Should I buy the setting locally for easy repair and maintenance?

[ubiquitous]

I''ve recently ordered an engagement ring (stone + setting) from Blue Nile. The stone is perfect but the pave setting has some rough edges that scratched my fiance''s finger, causing her discomfort. The ring indeed has problems but I believe the style does make it more prone to defects. It a 3-sided pave setting, with tiny diamonds on front, back and top of top half the band. The front and back diamonds reduces the band''s thickness and make it hard for the jeweler to smoothen the edges. There was no problem with the bottom half of the band, which has no extra diamonds. Here''s the exact ring I ordered:
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-engagement-ring-platinum_7837?filter_id=1&collection_id=236

I talked to a rep and she suggested that I send the ring back for inspection but it''s going to take at least 2-3 weeks. What I worry more about is that the discomfortness is judgmental. My fiance''s skin is probably sensitive so she may feel uncomfortable while the inspector will think everything is okay and we may end up sending the ring back and forth if the repair is not satisfactory. So I''m considering 2 options:
_ Keep the stone, return the setting, and look for a new one locally: this will provide quick and better future maintenance/repair. However, the price of the setting will not be as competitive.
_ Send back the ring to Blue Nile and have it reset with a new style that doesn''t have front/back diamonds.

Do you have any prior experience with the 3-sided pave setting? Any problems? Which option should I pursue?

 

[mrssalvo]

I used to have a 3-sided pave setting and it was very comfortable. I would say the scratching issue is due to the quality of the setting. If you like the stone go ahead and keep it but I would return the setting. Buying a setting locally could be a great option, especially if you are considering one with pave diamonds which can fall out from time to time. Of course, choosing another setting altogether isn''t a bad option if you fiancee is open to that.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 1/17/2009 10:03:46 AM
Author: mrssalvo
I used to have a 3-sided pave setting and it was very comfortable. I would say the scratching issue is due to the quality of the setting. If you like the stone go ahead and keep it but I would return the setting. Buying a setting locally could be a great option, especially if you are considering one with pave diamonds which can fall out from time to time. Of course, choosing another setting altogether isn't a bad option if you fiancee is open to that.

Agreed. I will add to this though that a poor quality pave setting is likely to be uncomfortable no matter where you buy it. Not to mention the fact that poor quality pave will cause you to lose more stones over time. So just keep that in mind when shopping, this is one place where quality really does matter. Pave is expensive, so most 3 sided pave settings that are $1500 are just not going to cut it IMO.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I think it is a VERY good idea to buy locally if you are getting pave.