Believe me a good goldsmith would NOT leave his work looking like that! I hope you can get some money back and go to someone more qualified! Good luck!!!
 
So sorry that this has happened to you. I am hopeful your jeweler will make things right for you.

While it is not common to reuse existing metal, my jeweler here did it for me. I decided to have my rings remade b/c there were some issues w/ the design and structure of my original setting (in addition to chipped diamonds in my setting, I have a princess cut w/ smaller princess cuts and a few of the small ones were damaged). He reused all of my original platinum, and of course added more, but he does all his own casting, so he is able to do that. He''s had several clients do the same, mostly for sentimental reasons, inheriting a family ring, remaking of original wedding rings, etc. You may be able to find someone who can do that for you.
 
Question: do you like the basic design? And can you pay a *bit* more money?

Because if you like the basics of it, you could take it to another jeweler who does not suffer recto-cranial inversion, have the bezel thinned and the metal polished, and hopefully still make your planned proposal ....
 
I don't think too many jewelers are gonna touch it. The bezel work is just bad, and there's not going to be much they can do about that and have it still fit the diamonds. That's just my opinion, but... an appraiser and small claims court (or the equivalent in Canada) might be your best friends right now.

I'm sorry your jeweler was so dishonest about his skills and that your lovely design was ruinned by his execution.

Best of luck.
 
I''m sorry but I''m not sure why you are taking this lying down - like dreamer mentioned, he gave you a "cash deal" so he could in effect rip you off.
I would be in that store every day making a scene, scaring off his other potential customers (victims), until I got ALL my money back.

This is clearly unacceptable and is one of the worst representations of "fine jewellery" I have seen, it''s like a beginners'' class!

I''m sorry to be harsh, I really am on your side, but I just feel like you are taking the hit too easily when you shouldn''t have to
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Get on the phone to WF and organise to send them back the ACA and have them set it in a simple setting for the proposal then work on the proper setting (just to ensure you are ready in time for the birthday).

Or, you could always postpone the plans and have WF make a custom setting for you. There is no way you would end up with rubbish like that!!!
 
I''m so sorry that this happened. Please don''t let this person ever put his hands on this piece until someone else at some other company entirely, takes out the diamond lest this person chip the diamond. Shame on this person.
 
Omg that totally sux. Do you mind if I ask you which jeweler you used? My FI got my Ritani ring from Damiani in Woodbridge... Although your GF likes original designs- I would still try and see if you can find something from a reputable jeweler such as Ritani, Michael B, A Jaffe, Scott Kay etc... Damiani carries many different lines... That way you know you won't be left with any surprises... Tacori also has some ornate settings and I think they carry that line at La Boutique in Woodbrige. They also have a jeweler than can custom make anything for you...
 
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