I saved a diamond''s life...during the Superbowl

[monarch64]

So...I did my good deed for the week this past Sunday during the Superbowl. DH and I were at a local bar to watch the game and some friends came along. One of the gals and I were talking about bling, etc., and she commented that she thought something was wrong with her ring because she kept noticing fuzzies and lint in the prongs. I asked her if I could take a look at it, and upon further inspection I saw that one prong on her princess cut center stone was COMPLETELY gone, and that the other three were worn down to total flatness and could go at any time. She''s been wearing her rings for 6 years now and NEVER had the prongs checked (both of our rings came from the same indie jeweler, who recommends bringing your rings in 1-2 times a year for preventative maintenance).

I''m not posting this to get a pat on the back...I''m posting because I was happy to share my knowledge (mainly from PS) with a totally clueless gal who didn''t realize she was about to lose her beloved diamond! While I would never advocate just trying to inspect someone''s rings without solicitation to do so, I do think we as PSr''s have a responsibility to share some of our knowledge with people who may not realize the importance of having prongs checked periodically and also having their jewelry re-appraised every few years... Good Samaritans, jewelry ambassadors, diamond savers, whatever you want to call it...we should never let a friend take a chance that her diamond will be lost forever! LOL!!!

 

[coatimundi_org]

Way to be! That''s awesome! I would be totally greatful.
Wow! I can''t believe she didn''t notice that a whole prong was gone. Whew--that''s just crazy talk!

 

[Circe]

She didn''t notice that an *entire prong* was completely gone? Yowza! Talk about putting things into perspective ... I notice *fingerprints*! Good on you for giving her a gentle nudge and saving the day ....

 

[strmrdr]

bravo

Iv found lose prongs for people a few times but never one that was totaly gone!
You did good! :}

 

[Harleigh]

You go, girl! I''m proud of you for educating one more clueless bling wearer! I just don''t get it...

My mom went around with a missing prong, 2 bare nubs and 3 other mishappen prongs awhile back...all with my grandmother''s diamond that was meant to be mine.

When we went to look for my setting, I made her take it off to show the jeweler what I was looking for, and when she handed it over, I told her she didn''t get it back until those prongs were fixed, and even offered to pay for it as that stone is more important to me than any money it might cost to keep it safe.

It really ticked me off that she DID know the prongs were damaged/missing/etc... and she continued to wear it with no thought of what it would mean if she lost that precious stone...

It only took one day and $45 for all of the repairs it required...sheesh!

 

[onvacation]

Hooray! Another diamond life saved!

So did you set up another date for the next lesson = using the US? Surely she must have wanted to know why your ring looked 100000X better than hers!

 

[monarch64]

Thanks Coatimundi...I know! When she first handed over her rings, I was thinking "oh, maybe one of her prongs is just snagging her sleeve or something." But as I stated in my original post, I could not believe my eyes when I noticed right off that one prong was completely sheared off and the other three were just barely there, flattened on top and on the sides. The stone wasn''t loose in its setting at all, strangely, but I could tell that at any time the right knock against a random surface would send it flying.

Circe, see above! Yup, big "whew!" I am still tempted to email her and make sure she got those rings to the diamond ER!

Storm, I know! I actually worked for a jeweler from August through December last fall and was dismayed to see that many of the rings which were presented to me for a free cleaning had prongs that were either totally gone or needed to be built up/retipped. I don''t think the average e-ring wearer really knows what she''s putting her rings through on a daily basis, nor does she know what to look for as far as prong security. I know there is a lot of money to be made from jewelry repair, but maybe there is something to be said for educating consumers in shop if possible. Maybe an email follow up to each diamond sale is in order to help the wearer understand the importance of getting their prongs checked and exactly why.

Thanks Harleigh...good for you for insisting your mom get her prongs re-done! This gal whose ring I inspected actually said after I diagnosed the issues and handed it back to her: " so do you think it''s ok for me to wear until we get down to the jeweler?" I shook my head and gave her a very emphatic "NO!"

Onvacation: she does have a US, the same SI model as I and many other PSr''s have. Her DH asked me a few years ago what was a good gift to give her for their anniversary and I suggested that, knowing she loves bling, etc. I think he ended up getting it for a birthday or something instead, so I know she has one and I assume she knows how to use it, but maybe I should email her a lesson in US cleaning? LOL!

 

[onvacation]

Lol, that reminds me how I actually got my US as a Christmas present last year from my BF, BEFORE even getting the e-ring. Okay, technically I don''t have the e-ring yet, but that''s a loooong story I''m saving for later.

Just out of curiosity, did the ring look like it had been recently cleaned when you inspected it? Cuz it''s one thing to OWN one, and another to actually USE it! I can''t believe she cleaned her ring regularly and still missed the prongs... *sadly drops head in disbelief* Maybe her eyesight isn''t that good without her glasses, right after getting out of the shower, cuz her ring likes to take a bath in the US while she''s showering? *raises eyebrows for eureka moment!* Aahhh, it''s late, and I think my late-night imagination is getting the better part of me. Better funnel that energy back into writing my paper....

but maybe I should give the US a quick spin while I...?

 

[beau13]

Good job! I would be MORTIFIED if I looked down, and noticed an empty setting!

 

[Ellen]

Good job Monarch! You get the PS Eagle Eye Award.

And OV raises a good point. I've seen more than one appraiser on here say they've seen DIRT holding a stone in a ring, in much the same condition as you found this one.

 

[lumpkin]

Isn''t it amazing that someone could be that unobservant of their valuables? I think most people are....

 

[Kaleigh]

Good for you!! Thank god you noticed it!! Yay for another diamond being saved!!

 

[Independent Gal]

That''s awesome. And reminds me that I should tell my mom to get hers checked.

 

[Rhea]

What a worrying situation. This reminds me that I should get my prongs checked, thank you.

 

[bee*]

That''s great that you noticed it before she lost her diamond! Hopefully she''ll get it checked more now! Well done Monarch!!

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 2/7/2008 8:02:36 AM
Author: Ellen
Good job Monarch! You get the PS Eagle Eye Award.

And OV raises a good point. I''ve seen more than one appraiser on here say they''ve seen DIRT holding a stone in a ring, in much the same condition as you found this one.

Hahaha! Love the badge, Ellen!

Good work, Monarch-you''ve earned it!

 

[monarch64]

Date: 2/7/2008 8:02:36 AM
Author: Ellen
Good job Monarch! You get the PS Eagle Eye Award.

And OV raises a good point. I''ve seen more than one appraiser on here say they''ve seen DIRT holding a stone in a ring, in much the same condition as you found this one.

LOL!!! What an Honor!

Thank you Ellen, I will add this to my sash, hee hee.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 2/7/2008 6:30:57 PM
Author: monarch64
LOL!!! What an Honor!

Thank you Ellen, I will add this to my sash, hee hee.

You''re welcome. Wear it with pride.

Thank you 2of2!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/7/2008 8:02:36 AM
Author: Ellen
Good job Monarch! You get the PS Eagle Eye Award.

And OV raises a good point. I''ve seen more than one appraiser on here say they''ve seen DIRT holding a stone in a ring, in much the same condition as you found this one.

Love the PS Eagle award - good on ya Monnie!!

 

[steph72276]

Good job Monnie!

 

[Gemma12]

Good job Mon!

And Ellen-

on the dirt!

HOW is is possible-I think the Diamond Social Services (the other DSS) should come and TAKE these diamonds off these diamond parents and give them a good home.....maybe with me?

Hee hee!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 2/8/2008 9:51:39 PM
Author: Gemma12
Good job Mon!

And Ellen-

on the dirt!

HOW is is possible-I think the Diamond Social Services (the other DSS) should come and TAKE these diamonds off these diamond parents and give them a good home.....maybe with me?

Hee hee!

Haha! Good one.

I think they should be taken away too.

 

[monarch64]

Date: 2/8/2008 10:02:07 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 2/8/2008 9:51:39 PM
Author: Gemma12
Good job Mon!

And Ellen-

on the dirt!

HOW is is possible-I think the Diamond Social Services (the other DSS) should come and TAKE these diamonds off these diamond parents and give them a good home.....maybe with me?

Hee hee!

Haha! Good one.

I think they should be taken away too.

Haven''t you heard...when I take off my do-gooder sash, I don my DSS cape and fight bling negligence all night!

It is a crying shame, though, in all seriousness...as much as some gals claim to love their bling (I''m talking non-PSr''s of course), they just don''t realize that there is maintenance involved! ''Tis a crime to neglect our sparkly friends...

 

[Ellen]

Date: 2/9/2008 12:17:35 AM
Author: monarch64
Haven''t you heard...when I take off my do-gooder sash, I don my DSS cape and fight bling negligence all night!

It is a crying shame, though, in all seriousness...as much as some gals claim to love their bling (I''m talking non-PSr''s of course), they just don''t realize that there is maintenance involved! ''Tis a crime to neglect our sparkly friends...

 

[monarch64]

Date: 2/9/2008 7:59:49 AM
Author: Ellen

Date: 2/9/2008 12:17:35 AM
Author: monarch64
Haven''t you heard...when I take off my do-gooder sash, I don my DSS cape and fight bling negligence all night!

It is a crying shame, though, in all seriousness...as much as some gals claim to love their bling (I''m talking non-PSr''s of course), they just don''t realize that there is maintenance involved! ''Tis a crime to neglect our sparkly friends...

Whew! I just got back from another long night of aiding the diamond-negligent with their troubles.

Must head back to the bat cave now....LOL!