So Upset

[am470]

I have an eternity diamond band (16 diamonds that are .27 each). It is in a platinum shared prong setting. It was custom made for me by a reputable jeweler. I have only had problems since getting it. The diamonds became so loose a few months after getting it that I could literally turn them around. He took it back and tightened them. They became loose again. He said he thought it was because the diamonds were a point or two too big for the setting. So he redesigned the band and reset them. Again, the same problem happened. It was almost as if the diamonds were hanging off the setting. So he had another designer remake it again. This time it looked perfect! The diamonds definitely seemed to fit. Well, fast foward four weeks later to today and ONE OF THE DIAMONDS is missing. I can''t find it anywhere. I am so upset. The other diamonds all seem tight and in place.

Does anyone have any advice? Is this a problem inherent with the eternity bands? Is this guy just incompetent. Luckily, I have it insured, so it shouldn''t be a problem, right? At this point, I don''t know whether I should go back to him or just find someone else to do it.

 

[jaz464]

Date: 10/6/2007 3:29:41 PM
Author:am470
I have an eternity diamond band (16 diamonds that are .27 each). It is in a platinum shared prong setting. It was custom made for me by a reputable jeweler. I have only had problems since getting it. The diamonds became so loose a few months after getting it that I could literally turn them around. He took it back and tightened them. They became loose again. He said he thought it was because the diamonds were a point or two too big for the setting. So he redesigned the band and reset them. Again, the same problem happened. It was almost as if the diamonds were hanging off the setting. So he had another designer remake it again. This time it looked perfect! The diamonds definitely seemed to fit. Well, fast foward four weeks later to today and ONE OF THE DIAMONDS is missing. I can''t find it anywhere. I am so upset. The other diamonds all seem tight and in place.

Does anyone have any advice? Is this a problem inherent with the eternity bands? Is this guy just incompetent. Luckily, I have it insured, so it shouldn''t be a problem, right? At this point, I don''t know whether I should go back to him or just find someone else to do it.

Many of us here have eternity bands with no problem whatsoever. At this point I would find someone more competent to create your ring for you. Sorry to hear of your troubles.

 

[lyra]

It sounds like a design problem. Perhaps combined with a metal integrity problem. Do you have any pics? I think that just because a ring can be manufactured, it does not mean it is necessarily practical or durable unfortunately.

 

[am470]

I don''t have any good pics. I happened to be at London Jewelers the other day. The lady looked at it closely (with that eye thing) and she said that it was set "absolutely perfectly." She seemed impressed. Maybe it is the size? Does anyone have a e-band with 4+ carats???

 

[simplysplendid]

Hi, is it a shared prong setting? ie the diamonds next to each other are sharing two prongs? It might be a problem if the stones are too big for a shared prong setting?

 

[am470]

Hey! Well, I have better news. I went back to my office and I found it underneath my chair''s cushion. Actually, my husband did! Perhaps, I was playing with it while I was with a patient (I am a psychologist).

So now what? Do I go back or someone new? Yes, it is shared prong. Something tells me I am having so many problems because of the size of the stones. Anybody else have advice?

 

[MustangGal]

Maybe have it reset with 4 prongs per stone instead of shared prong, that would make them more secure.

 

[lyra]

Date: 10/6/2007 6:33:46 PM
Author: am470
Hey! Well, I have better news. I went back to my office and I found it underneath my chair's cushion. Actually, my husband did! Perhaps, I was playing with it while I was with a patient (I am a psychologist).

So now what? Do I go back or someone new? Yes, it is shared prong. Something tells me I am having so many problems because of the size of the stones. Anybody else have advice?

Yay! That's great news!

I'd be inclined to try someone else. It could also be the shared prongs with the larger stones, it's hard to tell. Facets has a Tiffany inspired shared prong that looks secure. See it up close under image 4 here. Does this look like your ring, or is yours much different? I'm no expert, but I think a bezel setting is the most secure, and is definitely comfortable to wear, if you want to go that route. I have a much smaller 4-prong set eternity band, but I'm thinking with the larger stones it may be uncomfortable to wear. Not sure though.

 

[simplysplendid]

If the stone size is 0.27 each, then I think the shared prong setting is not secure enough unless the prongs are thick and large.

 

[Diamond*Dana]

I think that I would have them reset with 4 prongs each. Good luck!

 

[oldminer]

I have seen a couple of eternity platinum bands where the metal was just overly soft and the rings became deformed and stones got loose. It wasn''t the design or the jeweler, but the metallurgy at fault. ALso, occasionally a consumer has a habit of tapping to the music on their hard steering wheel or the gear shift knob. Do you keep to the beat with your fingers?
In those situations there are usually many percussion marks on the prong tips.

Knowing the exact design may further guide us to what is happening.

 

[kennedy]

Date: 10/7/2007 11:16:48 AM
Author: oldminer
I have seen a couple of eternity platinum bands where the metal was just overly soft and the rings became deformed and stones got loose. It wasn''t the design or the jeweler, but the metallurgy at fault. ALso, occasionally a consumer has a habit of tapping to the music on their hard steering wheel or the gear shift knob. Do you keep to the beat with your fingers?

In those situations there are usually many percussion marks on the prong tips.


Knowing the exact design may further guide us to what is happening.

For the sake of clarification, what you''re saying is that there''s nothing inherently wrong with putting larger sized stones in a shared prong setting? I have seen many high-end designers create shared prong rings with stones as large as 50-60 points presumably without these kinds of problems. I am currently interested in such a ring and want to be sure I''m not setting myself up for disaster.

How does one make sure the platinum mix is suitable for this sort of design? And if it is the metallurgy that is at fault, isn''t the jeweler also to blame for continuing to use a platinum mix that isn''t sound?

My advice to original poster would be to get the ring assessed by an independent appraiser in order to determine what exactly is causing the stones to become loose. If it is indeed the jeweler''s fault, I would request a refund and take my business elsewhere. Good luck!