CRAP! My new stone has had a terrible day!

[Kelli]

This morning I was playing with my new garnet my while drinking some coffee. I dropped it and it went tumbling off the desk but I never saw it land. I freaking tore the room apart for probably a half hour before finding it in the pocket of my robe (which I didn't even realize had pockets ). I had to leave for work by the time I found it, and when I came home I decided to inspect it. Other than some nasty finger grease it was fine, so I decided to clean it. I was being SO careful, but not careful enough. I dropped it on the tile in my bathroom and now there's a chip on the cutlet. I'M SO MAD AT MYSELF.

It's a very tiny chip; I couldn't even get a picture of it. And I know once it gets set I won't be able to see the cutlet anyway. But the perfectionist in me knows it's there and I'm so annoyed. I keep looking at it from the top and deciding whether or not I can tell from the face up position. If I tilt it just right, very close to my face, I can see a teensy area where the light isn't being returned to me, but I honestly can't tell if that's the chip or just the way it looks.

Please tell me it's ok, and that I should just set it and forget I ever dropped it. I know recuts and repolishes are possible but I really don't want to pay all the money and wait for it to be done. The stone isn't heavily included, so I'm hoping there's not danger of further damage (unless my idiot self drops it again). Have you chipped a cutlet and set the stone anyway?

Thanks in advance for calming me down....

 

[chrono]

Kelli,
First off, I am sorry that the stone is damaged and secondly, welcome to the well-loved gemstone club where this is more common than you think. I've nicked a crown facet junction of my red spinel (avatar) before it was ever set. I've dropped my blue spinel (will be set within the month or so) and now it has some sort of mark on the pavilion. Both of these are very difficult to spot even if I stare hard at it but I know they are there. I was heartbroken for many days but once set, the pain lessen. In time, I think you won't feel as devastated as you currently feel. I understand perfectly that the mark(s) are minor, even superficial but the mind isn't clean about it. It seems too inconsequential for polishing yet the pain of damage feels very real. Once set, I stopped thinking about the damage and stopped even pondering a repolish.

 

[txgreeneyes]

I nicked my ruby. Know exactly how you feel. Mine was already set. I can't really see it most days, but I know it's there.

 

[BlingObsession]

I accidentally "stabbed" a lovely Roger Dery red spinel with a pair of scissors trying to get it out the gem box in a hurry - bruised the stone internally. Roger repolished as best he could and you you can't see it now it's set but, yes, I know it's there and it will always, always annoy me! I did feel sick when I did it so I share your pain!

 

[distracts]

My engagement ring sapphire has a little divot on the edge - whether an inclusion or a nick from setting or something else, idek. It was there when I first saw it and I can feel it with my fingernail but can't see it with a 10x loupe unless I get the light to glint off it just right. My policy is just not to worry about it. If you like the stone and can't even see the damage, why bother?

 

[Ally T]

Nightmare for you! I have also nicked the girdle of my pear diamond. There was a tiny feather inclusion which has now gone It cannot be seen with the eye, just a loope, but I can feel it with my finger nail. I am used to it now though & it no longer bothers me. On the plus side I now have a flawless diamond. If I could be bothered getting it polished, that is

 

[Kelli]

Thanks everyone! The artist and perfectionist in me so badly wants to ask about a recut. But it's not an engagement ring stone and won't be an everyday ring. I need to appreciate the flawed beauty that it is and move on. Maybe as Chrono said, I won't think about it once set. Hopefully my setting gets here soon!

I'm really glad I'm not the only one.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Yikes! Honestly the couple of times I saw a scratch or flaw on a colored stone ring it made the ring "unwearable" to me. Then over time I realized that "who cares, if I want I can get it polished out" and everything was fine.

 

[minousbijoux]

The worst part is playing it over and over in your head thinking "why was I so stupid?" or at least, thats what I have done. I once went to take photos of a Mahenge to sell and promptly dropped in on the tile floor, where it cracked.

I am truly sorry, but feel like sooner or later, we all do it so welcome to the club!

 

[Kelli]

Yep, definitely kicking myself! I've gotten my eye trained to see the teeny imperfection at this point, but the knowledge that I could get it polished out later does help ease the frustration. I KNOW no one else would ever see anything was wrong, but I wear my stones for my own enjoyment so it's a mind clean thing. Still, the stone performs like crazy regardless and is getting set tomorrow. I think I'll lovingly name this one "Chip" and enjoy the sparkles just the same. If it continues to bother me I'll inquire about the recut instead of buying a new stone when the funds are replenished.

Thanks for welcoming to your club, everyone. There's comfort in numbers

 

[Kelli]

Chrono you were right! I got it set today and it's pretty much a non-issue. I love it and I'll be posting pics once I get a chance (probably tomorrow)!

 

[chrono]

So glad you've come to accept and love your stone as is. I just went through my old notes and it appears that when I sent my garnet to Whiteflash to be set, they noted that there is fine abrasion on both the crown and pavilion facets which I never even noticed. Sometimes it is best not know know, you know? As tomorrow is now today, can we hope to see pictures this week?

 

[Kelli]

Soon I took a lot, but this stone is crazy hard to capture. And some sun would be nice. Now all I have are indoor/cloudy shots.

 

[GliderPoss]

Ugh I did the exact same thing with my latest parti sapphire! Busy cleaning it and dropped it in a china bowl I was using. Teeny chip right on the front face of the gem!!!

 

[chrono]

Ugh I did the exact same thing with my latest parti sapphire! Busy cleaning it and dropped it in a china bowl I was using. Teeny chip right on the front face of the gem!!!

HP, I'm so sorry. I know you wish you could reverse time.

 

[Kelli]

OH NO!! Sorry to hear