Prong repair ruined my Princess Cut!

[qtpixtrm]

So I finally went back to have my prongs fixed. What was supposed to be a minor repair turned out to be a nightmare!

The goldsmith torched the prongs to add a little bit of gold to them, with my P-cut center stone still in the setting!

What used to look like this:


ended up looking like this:



I was in tears when I realized what the guy did. I got in touch with the owners, explained what had happened, even emailed them before and after pictures, and insisted that I was not going to take this matter lightly, since I mentioned to them from the very beginning that my diamond was enhanced (that was a hard lesson learned... for both them and myself). I met with them today, and came to a pretty good resolution. They are going to loan me another princess cut with the same weight, clarity, and color, and they'll work on my original stone. If it's beyond repair, I get to keep the loaner (which is all natural, not enhanced).

I kinda feel bad that the guy will most likely lose his job, considering the losses he has now inflicted on the company. I just feel so relieved that their owners sympathized with me and gave me an option I couldn't refuse (it's either that, or lose much much more if I consider taking legal action).

I can't wait to get the ring back in the morning, and will post pics of it as soon as it arrives.

 

[betty6333]

Wow! I dont have any enhanced stones, but i am shocked that the jeweler would not take extra caution when repairing the prong!

I dont know if they can "reenhance" it, but i am glad they will replace it with another diamond. I would be upset too!

 

[qtpixtrm]

This is one of those times when I firmly believe that cheaper is not always necessarily better.

From now on, I'd rather have a stone that's almost yellowish but natural, than something that is high in color grade but enhanced. again, a hard HARD lesson learned.

 

[anitabee]

i get that it's "enhanced" which either means it's fracture filled or it's been laser drilled (usually to remove a black inclusion). from my understanding, those procedures are done to a certain area of the rock. now if the enhanced part has been messed up, i can imagine the damage being limited to that area that was enhanced. for example, a "glass-filled vein" in the stone would maybe just empty itself and the inclusion becomes visible again.

why is the WHOLE diamond cloudy-looking? what a weird thing to happen.

i'm guessing that that result there may not have anything to do with its enhancement (unless it was previously a fully-filled i3 diamond before). i think something else entirely happened.

and really, whether or not you bought an enhanced diamond, it really was beautiful before and i don't think any negative comments re: you buying an enhanced stone are necessary here. i feel really bad for you and i hope it gets resolved to where you get a smile back on your face

good luck!

 

[qtpixtrm]

thanks, anitabee.

the fact that they agreed to replace it actually made me feel a whole lot better about the whole thing. Other jewellers (here in the Philippines, at least) would have insisted that it was like that in the first place, blah blah blah, just to get out of being liable for any damage (and believe me, it happens a lot here).

 

[susimoo]

Wow,

I am so sorry you had to go through this. I thought your new stone looked so pretty in the pictures you posted earlier. To now have this happen it must have been awful.

I hope that the matter is dealt with to your full satisfaction!

Keep us up to date with what happens! Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

 

[anitabee]

This is one of those times when I firmly believe that cheaper is not always necessarily better.

From now on, I'd rather have a stone that's almost yellowish but natural, than something that is high in color grade but enhanced. again, a hard HARD lesson learned.

oh, how dumb of me... i thought that person above (qtpixtrm) wasn't YOU, THE ORIG POSTER!! i totally thought somebody else chimed in about "cheaper isn't always.. blah blah blah!

hmmm... regardless, is the diamond they've given you to your liking at least? if so, then you could end up doing pretty well after all is said & done.

 

[tyty333]

I agree with anitabee...I wouldnt think the whole stone would go cloudy. I wonder if they have messed up the polish and
it needs to be repolished? I'm so glad the owners are willing to work with you. I hope it is fixed to your satisfaction.

 

[qtpixtrm]

thanks everyone... I will definitely keep you posted on what will happen with the original diamond. i am still crossing my fingers that it can be fixed with just polishing the stone, as that is what the owner plans to have done on the stone. it's going to take some time, as it's going to be done in HK as it can't be done anywhere in this country.

As for the loaner, they showed it to me and it is gorgeous. I guess I was lucky that they had one with the exact same specs as mine just lying around in the vault. I can't wait to see it on my ring!

 

[iota15]

Well, if the loaner is completely natural AND gorgeous... then a tiny part of me (the "want to get a good deal" side) that hopes your original stone can't be fixed.

For the whole stone to get that cloudy, there was likely a finishing enhancement covering the stone to improve it's color. It's some sort of coating and it will change properties under heat. That's why it's super important that enhanced stones are never put under high heat (especially drilled or filled stones - there's a crack possibility).

If all you damaged was the coating however, it may be repairable by polishing off the old coat and replacing it with a new coat. Make sure to check the carat weight of your newly polished stone and make sure it hasn't fallen below any "magic weights" (if that matters to you at all). Again, beautiful stone and I hope to see lots of pictures of the loaner, whether you get to keep it or not.

 

[that_someone_special]

Honestly, I would have them put then stone on hold for you and NOT take it while they work on it. I mean.. what if it gets stolen, lost, or chipped? I know there is insurance, but that is one less thing to worry about. I know it seems like forever without wearing your ring, but it will go by in no time.


I would also be mad as well. I hope everything gets resolved... I almost hope they can't repair it and you get to keep the "loaner" stone

 

[qtpixtrm]

i, too, am now secretly hoping that the stone won't be fixed so I can keep the loaner

I have to admit, though, that in case I do get to keep the loaner, it won't really feel as special as the damaged one... but then again I could just be saying this until I get lost in the sparkle of the new stone...

it's almost 2:00AM here, and the ring won't be delivered until right before noon. i think i'm obsessed.

 

[yssie]

Looks just like the two burnt diamonds I've seen - milky/cloudy/dirty.


Burnt natural diamonds can usually be repolished, dunno how/if the CE affects this

 

[marcy]

How awful. I am glad they are giving you a replacement and will try to fix your orginal.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I am really sorry this happened!

Something seems fishy to me though with the notion that the jeweler will give you a natural, unenhanced diamond to replace yours if something is wrong. That is a big cost to them, when they could replace your stone with another enhanced stone for less. Also it is a very large risk for them to loan you a diamond worth thousands of dollars. Either something got lost in translation as they communicated this to you, or it is too good to be true and there will be a catch later on.

The fact is that most jewelers do not take responsibility for diamonds that are in their care for repairs, and though you could prove negligence *perhaps* in court, it would be a long case. This is the reason that people have their own individual insurance to cover their jewelry when it is in a jewlers possession. So this jeweler is doing something odd by offering to cover this damage and by offering to replace the diamond with a more expensive stone.

Protect yourself in all of this until it is 100% resolved. I would not personally take a loaner to wear at all. Too much risk with something worth a lot of money. If you do take it, have the conditions of the "loan" put in writing before you take it. Make sure you are understanding their offer and what is expected and demanded of you in all of this.

 

[qtpixtrm]

thanks for your input, Dreamer.

I just got back from the jeweler. I did have a pretty lengthy discussion with the owner about this whole mishap, and the conditions of the loaner. Of course, it is expected of me to make sure that I do not damage the loaner stone in any way, otherwise I will be financially responsible. It is a very risky move for me, much more for them, so that is the only catch. I have no problems with that because I don't plan to wear this ring as often as I usually do my old one. It will remain in my vault for the most part. We both signed a document stating the specs of each stone, and the price difference. I asked if in the event that my old stone is beyond repair am I to pay the difference in the price, and the owner said no.

Yes, it does sound too good to be true, but to me, it's the right thing for them to do. As I mentioned in my original post, my only fault is that I failed to educate myself on proper care for enhanced diamonds. That way, I could have helped avoid this situation. However, I told them from the very beginning when I first brought the stone in to be set that my diamond is clarity enhanced, so I assumed that they knew what to do with it and that they would make sure that their procedures will not do anything that can do any damage to it, since the company brags about their staff having sufficient experience and training/schooling. Their reputation as one of the most distinguished and reputable jewelry designers and manufacturers here in Manila has been put on the line because of what happened. That, and the fact that they are not sure how long it will take for them to take the old stone to HK to be repaired as they will not travel all the way there for just one repair job, is what lead them to decide to offer me the option of the loaner.

It also helped that one of their senior staff was present when I first brought the stone in, and she did get a good look at it after it got set. When I showed her the damaged stone, without any hesitation she confirmed to the owner that there has been some wrongdoing on the part of the goldsmith, which is what lead them to take full responsibility. I had pictures upon pictures of the before and after (it was a good thing I took a memory card full of pictures of the ring after it first got set), and the receipts for the paid repair fees.

Anyhoo, I got the ring back, with the loaner already put in place. It will be taken to a priest in a little while to be blessed, and then back into the box it goes to make sure nothing happens to this one, too.

 

[Dreamer_D]

The new one looks lovely! And as long as you are both clear on the terms of your agreement and have it is writing, then you should be fine!

I would insure it and wear it myself... I just feel like diamonds are wasted if they sit in the vault

 

[agatha.nl]

oh man! what a bummer!!! buying enhanced diamonds or natural ones: this shouldn't have happened. the loaner look great though, so i would'n be so bad if you got to keep this one right?