My hands hate rings, help!

[acezarra]

I got engaged a couple of years ago and married a year and a half ago. About six months ago I bought a diamond band to go with my engagement ring. The ring is an eleven stone platinum bead set ring. The diamonds are five points each. I bought it to wear with my ering all the time. Why have something so pretty if I can't wear it all the time, right? Well, shortly after purchasing the band I lost a diamond. I sent it back to the jeweler and they fixed it. I was told it was under warranty but then when they received it they said it was badly worn, pitted, and misshapen. After much discussion the jeweler did cover the fix and shipped back the ring to me. They told me to be careful with my ring. Fast forward a month later and I lost a diamond again. I had been more careful and had actually checked the ring that morning as we were going out for a date to a concert. My clapping must have been too much. The diamond lost was the one at the end if the band. I sent it back to the jeweler. Now I am at a standstill. I know I will not wear the ring again because I am too worried about damaging it again. The jeweler recommended a different band but it had diamonds all around the ring and I think that would be even worse. What should I do? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dk168]

Channel set the remaining diamonds instead?

I hate claws ever since I lost the imperial jade centre stone of my mum's ring when I was at a function, hence I would only have bezel or pave settings nowadays.

DK

 

[acezarra]

I actually had a channel set band first and it just didn't do it for me. The diamonds didn't sparkle and I didn't like the way it looked with my ring.

 

[starrylight]

Are you wearing your rings while you sleep?

 

[acezarra]

Yes, I want something I can wear all the time.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

My Mother had a 3/4 eternity ring and constantly chipped the stones on the ends of the band. It also was ring she wore all the time and with her solitaire.

I don't know what to suggest, perhaps a 5 stone wedding ring...where the stones sit more on top vs. the sides of your fingers? Perhaps there is more wear and tear laterally....

cheers--Sharon

 

[CharmyPoo]

I have a 5 stone that I am not careful with. It is prong set not too different from yours - never had a problem. Could it be a workmanship issue?

 

[Circe]

I have a 5 stone that I am not careful with. It is prong set not too different from yours - never had a problem. Could it be a workmanship issue?

I would respectfully second this. I'm an idiot with my rings. I wear them to bed, I forget to take them off when I'm making jewelry half the time, occasionally it slips my mind that I have them on when I go to do chin-ups ... and they're fine. I had to take my anniversary ring in to my jeweler the other day to have the prongs redone (he'd made these teeny-tiny double beaded prongs initially, gorgeous, but impractical) and he commented on how well I kept them. Well, I think the credit goes to him, and his predecessors who made the vintage pieces that I love - I put the poor things through the ringer, but good craftsmanship stands up to it!

That said, I do tend to gravitate towards, a) channel-set bands (I like square cuts more in channels, though that's totally a matter of taste ... but I also find it's easier to keep them sparkling than it is with rounds, somehow), b) vintage, die-cast pieces, which are made of adamantium or something (not a real metal, total geek reference), and, c) bezels, like DK. Perhaps it might be worth either resetting, or exploring other options in the styles you like to see if it's not a problem with anything you are doing, but perhaps a problem with the rings?

 

[baby monster]

You can try the setting with 4 prongs around each stone instead of shared prong design you have now. There was a thread some time ago with the same issue of losing stones from shared prong setting. The poster changed to 4 prong setting and the issue was resolved. You can also go with bezels if channel setting doesn't do it for you.

Do you work with your hands? I.e. more than typical office job. Do you swim in your rings?

 

[motownmama]

Clapping your hands=losing a stone??? I'd be in big trouble! I wear my rings 24/7 - sleep, swim, housework. I've never lost a stone. Going "out of round" in one night? This defies reason to me. How soft is this metal? Sounds impossible. Can you return the ring and get something else? It's very very strange to me.

 

[acezarra]

HI:

My Mother had a 3/4 eternity ring and constantly chipped the stones on the ends of the band. It also was ring she wore all the time and with her solitaire.

I don't know what to suggest, perhaps a 5 stone wedding ring...where the stones sit more on top vs. the sides of your fingers? Perhaps there is more wear and tear laterally....

cheers--Sharon

Thanks for the suggestion. I definitely want to avoid chipping all the time. I would be stressed out (as I am currently) that I was going to lose a stone.

 

[acezarra]

I have a 5 stone that I am not careful with. It is prong set not too different from yours - never had a problem. Could it be a workmanship issue?

I am not sure if it's a workmanship issue. I would hate to think that it was. The jeweler is a pricescope vendor and I have worked with them many times. They have great reviews here and I really like their company. When I shipped it back the first time they tested the metal and said it was fine. I just don't understand what's happening.

 

[acezarra]

I have a 5 stone that I am not careful with. It is prong set not too different from yours - never had a problem. Could it be a workmanship issue?

I would respectfully second this. I'm an idiot with my rings. I wear them to bed, I forget to take them off when I'm making jewelry half the time, occasionally it slips my mind that I have them on when I go to do chin-ups ... and they're fine. I had to take my anniversary ring in to my jeweler the other day to have the prongs redone (he'd made these teeny-tiny double beaded prongs initially, gorgeous, but impractical) and he commented on how well I kept them. Well, I think the credit goes to him, and his predecessors who made the vintage pieces that I love - I put the poor things through the ringer, but good craftsmanship stands up to it!

That said, I do tend to gravitate towards, a) channel-set bands (I like square cuts more in channels, though that's totally a matter of taste ... but I also find it's easier to keep them sparkling than it is with rounds, somehow), b) vintage, die-cast pieces, which are made of adamantium or something (not a real metal, total geek reference), and, c) bezels, like DK. Perhaps it might be worth either resetting, or exploring other options in the styles you like to see if it's not a problem with anything you are doing, but perhaps a problem with the rings?

I want a ring that I can wear regardless of what I'm doing which sounds like you have found. I want something that sparkles and compliments my engagement ring. I think I've lost hope. I keep getting tolda I'm too hard on my hands. I didn't know there was such a thing.

 

[acezarra]

You can try the setting with 4 prongs around each stone instead of shared prong design you have now. There was a thread some time ago with the same issue of losing stones from shared prong setting. The poster changed to 4 prong setting and the issue was resolved. You can also go with bezels if channel setting doesn't do it for you.

Do you work with your hands? I.e. more than typical office job. Do you swim in your rings?

I teach so I'm not doing anything too rough. I don't swim that often but I have worn them swimming.

 

[acezarra]

Clapping your hands=losing a stone??? I'd be in big trouble! I wear my rings 24/7 - sleep, swim, housework. I've never lost a stone. Going "out of round" in one night? This defies reason to me. How soft is this metal? Sounds impossible. Can you return the ring and get something else? It's very very strange to me.

I am not sure what my options are at this point. I still haven't heard back from the jeweler. I think it's strange too. I've never met anyone who has had this issue.