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Jeweler has warned me against getting micro-pavé band

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Erin80

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Hi, I''ve requested a semi-eternity micro-pavé band for my wedding band from my jeweler.
It would look like this, sorry, can''t inbed the pic while at the office.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/1-50-CT-F-VS1-DIAMOND-WEDDING-BAND-18K-MICRO-PAVE-RING_W0QQitemZ270343462945QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Wedding_Bands_with_Diamonds_Gemstones?hash=item270343462945&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1215%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

The jeweler came back with my price but advised against it because of the setting. He said the stones would fall out within 6 months and I''d be peeved.

Is he exaggerating? Do most ppl know to stay away from this type of band? I''m really hung up on getting one because I''m in love with the micro-pavé look, but naturally I don''t want to throw my money away.

Should I get over the micro-pavé or should I go for it, and just be careful about the stones (and maybe purchase a warranty plan from the jeweler for loose/missing stones).

P.S. My e-ring is white gold so I am intent on the 18k WG - some ppl have suggested getting it done in platinum because it''s stronger but it''s not an option.

Thanks all!!!
 

tyty333

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I would like to know the answer to this also. I love the look of halos but I''m wondering if its easy to
loose diamonds out of settings like that. I like to wear my rings all the time (except while doing
heavy cleaning) so this is a good question.
 

Gypsy

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Pave falls out. The more pave you have, the more pave is likely to fall out. That''s why it''s so important to make sure you buy good quality pave (there is a LOT of bad pave out there) from a place that WILL back their products and replace lost stones for you free of charge. I would not buy from ebay. Neatfreak has a ring that is similar to that, she bought from Facets, you could ask her how her''s has been as I know Facets has reasonable quality and nice stones.
 

Deelight

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Micropave is beautiful but it is more fragile then some other settings you would need to baby the ring and you can''t use an ultrasonic cleaner. Chances are sometime down the line you will need to replace a stone here and there but it is usually easily done.
 

Catmom

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I think it depends upon how the setting was made. I have had my ring for a year and a half and wear it 24/7 except to clean it and shower and I have never had a stone fall out. I know others have had problems with stones falling out pretty much from day one.
 

Erin80

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Ya, I wouldn''t be buying from Ebay, but I''d be having that ring duplicated by my jeweler. From replies so far, it sounds like it''s a gamble. Some stones stay put, some don''t.

Is there a certain type of micro-pavé setting I can request that holds up better than the weak pavé? I wasn''t aware there were several ways to get that same look...

The jeweler will do what I want, but he doesn''t recommend the ring because he thinks I''ll be disappointed. I don''t intend to do any major mechanical/heavy duty work in it or anything, so I do understand I''ll have to be careful with it.
 

TheDoctor

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These CAD-produced micro-pave'' rings are notorious for stone loss because the manufacturers simply plug holes with diamonds and shove the tiny prongs around, hoping they trap the diamonds long enough so that everyone gets paid.
True pave'' setting has a similar appearance, but the setting technique is much more labour-intensive. The results, however, are far better. If done well, the stones won''t loosen or fall out. A good setter will guarantee the work.
As for platinum, we have just removed all of the diamonds from a pave'' set ring that is about 10 years old because the settings were so "smeared" from wear.
We are completely re-producing the ring in 19 karat white gold, whereby the settings will withstand the wear for more than a generation rather than a few years.
For those who don''t comprehend the "smeary" nature of platinum, here are a couple of photos of another platinum ring we have scrapped for this very reason. Less than 2 years old, and from another manufacturer.

Scarring.jpg
 

Gypsy

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It's in the quality of the pave. What your jeweler is telling you is he doesn't have confidence in his pave work from past experience. So if you want that design, you should get it from someone who is a pave specialist and knows how to set those stones so that they stay put. Your jeweler is trying to keep your business, but steer you away from something beyond his skills, so either the ring goes and the jeweler stays, or the jeweler goes and the ring stays. Good pave costs SERIOUS money, as it's all hand set tediously, and is labor intensive. Bad pave is cheap, and well... you get what you pay for.
 

Erin80

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Ok, what is "true pavé"? Is there a term to describe the real pavé setting? That''s what I''ll ask for if there''s a better shot the stones will stay put.
 

Gypsy

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Usually it means not cad and cast. Handmade handset, giant magnifying glass, lots of tiny stones, itty bitty pieces of metal holding the stones in, one by one.
 

Indira-London

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Date: 2/12/2009 9:12:39 AM
Author: Catmom
I think it depends upon how the setting was made. I have had my ring for a year and a half and wear it 24/7 except to clean it and shower and I have never had a stone fall out. I know others have had problems with stones falling out pretty much from day one.

Providing that you buy from a quality vendor who guarantees their work and will replace any diamond when required, you should have the style you like.
As Catmom says its all about who made the setting and what they will cover.
There is a really useful article from Leon Mege about dos and don''t of micropave which explains to you why some people have problems and others don''t!
http://www.artofplatinum.com/articles/micropave.php
 

neatfreak

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Date: 2/12/2009 9:23:10 AM
Author: Erin80
Ok, what is ''true pavé''? Is there a term to describe the real pavé setting? That''s what I''ll ask for if there''s a better shot the stones will stay put.

It''s more about the skill of the jeweler than anything else. If your jeweler is telling you that the stones will fall out in 6 months, it means he doesn''t have the skill to do it, so personally I would NEVER hire such a person to make a ring like this. But there are many people who CAN make rings like this without many problems.

I wear my ring 24/7 and have been for over a year. I also put it in the ultrasonic and haven''t lost a stone yet. As gypsy said my ring is from Facets.
 

Imdanny

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What is this "smeary" nature of platinum? Platinum with ruthenium alloy doesn''t behave this way, does it?
32.gif
 

Hudson_Hawk

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My Ering has pave and I love it. I love the look. I wear it all the time, except to clean, cook, and sleep (my fingers swell). I also use an ultrasonic to clean my ring, and on a pretty regular basis. I lost the same stone twice in the early days of using the US. Yes, it was annoying, but my jeweler had a 1 year warranty on the setting. I purposely US''d the heck out of the ring prior to the end of the warranty, so I could take care of any problem areas. I''ve not had a single stone fall out since then and I continue to use the US. My ring has pave on 3 sides of the shank and on the basket and halo. The stone I lost was in the halo on one of the sharper corners.
 

neatfreak

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Date: 2/12/2009 9:29:34 AM
Author: Imdanny
What is this 'smeary' nature of platinum? Platinum with ruthenium alloy doesn't behave this way, does it?
32.gif

All platinum does it over a long time (at least I am unfamiliar with any alloy that prevents it). Platinum bends and moves instead of wearing off. It's normal, it's always done it, and IMO it isn't a big deal. I'd still set pave in platinum over WG any day, as would most vendors.
 

elle_chris

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Date: 2/12/2009 9:28:07 AM
Author: neatfreak

Date: 2/12/2009 9:23:10 AM
Author: Erin80
Ok, what is ''true pavé''? Is there a term to describe the real pavé setting? That''s what I''ll ask for if there''s a better shot the stones will stay put.

It''s more about the skill of the jeweler than anything else. If your jeweler is telling you that the stones will fall out in 6 months, it means he doesn''t have the skill to do it, so personally I would NEVER hire such a person to make a ring like this. But there are many people who CAN make rings like this without many problems.

I wear my ring 24/7 and have been for over a year. I also put it in the ultrasonic and haven''t lost a stone yet. As gypsy said my ring is from Facets.
This is true. Pave can and probably will fall out eventually. But if non cast and made by a jeweler who specializes in it, you shouldn''t have any real problems with it.

TheDoctor- my wedding band has pave on one side. The ring was not cast and the work is incredible. After having it for over 4 years, the platinum looks NOTHING like the pic you posted. I have macro shots of the ring and while it''s a bit dinged as I have banged it up, there''s no "smear". In fact, nothing that even comes close to looking like that.
 

atroop711

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Date: 2/12/2009 9:02:19 AM
Author: tyty333
I would like to know the answer to this also. I love the look of halos but I''m wondering if its easy to

loose diamonds out of settings like that. I like to wear my rings all the time (except while doing

heavy cleaning) so this is a good question.


I''ve had my ring now for 4 yrs and not one stone has ever fallen out of either the halo (knock on wood ) or of my band. My setting is also white gold. To be fair..I don''t wear the ring 24/7. It''s on my hand when I''m out of my house but as soon as I get home, it comes off.
 

CrookedRock

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I''ve said it before and I''ll say it again... I have a totally paved ring from Leon, who is known around these parts as the master of pave, which is why I went with him. I lost a stone within 2 months. So I don''t care how good someone is, pave falls out. That being said, I love my ring and wouldn''t change the look of it at all. Now the stone has been missing for 7 months and the missing stone is starting to grow on me. LOL Reminds me that no one is perfect, not even Leon.
16.gif
 

elle_chris

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Crooked- Leon''s work is gorgeous but are his pieces hand made or cast?
Also, does he do the work himself or does he have benchmen?
 

Harriet

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Hi Elle,
They are hand made. Leon has benchmen (if he didn''t, he''d never get any work done, given how much he has to deal with clients), but checks each finished piece. He recognises that melee can pop out, but is more than willing to make repairs.
 

CrookedRock

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Harriet is right he has a bunch of benchmen that he has trained. I got the impression that he doesn''t do much bench work, but he did make a big point in telling me he made mine himself. I would guess he would make the repair, it just isn''t cost efficient for me to ship it back and forth for him, nor do I want to. His pieces are Gorgeous though!!
 

Harriet

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Lucky you! If only he''d make me a piece himself.
3.gif
 

CrookedRock

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Date: 2/12/2009 11:13:11 AM
Author: Harriet
Lucky you! If only he''d make me a piece himself.
3.gif
LOL I''m sure if you asked he would do anything for a customer such as yourself... at least I would hope so! I think it was the metal work that he did, I''m sure he gave someone else the awful task of setting 300+ stones... I know I would! LOL
 

Harriet

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Haha. If I had to set that many little stones, I'd go batty or blind or both.

Erin80,
I have a micropave eternity wedding band and it's a hardy little thing.
 

sabinameister

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I''ve had my micropave ring for a little over six months and I have had zero issues with it. IT''s plat by Simon G. I wear it with my Tacori Pave e-ring and zero stones have fallen out. I do bring it in every 6 months and have them use a roller to smooth any prongs down that may be loose. I beat up my band a lot more than my e-ring and I''m surprised that there has been no issues with it.

If you love it, then get it :) Each person''s experience is different with their rings, all we can do is offer our own story
1.gif


pavesaba1.jpg
 

MichelleCarmen

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Sabrina - your set is beautiful!!!

Erin - if I were you and decided to go with a pavé band, I''d get a simple platinum band as a back up ring for when going on trips or going hiking.
 

Imdanny

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Sorry Sabina, but what happened to your diamond ring? Or am I just looking at the picture wrong? It looks like it has a hole in it? Sorry just curious.
 

Tacori E-ring

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Your jeweler is right. On my years of being a PS member I have seen someone with every major brand of ring lose a melee. That being said if you love the look, have a local jeweler who will replace them for free, and won''t feel put out or annoyed if you are w/o your ring for a few days go for it. Just be aware! I actually think it is great that your jeweler warned you. I wish someone warned me!
 
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