Please help me with my enagagement ring! :(

[Birdiebaby4]

My fiance is incredibly sweet and proposed almost two months ago, he had help from my best friend and picked out a ring I said I loved from an ad that she held on to from years before we met. He told me initially it was the same exact ring as the ad, but later we've come to find it was similar style, not the same ring exactly. We've had to get it sized twice, and it's still not fitting right for me.

When I got it back the second time, a friend of mine looked it over (she worked in a jewelry store for a while) and mentioned it wasn't a Ritani ring (which was suprising at first, old news now) and noticed several things about it as well that the diamond in the center no longer sits straight. She asked where it was from and when I told her (it's a local jewelry/loans and trade in kind of place) she freaked out saying that kind of place sells horrible cheap jewlery and rips people off. She advised me to get it appraised (I know how much it cost to begin with) because she thinks he got ripped off even more so then he's thinking. Several places I called won't deal with rings from the place he purchased from because it's not a main designer. We have already had a diamond fall out of the wedding band, it fell out in the box before I ever saw it. It's been kind of upsetting for both of us finding all this out.

I've been told to get it appraised, which I'm considering just to make sure it's a real diamond at this point. This weekend we're taking it back about the crooked setting issue. I can deal with the fact my ring is "cheap" by standards I guess, I don't really care about all that and honestly he doesn't have the money to change the ring really and I get to upset thinking of getting another becuase he picked it out which of course is more sentimental. There's things about the setting that just bother me like crazy to deal with! I didn't known much about rings beforehand, I just always knew I liked Halo rings. I've come to realise I really like the bezel set or four prong set. Mine has six prongs and they snag on everything and I don't like how they look. The Halo part also sits very high up on the ring. Ironically I liked halos because I don't like how solitares snag and get stuck on everything....essentially my ring is both but worse cause it's got the large halo too lol. My question is, I've been reading all about people changing their rings in all kinds of ways...can I change any of these things?

Can I switch this same ring from 6 to 4 prongs or bezel? Can it be altered to sit lower? Also there's kind of bigger gap but I can't tell if that's from all the prongs around it, if I changed it would it look more uniform to the setting, or is this a diamond size issue? The reason I ask is because he feels terrible and I don't want to bring it up and have them say there's nothing they can do and have him know I'd prefer it differently and feel bad about it. Especially the diamond thing, I really don't want a bigger diamond even, I just wish it fit in the halo nicer. Please help

 

[rubybeth]

Oh, I'm sorry about all of this! I am nowhere near an expert, but it looks like a pretty ring and it also appears that there's a bit of room around the stone between the halo and the stone, so perhaps it could be made into a bezel setting which wouldn't snag as much.

Honestly, I'm not sure what an appraisal will do unless you can return the ring if it wasn't as stated when purchased.

 

[motownmama]

I'm sure some more knowledgeable folks will chime in here. First, why would a FRIEND say your ring comes from a place that sells horrible cheap jewelry and rips people off? Is that helpful? Secondly, of course something can be done to change it. It's just a matter of the cost, of course. I bet it can be lowered and bezeled, I would certainly get an opinion from a really trusted Pricescope vendor, then you can decide if it's worth it or not. I think the ring looks very pretty on your hand, by the way. I'mn rally thinking it can be tweaked, so you're happier with it, but it still maintains its look. Also, why does any jeweler need to know where it's from? It could be from Granny, back in the old country,for all they know - either they can fix it or not. Are you in a major metro area?

 

[stargurl78]

I think the ring is lovely and I like the way it looks from the side, it doesn't appear to sit too high. It does seem like there is a lot of metal around the stone so I don't see why you couldn't just remove the prongs altogether and make it bezel-set. I would only have a skilled jeweler attempt to do this though...

 

[HopeDream]

I'm sorry you're having ring trouble!

Prongs should not snag. If your prongs are snagging you should have them looked at (and probably tamped down) by a reputable local jeweller. Changing from prongs to a bezel could be possible with your ring, depending on what the Jeweller says, but if you want more major structural changes like halo lowering etc. it might be better tho have the whole thing re-made.

It does look like they used the wrong size of setting to set your stone in the first place - thus the prong issues.

If you want to re-set, Unique Settings of Newyork has some nice halo options in different heights and styles: http://www.uniquesettings.com/products/engagement_rings?page=1&ref=135 a jeweller could order one that properly fits your finger and stone size.

Since1910 also has some nice options (with prices!) http://www.since1910.com/engagement/halo-engagement-rings.aspx
They will let you purchase the setting only if you want.

 

[bunnycat]

I think your ring is very pretty! A appraisal by an independant gemologist might help with understanding the diamonds quality and cut and the setting valuation and you probably would be wise to have it done. It will probably run you about $80-100, I'm guessing.

Prongs shouldn't snag and from what I can see of the sides of your ring, I don't think it's sitting too high so it may be some other issue. Is there a big gap between where the diamond is set in the prongs and the opening for it in the setting? It may just not really be set properly in the prongs and they may need some reshaping or other clean up work or it may be something about the prongs on the pave. But please take it to someone who knows what they are doing. Check around and see if there are jewelers in town that have their own bench in the store and do setting and see if you can't have a look at their way of setting stones.

For example...and this is going to look really bad, sorry, because it's very close up taken under a jewelers loupe... here is a pic of a diamond set too high (and it caught on stuff all the time) and then the same stone reset lower in the same setting (never catches now) so you can compare how yours may be set. If the people you bought the ring from set it badly, then please don't take it back to them. If they could have done a good job, they would have.

ETA: I know it can be hard to voice a dissatisfaction with something like an e-ring. I was very unhappy with the prong and set job on mine and hubs knew it, and after a couple of weeks we sent it off to the manufacturer of the ring through the jewelry store we got the setting from and had the company redo the setting, since I was pretty sure the store wasn't going to be able to do it better and didn't want to risk it. I was much happier in the end doing that than always worrying about losing the stone.


Bad set and prong job:



Better:

 

[Mayk]

Your story makes me sad... this should be the happiest time of your life and your fiance' went out and picked out exactly what he thought you wanted and some business that chooses not to operate with the highest integrity spoils your moment.. I can relate... because that was where we started and it took almost a year to correct it... I don't have any suggestions I just want to say how sorry I am you are going through this. I hope you can find a solution so you both can start to enjoy your ring (without losing stones, or prongs that catch and that it fits like you would like).... It's a lovely setting style.. and looks lovely on your hand.

 

[Birdiebaby4]

Thank you all for your replies! The jewlers were not super helpful, they're resetting in the 6 prong (because it's crooked) and claimed they "forgot" to give my fiance the paperwork saying its certified. We're getting it sized down a quarter size so it will fit my finger better and getting a small diamond replaced that looks black in certain lighting.

They claimed there was no way they could go from a 6 prong to either a 4 prong or a bezel set....we both kind of thought that was strange since I've posted on two boards for opinions and everyone I've spoken with seemed to agree it could be done as long as the person was reputable We're planning on taking it elsewhere after we get it back, getting it appraised, insured, and looked at to see if it can be altered.

 

[_kat]

My fiance is incredibly sweet and proposed almost two months ago, he had help from my best friend and picked out a ring I said I loved from an ad that she held on to from years before we met. He told me initially it was the same exact ring as the ad, but later we've come to find it was similar style, not the same ring exactly. We've had to get it sized twice, and it's still not fitting right for me.

When I got it back the second time, a friend of mine looked it over (she worked in a jewelry store for a while) and mentioned it wasn't a Ritani ring (which was suprising at first, old news now) and noticed several things about it as well that the diamond in the center no longer sits straight. She asked where it was from and when I told her (it's a local jewelry/loans and trade in kind of place) she freaked out saying that kind of place sells horrible cheap jewlery and rips people off. She advised me to get it appraised (I know how much it cost to begin with) because she thinks he got ripped off even more so then he's thinking. Several places I called won't deal with rings from the place he purchased from because it's not a main designer. We have already had a diamond fall out of the wedding band, it fell out in the box before I ever saw it. It's been kind of upsetting for both of us finding all this out.

I've been told to get it appraised, which I'm considering just to make sure it's a real diamond at this point. This weekend we're taking it back about the crooked setting issue. I can deal with the fact my ring is "cheap" by standards I guess, I don't really care about all that and honestly he doesn't have the money to change the ring really and I get to upset thinking of getting another becuase he picked it out which of course is more sentimental. There's things about the setting that just bother me like crazy to deal with! I didn't known much about rings beforehand, I just always knew I liked Halo rings. I've come to realise I really like the bezel set or four prong set. Mine has six prongs and they snag on everything and I don't like how they look. The Halo part also sits very high up on the ring. Ironically I liked halos because I don't like how solitares snag and get stuck on everything....essentially my ring is both but worse cause it's got the large halo too lol. My question is, I've been reading all about people changing their rings in all kinds of ways...can I change any of these things?

Can I switch this same ring from 6 to 4 prongs or bezel? Can it be altered to sit lower? Also there's kind of bigger gap but I can't tell if that's from all the prongs around it, if I changed it would it look more uniform to the setting, or is this a diamond size issue? The reason I ask is because he feels terrible and I don't want to bring it up and have them say there's nothing they can do and have him know I'd prefer it differently and feel bad about it. Especially the diamond thing, I really don't want a bigger diamond even, I just wish it fit in the halo nicer. Please help

I'm sorry to hear about this!! I'm going through the same thing right now with my ring. My fiance bought it in HK and the diamond market is SO much more expensive, he thought he was getting a deal. In any case we are returning with a loss...but if you are anything like me, it will bother you so do what you can to try and fix it to what makes you happy. I think the ring looks really nice on you, like everyone says maybe just set it lower and have the halo closer. Goodluck! Hope you find a solution, I know how frustrating and upsetting it is!

 

[pregcurious]

Welcome Birdie! I'm sorry you're having issues with your ering. If you have a reputable store near you that does good benchwork, it is worth having your ring assessed to see if it can be modified. If you live near Virginia, you can try Quest Jewelers. They modified my ring after I had it custom made by an online vendor. The online vendor said that was not possible to make the modifications I asked for, but Quest did it within a few weeks. (It's actually the ring in my avatar picture.) Quest has a laser welder so they are able to make modifications without visible lines where they cut and attach metal.

Let us know the general area in which you live, and perhaps someone here can suggest a good jeweler/bench.