Jared did not stamp my ring! Normal?

[Home73]

Hi. At first Happy Holidays.

And if this is the wrong forum for my question please let me know. I am not here often.

I had a stone reset in a setting that was available at Jared. This in itself was the worst experience and I had to go back 4 times to correct very bad quality issues. On my last inspection at home I noticed that there was no metal stamp anywhere in the ring (I have a loupe).

This was an expensive setting with pave diamonds and in 14k whitegold. Yes, I have the receipts etc and I know metal can be tested but should that not have been there as a store standard?

I am afraid you all will tell me to go back and I will - just want to get all my reasoning and arguments ready for my lawsuit. (Just kidding). I am not super sentimental and can take some abuse but this whole experience was so bad that I never wanted to go back to that store....

 

[tyty333]

Did they resize the setting? I think you will have to go back...sorry.

 

[lovedogs]

I'm so sorry. Jared is the worst. Unfortunately I think you need to go back 1 last time

 

[Home73]

Did they resize the setting? I think you will have to go back...sorry.

They might have resized it but maybe just half a size or so. Also, would they just put an engraving in or can they still stamp it? And do I have to leave the ring there or is this something they can do while I wait?

 

[Home73]

I'm so sorry. Jared is the worst. Unfortunately I think you need to go back 1 last time

It was soooo bad. The guy that I was dealing with told me that he is usually a personal trainer and only does that as a side job. Now I don't fault anyone for trying to earn a paycheck but he had no clue about jewelry. lol The old setting had a 750 stamped in it and he had no clue what that meant. He also did not know what a landscape setting is....I hope he is not there when I go back.

 

[musicloveranthony]

I don't know if it's true (or if it really matters), but I had the same thing happen with a sketchy local jeweler. I brought it to a different jeweler to fix their crappy work and they told me not stamping the metal is illegal. They said "obviously nobody is going to go after them for it, but it speaks to laziness and poor practice" which was evident in the work they did

 

[Home73]

I don't know if it's true (or if it really matters), but I had the same thing happen with a sketchy local jeweler. I brought it to a different jeweler to fix their crappy work and they told me not stamping the metal is illegal. They said "obviously nobody is going to go after them for it, but it speaks to laziness and poor practice" which was evident in the work they did

Thank you for this info.....I quick google search confirmed this for me. And your story sounds like mine!

 

[Tonks]

This is fascinating to me. I have a custom eternity made by CvB. It is platinum and though the appraisal says it is stamped, it is not. I’ve been all over it with a loupe. No stamp anywhere.

I thought, nbd. Apparently it is a big deal?

 

[Rfisher]

I don’t think it’s normal, but don’t think it’s rare either.
I have bought 4 rings that were made from 3 well known PS jewelers -so not national chain jewelry stores- that have no metal stamp anywhere.
I’m sure if I would have sent them back, putting the metal stamp (and makers mark too) would have been no big deal. I chose not to.

I spoke with the vendor each time.
One skipped the question, never answered it.
One stated it was an oopsie/oversight.
One stated it was a conscious decision due to shank thinness.
The 4th was a secondhand purchase and the original vendor stated it was substantially reworked by someone else. But it being a narrow full eternity with ajour, that may be the reason instead. I have a narrow full eternity from this same vendor with no ajour that is indeed stamped.

All three vendors I believe at one time in the convo addressed the concept of their honorability and trust.

Right or wrong - I for some reason would view the unmarked purchase from a chain /national brand differently then a purchase from a recognizable ‘PS fave’ vendor.
I’m not quite sure I would trust a chain store that possibly does no skilled work in-house, to have a marginally trained part time worker punch stamp my ring as I wait, that I’ve already paid for in full, already had problems with quality of work and had re-worked. I can imagine the headache to come if they managed to screw it up more. Then what?? And expensive setting with pave you say? I’d cut those ties already.

 

[Home73]

I don’t think it’s normal, but don’t think it’s rare either.
I have bought 4 rings that were made from 3 well known PS jewelers -so not national chain jewelry stores- that have no metal stamp anywhere.
I’m sure if I would have sent them back, putting the metal stamp (and makers mark too) would have been no big deal. I chose not to.

I spoke with the vendor each time.
One skipped the question, never answered it.
One stated it was an oopsie/oversight.
One stated it was a conscious decision due to shank thinness.
The 4th was a secondhand purchase and the original vendor stated it was substantially reworked by someone else. But it being a narrow full eternity with ajour, that may be the reason instead. I have a narrow full eternity from this same vendor with no ajour that is indeed stamped.

All three vendors I believe at one time in the convo addressed the concept of their honorability and trust.

Right or wrong - I for some reason would view the unmarked purchase from a chain /national brand differently then a purchase from a recognizable ‘PS fave’ vendor.
I’m not quite sure I would trust a chain store that possibly does no skilled work in-house, to have a marginally trained part time worker punch stamp my ring as I wait, that I’ve already paid for in full, already had problems with quality of work and had re-worked. I can imagine the headache to come if they managed to screw it up more. Then what?? And expensive setting with pave you say? I’d cut those ties already.

Thank you for this insightful comment. What you are saying in your last paragraph did cross my mind as well. That's why I am hesitating. But I might want to sell the ring at some point (it lost already some of its magic due to the terrible experience.)
So the longer I wait the harder it will be to reclaim this.
Now, would another jeweler put a stamp/engraving in? I know I would have to pay for that of course.

 

[Rfisher]

Thank you for this insightful comment. What you are saying in your last paragraph did cross my mind as well. That's why I am hesitating. But I might want to sell the ring at some point (it lost already some of its magic due to the terrible experience.)
So the longer I wait the harder it will be to reclaim this.
Now, would another jeweler put a stamp/engraving in? I know I would have to pay for that of course.

if you already think you want to sell the ring at some point - I’d be traveling the refund road to Jared’s. Starting yesterday.

If you keep it and ever intend to have them do warranty/repair work (if that even exists) - read their fine print. I’m assuming any work you have done - including adding a metal stamp- would technically void their warranty if their manager is a thorough inspecting tightwad wanker.

Best wishes - I hope whatever you choose you end up with a ring you enjoy wearing. Not a ring you are immediately thinking you will sell soon or someday. Not much ‘reclaiming’ in the 2nd hand market to be had.
Generally speaking. There’s exceptions and Jared’s and the results you have detailed just aren’t it.

 

[MissGotRocks]

I am thinking that Jared did not make the setting but purchased it from some other supplier. Not sure if Jared would have ever stamped it as they didn’t make it. Again, another mark against them as it is hard to say who they buy some of their settings from at this point. I think they - like many of the jewelry stores under the same umbrella that owns them all - have definitely seen their quality go down. I am sorry that you have had such difficult time with them and hope that your ring is satisfactory and wearable for you now. I would definitely go back and ask about the stamp; no clue what their response will be. It would certainly be up to them to correct it if possible but I am sure they will come up with some song and dance about the lack of need. Metal can be tested and you could always have an independent appraiser appraise it for you if you ever decided to sell it.

 

[Home73]

if you already think you want to sell the ring at some point - I’d be traveling the refund road to Jared’s. Starting yesterday.

If you keep it and ever intend to have them do warranty/repair work (if that even exists) - read their fine print. I’m assuming any work you have done - including adding a metal stamp- would technically void their warranty if their manager is a thorough inspecting tightwad wanker.

Best wishes - I hope whatever you choose you end up with a ring you enjoy wearing. Not a ring you are immediately thinking you will sell soon or someday. Not much ‘reclaiming’ in the 2nd hand market to be had.
Generally speaking. There’s exceptions and Jared’s and the results you have detailed just aren’t it.

Thank you. I will have to look at the refund policy. That is actually a good idea. I don't know what I was thinking going to Jared. This was my very first time. I actually have a very good jeweler I should have used.....

 

[Home73]

I am thinking that Jared did not make the setting but purchased it from some other supplier. Not sure if Jared would have ever stamped it as they didn’t make it. Again, another mark against them as it is hard to say who they buy some of their settings from at this point. I think they - like many of the jewelry stores under the same umbrella that owns them all - have definitely seen their quality go down. I am sorry that you have had such difficult time with them and hope that your ring is satisfactory and wearable for you now. I would definitely go back and ask about the stamp; no clue what their response will be. It would certainly be up to them to correct it if possible but I am sure they will come up with some song and dance about the lack of need. Metal can be tested and you could always have an independent appraiser appraise it for you if you ever decided to sell it.

I agree with you and I am sure they did not make the setting. I will look at all the fine print I have from them and then go back. I might return it if I can.
Did I mention that one of the prongs is not smooth and scratches when I go over it....still after all the trips back.

 

[Texas Leaguer]

Just a couple of points to consider:

First, it is NOT illegal to sell a ring without a purity stamp. However, IF the manufacturer does stamp purity (vast majority), then the manufacturer's hallmark must appear near the purity stamp for accountability purposes.

Second, there are sometimes legitimate reasons why purity and hallmark are not stamped. For example, a design that provides no place to put such a stamp. Or, engraving requested that takes up all the available space. Or the piece is made of of different metals.

A jeweler might also legitimately want to avoid being accountable for the assay on another jewelers product that she has worked on (and maybe had to polish the original stamp) . Remember, she can't stamp the purity without stamping her hallmark making her accountable for the claim.

That said, any good jeweler should explain to you the reasons why your piece does not have a stamp.

Also, @Home73 unless I misunderstood you said the original piece ( presumably before all the re-working) was stamped 750. That is an alternate designation of fineness for 18K gold ( 75% pure or 18/24), but you mention you think it is 14K. So that's a bit confusing.

 

[Home73]

Just a couple of points to consider:

First, it is NOT illegal to sell a ring without a purity stamp. However, IF the manufacturer does stamp purity (vast majority), then the manufacturer's hallmark must appear near the purity stamp for accountability purposes.

Second, there are sometimes legitimate reasons why purity and hallmark are not stamped. For example, a design that provides no place to put such a stamp. Or, engraving requested that takes up all the available space. Or the piece is made of of different metals.

A jeweler might also legitimately want to avoid being accountable for the assay on another jewelers product that she has worked on (and maybe had to polish the original stamp) . Remember, she can't stamp the purity without stamping her hallmark making her accountable for the claim.

That said, any good jeweler should explain to you the reasons why your piece does not have a stamp.

Also, @Home73 unless I misunderstood you said the original piece ( presumably before all the re-working) was stamped 750. That is an alternate designation of fineness for 18K gold ( 75% pure or 18/24), but you mention you think it is 14K. So that's a bit confusing.

Thank you for the comprehensive explanation.

The diamond was set in a different setting that was 18k/750. But when I was in the store and they looked at the existing setting the SA did not know what 750 meant.

According to the receipt the new setting is 14k. I know I might have been confusing.