Help! Prong/Setting Question -- Take 2

[Minny]

Ok, I posted a few days ago about how I was nervous that my jeweler might not be able to replicate the prongs on my Tacori setting. I was assured that the ring would look EXACTLY like the sample one they had in the store, which looked like the photo below.

So....my boyfriend picked up the ring today and showed it to me......it was quite obvious that the prongs are not exactly the same at all. Instead of one of the three points of each prong tip sticking out slightly to create kind of a "flower" effect, they are all pretty even and the whole prong tip hangs over the stone way more than it is supposed to. (In fact, the salesperson even pointed out that the prongs curved over more and said that he "liked it better that way"). In my opinion, they overwhelm the diamond rather than complementing it the way the setting did in the store. I am going to the jewelry store tomorrow to talk with someone about this, but I have two questions:

1) Based on my description of the differences, will the setter/jeweler be able to modify these prongs at all to look more like the tacori model? Or is it too late, now that all the metal is smooshed onto the diamond?

2) Any advice as to how I can present this request so that it is positively received? So far this entire engagement ring experience has been extremely frustrating, and the people who work for this store act as if my every question is a personal attack on their abilities. It has been extremely unpleasant and at this point I wish we could just back out!!

Please help me think of a way to explain my concerns so we can all move on with our lives!!


Thank you so much.

 

[Minny]

Here is a photo of the actual ring -- it is not a very good representation of what it really looks like, but it's the only one that came out clear, so here goes.

ETA: Don't be alarmed -- I don't know what those black marks are in the photo, but they are not inclusions! It is an SI2, but the main inclusion is under the table and I can only see it at certain angles, close up.

 

[EuroStyle]

It does look way different....unfortunately I don''t know enough to tell you why, but sometimes it''s helpfull to have a consumer eye and not an expert eye confirm your thoughts. I have been seeing some Tacori solitaires, but they dont seem to show them on their web site...




Sean

 

[sjz]

First of all, I think your ring is very pretty. But I do see what you mean about the prongs. The prongs on the example picture you posted have sort of a "snowflake" effect with the center tip of each prong standing out a bit from the two side tips. On your ring, they look more uniform and almost give sort of a bead effect. Both look nice, but if you were expecting the ring to look like the example, I'm can see your concern.

Eight prongs is a lot of prongs. Most solitaires have only four or six. I think the look of eight prongs looks great, actually very unique. But if there is too much prong covering the stone, I can see where it might overwhelm the stone to some degree. I think you should take it back and see if they can somehow modify the prongs to look the way you want them to look. If not, maybe they should start over with another ring until they get it right. I know how frustrating this kind of thing can be, I've recently been through something similar myself.

My advice to you when dealing with the jeweler would be to first of all, say that while the ring looks nice, it's not the look you were going for. Do they still have the sample ring in the store? If so, ask them to get that ring and compare the two side by side. Point out the differences, and firmly request that he do whatever is necessary to make your ring look EXACTLY like the sample ring. If they no longer have the sample ring, I'd make a copy of the picture that you posted here, and take that with you for comparison.

As I mentioned...I recently had a similar situation. I had a jeweler make a two diamond band rings for me using stones taken from another ring that I owned. I used a sample ring from his store, and he ordered the identical mountings. One of the rings turned out exactly like the sample ring, the other one did not. I asked him to remake the one ring, and he refused and said that it wasn't possible (I STILL think it was, but that's another story). Anyway, I ultimately requested and got my money back for the ring that wasn't made to my specifications. That might be another recourse in your situation. Is this jeweler someone who is experienced in setting TACORI rings? If not, I think I would find someone who is to set my diamond.

 

[Minny]

Thanks, Eurostyle and sjz. It does help to hear others confirm my thoughts. And I agree, eight prongs is a LOT of prongs --- originally I only wanted 4 (!) but when I saw this setting, I thought the prongs were such a beautiful touch and I didn''t mind that there were so many, b/c they were so pretty and unique....AND they barely touched the stone, so much of the prong was actually pulled away from the stone and I think it made the stone look bigger. (In fact, I don''t know if I mentioned this before, but the prong tips were the MAIN reason I chose this setting over another similar one....)

Yes, the store should still have the sample ring, so I can point out the exact differences. I will do that today. I hope getting our money back is still an option -- I''m not sure at this point. I just hate dealing with this kind of stuff -- both my boyfriend and I are completely non-confrontational and this is killing us!!

 

[sjz]

Take a deep breath, relax. It''s not a matter of being confrontational. Simply ask to compare the rings (yours to the sample) and ask them to please make them look more the same. This is what you had wanted, expected, and told you were going to get. You''re not criticizing the quality of the work that was done. It''s simply not the what you wanted.

Good Luck

Dave

I agree with Dave. You don''t need to be confrontational. I''m the same way as you and your bf...I HATE to complain. When I went back to my jeweler, I tried to be very polite and diplomatic. Even though the jeweler who set my ring refused to change it, the sales staff and the store manager were very nice. The manager even told me that she appreciated my patience and the fact that I didn''t come in there throwing a "fit". I think that''s one of the reasons they were so willing and pleasant when refunding my money. I think if you approach this in the right way, you will get what you want. As Dave also pointed out...It doesn''t look like there is anything with the way that the ring is currently made that would be a problem to modify. Good luck, and let us know how things turn out for you.

 

[Carolynw]

I too bought a Tacori setting, and my jeweler first set my stone inside it, and it didn''t look good at all.
Then, he sent the ring and my diamond to Tacori who reset it, and it looks great.
How come you don''t send it to Tacori and have Tacori set the stone.
That might be hard I know, it was hard for me to part with my diamond.
Mabye I''m even reading this wrong, is this truly a Tacori ring, or did you have someone else
design the ring to look like this Tacori ring.

 

[PhillipSchmidt]

This really was to be expected. It is not that bad a situation you find yourself in. It is not the setters fault, as such. He may even (perhaps justifiably) think his setting is better. It comes down to technique. Nobody is at fault IMO. The setter of the original piece might have trouble replicating the second if things were reversed.

All in all, I think he did a pretty good job. We can only guess looking at the photo but there looks to be a whole lot more metal, and too much ta boot. I bet he spent quite a lot of time graining over those claws, because it appears a neat job, albeit rounded. (Which having seen that and seen the comparitive photo, I''d say I would have done the same thing, because I was imagining doing exactly what he did).

With evidence in hand, I''d say he used the graining tool to create the neat domes wheras he should have used a straight edge graver and rounded the tops with a polisher. That is how Tacori has found the floral affect.

I just did a 3 grainer yesterday, like yours and I thought of your job and how mine looked nothing like yours - totaly different situation, mind. It struck me how much the technique used will affect the end look. I won''t go on.

I am sure they can adapt it. I hate to think they would have to start over. I wouldn''t expect that they could ever replicate the exact setting. The same setter would do the same style differently too. I think you could ask them to fine down the prong tips and that should help a lot. If you point to the photo and show them what you like you have a good chance of getting what you want.

It is a hard job, in a way, remember, nobody learnt to make jewellery or set jewellery by copying other peoples designs. They learnt by developing techniques and the designs follow the technique, not visa versa. He must keep his mindset in a frame work of techniques that he has in store. It will be a trst of his skill - even if it may not seem such a task.

The idiot who told you, you could have exactly the same ring needs a slap. My bet is the setter will get the slap from the idiot...

It is a nice sunny day in Melbourne

 

[PhillipSchmidt]

I had another look.

Tell him they are like tear drops, not like beads.

(If he files down the tips then either uses a fine saw blade or straight edge graver - preferably a slightly blunt graver, he can replicate the Tacori pattern)

I will warn you at this point, the tear drops won''t be as uniformed as the Tacori setting. It is up to you to deal with any assurances you might get to the contrary.

In essence, the setting job will have involved two processes - one being the graining, the other to shape the tear drops. They might not like the hours it takes, but it might not take any longer then the original did at any rate.

Hope this helps

 

[Minny]

Okay, somehow I just deleted my post! Oh well, I will try again.

Thank you all for your responses and helpful advice! I know that in the scheme of things (i.e. LIFE), a piece of jewelry is NOT a major concern, but it sure can feel like a big deal when things go wrong.

Sjz and CarolynW -- it sounds like you two can relate!! I also wanted to say that I agree that the ring does not look half bad in that photo (in fact, I almost didn''t want to post it b/c I thought it looked way better in the pic than it does in real life!)

Anyway, I went back to the store today and pointed out the differences that I did not like. The salesperson/jeweler easily saw the differences and suggested that we send the ring to Tacori to have it worked on. (I was VERY happy with this suggestion!!) I could tell they were not entirely pleased with me, but they were not nearly as defensive or rude as they have been in the past. It is amazing how much calmer I feel now! While I know I can''t expect the prongs to turn out exactly the same, I feel hopeful that Tacori will make them look closer to what I was expecting/what I wanted. (I am really not as picky as I seem!! I just really liked those prongs!)

I am still confused as to why Tacori leaves it up to individual jewelers to finish the details of their settings. I would think that they would want complete control over the creation, considering their name is stamped inside.. Oh well. Live and learn. In any case, I will be sure to post pics when this saga is over -- which will hopefully be in 2-3 weeks!! Thanks again for all of the great support and ideas.

 

[PhillipSchmidt]

Good luck.

I hope you do well