Should a custom job take more than 12 weeks?

[Kim N]

I have a custom ring in the works by a reputable local jeweler, and I''ve gone in at periodic intervals to see its progress. The bench jeweler has called at each interval to say when the next stage has been done so that I could go see it, which I requested because the ring is detailed and I wanted to make sure it was done the way I liked it. But it''s going on four weeks now, and he''s done little, if any, work on it in the last four weeks. He''s on the last step of the ring. I''ve called twice, but each time, he''s said it''s not ready yet. The store has been reliable up until the last four weeks. It''s been almost 13 weeks total since we started the job. We never specified an exact timeframe when the ring would be finished because I wasn''t working on a timeline, but they''d said roughly 4 weeks total, so this is getting ridiculous. On the other hand, I don''t want them to rush it and do a shabby job.

Any suggestions?

 

[lmurden]

I think that is to long! My engagement ring took three weeks flat. My other projects were about two weeks. I''d call them and nail down a finish date, that''s not to much to ask for. Good luck!!!

 

[scarlet16]

I wish I could be more helpful but I can only relay to you our story. Our jeweler originally told us it would only take 3 weeks to finish our ring. We called and called and called. We saw it after each stage and love the end product, but in the end it took about 10 weeks total. So I guess it could take this long...if you trust them, and trust in the result, you just need to be patient (I know I really wasn''t!). Hope you get yours soon!

 

[FireGoddess]

It is ridiculous. Mine took even longer, and they were not helpful nor informative about it (I practically had to stalk them to get any news, and even then the news wasn''t accurate) - so I feel your pain. You need to press a little bit, IMO. They don''t need to rush and do a crap job, but it already has been 3X as long as quoted so....you have a right to push a little bit.

 

[mrssalvo]

I agree..way to long. My patience would have long ago run out. I''d definitely become the squeeky wheel at this point. I''d want a completion date set and kept or a full refund and I take my business elsewhere.

 

[Kim N]

Thank you, lmurden, scarlet16, FireGoddess, mrssalvo. I called again, and he said he is working on it and that this last step is about halfway done. He said the job was taking longer than he thought, but I kept pressing until he understood that I needed a date when he will be done. Finally, he said that it will almost definitely be done by next weekend. 14 weeks for a ring! Thank you for your suggestions, and Scarlet16 and FireGoddess, thanks for telling your stories and letting me know this type of situation can happen.

 

[FireGoddess]

Call by Wednesday morning of next week to make sure and confirm they''re ''on track'' for next weekend. I hope they deliver for you!!!

 

[partgypsy]

Wow! When I had my ring made it took 1 week. I can understand something very detailed would take longer, but I don''t understand why it would take that long...

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I have always found that it "depended'' on who I used: the type of job & size of shop (#''s of "able" benchman and their workload). I have waited anywhere from 2-12 weeks for custom work depending on the job/shop.

cheer--Sharon

 

[diamondlil]

I sympathize with you, Kim. I hired a jeweler to make a custom set for me, and they dragged me along for nearly a year!!!!!!! It was a nighmare, and ultimately I fired them and had my rings made elsewhere. The second time around, they were done in about 4 or 5 weeks. I can see if they are going through a busy time, maybe 6 or 8, but beyond that is asking a lot of a woman to be without her diamond ring IMO.

 

[mdibatti]

Took 1 week for my custom job.

 

[Gypsy]

Quest qouted me 5 weeks for my setting... and then called me (because I hadn''t sent my ring in to start the project) to tell me that they were accepting other projects, but as mine was first they were checking with me to see if I was going to ge it to them ASAP so they could honor the qouted time, otherwise they would have to re-qoute when I initiated. I appreciated that A LOT. And my project is a new type for them ... so I''m thinking yours is bordering on ridiculous. Sorry.

 

[Modified Brilliant]

I would find out what is causing the long delay. Sometimes, jewelers run into manufacturing/casting problems. Is this jeweler doing all of the work in house?
Stay on top of the situation..be nice but firm. I''m sure that there is a reasonable explanation. Good luck.

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