- Joined
- Feb 2, 2016
- Messages
- 12,080
Let me just say that I never considered putting a line item in my budget for jewelry until now, and this isn't about buying but maintenance.
So I bought my lovely curved diamond band this weekend for $130 and I love it but it was filthy and while I was cleaning it, I knocked one of the diamonds loose. I figured a tightening of the prongs would be simple enough. No said The Universe, you must pay!
Jeweler called me today and said she could tighten the prongs but they need to be replaced soon and because there are 16 prongs that will be........$450. Um $450 for a ring I paid $130 for? No thanks.
At this point I'm just going to get the prongs tightened and wear it until I can't anymore because that's the only scenario that makes sense. Now I also have my three row band and the prongs also need replacing on that and there are A LOT of stones, I shudder to think of the cost for that one. Thing is I read online that even when prongs are retipped they are never as strong as the original prongs. So then what to do? Send the ring to someone to replicate the setting and reset the stones in a brand new setting? That's the only reasonable solution I can come up with.
Sorry, I'm doing a lot of thinking out loud but I also wanted to put out there that as fun as it is to find the bargains, one always has to consider the real cost after resizing or stone replacement or prongs, it may not be the best buy in the end.
So I bought my lovely curved diamond band this weekend for $130 and I love it but it was filthy and while I was cleaning it, I knocked one of the diamonds loose. I figured a tightening of the prongs would be simple enough. No said The Universe, you must pay!
Jeweler called me today and said she could tighten the prongs but they need to be replaced soon and because there are 16 prongs that will be........$450. Um $450 for a ring I paid $130 for? No thanks.
At this point I'm just going to get the prongs tightened and wear it until I can't anymore because that's the only scenario that makes sense. Now I also have my three row band and the prongs also need replacing on that and there are A LOT of stones, I shudder to think of the cost for that one. Thing is I read online that even when prongs are retipped they are never as strong as the original prongs. So then what to do? Send the ring to someone to replicate the setting and reset the stones in a brand new setting? That's the only reasonable solution I can come up with.
Sorry, I'm doing a lot of thinking out loud but I also wanted to put out there that as fun as it is to find the bargains, one always has to consider the real cost after resizing or stone replacement or prongs, it may not be the best buy in the end.