Stone loose in setting

[Mannequin]

Hi Psers! I need some advice on my engagement ring. I have two side stones on either side of my RB and they share prongs. I just got engaged in early May and have already had one outer prong break, so I had to have that prong reworked and the diamond reset (we found it, thank goodness). I have had the ring back since the 13th of the month and have been wearing it daily.

I checked the stones as I was cleaning it today and I noticed that one of my littler sidestones is loose. I am in the process of moving apartments right now, but I have been super careful about not banging my hand against anything because of the ring. So with regular "wear and tear" then, this ring already has a loose stone in just over a week??? Is this normal for a shared prong ring like mine? I am concerned that if the setting loosens its grip that much just from me wearing the ring, then the time that I really give that hand an awesome whack will result in all my stones flying. I already had such a hard time with the first breakage problem - the only wedding-related thing I am personally responsible for at all times, and I broke it! ARGH! - and I don''t want to have further issues with this. I don''t want to feel the need to "baby" this ring all the time.

Below are a few pics of my ring for reference. I am thinking that maybe I should see about getting the sidestone prongs reset somehow to make the stones stay put better, but I am not sure what way would work best. I really want to keep the look of the whole ring as closely as possible, i.e. channel set as a last resort. I am going to take the ring to the jewelers tomorrow (a local B&M that typically does marvelous custom work) and wanted your advice on what I should ask them to do while I am there besides fixing that loose stone. Should I see about adding prongs? Moving prongs? Where? Thanks in advance for your assistance!

 

[strmrdr]

You have a side shot?

 

[Sundial]

Oh I am so sorry that you are already having problems with your beautiful ring again! I don''t know what the solution is, but I would certainly suggest that you discuss it at length with your jeweler.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I''d have to say that I think the setting is faulty. They should make you a new one.

 

[Mannequin]

Let me try to get a side shot uploaded for you...

 

[AndyRosse]

Oh that stinks!!! I would have all the prongs checked and tightened, and then hopefully this will be your last problem!

 

[IrishAngel7982]

Oh Equ, not again! I''m so sorry! I would march back to that jeweler and have them reset every stone for you unless they can absolutely guarantee they can fix it with no further problems. I don''t know much, but I do know with first a prong breaking off and now loose stones, they better fix that beautiful sparkler! Good luck!

 

[Mannequin]

As I was taking these, I discovered that BOTH small sidestones are loose.

In that top photo, you can see that the right outermost prong is the reworked one. The diamond on this side rotates like a clock, not a full quarter turn but still significant movement. The outermost diamond on the left I just noticed is also loose to the point that I can push it across towards either side of the band for nearly the width of the prong. Ugh! What to do? I worry that a remade setting exactly like this may have the same problems...

Two side shots:

 

[Mannequin]

Thank you everyone for the responses so far. Any suggestions on what to do if a tightening still doesn't fix this? What would you do with the prongs?

Date: 6/22/2006 10:34:56 PM
Author: IrishAngel
Oh Equ, not again! I'm so sorry! I would march back to that jeweler and have them reset every stone for you unless they can absolutely guarantee they can fix it with no further problems. I don't know much, but I do know with first a prong breaking off and now loose stones, they better fix that beautiful sparkler! Good luck!

I'd love to do that, Irish. I just worry that if I go in breathing fire like that for the second time, they will switch out my stones in the back room or something!

 

[IrishAngel7982]

That''s a good point dear! I think you and your FI should go to the store together and express your deep concern that you have only had your beautiful ring since May and this is the second MAJOR problem. I mean let''s face it...if you weren''t in your bedroom at the time who knows if you would have lost that first stone for good! And now two other stones are loose...I know B & M''s don''t have a good rep on this site for excellent work but I know a lot of people who shop at them regularly for precious jewelry. It''s only right for them to fix this problem with all the money your FI spent on that ring. They certainly don''t want a bad name, and those that do have a bad rep have one for a reason. Anyway, I don''t think you should breathe fire, I wouldn''t be able to if I tried, but if you both walk in and express your disappointment and concern I don''t think you''re overreacting at all. Is it possible the shared prong setting just isn''t working for those diamonds? I don''t remember if that ring was custom made or set with the diamonds your FI bought for you, etc. Either way, I hope they work with you, and I definitely think you deserve to have them fix this for you for good. Let us know how it goes!

 

[Mannequin]

The B&M store that we used for the ring setting is very highly regarded among my coworkers and they were recommended for their fine work, which is seemingly not what I have. The setting I have is a design of the jewelers, and I fell in love with it because I hadn''t seen anything like it anywhere else. Link on their site to the setting: http://www.minersden.com/images/11011968.jpg I would hate to change my whole setting so soon. I love my wide band, and I love the way everything is supposed to be set. My FI is upset too that something he bought with all the best intentions is "faulty" and not working out as expected. I will discuss this at length with them today when I go in.

Currently, the two larger sidestones are surrounded by four prongs. The smaller sidestones, the problem ones, share two prongs with their sparkly neighbors and have one additional prong on the outside, like points on a triangle. Is there another prong arrangement that could be done to make these diamonds more stable? I am hoping that some of our resident experts can help with this so I can go in prepared to ask the right questions.

 

[denverappraiser]

It’s hard to tell from your pictures but it’s probably not too bad. I seriously doubt you need a new mounting. Shared prong settings can be a little tricky to get the seats right but it’s not usually too difficult to fix if it’s needed. Talk to the shop manager about it. With careful examination before they tighten it, you should be able to figure out WHY it’s loose. There are a couple of choices and the solution isn’t the same for all of them. That’s why you want to have a pro look at it. I don’t have a handy picture to show you but what you’re looking for is the little notch that the edge of the stone is sitting in, especially the one on that tiny prong at the very end. It’s called the ‘seat’. This should be in contact with both the crown and pavilion of the stone and the edge of it should have enough metal that it doesn’t bend right at the girdle line.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ISA NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[Mannequin]

Thank you, denverappraiser! Maybe they can address this seating issue today when I go in with the ring. I know the one little stone can''t be seated properly if it slips across the setting. I am wondering if that last stone needs another prong, though. Will the stones be more stable with four instead of three?

Time to blind you with my superawesomeriffic MS Paint skills!

Current setting with prongs in red:

Rather than set that last diamond with prongs that form an acute triangle, might this be more stable with the shared prongs?

 

[denverappraiser]

It shouldn’t be necessary and I think it will mess up the lines of your design. The one prong at the end makes a nice outline to the whole cluster of stones that accents your center diamond.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ISA NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[Mannequin]

Date: 6/23/2006 8:39:26 AM
Author: denverappraiser

It shouldn’t be necessary and I think it will mess up the lines of your design. The one prong at the end makes a nice outline to the whole cluster of stones that accents your center diamond.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ISA NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

Thank you so much for your advice. I will be taking the ring in this afternoon and update this thread with the outcome.

 

[Mannequin]

Well, I took the ring in this afternoon. The jewelers whisked it away into the back room and tightened everything, but I didn''t have a lot of time to speak with any of them because they paid very little attention to me - repair, not sale. I sat down and examined everything just now because I had time to do so after unloading my car. It looks like one sidestone is sitting more flush now with the setting, but the other still seems to be slightly tilted on one side and not sitting completely on the metal. Though it is in tight, it looks like it is also shifted a bit to one side, so as to create a small "lip" where the stone could get caught because it is not protected by the setting. GRRRRRRRR!

I am going to have to go back in tomorrow and hopefully get someone less indifferent to fix this. I am so ready to be done with repairs! I just want to enjoy my sparklie!

 

[IrishAngel7982]

I''m sorry babe...hopefully you were able to deal with another person today, and hopefully they listened to you before grabbing your ring. Let us know how it went!

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 6/23/2006 6:40:00 PM
Author: equestrienne
Well, I took the ring in this afternoon. The jewelers whisked it away into the back room and tightened everything, but I didn''t have a lot of time to speak with any of them because they paid very little attention to me - repair, not sale. I sat down and examined everything just now because I had time to do so after unloading my car. It looks like one sidestone is sitting more flush now with the setting, but the other still seems to be slightly tilted on one side and not sitting completely on the metal. Though it is in tight, it looks like it is also shifted a bit to one side, so as to create a small ''lip'' where the stone could get caught because it is not protected by the setting. GRRRRRRRR!

I am going to have to go back in tomorrow and hopefully get someone less indifferent to fix this. I am so ready to be done with repairs! I just want to enjoy my sparklie!

How did it go today equestrienne?? So sorry you''re having such troubles....

 

[msdarlinjoy]

Date: 6/24/2006 8:55:06 PM
Author: Kaleigh

Date: 6/23/2006 6:40:00 PM
Author: equestrienne
Well, I took the ring in this afternoon. The jewelers whisked it away into the back room and tightened everything, but I didn''t have a lot of time to speak with any of them because they paid very little attention to me - repair, not sale. I sat down and examined everything just now because I had time to do so after unloading my car. It looks like one sidestone is sitting more flush now with the setting, but the other still seems to be slightly tilted on one side and not sitting completely on the metal. Though it is in tight, it looks like it is also shifted a bit to one side, so as to create a small ''lip'' where the stone could get caught because it is not protected by the setting. GRRRRRRRR!

I am going to have to go back in tomorrow and hopefully get someone less indifferent to fix this. I am so ready to be done with repairs! I just want to enjoy my sparklie!

How did it go today equestrienne?? So sorry you''re having such troubles....

Hi Equestrienne ~

How awefully disappointing that you are having troubles with your ring!

I hope you were able to go back and find someone who would give you more time, rather than the headache this has developed into.

Keep us updated, I hope your ring got fixed to your desires.

Take care,

 

[Mannequin]

Thank you everyone for your concerns.

It''s so nice to have people who think similarly about jewelry to talk to about this. I appreciate the support.

I think I finally have my ring properly set and ready to wear again. I went back in and the guys in the back fixed the tilted stone immediately, so I was able to wear the ring out of the store. I have had no problems to speak of for the whole weekend (KNOCK ON WOOD) even with moving apartments. I have been taking off my ring to get to really big furniture pieces taken care of, of course. I am soooooo happy it is fixed now.

I was able to wear it when FI and I went to a Tigers game this weekend with another engaged couple, and my RB was soooooo sparkly under the lights at the baseball stadium! I told FI that we should attend another game soon because it''s a good place to look at my ring.