Custom Jewelry etiquette

[davi_el_mejor]

The SO was given the ring

Now that it's been given, it's a touch too small and we discovered the diamond is unlevel, and it can be sort of pushed down at the narrowest tip, you can hear a "click" sound when you press down on the diamond and it rocks back and forth slightly.

When a piece is custom made, do you contact the original artist to have it fixed and expect to have it fixed with minimal/no cost? Or, do you find a more local shop that you trust and can have the work done without shipping hassles and a higher cost of repair?

I am going to contact the maker of the ring when I get home from work and a local jeweler on my next day off, but I'd like to hear your guys' opinions on this sort of thing.

 

[Porridge]

I would certainly contact the maker ASAP. The diamond shouldn't do that and I would expect that to be fixed free of charge. The sizing issue - is that their fault for making it too small or yours for giving the wrong size?

Sorry you're having issues with the ring! It does tarnish the experience a bit, but mistakes happen. Hopefully it will be resolved with minimal fuss.

 

[elrohwen]

I would absolutely expect the original custom jeweler to re-do it for free.

My ring is custom and the store actually completely remade it because I wasn't happy with how it turned out.

 

[Circe]

Ditto to Porridge and Elrohwen - this is definitely on the original jeweler. Don't feel any qualms about contacting them.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

I would certainly contact the maker ASAP. The diamond shouldn't do that and I would expect that to be fixed free of charge. The sizing issue - is that their fault for making it too small or yours for giving the wrong size?

Sorry you're having issues with the ring! It does tarnish the experience a bit, but mistakes happen. Hopefully it will be resolved with minimal fuss.

I should have also said how long I've had the ring, I received it on the 8th of October. We only discovered the setting issue after the glamour of the newness wore off. I guess it's up to the artist what he'll be willing to do for me, but he's an up and coming etsy artist, so hopefully he'll be willing to fix it.

The size is good for half the day and then the fingers swell a bit and it's very uncomfortable. Does that sound like a quarter or half size too small? We haven't taken it anywhere to see what size it was made so I don't know if it was made to the size I ordered. The ring has a band of gold on the inside and sterling silver on the outside, so I don't know how they'll resize it

He had someone else set the stone in the bezel because it's a difficult unique shape. I wish I could take accurate pictures of the issue but it's one of those you have to see it things. If you don't take a really close look at it, you can't tell anything is wrong with it. But, we all know that a little issue can make wearing the ring more of a burden then a joy.

 

[JewelFreak]

First, Davi, if it's an up & coming artist, he or she should want you to come back, and to recommend the services to your friends, so re-doing it ought to be a no-brainer. Besides, seems the only ethical thing to me. I'd worry about the stone moving in its setting -- having lost a beautiful chrome tourmeline that way years ago; took it to a local jeweler who said, No, it's not loose. Next time I wore it, it fell out & I never found it. Must've been 25 yrs ago & I still mourn that darn stone!

If it is the size you ordered, I'd think the maker would re-size it for a small fee, especially since you'll probably want to send it back for the setting part anyway. If it's the wrong size, free, huh?

What a shame it's not perfect for you first time around -- but once you get it exactly right, it will be such a thrill!

Update when you get more news.

--- Laurie

 

[StonieGrl]

Re the fact that the stone is bezeled, being loose in the setting is a sign of a poorly engineered bezel. Ask how the jeweler plans to rectify this. Should be interesting...

 

[Porridge]

I would certainly contact the maker ASAP. The diamond shouldn't do that and I would expect that to be fixed free of charge. The sizing issue - is that their fault for making it too small or yours for giving the wrong size?

Sorry you're having issues with the ring! It does tarnish the experience a bit, but mistakes happen. Hopefully it will be resolved with minimal fuss.

I should have also said how long I've had the ring, I received it on the 8th of October. We only discovered the setting issue after the glamour of the newness wore off. I guess it's up to the artist what he'll be willing to do for me, but he's an up and coming etsy artist, so hopefully he'll be willing to fix it.

The size is good for half the day and then the fingers swell a bit and it's very uncomfortable. Does that sound like a quarter or half size too small? We haven't taken it anywhere to see what size it was made so I don't know if it was made to the size I ordered. The ring has a band of gold on the inside and sterling silver on the outside, so I don't know how they'll resize it

He had someone else set the stone in the bezel because it's a difficult unique shape. I wish I could take accurate pictures of the issue but it's one of those you have to see it things. If you don't take a really close look at it, you can't tell anything is wrong with it. But, we all know that a little issue can make wearing the ring more of a burden then a joy.

That's only a couple of weeks ago! It's not too long at all. Definitely contact him. If he's a good jeweler he will be happy to get the chance to fix any problems. Happy customers are good for business!

Re the sizing issue, that swelling is common enough I think, at least for me. I would also discuss this with the jeweler. This is an issue that you can only know from wearing the ring for some time. It could be possible to shave a teensy bit of metal from the inside; although too loose would be worse, you don't want it to slip off!

 

[yssie]

Re the fact that the stone is bezeled, being loose in the setting is a sign of a poorly engineered bezel. Ask how the jeweler plans to rectify this. Should be interesting...

Was wondering this too - I'm guessing a total remake is most probable

 

[MonkeyPie]

Ditto StonieGrl.

Also, I really want to see it!

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Re the fact that the stone is bezeled, being loose in the setting is a sign of a poorly engineered bezel. Ask how the jeweler plans to rectify this. Should be interesting...

Was wondering this too - I'm guessing a total remake is most probable

Well I sent him a message, two days response time was normal so I get to play the waiting game.

Oh no... the bezel was a third of the cost of the ring...

Here you go MonkeyPie...

 

[Cehrabehra]

Re the fact that the stone is bezeled, being loose in the setting is a sign of a poorly engineered bezel. Ask how the jeweler plans to rectify this. Should be interesting...

Not to threadjack, but rather to not make a big deal about my situation, the stone in my new bezel ring was loose within 2 weeks of getting it. And as much as I wanted to wear it all the time, day in and day out, I was paranoid about getting water under the bezel or something else so I only wore it when I went out and still, within two weeks I could hear it rattle when I shook it and I haven't worn it in a few months now and that makes me very sad. I never bothered contacting the maker because I'm in China and the hassle is just not worth it right now, though I'm not sure what to do anyway.

Yanno, since we're talking about loose bezels and all...

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Re the fact that the stone is bezeled, being loose in the setting is a sign of a poorly engineered bezel. Ask how the jeweler plans to rectify this. Should be interesting...

Not to threadjack, but rather to not make a big deal about my situation, the stone in my new bezel ring was loose within 2 weeks of getting it. And as much as I wanted to wear it all the time, day in and day out, I was paranoid about getting water under the bezel or something else so I only wore it when I went out and still, within two weeks I could hear it rattle when I shook it and I haven't worn it in a few months now and that makes me very sad. I never bothered contacting the maker because I'm in China and the hassle is just not worth it right now, though I'm not sure what to do anyway.

Yanno, since we're talking about loose bezels and all...

I'm sorry to hear that Cehra! I hope once you find some way to resolve it, you do. Knowing that your stone isn't safe is nerve racking.

The artist did respond and he said he thought it was odd it was loose and offered to fix it. WHEW!

 

[Cehrabehra]

that's great davi!!

 

[artdecogirl]

Davi, I am sorry about the setting issues, I hope they can fix it without too much drama. I love the ring! I am not good with mixing metals but that gold on the inside looks sooo cool, I like the brushed finish of the silver also, very nice. Did you do the design or the etsy artist? Lovely ring!

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Davi, I am sorry about the setting issues, I hope they can fix it without too much drama. I love the ring! I am not good with mixing metals but that gold on the inside looks sooo cool, I like the brushed finish of the silver also, very nice. Did you do the design or the etsy artist? Lovely ring!

Thank you It's a band he designed and sells and he designed the bezel in CAD. It usually has rose gold but we figured the yellow would look better with the stone and I completely agree.

 

[iota15]

I remember that diamond. I love the way you ended up setting it (even if there are issues). Very nice design - clean, highlights your colored diamond effectively and makes it the star of the show. Nicely done, sir.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Quick Update:

The ring made it to the artist no problems. He's going to redo the bezel completely and resize it just a tad bigger at no charge. I still recommend, Jesse Danger, he is doing all he can to make us the best ring possible.

 

[yssie]