Refurb gone really wrong - what to do?

[Circe]

I really need to learn when to leave well enough alone. One of the boxy corners on my anniversary ring was a hair more worn than the others, and it made the whole thing look sort of lopsided ... only when you looked really closely, but, well ... you guys know how it goes. Original shots here: https://www.pricescope.com/communit...ng-2-5-carats-of-transitional-cut-joy.166379/

So I took it to a really good place to get the prongs built up and to have the original milgrain redone ... and then I was in a rush to get to work so I took it without checking it under magnification.

Then when I took a break, I louped it, and I am actually at a loss. I love(d?) this ring, and I'm not sure what the hell they can do to fix this degree of damage. Almost every single prong has been broken around the girdle, or cut down too far, or something. Half the prongs aren't touching the stone. There are plier marks all over the gallery.

Anybody got any tips on what I tell them to do about this? Top-down and shots of north-south sides below, east-west ones in the next post:

 

[Circe]

And east-west, again, pics of both sides. I actually noticed this when I thought I'd use my break to wash the grime off it, and the paper I used to dry it caught under the completely loose prong. I'm just glad I didn't snag it on something and lose the stone on the way home.

If any of you have any tips on whether something like this can be fixed, AND HOW, so I can tell them what I want them to do very specifically, I would be very appreciative.

 

[Karl_K]

sadly I think it is destroyed and beyond repair.

 

[denverappraiser]

sadly I think it is destroyed and beyond repair.

Nothing is beyond repair but I agree this is a tricky job and it's likely to involve replacing the whole crown. That's not a stock crown so it involves custom making the replacement. It's not an easy job.

Have you spoken to them yet? What did they say?

 

[bunnycat]

Holy crikey Circe- that's terrible. I have been contemplating a prong rebuild of my fishtails, but now I am rethinking that. I'll be watching this thread with crossed fingers! Good luck!

 

[Circe]

That's ... what I was afraid of.

I e-mailed briefly right after I noticed, before I understood the extent of the damage - just saying that the ripple on the gallery from the pliers, "the" non-touching prong (the most obvious one, I hadn't noticed the others yet), and the bites in the prongs at the seat bothered me and I wanted them fixed. The salesperson - who is generally pretty terrific, I've worked with them before - said sure, no problem, come in Friday. But I'm not sure they understand the extent of the damage.

I'm trying to decide if I should email them the pics, and give them time to brainstorm solutions with me, or just handle it all in person on Friday ... it's one of the reasons I posted, since right now I don't even know what to SAY.

 

[bunnycat]

Are these people who generally deal with actual antiques and refurbishment, or just a general bench that probably shouldn't have messed with the job?

 

[Circe]

Hi, BastetCat, thanks for the commiseration - they're specialists, and specialists whom I've worked with before with excellent results. I know there's an element of risk whenever you have work done, so if it had been a horrible soldering accident, or something, I'd be upset, but not shocked like I am now, y'know? Every. Single. Bloody. Prong!

 

[Karl_K]

sadly I think it is destroyed and beyond repair.

Nothing is beyond repair but I agree this is a tricky job and it's likely to involve replacing the whole crown. That's not a stock crown so it involves custom making the replacement. It's not an easy job.

Have you spoken to them yet? What did they say?

That is true in theory, but casting a whole new ring would likely be less $$ in the end.
It could be a shadow but I think I'm seeing damage on the shank near the head.

 

[yennyfire]

Just sending hugs Circe...I'm sorry.

 

[Circe]

I think that's a shadow/the angle - they didn't do any work on the shank, just the head.

 

[Circe]

Thanks, Yenny.

Guys, ballpark, how much do you think it might run to fix it (or, you know, try).

 

[LibbyLA]

Circe,

Oh, my gosh! That's awful. That ring is one of my faves. I hope they are able to repair it for you. I'd be sick, too, if that happened to me.

I can only commiserate, not offer any suggestions or advice.

liz

 

[Circe]

Thanks, Libby. On the one hand, I know it's a doofy, first-world-problem sort of a thing to be upset about. On the other hand ... really sentimental thing. I really hope they can fix it somehow. Like ... I know they can put new "plates" atop the octoganal/hexagonal settings when need be. If these prongs are screwed, maybe they could do that?

 

[missy]

Oh no, I'm so sorry Circe. First world problem or not it's still an important ring- a sentimental ring and that's upsetting. I hope they can repair it and I'm sending hugs and good thoughts to you.

 

[LibbyLA]

I was reading your original thread and you were mentioning putting the diamond into a different setting. Maybe this is a sign?

I would guess that it's going to take someone very skilled and with a laser welder to rehab this (if they don't find a replacement head) and that it may cost more than it's worth. I'd think that if they had that sort of skill, the ring wouldn't be this messed up in the first place.

I have a couple of similar settings (and a third on the way, with what appears to be a wonky OMC) and I've noticed that the head is barely out of square but I haven't had the urge to "fix" it and I certainly won't now. On mine, the three fishtail parts aren't holding the diamond in place, there's an actual tiny prong in addition to the fishtail parts, but that ring has a tiny illusion "ring" around the diamond.

The OMC setting also looks like it may have a basket corner that's slightly out of square. If I keep the ring, I'm definitely not going to mess with that. It's platinum and that would cost a small fortune to rehab. Not worth it in this case.

Like you, I like this style setting a lot. If I keep the OMC, that will be my third setting of that type. At least we know what we like.

liz

 

[Circe]

The sad bit is that I'd decided not to, not unless I found that One In A Lifetime rare piece - you know, some Deco-y glory with calibre colored stones somewhere in it, or something like that. I was randomly keeping a weather eye out (with this vendor, among others), but I'd 95% decided to stick with this one because of the combo of sentiment and just really liking the setting. It was a tank, it was original vintage, and I had it through a really emotional time. It was the reason I decided to sink some more cash into it to make it capital-P-perfect, and I feel like a complete IDIOT for it, given how it's backfired.

Seriously. Today's lesson is, know when to leave well enough alone. If I at least serve as an object lesson ....

 

[backwardsandinheels]

Cyber hugs (( )) to you. I remember some posters have had antiques settings rehabbed, beautifully. I hope they chime in. Dust to you!

 

[Dreamer_D]

EEk. That is horrendous. I think it needs a new head. Repairs like that seem never to turn out right. I would either ask Ari or else Adam at OWD or Mark at ERd to make a new head.

Your jeweler should refund the fix of course. Whether you want to give them a crack at remaking the head is up to you.

On a totally unhelpful note, I have a similar "issue" with my vintage mount that I have decided to leave well enough alone. Oneo f the struts on the gallery is ever so slightly bend inwards. Likely from a hit in the ring's history. It bugs me, and my jeweler told me it could be fixed -- likey they would need to re-hand-make the panel of the gallery with the bent strut Too scary. So I leave it and live with it.

But my lesson from that and other experiences is to always ask "What will you do to fix this? I want to know the exact methods you plan to use" If you decide to let your jeweler proceed I would ask that for sure. Take your macro photos and meet in perso with the owner and speak to the bench person.

 

[Demelza]

As someone who has had some bad luck with some ostensibly good benches, you have my sincere sympathies and many hugs. I know firsthand the sinking feeling one experiences upon noticing the damage. Yes, first world problems, but it is still very upsetting and even more so because this ring has such powerful emotional significance for you. I am so sorry. It's good that you already have a relationship with this jeweler, but I would be inclined to send these pictures to Ari at Singlestone. I am sure you would rather not have to send it away, but perhaps Ari could even recommend someone in NY to do the work??

 

[Laila619]

So sorry, Circe. I had a jeweler botch a brand new setting. First world problem, sure, but it really sucks!

 

[Circe]

Thanks, Missy, Backwards in High Heels, Dreamer, Demelza, Laila.

Dreamer, I couldn't agree more, generally - the irritating thing is that I thought I HAD. It's just that ... well, it never occurred to me to say things like, "And make sure the prongs are touching the stone. No, ALL of them," because they're pros, KWIM?

And while I think that you and Demelza are right ... this takes the price of what was a cosmetic fix to five or ten times the cost for something urgent enough that I can't wear the ring unless I pony up. Problematic. I really am kicking myself right now.

 

[distracts]

wtf did they do to it??

 

[yssie]

Thanks, Missy, Backwards in High Heels, Dreamer, Demelza, Laila.

Dreamer, I couldn't agree more, generally - the irritating thing is that I thought I HAD. It's just that ... well, it never occurred to me to say things like, "And make sure the prongs are touching the stone. No, ALL of them," because they're pros, KWIM?

And while I think that you and Demelza are right ... this takes the price of what was a cosmetic fix to five or ten times the cost for something urgent enough that I can't wear the ring unless I pony up. Problematic. I really am kicking myself right now.

Ohhhh no. What did they do?

Ugh. I know it's completely unhelpful but I'm so sorry Circe!!!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I am so sorry, too, Circe. My personal philosophy in a situation like this is "no second chances". I think they made such a mess that I wouldn't want them to touch it again. I'd want my money back, though! I would send them the macro pics. They should be embarrassed! I'd probably go with Ari from what I have seen here.

 

[Dreamer_D]

For got you were in NY. I would have Mark make me a new head. His casting work looks great from everything on PS, and Charmypoo says its great in person. And we know how picky she is!

 

[Catmom]

Oh Circe, I'm so sorry. I can't believe how it came back. I really hope you can get it fixed somewhere. Doesn't Single Stone do vintage repairs?

 

[WhitehouseBrothers]

I think from the photos the center stone can be removed and laser weld the top and side of the mounting. They can rebuild the beads holding the center stone, reset the stone, bright cut the edges and remilgrain. We do this type of work on Whitehouse Brothers rings after years of wear.

 

[tyty333]

I'm so sorry Circe...I'm feeeling mad/sad for you.

 

[missy]

Circe, why don't you give Adam @OWD a call and see what he can do.