Problems with Blue Nile

[Agent9]

Hello. This is my first post here. I was directed here from a Fat Wallet forum. I'm having trouble with Blue Nile's customer service and would appreciate any feedback or advice. Here is the story.

My wife's diamond engagement ring disengaged the diamond after two weeks. She called Blue Nile and got permission to have it reset by a local jeweler. Then, a week later, the setting (white gold) turned yellow. This time Blue Nile told us to send it back for rhodium replating. At this point I was skeptical about the quality of the ring but the supervisor I spoke to assured me that the rhodium plating will fix the problem. If it turns yellow again in a couple of months then we could have it returned.

Well, now three months later the ring has turned yellow again. I called the supervisor up and he told me that they will only replace it if the ring can be resold I ask him why would he want to resell a defective setting. His response was that it was out of his control and to just send it back so they can look at it.

My wife likes the diamond and the setting but now I'm starting to question their business practices. I'm thinking that the problems I'm having are due to being resold a defective ring. I would appreciate any feedback from people who have had a better experience with their customer service and a name I can speak to. Thanks!

 

[vintagelover229]

It sounds like the stone isn''t an issue anymore, and they allowed you to take care of it locally, for your convience. As far as the rhoidum plating, white gold isn''t really silver in color. It is gold mixed with alloys that give it a more "silver" color, and then plated with rhodium to finish the look. It does wear on some people quicker than others. It has to do with a lot of factors, skin oils, chemicals, wear and tear, how often you wear the ring, if you take if off for harsher activies (cleaning, lotion, etc). These all factor how long rhodium will last on a ring. Some people never have a problem with it, others have many like yours. The alloy they use in the gold I belive (not sure) may/may not affect how quickly the yellowing appears.

I say send the ring back, and if it''s in your budget, switch to platinum or palladium setting. It doesn''t need plated and you shouldn''t have that problem.

Sorry for all the issues with the ring! It sucks when you have to send it away

 

[neatfreak]

Unfortunately, white gold yellows over time. Some people much faster than others. It doesn''t make it defective, it just means that your wife''s body chemistry happens to react faster than other people''s...

 

[deegee]

White gold doesn't work well with my skin. My rings need replated after only about 3 months, and it costs $40 per ring (I have 3) each time. I have a necklace that doesn't touch my skin, and I have never had to have it replated. I plan to have my rings reset in platinum so that I don't have to keep having them replated all the time!

I replaced my original WG setting with a more expensive setting thinking my first one was just poor quality, but I have decided it is my body chemistry that's the problem since my second setting does the same thing.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

What a pain. Sorry they aren''t more helpful. I would reset the diamond she loves into a PLT setting. It will be white forever. Good luck!

 

[oneandahalfrock]

Like others have said, since gold isn''t white, white gold has other alloys in it to give it a whiter color.
It maybe yellowing faster because of the acidity level in your wife''s skin. I played the clarinet for many years and was always frustrated how fast my fingers would wear the plating of shiny new keys- it wasn''t a defective instrument, but the acidity level of my skin.
You may consider having the stone remounted- if you want it to stay white you may want to consider Platinum or, correct me if I''m wrong board, but I think Stuller was working on x1 white gold that would stay white longer.
Much luck on your situation!

 

[Agent9]

Awesome. Thanks for all the helpful replies so quickly. Does it matter that only one of the rings (the engagement ring) turns yellow? The wedding band does not change color and she wears them both at the same time.

 

[lauralu]

that''s very interesting, hmmm one but not the other. I have no idea but am anxious to know what others think.

Maybe the combo of metals is different in one than the other?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think it is really odd that only the e-ring turns yellow if both are white gold! Perhaps the wedding band is made with a different alloy. I was going to say just change to platinum, but I''m not sure what I''d recommend if she doesn''t want to change the wedding band. Maybe try the Stuller X-1?

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 1/3/2009 8:02:34 PM
Author: Agent9
Awesome. Thanks for all the helpful replies so quickly. Does it matter that only one of the rings (the engagement ring) turns yellow? The wedding band does not change color and she wears them both at the same time.

Hmmm odd. Are they both BN stock settings? And the same metal?

 

[LGK]

It''s possible that the rhodium plating was done poorly- weak/old solution can be the cause, or a poorly cleaned item. Like others mention, some people just demolish rhodium plate, so that might be the case. You may want to try to get it plated by another place just to see if it lasts better though before giving up. I know at least once I''ve had a rhodium plating job done poorly with a lot of yellow still showing, and typically I can wear a rhodium plated ring for several years with no yellowing. Sometimes if you''re lucky a local jeweler will rhodium plate for free, at least that''s my experience. (Not always though!)

 

[EricaR]

It is very possible that the wedding band is made with a different alloy than the e-ring. I don''t necessarily think that a yellowing setting makes it defective, just that that particular alloy doesn''t work well with her skin. Does she take her ring off when she washes her hands, does the dishes, cleans around the house? That might make a big difference.

 

[Savvymon]

Hmmm How fustrating!

I have a 9ct ''white gold'' ring that goes almost yellow once the rodium wears off and an 18ct white gold ring that just goes a dullish silver when the plating wears, is it possible that the ering is 9ct???

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 1/3/2009 8:52:01 PM
Author: Savvymon
Hmmm How fustrating!

I have a 9ct ''white gold'' ring that goes almost yellow once the rodium wears off and an 18ct white gold ring that just goes a dullish silver when the plating wears, is it possible that the ering is 9ct???

Savvy, they don''t do 9kt in the US to my knowledge, that is unique to Australia and maybe the UK.


Agent9, is the wedding band also from BN? I am sorry for your troubles..

 

[wishinpink]

Could they be plating with different materials?

I have two white gold rings- one turns yellow ridiculously fast, the other doesn''t do it hardly at all!

 

[Agent9]

Hi all. Yes, they were both purchased from BN, on the same order, and they are both part of a set (meaning they are matching bands). They were both shipped and received in the same box.

Usually I do the dishes. My wife keeps both rings on when she washes her hands. BN says they use 18k white gold.

 

[Steel]

Date: 1/3/2009 5:07:48 PM
Author:Agent9
Hello. This is my first post here. I was directed here from a Fat Wallet forum. I'm having trouble with Blue Nile's customer service and would appreciate any feedback or advice. Here is the story.

My wife's diamond engagement ring disengaged the diamond after two weeks. She called Blue Nile and got permission to have it reset by a local jeweler. Then, a week later, the setting (white gold) turned yellow. This time Blue Nile told us to send it back for rhodium replating. At this point I was skeptical about the quality of the ring but the supervisor I spoke to assured me that the rhodium plating will fix the problem. If it turns yellow again in a couple of months then we could have it returned.

Well, now three months later the ring has turned yellow again. I called the supervisor up and he told me that they will only replace it if the ring can be resold I ask him why would he want to resell a defective setting. His response was that it was out of his control and to just send it back so they can look at it.

My wife likes the diamond and the setting but now I'm starting to question their business practices. I'm thinking that the problems I'm having are due to being resold a defective ring. I would appreciate any feedback from people who have had a better experience with their customer service and a name I can speak to. Thanks!

Hello Agent 9,

I would be angry that the stone came loose and worried that I could have lost the stone. This would be my biggest problem in reading your story. But you did not lose it, it was reset (warantee intact, I imagine). I would hope that they offered to pay for this?

About the rest of it, WG yellows. End of. I think they went over and above agreeing to rhodium plate and over over and above agreeing to take the ring back (assuming it is stil in good condition). Send the ring back and move on. I hope that the band is in good nick and they give you your money back. You and your wife can then start shopping around for a new setting.

Really, I think you have been treated fairly. This is all an inconvenience, but really what do you want from them?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/4/2009 3:16:01 PM
Author: Agent9
Hi all. Yes, they were both purchased from BN, on the same order, and they are both part of a set (meaning they are matching bands). They were both shipped and received in the same box.

Very odd. My first thought was that your wife is one of the unfortunate few who yellow WG quickly (I almost never have to rhodium my WG), but with two rings reacting differently?? I would be tempted to go to a *reputable* local jeweler and ask them if they can tell you anything about what might be different between the two rings. Or maybe someone here like Garry will comment, I recall at one point that he talked about a similar issue with a different ring and had some good insights.

Is the "married" to her wedding band, so to speak? If not, a platinum set may be better.

 

[Agent9]

Date: 1/4/2009 9:52:49 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie
Very odd. My first thought was that your wife is one of the unfortunate few who yellow WG quickly (I almost never have to rhodium my WG), but with two rings reacting differently?? I would be tempted to go to a *reputable* local jeweler and ask them if they can tell you anything about what might be different between the two rings. Or maybe someone here like Garry will comment, I recall at one point that he talked about a similar issue with a different ring and had some good insights.


Is the ''married'' to her wedding band, so to speak? If not, a platinum set may be better.

She likes the current band but doesn''t like the fact that it''s turning yellow so quickly. We are considering getting rid of the set and getting a platinum setting. We''ve spoken to a reputable local jeweler and he isn''t sure what could be causing the problem either. Hopefully BN will make things right. I speak with them tomorrow.

 

[Agent9]

Update

Spoke with the same supervisor that helped us previously at BN and he was very helpful. He seemed to want to get us a setting that would make us happy. He agreed to exchange the set for us as long as it is re-saleable. If things work out as discussed then I will be very happy with them. Thanks again for the feedback. I''ll post an update once we get everything settled.

 

[Agent9]

UPDATE: Just got off the phone with BN and they have received our rings and are in the process of resetting her diamond in a platinum engagement band. I'm very pleased that BN came through in the end and stood behind their product.

Thanks again for all the encouragement and practical advice.

 

[shimmer]

That is so wonderful that they took responsibility, rightfully so.

I hope the new ring is everything you dreamed it would be!

 

[Steel]

Glad you had a happy ending.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Yes- that''s great that the resolution was acceptable to you!

The conversation about white gold was not exactly correct though....
White gold should stay white- period.
Yes, rhodium plating will brighten the color of white gold- but if you''re seeing yellow, that''s a different story entirely.
What that sounds like is a yellow gold ring which was plated white. In that case, yes, it''s reasonable to expect the white to turn yellow.
But NOT if it''s properly alloyed 14, or even 18kt white gold.

 

[Tuckins1]

I''m glad to hear that you were able to sort things out! Promise to show us the pics of her new set?

 

[Agent9]

Date: 1/14/2009 4:08:26 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
Yes- that''s great that the resolution was acceptable to you!


The conversation about white gold was not exactly correct though....

White gold should stay white- period.

Yes, rhodium plating will brighten the color of white gold- but if you''re seeing yellow, that''s a different story entirely.

What that sounds like is a yellow gold ring which was plated white. In that case, yes, it''s reasonable to expect the white to turn yellow.

But NOT if it''s properly alloyed 14, or even 18kt white gold.

Wow. Could you elaborate on that please? That''s the first time I heard that. Everyone else has told me differently.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 1/14/2009 4:08:26 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
Yes- that's great that the resolution was acceptable to you!


The conversation about white gold was not exactly correct though....

White gold should stay white- period.

Yes, rhodium plating will brighten the color of white gold- but if you're seeing yellow, that's a different story entirely.

What that sounds like is a yellow gold ring which was plated white. In that case, yes, it's reasonable to expect the white to turn yellow.

But NOT if it's properly alloyed 14, or even 18kt white gold.

This isn't true IMO. It does start to yellow. What it doesn't do is turn into yellow gold. But that doesn't mean that it won't start yellowing more and thus achieve a yellow cast to the metal.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yes, agree with neatfreak. White gold is slightly yellow before the rhodium plating since it is made with yellow gold. I have seen wg rings when the rhodium wears off and you can see the contrast between the very white rhodium and the yellowish-white of the real white gold underneath.

Very happy to hear that you are changing to platinum!

 

[Agent9]

Date: 1/14/2009 4:26:33 PM
Author: Tuckins1
I''m glad to hear that you were able to sort things out! Promise to show us the pics of her new set?

Heheh. Sure. I don''t know how to take these types of pics so you guys might have to coach me through it.

 

[Rockdiamond]

If we compared a ring straight out of the factory to one that had experienced some daily wear, there will be a difference in luster.
There''s no question that after wear- or over time- any metal looses luster.
This is even true of platinum.
I happen to agree that white gold- especially 18kt white- is a more difficult metal to work in as compared to Platinum or 18kt yellow.

But when white gold is properly cast, alloyed and polished- 14 or 18karat white should look like silver( in color) - it''s "white".

AS in everything- some people may be extremely color sensitive to slight differences in the color of metals. For those people platinum is the choice.
No question for me that Platinum is the best white metal.