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Platinum Repair Costs Toronto

engag1ng

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 18, 2015
Messages
5
Good evening. I would welcome some advice. I have a platinum diamond engagement ring that was made to order approx 12 years ago. Around 6 years ago I noticed the band had split where it meets the stone setting, presumably along a join. I was very upset and returned to the jeweller for repair. They said I must have hit the ring very hard (which I don't believe I did) but agreed to repair it with white gold which they assured was typical. Long story short the ring has split a further 3 times in the same place - each repair only lasting around 12 months before failing again - and this is with very little wear as I was afraid the ring was too fragile to be worn on a daily basis. After doing some research online I believe the ring should not have been repaired in this way but should have been laser welded and /or it was possibly not made correctly from the beginning. However, despite me raising these concerns with the jeweller they have insisted that the repairs they are doing are the norm. Well the ring split again 12 months ago so I decided to give up on the original jeweller and wait until I could take it elsewhere (I live in Barbados so there are limited choices there). I have had a quote for approx $380 incl tax which will involve cleaning off the white gold solder, re-aligning the head and laser welding with platinum. I would like to know if this quote is reasonable or if I should shop around and if I should get other repair quotes, where should I go? Many thanks in anticipation.
 
Do you have any pictures of the damage? Depending on the location and extent of the damage, it might be time to get a new setting, rather than attempt to fix it.

Who is the new quotation from?
Do you trust that this new bench will do a good job (to your satisfaction)?
 
Well, I can tell you that it cost a lot more to work with platinum. A couple of years ago I paid $100 to have a plat ring
resized vs the regular $30-$40 for gold.

I agree with Chrono, may be time for a new setting. Pictures would really help though.
 
Good morning - thanks for your reply. I don't have pictures as the ring is at the jewelers. I took it to Flux & Form on Sherbourne St - she will be doing the prep on the removal of the gold solder and she has someone else who will do the laser welding (I don't know who). She seemed to think it could definitely be repaired. I have attached a picture (not the actual ring) with a line showing where the ring splits - it splits cleanly rather than cracking which is why I think it must be where there is a join.

ring_damage.jpg
 
Are there any diamonds on the shank or is it a plain solitaire as pictured? If it is plain, then I'd get a new setting rather than mess with it.
 
It is plain... as shown. When you say new setting - do you mean basically a new ring i.e. remove stone and put into a whole new ring?
 
Yes, reset it into a new setting. You should be able to get a similar replacement locally easily and also not worry about the shipping and insurance hassle. It looks like a standard 4 prong setting.
 
Ok thank you Chrono - does the platinum ring minus the stone have any value i.e. what would I do with it... chuck it? Sorry if I sound clueless ....I am! Could you explain why you are suggesting a new ring rather than a repair = many thanks.
 
HI:

In the Canadian city where I live, sizing a ring $100.00. Working with Platinum is not inexpensive.

For a $400 repair, I might consider buying a new setting as well. For a new setting--I might shop around--but for the repair I suspect prices may be fairly uniform.

Good luck on your decision.

cheers--Sharon
 
I would also suggest getting a new ring. Perhaps pre-owned? $400 is too high for the repair in my opinion. Have you gone to check out some merchants at Dundas & Yonge jewelry exchange? I've bought some small items from Josephine's Jewelery (can negotiate with her) in the exchange at Shuter & Yonge location. Otherwise, sadly, I dont have anyone to refer you to in Toronto.

Edited to Add... Try checking out Bill Le Bouf jewellers in Barrie if you dont mind driving an hour. They have some pre-owned & have some fairly decent prices.
 
Hello - you have certainly given me a lot to think about.. I am now considering a new setting, possibly different style to the old one. One thing I did note though - on the example you showed, it doesn't appear that you can buy the setting only from Whiteflash. I assume it was to give me an idea on pricing for platinum. If I want a new setting, should I expect the jeweler to be reasonably close in price to the settings I see on Whiteflash with a labour cost to set the stone? I will be in Toronto until July so would be getting it done here. Thanks again for the responses - it is very helpful.
 
That is correct; the Whiteflash link is only an example to show a reasonable pricing comparison. Labour could be anywhere from $50 to $100.
 
HI:

I also wanted to add, I hope your ring is fully insured before you embark on any repair or resetting.

I do not know if any local vendors match Internet pricing--but the Can $$ is very low that buying across the border is not very reasonable at present.

cheers--Sharon
 
The Canadian merchants probably wont match the US pricing for brand name items. Downtown Toronto has a huge amount of manufacturing around the Shuter-Queen-Dundas-Victoria street corridors. Perhaps something made locally might fit in line with your budget. As Sharon said, our dollar sucks. :nono:

Check out ... loupetroop.com , diamondbistro.com, diamondzonejewelry.com (have an Ebay store), loveaffairdiamonds.com, & jewelsbygrace.com. Perhaps some members here might be able to suggest Etsy or Ebay vendors that might have settings that would be of interest. If you do buy from the US & want to pick it up in Buffalo, avoid buying from a NY State vendor. If they ship outside the state, there is no tax charged.

Here is a classic from Love Affair Diamonds...
http://www.loveaffairdiamonds.com/vintage-baguette-mounting/
 
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