I need help.

[Cehrabehra]

well ellen, if it is any consolation it is a very lovely picture of the *stone* and the melee under it looks amazing....

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yes, she is saying that is a shadow, SG. It scared me at first, too.

Ellen, gosh, remember when Dee Jay''s jeweler put milgrain on her ring, and when it was sent back to Jack Kelege, he redid it all? There are just masters of that kind of work and there are others who are not. Van Craeynest is a master of migrain and handwork on antique repro settings. But both those are in the business of making rings and probably do not do repairs. I just wouldn''t know who to tell you to send it to. I am so sorry, but I am sure it can be fixed.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 5/25/2007 5:07:48 PM
Author: Cehrabehra


No advice, but I''d be pissed off. They butchered your ring!

Ditto. No advice here either, just wanted to say that I would be really upset.

 

[diagem]

Date: 5/25/2007 5:05:57 PM
Author: Pricescope
Ellen i am sorry this happened but want you not to be upset too much the most important thing is that the diamond is intact, isn''t it?
I do not agree on electrician analogy, all we need from him is our light to respond to the switches and the whole system not to explode. Not the jewelry work when we expect something to LOOK a certain way. Not telling you about putting an extra design elements, especially to the heirloom piece is unacceptable imo.

Now, i am not a jeweler obviously but i personally would re-make the whole square part now, firstly because it''s a mess and secondly because it will give an opportunity to inspect the diamond. Just my 2 cents.

ETA: surfgirl i think that''s what Ellen said is a shadow, it does look like a crack but it''s because it''s a deep shadow.

Thats the worst...
And he doest seem knowledgeable in the field of design..., let alone Antique Designs!!!

I wouldnt return to him. Period.

There are a few great antique repro. craftsmen out there.
But they are pricy!!!

I wish you good luck.

 

[FireGoddess]

Ellen I am so SO sorry!!! I can only imagine how you feel right now....probably sick and irate at the same time (that''s probably what I would feel at least)...I would definitely calmly write everything down and contact this jeweler - what has been done is NOT okay and they never should have touched ANYthing without telling you that this was going to be done first.

*hugs*

 

[kcoursolle]

Hi ellen, so sorry to hear what you are going through!

I just wanted to add that it looks like your setting can be salvaged. I would take a deep breath and call your jeweler when you are in a calm mood. I would nicely, but firmly, explain to him what you are unhappy about and tell him how you would like it fixed.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I wouldn''t even consider asking this jeweler to fix it. I think I''d let him know I was dissatified and would like a refund (whether I''d get it or not). But I''d try to get a recommendation for someone who does fine work on antique rings.

 

[surfgirl]

ellen...are you okay???

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 5/25/2007 9:14:10 PM
Author: surfgirl
ellen...are you okay???

Ditto! We miss you, my sweet Ellen

 

[mbr102865]

Oh, Ellen. I am so, so sorry this happened to you. Do you think you would want to pack the ring up and send it to Jonathan at GOG? I certainly trust him without reservation.

Again, I am so sorry.

 

[chrono]

Hello, Ellen? Are you still out there? Please don''t cry anymore.

Have you called the jeweller and told him yet?

 

[sparkles]

Ellen, you poor thing...I would be feeling sick to my stomach with such a shoddy job. I hope you find the strength to be calm enough to talk to the jeweller about your dissatisfaction with the work. Hopefully you can come to an amicable solution $$ terms and you can go to someone who specializes in antique work.

Best of luck......

 

[Ellen]

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and suggestions. I really do appreciate it.


No, I haven''t called the jeweler yet, because I start crying every time I really think about what he did to this ring. It means so much to me, and in ways no one knows. And the really frustrating, ironic part of all this is that I tried to do the right thing. I didn''t trust anyone around here, so I sent it off to someone I thought would take care of it. I''ll call him next Tues., things should be better by then. (I may email him pics before hand)


For the first time in my life, I''m glad my mom can''t see and is extremely forgetful. Hopefully she never remembers to ask how it turned out. If she does, I guess I''ll have to lie, something I despise. But I don''t have the heart to tell her...



I''ll try to address your posts, if I miss something just holler.

First, interestingly enough, he didn''t want my CC#, he just said to send him a check, so I haven''t paid anything. Now, one might think he knew, but if he did, why would he not fix it??


That dark area was definitely a shadow. I''ve louped it, and it''s not in some other pics.

Irina (I assume that''s you!), you are right. And I told myself more than once yesterday that at least the diamond was ok, and it is as far as I can tell. I''ll address the rest of your post at the end.

cehra, you made me laugh at the "times".

The "mars" you''re seeing are actually the extra beads he put in.

And yes, the stone does look nice. *sigh* I''ll post one more at the end that looks neat too.

DiaGem, would you mind listing who the antique repro guys are?



I am going to take a few weeks to think about all this, and decide where to go from here. Aside from the fact that I''m so leary of everyone right now, I think it would be best not to do anything for a bit anyway. I''m going to investigate all avenues on who and where to go and what exactly should be done. Irina, hubby said the same thing, remove the stone and redo the middle part. I will see what the general consensus is from the experts.

I hate the thought of taking it out though, every time you do that, you run the risk of something happening. At this point, if I could just take those 4 beads off, fix the gauge, and lose that bead sticking up I''d be happy. But, like I said, I''ll see what everyone thinks.

Thanks again to all of you, I think I''d have gone mad if I didn''t have anyone to talk to about this.

One more pic, to focus on the positive, the stone. I had a green and creme shirt on, so again, where the orangey/pink came from, who knows. Pretty.

 

[Catmom]

Oh Ellen, I''m so, so sorry about your ring. I hope you will be able to find someone trusted and knowledgeable enough to fix your wonderful ring and bring it back to it''s glory.

 

[chrono]

Ellen, what is the shadow I am seeing at just past 12 o'clock at the milgrain?

ETA
A bit of something to cheer you up: there has been an update to my pink spinel thread on the Coloured Stone forum.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 5/26/2007 9:43:37 AM
Author: Chrono
Ellen, what is the shadow I am seeing at just past 12 o''clock at the milgrain?

ETA
A bit of something to cheer you up: there has been an update to my pink spinel thread on the Coloured Stone forum.

That''s where one of the 4 beads is that he added, and also where there''s a bead sticking up off the top of the milligrain.

I saw the update!!

Catmom, thank you.

 

[starshine]

I''m so sorry that this has happened.

I hope it works out. (((hugs)))

 

[pyramid]

I think the shadows we are seeing are shadows from behind the beads.

I wonder if the claws are no longer holding the stone as he split them and set a bead there, if four beads are not enough to hold the stone in. The thing is though even if the other beads were needed, why did he not set them evenly like 3 o'clock instead of 4 o'clock. If the claws are no longer in operation would it not have been better to remove the stone and reset it in new claws in the same style. As the pictures are magnified a lot, maybe the beads look worse than they do in real life, meaning except if it is your stone as it is Ellen's then it is up to her. He should have told her more I think but I think craftspeople do not explain things.

As I said about the electrician I was meaning then that I thought the beads were in place of the claws which I thought were broken but this was not the case. I was thinking about he practical side of holding the stone securely and it never crossed my mind about the visual look of the design.

 

[widget]

Oh Ellen...I''m SO SORRY about this! My heart goes out to you!

I think you''re absolutely right taking some time, doing some research, etc. before getting this fixed. You do want the very best...someone who SPECIALIZES in antique restoration. I''d think good sources would be respected estate jewelry retailers who must have access to talented benchmen.

I wanted to post yesterday...the before/after pictures are truly shocking...but I''ve been having trouble getting on PS lately...

Hang in there girl! This will, eventually, be OK...

widget

 

[Ellen]

Date: 5/26/2007 10:18:17 AM
Author: widget
Oh Ellen...I''m SO SORRY about this! My heart goes out to you!

I think you''re absolutely right taking some time, doing some research, etc. before getting this fixed. You do want the very best...someone who SPECIALIZES in antique restoration. I''d think good sources would be respected estate jewelry retailers who must have access to talented benchmen.

I wanted to post yesterday...the before/after pictures are truly shocking...but I''ve been having trouble getting on PS lately...

Hang in there girl! This will, eventually, be OK...

widget

Yes.

I''ve been beating myself up here, thinking maybe I should have thought about more things in regards to who I sent it to. But then I think, I sent it to someone who knew diamonds, the girdle was what I was mostly worried about. For God''s sake, ALL he had to do was tighten some prongs! Well, that''s all he was supposed to do. I mean, WHO KNEW??

Widget, where/how would I go about finding specialists? I am so out of my league here.... And thank you.



Pyramid, good question, why didn''t he set them evenly? Why didn''t he consult me first? Who knows.


starshine, thank you.

 

[Kaleigh]

I wish I had someone to refer you to, but I don''t. I hope the appraisers on here can refer you to someone that is truly a specialist in this area. Antique rings are tough. But there is someone out there that can fix this. Thank goodness the diamond is fine!!

 

[pricescope]

I outlined the perimeter of the stone to explain why beads were not placed at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock. The other thing appeared to me while observing more pictures that they (beads) do not even have polished look to them, that's why they appear more like holes on the pictures.

Ellen why don't you ask Dave Atlas for the recommendation, old cuts are passion of his and i assume he knows who can help you.

 

[widget]

Widget, where/how would I go about finding specialists? I am so out of my league here....

Well, I''d be curious to hear any recommendations that come up here...through Dave Atlas, Diagem, etc..

I''ve always had the impression that most of the "artist" craftsmen are not generally reachable to the public, and need to be found through a dealer. (Someone correct me if I''m wrong!)

Are you near a major city? I''d go the the biggest, best estate jewelry dealer there. They must have to do quality restoration all the time. (Fred Leighton or A La Ville Russe in NY, for example)

On line? I dunno...I''d probably email Ari at Singlestone (with before/after pictures) and see what he says...

widget

 

[surfgirl]

widget, I'm glad to hear you recommend Ari at Single Stone too. I thought him very knowledgeable and since his shop has benchmen who specialize in both antique restoration and reproductions, I think he'd be a good person to speak with. He's a really nice guy too.

I'd also call Michael Goldstein Ltd. in NYC. He is a big dealer in antique stones and though I'm not sure he actually does settings in house, he'd probably be able to refer you to someone good. I spoke to him when I was looking for antique stones initially and he was also very nice to speak with.

Lastly, I forgot to mention that the owner of that La Jolla shop, her father is a long time dealer in antique stones up in SF area. I think widget's bought something from him. I'd bet he would also know some good craftsmen to take this on.

But again Ellen, I know you're distraught over this and I would be too if it was me, but it looks very fixable. As you said, worst case scenario, they remove the stone and rebuild the center square area and it's good as new.

ETA: I'm also interested in hearing who Dave and others recommend...

 

[Skippy123]

Ellen, hugs and prayers this all gets worked out for the best.

 

[Ellen]

Widget, thanks for the suggestions. I really don''t want to take it someplace near here, as I don''t know someone who KNOWS someone who can do a good job. And that''s the problem with other suggestions of people that they "think" could do it. I want someone to say, I have had work done/I have seen their work firsthand and I know they can do it. I''m sorry if I seem like I''m being obstinate, but considering what I''ve been through, I can''t help it. I mean, I "thought" this jeweler could tighten prongs, obviously I was wrong. I just don''t want to leave anything to chance this time around, yanno? I need someone concrete.



surfgirl, I know it''s probably fixable. It''s not just the fact that he mauled my ring that is upsetting me. It''s the fact that he took an heirloom and seemingly without a second thought screwed it up and sent it back as pretty as you please. Unless he was blind (which at this point is debatable) he knew what this looked like, and didn''t seem to care. That kind of attitude just galls me. If I were a jeweler, I wouldn''t dream of sending back a piece that looked like that. If I couldn''t get it right, I''d find someone who could.


And it''s also the fact that now I have to send it out again. You run a slight risk every time you do that. $hit happens. And the risk of messing with the ring again period. Plus, now how much is this gonna cost me?

Sorry, it''s just everything. I''ll get over it, but it''s gonna take a few days.

Thank you Miss Skippy.



If any expert wants to chime in with a good suggestion, feel free.

 

[lumpkin]

Ellen, I just SAW this now. I''m sorry about your ring. Geesh! What was he thinking. I wonder if he even did it, or if he gave it to a benchman who works for him. Maybe the benchman got it wrong? I definitely would not let him have it to work on again. And I''d let him know I didn''t want to pay for it, and I''d tell him why and send pictures. I wonder if he even looked at it before it was sent to you.

I have no idea where you are, but is there anywhere within a few hours you could drive to? I''d want to check out the store or facility, look at the work done by that jeweler''s bench people, and make sure it was someone who I could see and talk to face to face. Are there any jewlers that have antique/estate jewelry within that area range? That is where I would start. If there''s no one within that area range, I''d ask Dave Atlas for a long distance reference. Even if there *is* someone within a 3 hour distance, I''d still probably consult with him to find out what questions to ask and what to look for.

Doncha just hate it when this kind of thing happens during a long weekend or over a holiday???? I am sorry. But I''m also confident that it can be worked out, and that you will find someone who can do it.

 

[Ellen]

lumpkin, thanks you.

I waited to respond to you, hoping I''d have spoken to the jeweler by now and would have something to report also. I called this morning and got a voice message, he''s not called back yet though.

 

[surfgirl]

ellen, anxiously awaiting news and hope you''re feeling a tiny bit better today

 

[Manmountain]

Ellen,
In 37 years on the bench, I don''t think that I have ever seen this particular stunt. I seen some close to it, but there was no reason to do this to your ring. Find another jeweler and have those new beads removed and have the plate re millgrained. If the stone needs to be tightened, the graver should used behind the original beads. The original beads appear to have been fine. You need''nt know how to do this, just take it to another jeweler.