jeweler lost my original settings--what now?

[lnl]

I took two rings into a jeweler to have a custom piece made using the diamonds. One was my gold seven diamond anniversary band and one was my grandmother''s solitaire set on 6mm gold band that I inherited six months ago. I told the jeweler I wanted both rings back and he assured me they would be well taken care of. Well, I picked up the custom piece this weekend and they have not been able to find the original settings. I am especially upset at losing my grandmother''s setting as my mother has been planning on wearing the setting with a new diamond as soon as I go it back. Of course, she is very angry and upset. I am wondering what you would expect the jeweler to do to attempt to remedy this situation. He has offered to remake the settings free of charge, but we do not want that as all sentimental value would be gone. He has also offered to pay what it would cost him to get these settings, but we feel this is the very minimum he should do and does not represent a real attempt to make up for this loss. What should I expect in this situation?

 

[Ellen]

lnl, I will let the experts advise, I just wanted to say how very sorry I am this happened.

 

[denverappraiser]

I’m sorry for your loss.

Whatever they do to replace it, the new piece will be a different ring and the ‘sentimental value’ is going to be different. Assuming that they can’t find the old one, which I’m sure they would love to do if they could, these are the only real alternatives available to them. There is no 100% solution here and the key is to decide what you want out of this situation. Frankly, this offer seem pretty reasonable to me. For whatever it’s worth, this same deal is what you would be offered by most insurance companies were you to have had a policy on the piece and filed a claim. Another alternative is to have them make a new but completely different piece of comparable value that can become the beginning of a new chain of sentimental value and that won’t remind you of the loss by being ‘almost’ like your grandmothers.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[cwj]

Good Luck,

Several years ago I took my e/r to have maintance done. The same jeweler had made the ring for me. I had my e/r center stone 1. ct and then had him put two of my G/M wedding stones on each side. The whole ring was lost! He offered to replace the ring, which is really all he could do, but it wasn''t the same w/o G/M stones. It was just another ring after that, no engagement stone, no g/m stones. It is awful for that to happen, but he can only do so much. And atleast u still have the stone. I have learned to be very careful about who I leave my rings with, and I never just drop them off and wait until they can get to it. I have them call when they are ready to start work and I ask how long. I keep a check on the progress often and I pick up as soon as they r done.

I hope he finds your mountings, but I wouldn''t hold my breath. Just try to work something out with him.

cwj

 

[Jenn5504]

I am VERY sorry.......

You are right, nothing will "replace" such sentimental items. Very very sad.

 

[adni]

I think you should keep the relationship cordial and professional. I''m sure the jeweler feels terrible about the situation and will try to remedy the situation as best they can. Their reputation is worth more than your business, so they should give you at least the market value of the rings you lost. I doubt they can give you much more than that because sentimental value is impossible to accurately value, but they definitely shouldn''t try to get out on the cheap.

I''m sorry for you''re loss. Please post what they offer to you.

 

[lauralu]

may I ask, how does a jeweler loose jewlery? Don''t they put them somewhere with in a system of some sort to pull them out and work on them? How do they get lost? Is there maybe theft involved within the bussiness?

 

[LegacyGirl]

I''m so sorry this happened!!

 

[Cleo]

Hello and welcome to PS - I''m sorry that you are joining us under such sad circumstances. *hugs*

Is it possible for you to ask the jeweller if there is any way that you can go ''behind the scenes'' as it were and help to try and track down the settings, as they are of such great sentimental value to you.

The things is with this situation, that it matters more to you to find the originals than it does to the jeweller. How much effort are they prepared to put into finding them? Nowhere near as much as you would be, I''m sure. Maybe offering to help might just spur them into having a PROPER look. Things don''t just vanish into thin air, and they have a professional (and legal) responsibility towards looking after your property while it is in their care.

Let''s assume they can''t be found.

Firstly I would make it clear that you would return any money or replacement settings immediately, should the originals turn up. That way, you still have a chance of getting them returned to you. I would even phone up every week or two weeks to enquire if they have materialised.

What would I want if it were me?

I would want, at least, a WRITTEN apology, along with their assurance that every effort has been made to find your settings, and an explanation as to how they came to be lost in the first place.

I would also want their WRITTEN assurance that the settings will be returned to you, should they be found.

I feel that a bouquet of flowers each for you, and for your mother would not go amiss under the circumstances.

It is then entirely up to you if you want copies of the settings made, if you would like to be reimbursed in cash, or if you would like to be allowed to choose another piece of jewellery from the shop instead. Decide what it is that YOU want - and then tell the jeweller.

Only by letting him know exactly what it is you want can he help to make it up to you in the best way possible.

I would put all of my requests to the jeweller in writing, and keep a copy for yourself.

I hope that your original settings will turn up, but that if they don''t that you can still achieve some form of satisfactory resolution.

x x x

 

[lnl]

Just wanted to let everyone know they found the rings today!

 

[AnitaT]

Date: 4/1/2008 10:07:50 PM
Author: lnl
Just wanted to let everyone know they found the rings today!

lnl,
Wonderful! Tell us what happened!

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 4/1/2008 10:07:50 PM
Author: lnl
Just wanted to let everyone know they found the rings today!

yea!!!!
They likely got thrown in the scrap metal bucket.