I apologize for the length of this post; however, I think that the chronology of events is important in understanding the extent of my frustration with Whiteflash. I am looking for some guidance on how best to address the situation with WF as well as any general comments from the experts regarding the problems we are having with the rings.
In May 2005, I bought the following engagement ring from WF, based in part upon the many positive reviews I read about WF's customer service: Round 2.01 E SI1 for $21,448 + the 18kt white gold 6-prong tiffany setting = $21,603.
In January 2006, we purchased our wedding bands from the same vendor. My wife chose the following band: 7-stone band in 18kt white gold using 0.25 pointers (F/G color and VS/SI1 clarity) for $3190.
Unfortunately, after the band arrived, my wife did not like that there was a curve in the wedding band (around the solitaire). She wanted the wedding ring and ering to be flush. Accordingly, we chose to return the 7-stone band (and incur the $550 restocking fee). We provided WF with a picture of an eternity set and ask about something similar. In March 2006, at the suggestion of Bob Hoskins (master gemologist appraiser) and Leon Rocha (jeweler), we had the following custom engagement/wedding ring set made: custom 18kt white gold engagement/wedding ring set to contain a 2ct round diamond that is 6-prong set and having shared prong set diamonds (17 x 0.15ct diamonds) half way around each ring and to fit close together. The total cost of the engagement/wedding ring set was $4,799.
My wife loved the engagement/wedding ring set, and we were married in May 2006. I was so pleased with the work of the vendor that I purchased diamond earrings for my wife as a wedding present ($9,346 for 2.01tkw). I also left positive feedback for the vendor on this website and gave a testimonial.
______________
Fast forward to December 2006: while in French Polynesia on our honeymoon, my wife noticed that her engagement rings had yellowed considerably in a matter of days. After a quick comparison, it appeared that all three of our 18kt white gold rings had yellowed badly while on the honeymoon. IGNORE THIS ISSUE
On January 10, 2007, I contacted the vendor to discuss the discoloration (and causes for same). At the vendor's request, on January 17, 2007, I sent the engagement ring to the vendor for inspection. Subsequently, we were informed that the vendor would put a new coat of rhodium plating on the rings. Of relevance to the "normal wear and tear" angle, my wife is a principal of a middle school with no/limited trauma to her hands.
Notwithstanding the discoloration issue, the real problems began on January 24, 2007 . . .
On January 24, 2007, I received an email from the vendor advising that "[w]e have been notified by both our Production team and the Independent Appraiser that your ring was received back with 5 of the diamonds chipped." Attached to the email was an invoice for $1,100. Given that the ring was less than 9 months old, I was extremely disturbed to receive the above email, and I immediately wrote back the following:
Obviously, I am concerned the diamonds are chipped in only 8 months of wear (and, given the number of diamonds that need to be replaced, that diamonds on the band likely are chipped as well). Accordingly, I have some questions for you:
Are the diamonds in the engagement ring being chipped by the diamonds in the band (and vice versa)?
Is this a usual problem with this type of ring/band configuration?
Will this continue to happen on a regular basis?
If this is an anticipated problem, should I have been apprised of same before agreeing to the configuration?
If this is not an anticipated problem, is this the result of a flaw in the design process?
Later that evening, I received an email requesting that I send back both of our wedding bands as well. I mailed the bands on January 25, 2007, and received a confirmation of receipt from the vendor on January 29, 2007. To date, I have not received written responses to the above queries.
On February 5, 2007, my wife wrote an extensive email to the vendor demanding additional information about the problems with the rings and looking for a timeline for the fix and return of the rings; she remains absolutely distraught to be without her ring or band (approaching one month without the engagement ring, with no return date set). I understand that on the afternoon of the 5th she was told by the vendor that the rings would be fixed and returned by the end of the month.
Today, I was informed by the vendor's jeweler that no timeline for the return of the rings has been established. Instead, I was told that the band also contains a damaged stone (and that stone has caused the damage on the five other diamonds (when the two rings slide/collide)). The jeweler verbally indicated that this type of damage is very uncommon; however, we was adamant that there is no design flaw in the set (related to the one diamond on the band that has caused all of the damage).
The jeweler simply said that the damage to the rings likely is the result of the "unique" way that my wife wears her rings (the "wear and tear" argument pushing blame on us while disclaiming any problems on the design/creation end) . . . and he indicated that we would need to change the design or sodder the rings together in order to try to prevent similar damage in the future.
In concluding the conversation, the jeweler indicated that the vendor would consider making some "concessions" on the price to fix/remake the rings, but that I would responsible for the bulk of the cost.
I reminded him that 1) we had purchased the rings less than 1 year earlier, 2) we went with his recommendation on the design of the set, and 3) I am a lawyer in Chicago with many legal contacts in his city . . . but he did not budge and simply said that he would wait to hear back from us regarding how to proceed with the repair/replacement/remake of the rings.
Obviously, I am shocked to have to be dealing with these issues less than a year after purchasing the rings. Also, I am disappointed by the vendor's general customer service in addressing our concerns. I am looking for any advice from those of you that sell diamonds online or anyone who has had similar problems . . . how would you address this situation from my end? from the vendor's side?
Why did the rings yellow so quickly?
Should I have been informed about the possibility of chipped diamonds in this style of wedding/engagement ring set?
Shouldn't the vendor pay for the repairs/replacement?
Should I take legal action against the vendor?
Am I taking crazy pills?
Ryan
In May 2005, I bought the following engagement ring from WF, based in part upon the many positive reviews I read about WF's customer service: Round 2.01 E SI1 for $21,448 + the 18kt white gold 6-prong tiffany setting = $21,603.
In January 2006, we purchased our wedding bands from the same vendor. My wife chose the following band: 7-stone band in 18kt white gold using 0.25 pointers (F/G color and VS/SI1 clarity) for $3190.
Unfortunately, after the band arrived, my wife did not like that there was a curve in the wedding band (around the solitaire). She wanted the wedding ring and ering to be flush. Accordingly, we chose to return the 7-stone band (and incur the $550 restocking fee). We provided WF with a picture of an eternity set and ask about something similar. In March 2006, at the suggestion of Bob Hoskins (master gemologist appraiser) and Leon Rocha (jeweler), we had the following custom engagement/wedding ring set made: custom 18kt white gold engagement/wedding ring set to contain a 2ct round diamond that is 6-prong set and having shared prong set diamonds (17 x 0.15ct diamonds) half way around each ring and to fit close together. The total cost of the engagement/wedding ring set was $4,799.
My wife loved the engagement/wedding ring set, and we were married in May 2006. I was so pleased with the work of the vendor that I purchased diamond earrings for my wife as a wedding present ($9,346 for 2.01tkw). I also left positive feedback for the vendor on this website and gave a testimonial.
______________
Fast forward to December 2006: while in French Polynesia on our honeymoon, my wife noticed that her engagement rings had yellowed considerably in a matter of days. After a quick comparison, it appeared that all three of our 18kt white gold rings had yellowed badly while on the honeymoon. IGNORE THIS ISSUE
On January 10, 2007, I contacted the vendor to discuss the discoloration (and causes for same). At the vendor's request, on January 17, 2007, I sent the engagement ring to the vendor for inspection. Subsequently, we were informed that the vendor would put a new coat of rhodium plating on the rings. Of relevance to the "normal wear and tear" angle, my wife is a principal of a middle school with no/limited trauma to her hands.
Notwithstanding the discoloration issue, the real problems began on January 24, 2007 . . .
On January 24, 2007, I received an email from the vendor advising that "[w]e have been notified by both our Production team and the Independent Appraiser that your ring was received back with 5 of the diamonds chipped." Attached to the email was an invoice for $1,100. Given that the ring was less than 9 months old, I was extremely disturbed to receive the above email, and I immediately wrote back the following:
Obviously, I am concerned the diamonds are chipped in only 8 months of wear (and, given the number of diamonds that need to be replaced, that diamonds on the band likely are chipped as well). Accordingly, I have some questions for you:
Are the diamonds in the engagement ring being chipped by the diamonds in the band (and vice versa)?
Is this a usual problem with this type of ring/band configuration?
Will this continue to happen on a regular basis?
If this is an anticipated problem, should I have been apprised of same before agreeing to the configuration?
If this is not an anticipated problem, is this the result of a flaw in the design process?
Later that evening, I received an email requesting that I send back both of our wedding bands as well. I mailed the bands on January 25, 2007, and received a confirmation of receipt from the vendor on January 29, 2007. To date, I have not received written responses to the above queries.
On February 5, 2007, my wife wrote an extensive email to the vendor demanding additional information about the problems with the rings and looking for a timeline for the fix and return of the rings; she remains absolutely distraught to be without her ring or band (approaching one month without the engagement ring, with no return date set). I understand that on the afternoon of the 5th she was told by the vendor that the rings would be fixed and returned by the end of the month.
Today, I was informed by the vendor's jeweler that no timeline for the return of the rings has been established. Instead, I was told that the band also contains a damaged stone (and that stone has caused the damage on the five other diamonds (when the two rings slide/collide)). The jeweler verbally indicated that this type of damage is very uncommon; however, we was adamant that there is no design flaw in the set (related to the one diamond on the band that has caused all of the damage).
The jeweler simply said that the damage to the rings likely is the result of the "unique" way that my wife wears her rings (the "wear and tear" argument pushing blame on us while disclaiming any problems on the design/creation end) . . . and he indicated that we would need to change the design or sodder the rings together in order to try to prevent similar damage in the future.
In concluding the conversation, the jeweler indicated that the vendor would consider making some "concessions" on the price to fix/remake the rings, but that I would responsible for the bulk of the cost.
Obviously, I am shocked to have to be dealing with these issues less than a year after purchasing the rings. Also, I am disappointed by the vendor's general customer service in addressing our concerns. I am looking for any advice from those of you that sell diamonds online or anyone who has had similar problems . . . how would you address this situation from my end? from the vendor's side?
Why did the rings yellow so quickly?
Should I have been informed about the possibility of chipped diamonds in this style of wedding/engagement ring set?
Shouldn't the vendor pay for the repairs/replacement?
Should I take legal action against the vendor?
Am I taking crazy pills?
Ryan
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