Problem with my ring. :( What recourse do I have?

[Laila619]

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping some appraisers can weigh in, but any advice is very welcome!

I had a jeweler set a 3 stone ring for me, and while it looks very pretty, the big problem is that most of the prongs are NOT touching the tops of the diamonds. The bench person assured me it's secure and not to worry about it, but of course I am worried. Because the prongs are not touching the tops of the stones, they kind of stick straight up and so they will be very easy to snag. If I snag one or break one off, well, bye bye stone. I already paid the expensive setting fee, because I stupidly didn't really look at prongs carefully with a loupe until I got home. Can this be a (hopefully) simple fix of getting a jeweler to press the prongs down more? How easy will that be? I do NOT want to unmount the stones and re-set them in the same mount, because I feel like the setting/prongs will be waaaaay less secure then, and possibly mangled. Should I ask to have my setting fee refunded and take the ring somewhere else? Or will I have to buy a whole new mounting? Thank you very much for any advice! Very anxious about this...

 

[Dreamer_D]

Shiiiii...ooot. Been there! I would not let them fix it, if they could do it right they would have, please believe me! Ask for a refund. And get the opinion of a couple other jewelers about safety. It is likely not an issue of safety and only an esthetic issue.

 

[Gypsy]

Shiiiii...ooot. Been there! I would not let them fix it, if they could do it right they would have, please believe me! Ask for a refund. And get the opinion of a couple other jewelers about safety. It is likely not an issue of safety and only an esthetic issue.

Yup. I'd ask the opinions of the jewelers first, then ask for the refund. It can probably be fixed by a good bench out there though.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

About the only time I had a stone set locally, I did look in the store with my loupe before leaving and saw that a prong or two were not touching the stone. So I told the salesperson and they took it back and the bench fixed it.

 

[Laila619]

Thanks, ladies. I knew I should have used a PS vendor, but I really wanted the ring set in time for some events I have coming up. Lesson learned, never again.

The sad thing is, this place came highly recommended by a few friends.

 

[Laila619]

About the only time I had a stone set locally, I did look in the store with my loupe before leaving and saw that a prong or two were not touching the stone. So I told the salesperson and they took it back and the bench fixed it.

DS, do you know what they did to fix it though? That's the million dollar question...did they have to unmount the stone and re-set the entire thing? I'm hoping it'll just be a quick fix and won't have to come to that, but I don't think so.

 

[Laila619]

Shiiiii...ooot. Been there! I would not let them fix it, if they could do it right they would have, please believe me! Ask for a refund. And get the opinion of a couple other jewelers about safety. It is likely not an issue of safety and only an esthetic issue.

I know, I remember the issue with your beautiful earrings! Why did you choose to have them remount the studs, was it a safety issue?

 

[Catmom]

It's a quick fix, don't worry. I just had this with my sapphire ring. I was checking it with the loupe and noticed that one of the prongs was up. I took it to my jeweler and he took it back to the bench and it was fixed and cleaned within about 10 minutes.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Shiiiii...ooot. Been there! I would not let them fix it, if they could do it right they would have, please believe me! Ask for a refund. And get the opinion of a couple other jewelers about safety. It is likely not an issue of safety and only an esthetic issue.

I know, I remember the issue with your beautiful earrings! Why did you choose to have them remount the studs, was it a safety issue?

The real question is: Are the stones properly seated in the prongs? If yes it is a simple fix to cut off/fold over the excess prong, but it will likely not look like the lovely prong tips we see fron BGD/WF/ERD.

In my case the stones were not seated in the prongs. The jeweler did fix it, sort of I will be resetting them in future. Maybe sooner than later. I think I found a better match -- yes I was still looking -- and might re-pair one stud and sell the other. Not sure.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

About the only time I had a stone set locally, I did look in the store with my loupe before leaving and saw that a prong or two were not touching the stone. So I told the salesperson and they took it back and the bench fixed it.

DS, do you know what they did to fix it though? That's the million dollar question...did they have to unmount the stone and re-set the entire thing? I'm hoping it'll just be a quick fix and won't have to come to that, but I don't think so.

Nooo! There is no reason to take the stone out! They just have to press the prong tips down a little more!

 

[Laila619]

Thanks everyone! I'll see what another jeweler says. I know it's totally a first-world problem, but it's bumming me out.

It's just so annoying to not be able to find a good, trusted local jeweler. Why are our beloved PS vendors the only ones who seem capable of doing lovely prong work?!

 

[mandasand]

I don't understand why they can't fix it...sounds like it can be easily done. Even if it's an aesthetic thing, they should make it look how you would like it. Is is too late to take it back and have it redone or fixed?

 

[Laila619]

I don't understand why they can't fix it...sounds like it can be easily done. Even if it's an aesthetic thing, they should make it look how you would like it. Is is too late to take it back and have it redone or fixed?

Mandasand, well, I'm not really sure I trust the first jeweler any more. After all, they were the ones who reassured me it was safe and completely fine to have prongs sticking up. At this point, I'd rather take it somewhere else.

 

[denverappraiser]

Nooo! There is no reason to take the stone out! They just have to press the prong tips down a little more!

Sometimes this works but not always. I'm not even sure I would say it usually does. As mentioned above, it's at least as common that the problem is with the seats and the tips being up is just a symptom. Get it checked out by a pro and then go back to the seller with specific details of what you're unhappy with.
Be in something of a hurry by the way. This can be a can of worms and most jewelers don't have a well described warranty program when it comes to manufacturing defects. The longer it waits the more likely it is that they won't want to deal with it. Get it appraised by an appraiser with manufacturing experience and who is working for YOU, not the seller.

 

[Laila619]

Thank you, Denverappraiser.

I called and asked the original jeweler if the prongs could simply be pushed down, and they said maybe not, because it "could make the stones become unevenly set." Oy, what a mess.

 

[MissStepcut]

Ugh, how annoying. I thought prongs always just caught in your hair until I got my BGD ring. i can comb my hands through my hair with impunity. Love it.

 

[onedrop]

Thank you, Denverappraiser.

I called and asked the original jeweler if the prongs could simply be pushed down, and they said maybe not, because it "could make the stones become unevenly set." Oy, what a mess.

Laila: So, did they give a reason for why the prongs weren't set to actually touch the stone? Do they consider the stone properly set with the prongs not touching? I am just trying to understand why this happened in the first place? But then again, not every bench is created equal, and not every bench has the same expectations for "properly set" prongs and stones. I am just sorry that it wasn't done correctly the first time! Hopefully you can get the situation resolved quickly and to your satisfaction.

 

[denverappraiser]

Thank you, Denverappraiser.

I called and asked the original jeweler if the prongs could simply be pushed down, and they said maybe not, because it "could make the stones become unevenly set." Oy, what a mess.

Umm. OK. That's entirely possible. Probably even. So his/her proposed remedy is ....... what?

Once again, I recommend you get a pro involved.

 

[Laila619]

Thank you, Denverappraiser.

I called and asked the original jeweler if the prongs could simply be pushed down, and they said maybe not, because it "could make the stones become unevenly set." Oy, what a mess.

Umm. OK. That's entirely possible. Probably even. So his/her proposed remedy is ....... what?

Once again, I recommend you get a pro involved.

Neil, no one is really sure what the fix is yet.

What kind of pro? An appraiser, or do you mean an expert bench jeweler? Thanks.

 

[Laila619]

Miss Stepcut and Onedrop,

Thanks, ladies. Onedrop, I believe they do think it's secure to have prongs sticking up. They said, "Don't worry, you won't snap any off." Thanks for commiserating with me. I too hope it can be fixed. Crossing fingers, and lesson learned.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

So sorry! Mine was a very easy fix like Catmom's was! Yours must be different.

 

[denverappraiser]

Thank you, Denverappraiser.

I called and asked the original jeweler if the prongs could simply be pushed down, and they said maybe not, because it "could make the stones become unevenly set." Oy, what a mess.

Umm. OK. That's entirely possible. Probably even. So his/her proposed remedy is ....... what?

Once again, I recommend you get a pro involved.

Neil, no one is really sure what the fix is yet.

What kind of pro? An appraiser, or do you mean an expert bench jeweler? Thanks.

These are not incompatable. I mean an appraiser with sufficient bench experience so they can report the problem in a way that communicates clearly. I'm treading close to the line on the PS rules to even suggest that what you need is a competent assessment by a competent appraiser so I've been trying to phrase it in a way that gets the message across without actually saying it. You can't come to a resolution until you nail down what the real problem is. It's possible that it's easy, it's possible that it's not, and the difference is not usually obvious. If they can't or won't tell you, you need someone else who will.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Laila this is what started the issue with my studs. I picked them up and the prongs stuck up straight off the stone. I asked them to press them down and fix it. They did, and then at home I noticed all the seats were off -- did pressing down cause it? Maybe. And the prong tips never looked like I wanted either

 

[YoungPapa]

I do NOT want to unmount the stones and re-set them in the same mount, because I feel like the setting/prongs will be waaaaay less secure then, and possibly mangled.

Hi Laila,

I have no opinion as to what you should do in this particular situation, but one thing I learned a few years back about platinum is that it is "work hardened". Basically this means that unlike gold, the more you bend the prongs, the stronger they get, not the weaker.

Just something to consider if this is a platinum mount.

 

[distracts]

Ugh, how annoying. I thought prongs always just caught in your hair until I got my BGD ring. i can comb my hands through my hair with impunity. Love it.

Oh! What an excellent way to test if they catch on something! My e-ring prongs do not catch in my hair but my green tourmaline ring's prongs do. Good to know.

Laila, I don't have any advice that hasn't already been given but I certainly hope you are able to get it fixed with a minimum of fuss and stress.

 

[Laila619]

Thank you, Denverappraiser.

I called and asked the original jeweler if the prongs could simply be pushed down, and they said maybe not, because it "could make the stones become unevenly set." Oy, what a mess.

Umm. OK. That's entirely possible. Probably even. So his/her proposed remedy is ....... what?

Once again, I recommend you get a pro involved.

Neil, no one is really sure what the fix is yet.

What kind of pro? An appraiser, or do you mean an expert bench jeweler? Thanks.

These are not incompatable. I mean an appraiser with sufficient bench experience so they can report the problem in a way that communicates clearly. I'm treading close to the line on the PS rules to even suggest that what you need is a competent assessment by a competent appraiser so I've been trying to phrase it in a way that gets the message across without actually saying it. You can't come to a resolution until you nail down what the real problem is. It's possible that it's easy, it's possible that it's not, and the difference is not usually obvious. If they can't or won't tell you, you need someone else who will.

Neil, I totally hear you, but I feel like I've already sunk so much money into this ring, and I don't want to potentially lose any more. I'm guessing an appraiser will cost $100 to $200 to look at it and say it was set poorly. Getting the jeweler to agree will be another story. I absolutely value an appraiser's opinion (and if I were in Colorado I would no doubt take it to you!), but I don't know if I want to throw more good money after bad. I feel just like Ame did, that I have poor luck with rings.

 

[Laila619]

Laila this is what started the issue with my studs. I picked them up and the prongs stuck up straight off the stone. I asked them to press them down and fix it. They did, and then at home I noticed all the seats were off -- did pressing down cause it? Maybe. And the prong tips never looked like I wanted either

How frustrating!!

Thank you James Allen and Distracts.

 

[ame]

Thank you, Denverappraiser.

I called and asked the original jeweler if the prongs could simply be pushed down, and they said maybe not, because it "could make the stones become unevenly set." Oy, what a mess.

Umm. OK. That's entirely possible. Probably even. So his/her proposed remedy is ....... what?

Once again, I recommend you get a pro involved.

Neil, no one is really sure what the fix is yet.

What kind of pro? An appraiser, or do you mean an expert bench jeweler? Thanks.

These are not incompatable. I mean an appraiser with sufficient bench experience so they can report the problem in a way that communicates clearly. I'm treading close to the line on the PS rules to even suggest that what you need is a competent assessment by a competent appraiser so I've been trying to phrase it in a way that gets the message across without actually saying it. You can't come to a resolution until you nail down what the real problem is. It's possible that it's easy, it's possible that it's not, and the difference is not usually obvious. If they can't or won't tell you, you need someone else who will.

Neil, I totally hear you, but I feel like I've already sunk so much money into this ring, and I don't want to potentially lose any more. I'm guessing an appraiser will cost $100 to $200 to look at it and say it was set poorly. Getting the jeweler to agree will be another story. I absolutely value an appraiser's opinion (and if I were in Colorado I would no doubt take it to you!), but I don't know if I want to throw more good money after bad. I feel just like Ame did, that I have poor luck with rings.

Boo on jinxes.

 

[denverappraiser]

Neil, I totally hear you, but I feel like I've already sunk so much money into this ring, and I don't want to potentially lose any more. I'm guessing an appraiser will cost $100 to $200 to look at it and say it was set poorly. Getting the jeweler to agree will be another story. I absolutely value an appraiser's opinion (and if I were in Colorado I would no doubt take it to you!), but I don't know if I want to throw more good money after bad. I feel just like Ame did, that I have poor luck with rings.

It's your call and I'm certainly not angling for business here. This kind of job tends to be way more stressful than it needs to be from both sides and I'm fine without getting involved. Heck, I've already said too much. You're right that any appraiser willing and able to take it on will want to be paid.

I again ask, what's their proposed solution? It sounds like it's for you to shut up and go away. Problem solved. There is no plan B.

If you're good with that then it's done. If not, what's YOUR proposed solution?