JA Engraved Engagement Ring - False Advertising?

[PROOF]

Originally Posted 2/20 in Jewelry Pieces forum.

I just bought an engagement ring from jamesallen.com, and I gotta say that it is not what I was expecting. I'm looking to get a second opinion on this because I'm not an expert with jewelry, and I've been taking the advice I've seen on these forums on many of the decisions that I have made so far.

The ring is in 18K White Gold, channel set with engraving. My concern is with the engraving. When compared to the laser etched engraving on the website, the actual ring looks like it was carved with a chisel! Take a look...



A Different high resolution image from jamesallen.com

A high resolution photo of the ring I received

I'm currently working with JamesAllen to see if they can make this right, but in the mean time I would like to know...

Am I just being too picky about the design here?
Would platinum engrave better than the 18K White Gold?
Am I expecting too much for the price?

Thanks!

UPDATE 1 2/20: So far I haven't been able to accomplish much with James Allen, even after Josh from JA agreed that the image online appears to be laser engraved while most of their designs are made in a cast. He said that they haven't received other complaints on the issue, which I understood as saying that it really isn't a problem with their merchandise, but with my interpretation of it.

I'm asking them for actual photographs of other rings with the same design to compare or to see if it's a quality control issue, but they are unable to provide any photos of this design and saying that any other copy of the ring will look the same. I find it pretty hard to believe that they couldn't take a quick snapshot of this ring, or at least ask their supplier to do so.

I'm still going back and forth with them through email, so I hope to report back soon.

UPDATE 2 2/21: I'm not getting any sympathy from the James Allen staff. Here is the last email they sent me:

The renderings on our web-site of the 1716# line unfortunately do not show the way that it is actually engraved accurately. This has been passed on to management who is aware of the engraving difference seen on the web-site versus how it actually looks in real life. I imagine the images will be corrected however, since we just launched our new web-site we are working through several glitches that are ahead of that one so it may take some time before the images are updated to reflect the engraving you received. This was not a QC issue as all of that line is made just like the one you received. Any of our engraved settings will have that deeper set of engraving rather than the etching you see on our images.

So they basically admit that the website is advertising products that don't exist and fixing that problem is not a high priority for them. For a company that does all of it's business online in an industry of high-value goods trying to overcome peoples fears of buying online, I'm shocked by their stance. I spent weeks deciding what diamond stone and setting to purchase, and waited 2 weeks to have it delivered, and now this? What should I do?

 

[HopeDream]

I'm sorry that your ring doesn't match what you expected.

CAD images can be a bit idealized, which is unexpected if you've never encountered them before.
With this sort of design I'm not sure there's much JA can do - maybe have someone hand-engrave touch-ups?

I wonder if they'd let you switch to a different setting design?

Settings are expensive and Styles change quickly. Because there are so many different ring sizes and styles, settings are often cast on demand, rather than stock-piled to avoid dead inventory. I don't think JA is trying to be unhelpful - many smaller companies just don't keep a lot of settings on hand.

 

[WillyDiamond]

Diamonds are alot of money, so is the setting, if you are not 100% happy, return it.

Edit. I looked at the 2 pictures side by side, they are not even close. Something went wrong here.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I honestly would want real hand engraving if I got an engraved ring. So I would return this one and start over.

I do not like those computer images of the rings on James Allen at all. I would prefer to see the actual rings.

 

[ame]

Assuming you're happy with the stone, I would just get a refund on the setting and start over elsewhere or get a simple plain one for the proposal and let the intended pick her own setting.

 

[YoungPapa]

Hi Proof,

Sadly, engraving is probably the one thing that our 3D design team understood most poorly, and fixing the problem isn't something we can do quickly or easily. If you don't like the ring we will gladly take it back for a full refund or exchange, although my sense is more that it wasn't what you expected (rather than being poor quality).

As diamondseeker stated, many people just don't relate to these images, so one of our big projects this year is to make all of the 3D images more life-like and accurate, as well as include more "real" images to the ring libraries. Both of those efforts in concert with each other should avoid these types of surprises in the future.

If there is anything I can do to help you personally, just call the office and ask for me by name.

All the best,

 

[diamondseeker2006]

That is good news, Jim! I think it will be very helpful to have actual photos!

 

[Karl_K]

That is good news, Jim! I think it will be very helpful to have actual photos!

ditto the ring sent to the OP is not even close to the ring on the website.
Minor variations would be normal but the engraving is night and day different.
I would get my money back and move on if I had my heart set on an engraved setting.
However keep in mind real engraving is a lot more $$$ than cast patterns.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

That is good news, Jim! I think it will be very helpful to have actual photos!

ditto the ring sent to the OP is not even close to the ring on the website.
Minor variations would be normal but the engraving is night and day different.
I would get my money back and move on if I had my heart set on an engraved setting.
However keep in mind real engraving is a lot more $$$ than cast patterns.

I am not positive, but I think Beverley K rings are cast but hand engraved. That might be a good place to start as they would be less than totally handmade. But yes, more than this one.

 

[Laila619]

I would switch to a different setting.

 

[Karl_K]

That is good news, Jim! I think it will be very helpful to have actual photos!

ditto the ring sent to the OP is not even close to the ring on the website.
Minor variations would be normal but the engraving is night and day different.
I would get my money back and move on if I had my heart set on an engraved setting.
However keep in mind real engraving is a lot more $$$ than cast patterns.

I am not positive, but I think Beverley K rings are cast but hand engraved. That might be a good place to start as they would be less than totally handmade. But yes, more than this one.

There are a few companies that cast the basic pattern then hand engrave from there cleaning it up and others that use a cast ring as the base then hand engrave, both options are much more expensive than casting patterns into the ring then polishing and sending it out the door.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

That is good news, Jim! I think it will be very helpful to have actual photos!

ditto the ring sent to the OP is not even close to the ring on the website.
Minor variations would be normal but the engraving is night and day different.
I would get my money back and move on if I had my heart set on an engraved setting.
However keep in mind real engraving is a lot more $$$ than cast patterns.

I am not positive, but I think Beverley K rings are cast but hand engraved. That might be a good place to start as they would be less than totally handmade. But yes, more than this one.

There are a few companies that cast the basic pattern then hand engrave from there cleaning it up and others that use a cast ring as the base then hand engrave, both options are much more expensive than casting patterns into the ring then polishing and sending it out the door.

Yep, as they say, you get what you pay for (in most cases)!

 

[JulieN]

Maybe because I know better, but I would never expect to actually receive a ring that looked like that CAD rendering.

 

[VRBeauty]

However keep in mind real engraving is a lot more $$$ than cast patterns.

I am not positive, but I think Beverley K rings are cast but hand engraved. That might be a good place to start as they would be less than totally handmade. But yes, more than this one.

There are a few companies that cast the basic pattern then hand engrave from there cleaning it up and others that use a cast ring as the base then hand engrave, both options are much more expensive than casting patterns into the ring then polishing and sending it out the door.

Yep, as they say, you get what you pay for (in most cases)!

Yes, you do get what you pay for, and if a bargain seems too good to be true it usually is, etc. etc....

That doesn't take away from the fact that JA appeared to be one thing for sale and sending out another. And that for most people only search for and buy an engagement ring once, so they don't have the intrinsic understanding of what a hand-engraved ring "should" cost, or how a finished ring "should" compare to a CAD, that a Rocky Talky regular might have. What I'm saying is that I understand why the OP would reach the conclusion that JA was engaging in false advertising or using a bait and switch tactics.

To the OP - you were probably expecting to see more agreement or outrage here. You're not seeing that reaction in part because many of us are aware that James Allen recently expanded their line - greatly - to offer a wider range of ring options, and it could be argued that they're still in a shake-down period for these new ring options. Plus, we've seen JA make sure that the customer went away satisfied on other occasions. So we reach the conclusion that JA is dealing in good faith and not intentionally misrepresenting their products. At least, that's still how I read the situation.

That said, there have been a quite a few people here lately with complaints about their JA experience...

 

[Julia_SD]

Seems to me that if James Allen wants to post CADs as the one and only representation of the product even as a temporary measure that then they need to state clearly on every listing that this is just a computer rendering of the design concept and that the actual ring may vary from the appearance of the provided pictures. Anything short of this short-changes the average shopper who has no way of knowing....Doesn't it seem ironic that James Allen advertises it's hi-def pictures of 20,000+ diamonds as a critical component of the engagement ring selection process, but can't provide similar pictures for 100ish settings?

 

[chrono]

I think on a few designs, there is an option to see the real settings that customers purchased. I did so when looking for a setting for my EC from JA, and seeing how different the finish looked from the CAD rending, I decided on a simple plain temporary setting.

 

[PROOF]

OP here. I want to thank everyone for all the feedback on this, especially Mr. JA himself for taking the time to respond.

I think on a few designs, there is an option to see the real settings that customers purchased. I did so when looking for a setting for my EC from JA, and seeing how different the finish looked from the CAD rending, I decided on a simple plain temporary setting.

JA does post photos of some of the rings that are purchased, but unfortunately it's all from the top down. They actually just posted the photo of the ring I bought online.

That doesn't take away from the fact that JA appeared to be one thing for sale and sending out another. And that for most people only search for and buy an engagement ring once, so they don't have the intrinsic understanding of what a hand-engraved ring "should" cost, or how a finished ring "should" compare to a CAD, that a Rocky Talky regular might have. What I'm saying is that I understand why the OP would reach the conclusion that JA was engaging in false advertising or using a bait and switch tactics.

Yup. I only plan to purchase one engagement ring in this lifetime, and can only do so much research before the time comes for me to propose to my special someone. I wasn't familiar with the process the JA uses to cast their rings, and when I saw the image of an engraved ring described on the website as "Engraved Channel Set Princess Shaped Diamond Engagement Ring", I was expecting an engraved ring that matched up with the pictures on the website. It looks like I didn't get either of those. Another user actually described the setting as having a "melted" look.

I want to be happy with the ring I choose for her from the beginning, and so I've decided to part ways with this setting and I'm going to ask about exchanging it for a different one that hopefully will meet my expectations. Meanwhile, here's a few more photos of the actual ring for reference.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Jim Schultz, is there any way for him to get a Gabriel and Co. setting? They have a few engraved settings that look somewhat better.

http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER6636W4JJJ

http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER8690W4JJJ

 

[diamonds-are-friends]

if it doesn't live up to your expectations, i would send it back and get my money back. no amount of justification from anyone else should waver your opinion because it's your opinion that really matters.

 

[MsP]

I think you made the right choice in sending it back.

I hope you've found another setting that you love. Thank you for posting your experience because I think it's important to highlight the difference between cad and reality and JA's interpretation.

 

[WillyDiamond]

This is a bad experience in my book, as I said earlier I would get my money back, thank JA, and move on.

 

[denverappraiser]

Originally Posted 2/20 in Jewelry Pieces forum.
When compared to the laser etched engraving on the website, the actual ring looks like it was carved with a chisel! Take a look...

Just a random observation. The finest hand engraving is done with a tool called a graver, which is basically carving with a chisel. Purists count lasers as cheating and it's not 'real' engraving unless it's done this way.

 

[PROOF]

Jim Schultz, is there any way for him to get a Gabriel and Co. setting? They have a few engraved settings that look somewhat better.

http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER6636W4JJJ

http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER8690W4JJJ

Thanks for pointing out gabrielny, they have some really fantastic looking engraved styles on their site . For example http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/style/ER4178PT4JJ

I'm on the opposite coast from New York though, how would I go about having my diamond attached to their settings?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Gabriel and Co is carried by jewelers across the US. Your best bet is to try to find a jeweler near you who carries the line and have them help you.

http://www.gabrielny.com/engaged/locations

I assume you will have your diamond unset before sending the JA setting back? If not, I would ask James Allen if they could get your diamond over to Gabriel because I believe they are just a short distance from each other. Not sure if that can work or not.

 

[VRBeauty]

Please note that the Gabriel & Co. site does not indicate that these rings are "engraved." If you look closely it does not appear that they are engraved, but rather that they are cast to look like they were engraved. That said, the casting is far superior to that of the JA ring. This thread provides (vendor's) photos of a finished engraved-style Gabriel & Co. ring:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/bn-signature-ags-000-e-si1-53-e-ring-3-000.177397/

 

[PROOF]

Please note that the Gabriel & Co. site does not indicate that these rings are "engraved." If you look closely it does not appear that they are engraved, but rather that they are cast to look like they were engraved. That said, the casting is far superior to that of the JA ring. This thread provides (vendor's) photos of a finished engraved-style Gabriel & Co. ring:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/bn-signature-ags-000-e-si1-53-e-ring-3-000.177397/

Thanks for this. I got a hold of Gabriel NY and they told me that they use hand engraved designs to make the the molds from which future settings are cast from. Every design is then reviewed, and the miligrain detailing is done by hand! They were also able to find the actual setting and provide me a photo. While not perfect, I think the Gabriel & Co renderings are significantly more accurate to the actual ring than those provided by JA!

Here's a comparison shot:

 

[Niel]

If you are starting from scratch and looking at other vendors this BG one is really pretty. I'll see if I can find the PS thread where someone has this, but I think its really lovely and I like the head.
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/pave-and-side-stones/engraved-cathedral-18k-white-gold-5453w18