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Soldering a prong tip to a diamond? Help!

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february2003bride

february2003bride

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jan 18, 2005
Messages
3,559
Last week I had my diamond moved from my ArtCarved setting to a simple 6 prong setting that I bought from e-weddingbands.com. I took it to the jeweler whom I bought the ArtCarved setting from and they had set my diamond back then. Yesterday it looked like fuzz or something was stuck underneath one of the prongs so I clean and loupe it for the first time since I got it back (bad Pricescoper, I know).

Well, I was surprised to see that the 6 o''clock and and 12o''clock prongs looked smushed! Like the setter had smushed the very end of the tip of the prong down. I''ve tried taking picture after picture but I can''t get it clear enough. So I took it to a totally different jeweler who louped it and her eyes got HUGE. She said it looked like the setter had taken extra solder (?) added it to the tip and smushed the prongs down for maybe extra security? The setting was band new and made for my diamond''s dimensions so there shouldn''t have been a fitting problem.

Their benchman is out until Tuesday and she said that thye can remove my diamond, take off the excess metal (solder?) reshape the prong tips and reset it. My concern is that the original jeweler chipped my diamond and added the extra metal on the prongs to cover it. The jeweler I saw today said that my prongs (atleast the 2) definitely were not normal.

So I guess my questions are: Can my diamond be chipped or dinged from the screw up from the original jeweler? does it sound safe and resonable what the new jeweler plans to do to fix the problem?

Thanks so much!

Feb03Bride
 
Weird! Is it possible that it is polishing compound....? That might look like solder...
 
Date: 5/29/2008 5:56:11 PM
Author: neatfreak
Weird! Is it possible that it is polishing compound....? That might look like solder...
Click to expand...
I was hoping it would be, but the jeweler steamed it for me today to make sure it was clean. It''s definitely solder!
 
Finally got a few pictures of the weird prongs.

IMG_0377.JPG
 
I can''t attach the other 3 images for some reason, so I took the last one and drew where the excess metal is that was added to the prongs.

wonkyprongs.JPG
 
Is this typical or normal? Can it damage the diamond when removed?
 
Hi Feb03Bride,

Aren''t they just left over metal needs to be polished out????
My ring had something similar under the prongs like yours after my jeweler used laser tool to round the shape of prong tip. I took my ring back to them and they had to reset the stone to clean those out. I hope everything will turn out just fine for you.

I know how you feel, FebBride. Setting stone business is so frustrating... and stressful
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I don’t mind paying extra $$$ to a very skillful and meticulous setter if he can set the stone perfectly at first try. Sorry my English is not so good...

By the way, it is a beautiful ring!!
 
Date: 5/29/2008 11:43:46 PM
Author: Moko
Hi Feb03Bride,

Aren''t they just left over metal needs to be polished out????
My ring had something similar under the prongs like yours after my jeweler used laser tool to round the shape of prong tip. I took my ring back to them and they had to reset the stone to clean those out. I hope everything will turn out just fine for you.

I know how you feel, FebBride. Setting stone business is so frustrating... and stressful
38.gif
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I don’t mind paying extra $$$ to a very skillful and meticulous setter if he can set the stone perfectly at first try. Sorry my English is not so good...

By the way, it is a beautiful ring!!
Click to expand...
Moko- I found this while searching for how to set a diamond, so Ican be more informed about the process. http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/articles/2002/sep02/0902pb1.html It looks like the 1st jeweler used solder for all 6 prongs, why I don''t know. I don''t think that''s normal though??
 
Hi Feb03Bride,

I really hope some professional will chime in for you.
I know you must feel really sad and stressed.

I am sorry I cannot give you any useful advice, but I looked the website you linked, and I still think that some left over metal is sticking with the prong of your ring. I looked all my jewelry through my loupe, and I found non-expensive ($800 value) earring jack has some prongs exactly like yours. I cannot think any reason they needed to add extra metal on my tiny diamonds, I think it is just a result of the sloppy workmanship.

Hope you can meet the henchman on Tuesday and find out what they are.
I am thinking of you and I keep my fingers crossed for you.
 
That’s what’s known as ‘burr rag’. It’s a little flange of metal that’s often left over when the jeweler is finished shaping the prong. Well, not finished, when the jeweler thinks he/she’s finished. This is just plain crappy workmanship. The bright side is that usually it’s not that difficult to fix and it’s not evidence of damage to the stone. Frankly, I would recommend finding another jeweler to deal with it. This shouldn’t be more than $20-$30 to fix (the repair is called ‘dressing the prongs’ and it's less of a repair than a matter of finishing the original job) and although the original jeweler should do it for free and with an apology, if they can’t immediately see the problem and delivered it in this condition, I seriously question their skills. This is pretty common issue but it's a REALLY bad example. It would be worth $30 to me just to find someone who knows what they’re doing and who can use for future repairs when you’ve got something more difficult.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver
 
Date: 5/31/2008 8:51:18 AM
Author: denverappraiser
That’s what’s known as ‘burr rag’. It’s a little flange of metal that’s often left over when the jeweler is finished shaping the prong. Well, not finished, when the jeweler thinks he/she’s finished. This is just plain crappy workmanship. The bright side is that usually it’s not that difficult to fix and it’s not evidence of damage to the stone. Frankly, I would recommend finding another jeweler to deal with it. This shouldn’t be more than $20-$30 to fix (the repair is called ‘dressing the prongs’ and it''s less of a repair than a matter of finishing the original job) and although the original jeweler should do it for free and with an apology, if they can’t immediately see the problem and delivered it in this condition, I seriously question their skills. This is pretty common issue but it''s a REALLY bad example. It would be worth $30 to me just to find someone who knows what they’re doing and who can use for future repairs when you’ve got something more difficult.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver
Click to expand...
I''ve just got to say, Neil - you always have the most helpful posts. And I learn something any time I read your contributions. Thankyou!

Februarybride, I hope with Neil''s info you can have your problem fixed quickly and painlessly. I second his suggestion of finding a new jeweller - the one who did that work seems lazy and unprofessional
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I hope you love your ring again once its fixed!
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Date: 5/31/2008 8:51:18 AM
Author: denverappraiser
That’s what’s known as ‘burr rag’. It’s a little flange of metal that’s often left over when the jeweler is finished shaping the prong. Well, not finished, when the jeweler thinks he/she’s finished. This is just plain crappy workmanship. The bright side is that usually it’s not that difficult to fix and it’s not evidence of damage to the stone. Frankly, I would recommend finding another jeweler to deal with it. This shouldn’t be more than $20-$30 to fix (the repair is called ‘dressing the prongs’ and it''s less of a repair than a matter of finishing the original job) and although the original jeweler should do it for free and with an apology, if they can’t immediately see the problem and delivered it in this condition, I seriously question their skills. This is pretty common issue but it''s a REALLY bad example. It would be worth $30 to me just to find someone who knows what they’re doing and who can use for future repairs when you’ve got something more difficult.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver
Click to expand...
What Neil said
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I also want to take advantage of this opportunity to say "BIG THANK YOU" to Neil.
He also helped me so many times here and I always appreciate not only his professional advice and his knowledge but also his warm heart. I cannot find enough words to say thank you enough.

When something wrong on our jewelry, we are we are devastated, especially if it is E-ring. We come here look for information and solution. But it makes us feel even worse and sadder when we cannot get any replies even from people on PS. But Neil, you have been always here for us and probably you’ve helped thousands of people here including those who did not post. I cannot express well in English, but I wanted to say thank you to Neil.

Neil, you are the greatest and you are one of the nicest person in the world.
I would definitely like to meet you if I have a chance to visit Denver.
Thank you!!!
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Feb03Bride, I hope you will feel better now, and your new Jeweler can fix the problem.
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Thank you Neil! I called Quest Jewelers on Friday and they saw my ring that day. $80.00 later and my ring is in much better shape!

Quest checked my diamond which thankfully, was not damaged. The crappy jeweler who set my diamond had used solder to fill in all of the prongs. Quest''s theory is that the jeweler who set it, didn''t have the proper tools to securely set my diamond. So he used solder and didn''t have the proper tools to remove the excess metal. Quest lasered it right off, checked my diamond, secrued it, steamed and polished my ring all in 90 minutes! Love them
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It''s my lesson to have learned. Quest is about 40 minutes away from me, so when I wanted my diamond reset, I went to a local jeweler whom I didn''t know that well. It''s worth the drive to go to a knowledgeable jeweler and one whom I can trust!

Thank you Moko as well, for following this thread and giving advice!
 
Date: 5/31/2008 8:51:18 AM
Author: denverappraiser
That’s what’s known as ‘burr rag’. It’s a little flange of metal that’s often left over when the jeweler is finished shaping the prong. Well, not finished, when the jeweler thinks he/she’s finished. This is just plain crappy workmanship. The bright side is that usually it’s not that difficult to fix and it’s not evidence of damage to the stone. Frankly, I would recommend finding another jeweler to deal with it. This shouldn’t be more than $20-$30 to fix (the repair is called ‘dressing the prongs’ and it''s less of a repair than a matter of finishing the original job) and although the original jeweler should do it for free and with an apology, if they can’t immediately see the problem and delivered it in this condition, I seriously question their skills. This is pretty common issue but it''s a REALLY bad example. It would be worth $30 to me just to find someone who knows what they’re doing and who can use for future repairs when you’ve got something more difficult.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver
Click to expand...
It really was. I''m actually embarrassed I went to this jeweler in the first place now. I know better (having been on PS for 3 years) and another big no-no is that I didn''t loupe my ring before I left the jewelers or when I got home. I waited a full week to do that.
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Thank you again Neil
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Feb03Bride,

YAYYYYY! I am so happy for you!
 
Great outcome, and yay for Quest doing everything quickly and professionally.
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