3rd strike....Pave diamond falling out of halo. Now what?

[divergrrl]

For the third time in 4 months, a diamond has fallen out of the halo in my new ring.

My jeweler is a very reputable one, he does amazing work, and he has a lifetime guarantee on my ring & has never charged me to fix it, so at least that is very good.

But I'm really disappointed when I look down and see a diamond missing. I rarely wear my ring anymore because of it.

Today I was able to locate my little melee stone that fell out (they are bead set--it was a different one this time) so I have it in a ziploc to bring back to my guy on Tuesday.

I feel really bad saying that I'm unhappy with my ring because of this, its like I can't even enjoy it, and I almost cried when I saw one was missing. It's a total inconvenience to pack up my toddler & go into the city every time to have it fixed-- having to park --- and pushing the stroller around a not so nice area, so even with the free repairs, its a headache.

Would it be unreasonable of me to ask him to do something different with the setting? I mean, custom is a "you order it you own it" transaction & I understand, but if the workmanship is not up to par, then can I at least ask them to try something a little more sturdy?

I don't want to be rude, as this is a shop I plan on doing business with for a very long time ( I really think this is a fluke issue) but at the same time, for $1200 (i provided my own center stone) I think I should at least have a ring that doesn't fall apart. Maybe halo just isn't a strength in their workmanship?

Thanks!

Diver.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

It seems like we''re hearing lots of problems with pave falling out. And it''s not just from one jeweler, it''s from many of them. So it''s not the halo that is the issue, it''s the pave. It sounds like that pave rings aren''t the best for everyday wear, but unfortunately many, many people have gotten them for e-rings which means fulltime wear, usually. I really don''t see how he could be expected to make a new ring unless you pay for it. But I would tell him that you are disappointed in the pave.

 

[SquareCut]

Why not ask him? The ring should be able to be worn without falling apart. My girlfriend has worn her custom halo everyday for 2 years without anything falling out. I''ve worn my Ritani pave everyday for over a year without anything falling out. Unless you are unusually hard on the rings, you have a reasonable expectation that you should be able to wear it everyday without fear.

 

[Mara]

pave falling out people's rings is not new. in my opinion the nature of pave is delicate. it doesn't mean it's not suitable for daily wear but you have to know that it may take more maintenance. some people don't mind that and others do. some people have problems with pave and others don't. there doesn't seem to be any huge rhyme or reason about it necessarily. halo, eternity, even half eternity pave still seems to have problems sometimes. it could be quality of the ring, could be the habits of the wearer, a combo of both...a porosity bubble pushing pave out, too soft of a metal used, etc.

i love the look of pave but i love also that my rings are more 'durable' as i am clumsy and bang my hands around and i like knowing there is a little extra metal around them. i've had them for going on 4 years now and so far so good (knock on wood, hehe).

but dg...this ring has plauged you for a while now. can you see if he can remake it for you? or is there some sort of alternative? i agree i would not want to be going to get pave replaced in my ring every few months. maybe you could retry the halo thing again with the jeweler and if it keeps happening even after a new setting is made, maybe you should try another jeweler or get your $$ back! sorry to hear about the troubles...!!

 

[mrssalvo]

I agree with squarecut. It wouldn''t hurt to ask the jeweler. I think we hear a lot about pave falling out here b/c it''s just so popular right now. 5 years ago there still wasn''t a ton of pave rings in magazine''s etc. also, folks tend to come here when they have a complaint. if the pave is holding up fine, we don''t really hear about it. At one time it was only the big names who do pave day in and day out doing it. Now, you can find pave on amazon so it''s not surprising that the % of trouble would be higher now too. I''m sorry you''re having trouble divergrrl, that''s no fun at all. I have little ones too and making trips to the jeweler store with toddler''s is no picnic, not to mention the disappoint with your ring itself. I''ll be interested to hear what your jeweler says. please keep us posted.

 

[divergrrl]

Oh Mara, you are right, this is ridiculous. I love my setting, I''ll probably have him replace it and see how it goes...I went through the trouble of looking for the melee for him...so he didn''t have to replace it. *sigh*

But I am very careful with my ring. I dont knock it around. or wear it for chores, in the shower, when I workout, for yardwork, and I wind up forgetting it''s in my jewel box half the time. So I go around ringless a lot and it bugs me. I thought having a bezel set diamond would eradicate my need for caution.

Oh well, this is simply an annoyance, not a crisis, and I''m sure the jeweler I used will be able to work with me. He''s a really good guy.

I have another ring, an oval yellow citrine, with bead set diamond pave in the band, much like the pave on my e-ring in question, that I wear daily as a rhr...and they never have fallen out. And i''ve had it for years...bought it from Costco of all places.

I don''t think its a "oh you have a halo, so get used to diamonds falling out" issue. That''s not right or fair. It''d be one thing if I just didn''t *like* a setting, but I love my setting, i just don''t like it BREAKING. That''s no my fault, I didn''t create the ring, and I certainly don''t abuse it, I''m a diamond pamperer...I love my rocks, they have better lives than most people''s children.

 

[divergrrl]

Date: 9/22/2006 7:44:18 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
It seems like we''re hearing lots of problems with pave falling out. And it''s not just from one jeweler, it''s from many of them. So it''s not the halo that is the issue, it''s the pave. It sounds like that pave rings aren''t the best for everyday wear, but unfortunately many, many people have gotten them for e-rings which means fulltime wear, usually. I really don''t see how he could be expected to make a new ring unless you pay for it. But I would tell him that you are disappointed in the pave.

Oh and my jeweler assured me that I could wear my pave daily, for all tasks, and ultrasonic clean it without worry ( I do it about once a month) and no stones should fall out.

jeannine

 

[divergrrl]

Date: 9/22/2006 7:44:18 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
It seems like we''re hearing lots of problems with pave falling out. And it''s not just from one jeweler, it''s from many of them. So it''s not the halo that is the issue, it''s the pave. It sounds like that pave rings aren''t the best for everyday wear, but unfortunately many, many people have gotten them for e-rings which means fulltime wear, usually. I really don''t see how he could be expected to make a new ring unless you pay for it. But I would tell him that you are disappointed in the pave.

See , I don''t agree with you on this. Faulty workmanship is not my problem, it''s the designers. The 2nd time the stones fell out, I told him to keep my ring while I went on vacation for a week, to be sure every single stone was as tight as could possibly be. He wanted to give it back to me that day, but I wanted him to "work on it" to be sure it wouldn''t happen again. They apologized all over themselves, told me this shouldn''t happen & yet it still does & I am very gentle on my ring. I don''t even sleep or shower in it!

Jeannine

 

[kcoursolle]

What a bummer! I agree, it wouldn''t hurt to ask. I would do it in a really nice way though. You never you what they might be able to do for you, especially if you are a loyal buyer. Good luck.

 

[Garysax]

I don''t know what your attitude is towards your e-ring but I think your statement about being uncomfortable wearing it and rarely wearing it as a result is telling. I know at least for my fiance, she wouldn''t want an e-ring that she wouldn''t wear virtually all the time... so it kind of sounds like you''re going to have to replace it with something else. I don''t think there''s much hope in the jeweler just doing something for free or anything but maybe he can give you a break on a new ring. Very unlikely, but maybe if you''re lucky...

 

[flutterby]

I just had a pave fall out of my wedding band. The one I have only worn for a month, and while at the jeweler (not where it was made, i have moved cross country since then) he let me know there are 7 loose stones in my ering! I am worried, but I will just go back and have it checked every few months. I have worn my ering for nearly a year now, and only one has fallen out. Its the nature of pave, unfortunately I love the look!!

You could ask him what you can do, is your ring platinum? the jeweler said something about the platinum making it worse because it has a hardness of 10 and when its loose it just turns inside the setting....didnt really understand that.

My advice is to talk to him, have him look at you ring and see if he can tighten them or what other options he would suggest. then let me know!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 9/23/2006 12:46:48 AM
Author: divergrrl

Date: 9/22/2006 7:44:18 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
It seems like we're hearing lots of problems with pave falling out. And it's not just from one jeweler, it's from many of them. So it's not the halo that is the issue, it's the pave. It sounds like that pave rings aren't the best for everyday wear, but unfortunately many, many people have gotten them for e-rings which means fulltime wear, usually. I really don't see how he could be expected to make a new ring unless you pay for it. But I would tell him that you are disappointed in the pave.

Oh and my jeweler assured me that I could wear my pave daily, for all tasks, and ultrasonic clean it without worry ( I do it about once a month) and no stones should fall out.

jeannine

Well, if he told you this, then I think he does have responsibility to do something about the problem (and that may mean making you a different ring). I know Tacori-Ering has had melee fall out of her Tacori ring and I saw where Kaleigh doesn't wear her Quest pave halo asscher ring all the time because she has also lost melee. So if he represented the ring to you as fine for daily wear in all circumstances, then he may owe you a new ring. It sounds like even well made pave rings lose melee, so I don't feel he was totally honest with you. And you have the proof since you've lost multiple stones. I almost had a ring custom made with some pave by the same jeweler my SIL had make hers, but fortunately I saw her right before I went and she mentioned she had just been there to get a stone replaced for the second time! So I passed on getting a pave ring after hearing that because, like you, I certainly don't have the time to drive an hour to a jeweler every time a stone falls out!

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 9/23/2006 5:50:18 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006

Date: 9/23/2006 12:46:48 AM
Author: divergrrl

Date: 9/22/2006 7:44:18 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
It seems like we''re hearing lots of problems with pave falling out. And it''s not just from one jeweler, it''s from many of them. So it''s not the halo that is the issue, it''s the pave. It sounds like that pave rings aren''t the best for everyday wear, but unfortunately many, many people have gotten them for e-rings which means fulltime wear, usually. I really don''t see how he could be expected to make a new ring unless you pay for it. But I would tell him that you are disappointed in the pave.

Oh and my jeweler assured me that I could wear my pave daily, for all tasks, and ultrasonic clean it without worry ( I do it about once a month) and no stones should fall out.

jeannine

Well, if he told you this, then I think he does have responsibility to do something about the problem (and that may mean making you a different ring). I know Tacori-Ering has had melee fall out of her Tacori ring and I saw where Kaleigh doesn''t wear her WF pave halo asscher ring all the time because she has also lost melee. So if he represented the ring to you as fine for daily wear in all circumstances, then he may owe you a new ring. It sounds like even well made pave rings lose melee, so I don''t feel he was totally honest with you. And you have the proof since you''ve lost multiple stones. I almost had a ring custom made with some pave by the same jeweler my SIL had make hers, but fortunately I saw her right before I went and she mentioned she had just been there to get a stone replaced for the second time! So I passed on getting a pave ring after hearing that because, like you, I certainly don''t have the time to drive an hour to a jeweler every time a stone falls out!

My asscher RHR wasn''t made by WF. Just wanted to correct that. Yes I have had some stones fall out and it''s no fun. I am very gentle on my rings and don''t even wear them once I am home. Good thing is that they are replaced for free, but shipping it is costly and nerve wracking. I feel for you!!!

 

[Sundial]

I certainly hope you have luck getting this problem resolved with your jeweler. Pave is obviously a little more delicate than some types of settings, but it really should be able to stand up to normal everyday wear. I have had my pave ring for a year and a half now and have not lost any stones. I think Mrssalvo is right that more pave rings are being produced these days and we tend to hear from the few who are having issues.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I know there was a thread about antique pave vs. modern. My great-grandmother''s ring has never lost a melee! My mom is very hard on it, gardens, cooks, cleans, never takes it off unless she is traveling. Most of the engraving is still visible too! Amazing. DS2006 mentioned how our jeweler said PLT is not what it used to be. I also think MrsS is right with the popularity. I did lose one melee about 6 months ago. My jeweler replaces them for free which is why I would never buy pave anything online. Peace of mind is worth the higher mark-up for me (and avoids shipping charges like lisa mentioned). Talk to your jeweler. Maybe you can replace the setting or set a sapphire in your current setting for special occasion. I know it is frusterating because you trusted him.

 

[divergrrl]

Well, I''m just going to be flexible and easy going about this. Like I said, its a RING... (I know..I''m a ps-er...but really, the other day my friend''s baby almost died, so honestly..a jewelry issue is merely that, an issue. Not a real problem)

I''ll see if he''ll re-make it for me, and if not, I''ll see if I can get a good price break on something new. I''m not used to not wearing my jewelry all the time. I put my diamond studs in my ears 4 years ago and rarely take them out! (I should post a pic of those!)

It''ll work out how it is supposed to. I''m just tired of the hassle. And I''m trying for baby #2, so I know I won''t be so happy about lugging two little ones downtown in the future for repair after repair. I mean...really!

DG

 

[Tacori E-ring]

good luck!

 

[appletini]

I can''t believe you have lost 4 stones in your halo. I''ve had mine for almost a year, wear it everyday, and very rough with it, throw in the ultra-sonic on high about once a week and haven''t had anything fall out. Maybe you should ask your jeweler to check all the stones to make sure they are secure.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 9/23/2006 5:57:09 PM
Author: Kaleigh
My asscher RHR wasn''t made by WF. Just wanted to correct that. Yes I have had some stones fall out and it''s no fun. I am very gentle on my rings and don''t even wear them once I am home. Good thing is that they are replaced for free, but shipping it is costly and nerve wracking. I feel for you!!!

Sorry, Lisa! I don''t know what I was thinking! I remember that it was Quest. I corrected it in the earlier post.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/22/2006 10:04:12 PM
Author: Mara
pave falling out people''s rings is not new. in my opinion the nature of pave is delicate. it doesn''t mean it''s not suitable for daily wear but you have to know that it may take more maintenance.

who should be liable for that maintenance? I see both sides of that particular coin.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/23/2006 5:57:09 PM
Author: Kaleigh

Date: 9/23/2006 5:50:18 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006

Date: 9/23/2006 12:46:48 AM
Author: divergrrl

Date: 9/22/2006 7:44:18 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
It seems like we''re hearing lots of problems with pave falling out. And it''s not just from one jeweler, it''s from many of them. So it''s not the halo that is the issue, it''s the pave. It sounds like that pave rings aren''t the best for everyday wear, but unfortunately many, many people have gotten them for e-rings which means fulltime wear, usually. I really don''t see how he could be expected to make a new ring unless you pay for it. But I would tell him that you are disappointed in the pave.

Oh and my jeweler assured me that I could wear my pave daily, for all tasks, and ultrasonic clean it without worry ( I do it about once a month) and no stones should fall out.

jeannine

Well, if he told you this, then I think he does have responsibility to do something about the problem (and that may mean making you a different ring). I know Tacori-Ering has had melee fall out of her Tacori ring and I saw where Kaleigh doesn''t wear her WF pave halo asscher ring all the time because she has also lost melee. So if he represented the ring to you as fine for daily wear in all circumstances, then he may owe you a new ring. It sounds like even well made pave rings lose melee, so I don''t feel he was totally honest with you. And you have the proof since you''ve lost multiple stones. I almost had a ring custom made with some pave by the same jeweler my SIL had make hers, but fortunately I saw her right before I went and she mentioned she had just been there to get a stone replaced for the second time! So I passed on getting a pave ring after hearing that because, like you, I certainly don''t have the time to drive an hour to a jeweler every time a stone falls out!

My asscher RHR wasn''t made by WF. Just wanted to correct that. Yes I have had some stones fall out and it''s no fun. I am very gentle on my rings and don''t even wear them once I am home. Good thing is that they are replaced for free, but shipping it is costly and nerve wracking. I feel for you!!!

you don''t even wear them at *home*? Do you have a band or anything you wear? I can''t imagine...

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/23/2006 10:56:38 PM
Author: appletini
I can''t believe you have lost 4 stones in your halo. I''ve had mine for almost a year, wear it everyday, and very rough with it, throw in the ultra-sonic on high about once a week and haven''t had anything fall out. Maybe you should ask your jeweler to check all the stones to make sure they are secure.

maybe we should be comparing apples to applers, er rather setting styles to setting styles... is there a particular type that is failing? beadset? shared prong? I mean... those who have very sturdy settings what type do you have? and for those having problems, what kind do you have?

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 9/24/2006 12:49:16 AM
Author: Cehrabehra

Date: 9/23/2006 10:56:38 PM

Author: appletini

I can''t believe you have lost 4 stones in your halo. I''ve had mine for almost a year, wear it everyday, and very rough with it, throw in the ultra-sonic on high about once a week and haven''t had anything fall out. Maybe you should ask your jeweler to check all the stones to make sure they are secure.

maybe we should be comparing apples to applers, er rather setting styles to setting styles... is there a particular type that is failing? beadset? shared prong? I mean... those who have very sturdy settings what type do you have? and for those having problems, what kind do you have?

a shared prong setting isn''t pave. you can read about the different types of pave on Leon''s site. He has a great article explaining what they are. I''m pretty sure apple and divergrl have the same type of pave (beadset) ring.

here''s the link to the pave article:



http://www.artofplatinum.com/articles/micropave.php

 

[divergrrl]

Date: 9/23/2006 10:56:38 PM
Author: appletini
I can''t believe you have lost 4 stones in your halo. I''ve had mine for almost a year, wear it everyday, and very rough with it, throw in the ultra-sonic on high about once a week and haven''t had anything fall out. Maybe you should ask your jeweler to check all the stones to make sure they are secure.

Apple: I already had him keep it for a week in June to make sure that all the stones were set nice and tight, THE SECOND time they fell out.

Like I previously posted, he wanted to pop it back in (it''s bead set) and hand it right back to me, but I insisted he keep it & really work on it.

He said its because his hands have such callouses & blisters on them, that sometimes its hard to get those little ones in there.

Cehra: From a maintenance standpoint, they will maintain your ring for you free of charge, (that''s just his policy, he likes to keep customers happy I guess, & the more you come in, the more pretties you see to try on & hopefully buy, not a bad policy IMO)

And no, I don''t even wear it at home about half the time, and no I don''t have a band or anything.

Here''s the worst part. I have a very sensitive husband. When he saw me rooting around, looking for that melee & then putting it in a baggie, he was upset. "A stone fell out AGAIN?" My ring is a reflection of him & he''s not happy.

Jeannine

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/24/2006 9:52:44 AM
Author: divergrrl

And no, I don''t even wear it at home about half the time, and no I don''t have a band or anything.

Here''s the worst part. I have a very sensitive husband. When he saw me rooting around, looking for that melee & then putting it in a baggie, he was upset. ''A stone fell out AGAIN?'' My ring is a reflection of him & he''s not happy.

Jeannine

See... and I really hope this doesn''t come out in an offensive way... but that reflection of a husband, that symbol of love... shouldn''t it be on all the time? Sometimes I think of the ring I''m making and I think you know, as sweet and symbolic as it is for our marriage, it in many ways is more about me and should possibly be a RHR leaving my gold band that I can wear 24/7 without fear as a *constant* symbol on my finger. I know my husband places his value on the band he put on my finger when we got married, and nothing else. Well, he does in the sense that he wants me happy but for him it is all summed up quite neatly in that simple gold band. I''d never trade it in for anything else. I see so few plain solid bands and I see so many wedding bands taking second fiddle to the e-ring and so many rings that are about show and less about meaning. I''m not judging anyone in particular here - I''m just as guilty as the next for wanting a gorgeous ring... but it is so important to me to have a ring that I can wear without fear all the time so that I may infuse it with history, so that I can wear it as a symbol ALL the time. I guess this is one of those soapbox issues for me LOL I get having delicate rings that cannot be worn all the time... I just cannot wrap my mind around them being the symbols of our love, ready to be traded in for the latest prong style or whatever, spending more than half their time in a box because they''re too precious to wear. I don''t get that at all. not for a wedding ring in particular.

I am sorry about your ring... I hope you can figure something out with your jeweler so that it can spend more time on your finger without causing you greater anxiety.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 9/23/2006 6:51:57 PM
Author: Sundial
I certainly hope you have luck getting this problem resolved with your jeweler. Pave is obviously a little more delicate than some types of settings, but it really should be able to stand up to normal everyday wear. I have had my pave ring for a year and a half now and have not lost any stones. I think Mrssalvo is right that more pave rings are being produced these days and we tend to hear from the few who are having issues.

Sundial, isn''t your pave ring in white gold? I''m wondering if it isn''t partly the soft platinum being used that is part of the problem as well as the method the stones are set. The Ritanis are in the soft 95% platinum, but the stones are prong-set. Maybe they stay in more securely than bead set? Just trying to identify what kinds are causing the problems. Obviously we can''t say that all pave is a problem, but it seems that we can differentiate what kinds are safer than others. This could really be helpful to those planning to have rings made.

 

[february2003bride]

DG- Ugh, I''m so sorry! Please correct me if I''m wrong but isn''t your ring white gold? And isn''t WG softer than platinum? Maybe the melees just can''t be held in the WG? I could be totally off base but just a thought.

 

[Sundial]

Date: 9/24/2006 1:06:03 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006

Date: 9/23/2006 6:51:57 PM
Author: Sundial
I certainly hope you have luck getting this problem resolved with your jeweler. Pave is obviously a little more delicate than some types of settings, but it really should be able to stand up to normal everyday wear. I have had my pave ring for a year and a half now and have not lost any stones. I think Mrssalvo is right that more pave rings are being produced these days and we tend to hear from the few who are having issues.

Sundial, isn''t your pave ring in white gold? I''m wondering if it isn''t partly the soft platinum being used that is part of the problem as well as the method the stones are set. The Ritanis are in the soft 95% platinum, but the stones are prong-set. Maybe they stay in more securely than bead set? Just trying to identify what kinds are causing the problems. Obviously we can''t say that all pave is a problem, but it seems that we can differentiate what kinds are safer than others. This could really be helpful to those planning to have rings made.

Yes DS my pave ring is white gold and it is what our local jeweler recommended to my husband although he didn''t elaborate on the reasons. It would be interesting to determine if that is a factor in keeping the stones intact. Mine are bead set.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 9/24/2006 1:29:24 PM
Author: february2003bride
DG- Ugh, I''m so sorry! Please correct me if I''m wrong but isn''t your ring white gold? And isn''t WG softer than platinum? Maybe the melees just can''t be held in the WG? I could be totally off base but just a thought.

Nope, it''s the opposite. 18k white gold is a lot harder than 95% platinum.

http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive/200009/msg00023.htm

 

[divergrrl]

And.....

drumroll please...I looked down at my hand this morning, and guess what?

ANOTHER STONE FELL OUT!

I don''t even know what to say, other than this setting is defective & I want a replacement. I spent a lot of $$ on it, and I''m not putting any more $$ into it.

This is not my fault, but the fault of the jeweler.

*washing my hands of the whole business*

And yes, Cehra, I prefer to wear the diamond my husband slipped on my finger ( I never had a wedding band, always a solo ring, thought wedding bands were too old fashioned for my taste) so I feel very "unmarried" when I''m going naked ring finger & my husband hates it. I think I might be purchasing a 2mm platinum band from Signed Pieces to just wear, but its NOT the diamond my husband gave me, and has no sentimental value, so what the frig is the point almost.

This is just stupid, I have better things to do.

DG