Help! Setting and resetting a diamond

[loralea]

My e-ring is a 1.01 emerald cut diamond and I love it. The problem is the setting. When the setting was custom made, the stone was set on a bit of a slant, which bothered me a lot.

The jeweller told me that the prongs were slightly off centre and if they adjust the prongs (all one piece with the basket), it should fix the issue. It didn't. Not only is the emerald cut diamond still crooked (although not as bad as before), the baguettes, 2 on either side of the centre diamond, are crooked. Apparently 2 of the 4 stones were replaced with tapered baguettes, not straight ones because they broke during the reset. (They were trying to reuse baguettes, but rather than hunt down a matching set- they just went with whatever they had!)

I told the jeweller I wasn't happy, but he encouraged me to get used to it because he told me it is common for emerald cut diamonds to get chipped the more often a diamond is removed from the setting and reset.

I did not buy the diamond from them, just the setting.

I want to put insurance on my stone, but it needs to be out of the setting for an appraisal, plus I REALLY want my ring straighted out so it looks good. I am just at my wits end. Should I go back and trust the jeweller who said they might chip the diamond? Would they replace it if they did? I normally have a good working relationship with this store, but that makes it all the more difficult.

1. Will the jeweller replace the stone if it's chipped during the reset?
2. Can he adjust a custom design that is all one piece without ruining the ring itself?

I need your help and advice. Thanks!

 

[ame]

Re: Setting and resetting a diamond

My e-ring is a 1.01 emerald cut diamond and I love it. The problem is the setting. When the setting was custom made, the stone was set on a bit of a slant, which bothered me a lot.

The jeweller told me that the prongs were slightly off centre and if they adjust the prongs (all one piece with the basket), it should fix the issue. It didn't. Not only is the emerald cut diamond still crooked (although not as bad as before), the baguettes, 2 on either side of the centre diamond, are crooked. Apparently 2 of the 4 stone were replaced with tapered baguettes, not straight ones because they broke during the reset. (They were trying to reuse baguettes, but rather than hunt down a matching set- they just went with whatever they had!)

I told the jeweller I wasn't happy, but he encouraged me to get used to it because he told me it is common for emerald cut diamonds to get chipped the more often a diamond is removed from the setting and reset.

I did not buy the diamond from them, just the setting.

I want to put insurance on my stone, but it needs to be out of the setting for an appraisal, plus I REALLY want my ring straighted out so it looks good. I am just at my wits end. Should I go back and trust the jeweller who said they might chip the diamond? Would they replace it if they did? I normally have a good working relationship with this store, but that makes it all the more difficult.

1. Will the jeweller replace the stone if it's chipped during the reset?
2. Can he adjust a custom design that is all one piece with ruining the ring itself?

I need your help and advice. Thanks!

Id want the whole thing redone. There's only so much tweaking that can be done. And at this point I'd want a refund from this guy, my stone back, and to move on to someone else because he doesn't sound capable. You can and probably should, after it's been taken from the mounting, get it checked out by an appraiser to make sure it is ok, and still matches the report, so you can make him replace it if it's damaged.

 

[loralea]

Re: Setting and resetting a diamond

I understand what you're saying, but I would really like to keep this setting, if possible. I have had it well over a year and have been back and forth on what should be done. They likely won't take a return at this point. It was on their advice that I "try to get used to it". I have and it bothers me a lot.

We have purchased many things from this j. store, so they know I am a good customer. The last time I was in I told the jeweller I still wasn't happy. I was going out of country so I couldn't leave the ring at that point, but I did tell him I wanted to bring it back to get it fixed.

I am so afraid the stone will be chipped in the process. Do you know if a jeweller is obligated to replace a stone they damage, even if it was not purchased at their store?

 

[denverappraiser]

I want to put insurance on my stone, but it needs to be out of the setting for an appraisal, plus I REALLY want my ring straighted out so it looks good. I am just at my wits end. Should I go back and trust the jeweller who said they might chip the diamond? Would they replace it if they did? I normally have a good working relationship with this store, but that makes it all the more difficult.

1. Will the jeweller replace the stone if it's chipped during the reset?
2. Can he adjust a custom design that is all one piece without ruining the ring itself?

I need your help and advice. Thanks!

In most cases it is NOT necessary to remove the stone from the setting to do an appraisal and to secure an insurance policy and I would normally recommend against it, especially in this sort of situation.

In most cases jewelers do NOT accept breakage liability on stones they didn't sell. Ask them. Normally this would be a covered loss so this goes back to getting it appraised and insured before you begin.

'Custom' is a broad category. Some things are easy to modify and some are not. Your appraiser should be able to give some advice on what is and what isn't possible. Consider getting it appraised by an independent appraiser or at least by someone other than the jeweler who is doing the job (or someone working for them).

 

[loralea]

I want to put insurance on my stone, but it needs to be out of the setting for an appraisal, plus I REALLY want my ring straighted out so it looks good. I am just at my wits end. Should I go back and trust the jeweller who said they might chip the diamond? Would they replace it if they did? I normally have a good working relationship with this store, but that makes it all the more difficult.

1. Will the jeweller replace the stone if it's chipped during the reset?
2. Can he adjust a custom design that is all one piece without ruining the ring itself?

I need your help and advice. Thanks!

In most cases it is NOT necessary to remove the stone from the setting to do an appraisal and to secure an insurance policy and I would normally recommend against it, especially in this sort of situation.

In most cases jewelers do NOT accept breakage liability on stones they didn't sell. Ask them. Normally this would be a covered loss so this goes back to getting it appraised and insured before you begin.

'Custom' is a broad category. Some things are easy to modify and some are not. Your appraiser should be able to give some advice on what is and what isn't possible. Consider getting it appraised by an independent appraiser or at least by someone other than the jeweler who is doing the job (or someone working for them).

Ah, I see what you are saying. I will try to get the stone appraised prior to taking it in to be fixed. The ring was handmade and does mean a lot to me. I am just hoping they can fix it. I understand 19K gold is brittle (perhaps that's why they didn't do a stellar job fixing it the first time(?).

Thanks for the advice, I just didn't know how to proceed.