HELP... Oval setting looks crooked

[KiwiMtnClmbr]

Please help...

I''ve been lurking for a few months listening and learning. I finally decided that I wanted an Oval Solitaire for my girlfriend and set about finding the right one. I purchased a loose .92 ct Oval from Angara and then took it to Gary at Engagement Rings Direct. Together we searched high and low for a setting that I liked and eventually found a beautiful six-prong. Although it was designed for rounds, Mark and Gary felt it could be adapted without risk.

I made the order and just received the ring in the mail. I''m very happy with the look/style of the setting and the custom knife edge. Unfortunately, the stone appears to be set crooked. When viewing the ring from the side, the diamond''s table is not level. Additionally, the setting itself seems to have been cast off-center, as when viewed from above the end prongs are at 1o''clock and 7''oclock instead of 12 & 6. This in turn has led to the stone being 5-10 degrees off of perpendicular. Please look at my attached photos and tell me if you think this is something worth trying to get fixed/replaced?

The plan was to propose this upcoming Friday, July 4th. I''ve planned a surprise trip to NYC ending with a kayaking trip on the Hudson for the fireworks [I''m a professional outdoor guide and a friend''s tour service is setting it up for me]. Looks like I''ll be proposing with this ring regardless of the outcome, but please let me know what y''all think...

-Crooked and broke... lol

 

[KiwiMtnClmbr]

Here is the side view...

 

[KiwiMtnClmbr]

Here is another top down photo (please ignore the bad lighting / discoloration). You can clearly see the stone and the prongs are not centered...

 

[Dreamer_D]

When I look at the top down pics the stone doesn't look off-center to me, and the prongs look even... I wonder how is the symmetry of the stone? B/c less-than-ideal symmetry can make the stone *look* uneven in the setting...

Those issues aside, it looks like the setting job was not done correctly. See the attached, where I have circled the places where the prongs are poorly done. They should be touching your diamond with no spaces. This is the sign of a poorly set stone. It is easily fixed, but you really should get this taken care of. Personally, I might worry about wearing the ring with prongs in this condition. I had a similar issue with my three-stone ring, though, and Garry H pointed out that many a worse setting job can last 30 years... but it is still not a good job!

 

[Demelza]

Congrats on your upcoming engagement! I''m so sorry you''re having problems with the ring so close to the time you are planning to propose. YES, I absolutely see what you''re talking about -- the head definitely looks lopsided and at least two of the prongs do not appear to be holding the stone correctly. I would contact ERD immediately and see what they can do for you. Good luck!

 

[NeverEndingUpgrade]

Date: 6/29/2008 3:41:32 PM
Author:KiwiMtnClmbr
Please help...

I''ve been lurking for a few months listening and learning. I finally decided that I wanted an Oval Solitaire for my girlfriend and set about finding the right one. I purchased a loose .92 ct Oval from Angara and then took it to Gary at Engagement Rings Direct. Together we searched high and low for a setting that I liked and eventually found a beautiful six-prong. Although it was designed for rounds, Mark and Gary felt it could be adapted without risk.

I made the order and just received the ring in the mail. I''m very happy with the look/style of the setting and the custom knife edge. Unfortunately, the stone appears to be set crooked. When viewing the ring from the side, the diamond''s table is not level. Additionally, the setting itself seems to have been cast off-center, as when viewed from above the end prongs are at 1o''clock and 7''oclock instead of 12 & 6. This in turn has led to the stone being 5-10 degrees off of perpendicular. Please look at my attached photos and tell me if you think this is something worth trying to get fixed/replaced?

The plan was to propose this upcoming Friday, July 4th. I''ve planned a surprise trip to NYC ending with a kayaking trip on the Hudson for the fireworks [I''m a professional outdoor guide and a friend''s tour service is setting it up for me]. Looks like I''ll be proposing with this ring regardless of the outcome, but please let me know what y''all think...

-Crooked and broke... lol

It seems strange to me that they would have to "adapt" a setting that was designed for a round when they could have easily ordered a new setting designed for an oval the size you needed start with. My jeweler has books with dozens of photos of solitaire settings that can be ordered for all shapes and sizes of center stones, including knife edged settings.

I know you wanted to propose this Friday, but you should definitely have the ring redone after that. Let ERD know you are unhappy and that you want a setting ordered for your diamond. That''s what I would do. I''m sure they will fix it for you.

 

[neatfreak]

Mark/Gary at ERD are very very well respected vendors here, but as everyone does, occasionally make mistakes.

I am positive that if you contact them they can fix it for you very quickly, probably even in time for your engagement if you are in NYC.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 6/29/2008 4:07:25 PM
Author: NeverEndingUpgrade

Date: 6/29/2008 3:41:32 PM

Author:KiwiMtnClmbr

Please help...


I''ve been lurking for a few months listening and learning. I finally decided that I wanted an Oval Solitaire for my girlfriend and set about finding the right one. I purchased a loose .92 ct Oval from Angara and then took it to Gary at Engagement Rings Direct. Together we searched high and low for a setting that I liked and eventually found a beautiful six-prong. Although it was designed for rounds, Mark and Gary felt it could be adapted without risk.



I made the order and just received the ring in the mail. I''m very happy with the look/style of the setting and the custom knife edge. Unfortunately, the stone appears to be set crooked. When viewing the ring from the side, the diamond''s table is not level. Additionally, the setting itself seems to have been cast off-center, as when viewed from above the end prongs are at 1o''clock and 7''oclock instead of 12 & 6. This in turn has led to the stone being 5-10 degrees off of perpendicular. Please look at my attached photos and tell me if you think this is something worth trying to get fixed/replaced?


The plan was to propose this upcoming Friday, July 4th. I''ve planned a surprise trip to NYC ending with a kayaking trip on the Hudson for the fireworks [I''m a professional outdoor guide and a friend''s tour service is setting it up for me]. Looks like I''ll be proposing with this ring regardless of the outcome, but please let me know what y''all think...


-Crooked and broke... lol

It seems strange to me that they would have to ''adapt'' a setting that was designed for a round when they could have easily ordered a new setting designed for an oval the size you needed start with. My jeweler has books with dozens of photos of solitaire settings that can be ordered for all shapes and sizes of center stones, including knife edged settings.


I know you wanted to propose this Friday, but you should definitely have the ring redone after that. Let ERD know you are unhappy and that you want a setting ordered for your diamond. That''s what I would do. I''m sure they will fix it for you.

They probably did this because this particular setting is not made for ovals. Gary and Mark are not ones to cut corners, I''m sure there was a reason for doing this. Not every setting is made specifically for every stone shape...

 

[justjulia]

Yes, it looks as if the stone has shifted and not held squarely by each prong. Call them up and I''m sure it will get resolved easily. (Sorry it has to be after the engagement, but stuff happens.)
(LOVE the oval.)

 

[KiwiMtnClmbr]

Thanks so much for your everyone''s responses and input. I was pretty certain that what I saw wasn''t quite kosher and having a second (or more) set of eyes affirm it helped loads. I was able to take the ring back to Gary this morning and he managed to find a reputable ''setter'' who''s not on vacation at present like the rest of the diamond district to hopefully remedy the issues. I''ll definitely post to show me the ring when I get it back. Gary did however say there was a slight chance that the setting might be irreparable, meaning I''d have to get a new one made, although that will have to wait ''til mid-July. Thanks again for the help.