Colored stone woes.

[jewelryj]

Hello! New here and obsessed with jewelry. Unfortunately, I seem to be having some bad luck!
Not only have two rings I ordered recently online had abrasions and also actual nicks/chips on facets and girdles, but a London Blue that the jewelry store cleaned, and I had previously worn only once (but had viewed many times with the loupe) was given back with a very fine scratch on the table (you can’t feel it but magnification shows it) and a small double scratch lower down that you can feel once you see it and a tiny chip near the side facet. iIt’s emerald cut. Nothing was visible until home with the loupe.

I am wondering if anyone else has experienced the disappointment of this type of thing? I am now afraid to let a jeweler clean, let alone work on my jewelry and have had way too many issues of buying online from reputable sellers and being the person who gets new items with imperfect stones.

Am I expecting too much?

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

put the ring away in a drawer for 6 weeks
and when you get it back out never loupe it again

a lot of the ladies here use those ultra sonic cleaners but i just use a soft tooth brush and dish wash liquid

 

[jewelryj]

You are so wise, lol! I have found the loupe to be a total joy robber!!! Once I started looking for problems, boy did I find them!

I keep telling myself to just enjoy the ring but it’s one thing (albeit still no fun) to damage it yourself and it feels like something else when it arrives that way or a professional does it.

What do you use to dry them? I bought a chamois but it was still leaving lint on stuff and air drying left watermarks, which was why I tried the jeweler.

 

[jewelryj]

put the ring away in a drawer for 6 weeks
and when you get it back out never loupe it again

a lot of the ladies here use those ultra sonic cleaners but i just use a soft tooth brush and dish wash liquid

Sorry, I meant to quote you above!

 

[LilAlex]

Ours would steam it right in front of us. Why do drop-off cleaning? Did you have them dry-cleaned?

If things are getting damaged in the shop, you need a new shop.

No surprise that online purchase have been disappointments.

 

[jewelryj]

Ours would steam it right in front of us. Why do drop-off cleaning? Did you have them dry-cleaned?

If things are getting damaged in the shop, you need a new shop.

No surprise that online purchase have been disappointments.

Thanks for breaking it to me gently, ha!
I had a ring being sized and left a few with it to be cleaned. I won’t be doing that again or going back there and I guess I hoped the online purchases had some quality control! I forget not everyone is nit picky, err, detail oriented as me.

But seriously, I was trying an interesting bespoke place for one purchase and a supposedly well regarded larger company for another. Both disappointing to be sure.

 

[T L]

You should avoid ultrasonic cleaners for colored gems. Some gems, especially tanzanite, can get damaged. My jeweler works with colored gems and we have the understanding that he is to not clean my gems in an ultrasonic cleaner after he sets them for me.

 

[jewelryj]

You should avoid ultrasonic cleaners for colored gems. Some gems, especially tanzanite, can get damaged. My jeweler works with colored gems and we have the understanding that he is to not clean my gems in an ultrasonic cleaner after he sets them for me.

Agreed, I don’t own one. Too many delicate stones. I actually didn’t think he would use one and don’t know that he did but either that or carelessness sure damaged my stone. I’m at least glad it’s not noticeable to the naked eye but still frustrated. I also thought blue topaz was more scratch resistant. I knew it could chip easily because of the cleavage.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

You are so wise, lol! I have found the loupe to be a total joy robber!!! Once I started looking for problems, boy did I find them!

I keep telling myself to just enjoy the ring but it’s one thing (albeit still no fun) to damage it yourself and it feels like something else when it arrives that way or a professional does it.

What do you use to dry them? I bought a chamois but it was still leaving lint on stuff and air drying left watermarks, which was why I tried the jeweler.

i just air dry but some have air in a can i beleave or you can get tiny compressors -some one will correct me if im missinformed
im no nearly so fussy

but not long after joining the PS community i had to put my loupe away
it was indeed robbing me of joy
admidably my little pretties are way down on the PS scale of spendor so naturally mine have more faults to find

 

[jewelryj]

i just air dry but some have air in a can i beleave or you can get tiny compressors -some one will correct me if im missinformed
im no nearly so fussy

but not long after joining the PS community i had to put my loupe away
it was indeed robbing me of joy
admidably my little pretties are way down on the PS scale of spendor so naturally mine have more faults to find

Haha! Trust and believe, I look around here in awe because mine are rather modest, lol. It’s fun to gawk and share though!

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Yes, I think it happens to all of us colored gemstone lovers eventually. I thought I was the only one who sent their stones to be set and they came back with chips. The good news is your dings aren't noticeable unless you use a loupe. If you get eye visible dings that bother you then perhaps you can get your stones re-polished.

 

[jewelryj]

Yes, I think it happens to all of us colored gemstone lovers eventually. I thought I was the only one who sent their stones to be set and they came back with chips. The good news is your dings aren't noticeable unless you use a loupe. If you get eye visible dings that bother you then perhaps you can get your stones re-polished.

I’m definitely not glad it happened to you and others but I’m glad I’m not the Charlie Brown of the colored gem world!
I need to find a recommended lapidary in metro Atlanta. Have you gone that route for damaged items with good results ?
As for the London blue, I decided since it’s an inexpensive stone in an expensive setting, at some point I’ll just try getting a new stone. But for now will follow the lead of Daisys and Diamonds and just hide the loupe! The real sad occasion was when a nice ruby got chipped having the setting changed!
I try so hard to take great care of everything, and then it’s whamp whamp, lol.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I’m definitely not glad it happened to you and others but I’m glad I’m not the Charlie Brown of the colored gem world!
I need to find a recommended lapidary in metro Atlanta. Have you gone that route for damaged items with good results ?
As for the London blue, I decided since it’s an inexpensive stone in an expensive setting, at some point I’ll just try getting a new stone. But for now will follow the lead of Daisys and Diamonds and just hide the loupe! The real sad occasion was when a nice ruby got chipped having the setting changed!
I try so hard to take great care of everything, and then it’s whamp whamp, lol.

I'm sorry I don't have recommendations. I stopped buying gemstones after my latest failed project. For the previous rings the setter re-polished the gemstones and sent the rings back and the results were good. Sorry about your ruby. I think for small facet abrasions it is best to take Daisy's advice.

 

[jewelryj]

I’d love to see the rings that had to be re-polished and ty for the commiserations
yes, the loupe is down for the count! Until I get something new, ha.

 

[JewelledEscalators]

Agreed, I don’t own one. Too many delicate stones. I actually didn’t think he would use one and don’t know that he did but either that or carelessness sure damaged my stone. I’m at least glad it’s not noticeable to the naked eye but still frustrated. I also thought blue topaz was more scratch resistant. I knew it could chip easily because of the cleavage.

I use this to clean my jewellery - it does wonders. Can't use it for pearls in theory but naughty me I have and no problems.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/2128715?clickPR=plp:3:6

 

[jewelryj]

Lol, I cast no judgement on naughtiness! Thanks for that link, will check it out