Post # 1
Member
444 posts
Helper bee
So, we were having an antique 6 prong setting redone because it was weak and a diamond set into it. The jeweller did not do the setting properly, and when my fiance brought the ring back to have it fixed, the diamond chipped. We’re going in to speak to him tomorrow. What do we do? He offered to have it recut but we would loose size.
side note: We had bought two stones from blue nile, and were going to return one. He chipped the one I most likely wanted to return, and now we can’t return it. I prefer the size of the other stone in my setting, but wanted to see them both actually in it to compare.
Is it unreasonable to ask him to buy the chipped one off us for what we paid for it?
The jeweller was supposed to do elongated prongs so they twisted around the diamond instead of the straight prongs you normally see. He was supposed to replicate the head of the antique setting. The old gold was too loose to hold a diamond, so the old head was cut off the ring. He did straight prongs, and tried to fix it by just twisting the stone and the prongs which chipped the diamond.
It’s not visible to the naked eye, and another solution is to just have it set under a prong, but that negates the fact that I preferred the other stone.
This whole process has been one bad thing after another. I feel so conflicted. Part of me just wants to scrap this project, and cut our losses and go to tiffany’s or something. I do really love the antique setting though.
Post # 3
Member
478 posts
Helper bee
At this point there’s probably not a whole lot you can do, you can insist the jeweler buy it but I doubt they would (or would even have to), many jewelers tell customers directly that they are not responsible for damages to stones. I would have the jeweler re-cut the stone, sell it, and use the $ toward a new stone.
Post # 4
Member
304 posts
Helper bee
RE-READ ALL THE PAPERWORK YOU SIGNED WHEN YOU DID BUSINESS WITH HIM! Unless it’s stated he isn’t responsible for damages, I would want him to pay for the stone- I’d probably even sue if it came down to it.
Post # 5
Member
14065 posts
Honey Beekeeper
I’d probably try to get him to buy it first but that depends on if there’s any paperwork and what it says. If its in his favor and you signed it, it sounds like your best bet would be to keep that one and hide the chip and return the other one, or risk losing a lot of money trying to resell the chipped one. Is the size difference between the two a lot? Im also kind of confused, if you were planiing to return that diamond anyawys, why was he even setting it?
Post # 6
Member
303 posts
Helper bee
Here is my response based off of the information that you have given:
I WOULD BE FURIOUS. I know accidents happen, but if I were in the jeweler’s shoes I would feel horrible and totally obligated to buy the diamond for the price you paid. Maybe that’s just me though. I do not think that is unreasonable at all… Good lord I cannot imagine how my significant other would react. It upsets me just thinking that he only offered to cut which takes away from the size. Ridiculous. Did you have to sign anything that said the diamond may be subject to damage?
Post # 7
Member
465 posts
Helper bee
Get a second opinion. Do you have insurance on it yet? Don’t want to scare you but things do happen. Make sure the stone is really chipped before you have him recut it or sell it to him at a cut rate.
Post # 8
Member
444 posts
Helper bee
@pinkshoes: There is a bit of a size difference, the one he chipped is slightly larger than the other one. He was setting it because I was hoping that it would look good in the setting, but after seeing it, I now know that the smaller one would suit the setting better, so want to return the larger stone.
Except he chipped it, so we can’t return it to blue nile. 🙁
It does say on the paperwork that any damage due to neglience the company will replace or repair.
Post # 9
Member
444 posts
Helper bee
@bnamrs4evr: My FI looked at it under a loupe and could see it, he said it was small though. We don’t have insurance yet.
@Clairetoris: I know! my poor guy was blinded during the moment. We didn’t sign anything saying it could be damaged.
Post # 10
Member
303 posts
Helper bee
@franklyn: was he at least sympathetic?
Post # 11
Member
465 posts
Helper bee
It sounds like you have some legitimacy by which you can expect him to buy that damaged diamond from you at full price or pay you a settlement equal to what you paid for the stone. Don’t accept the repair as your first remedy. I’m not an expert here but there are lots of knowledgeable bees here that will help you more. Just don’t rush into anything yet…..
Post # 12
Member
14065 posts
Honey Beekeeper
@franklyn: Unfortunately “due to negligance” is rather ambiguous. He can always argue that he DID take proper care and that the diamond was weak or some crap like that. Even if he did replace it, I dont think Blue Nile will take a replacement item return? UGh, geez, I really cant think of what can be done. Good luck! I hope it somehow works out.
Post # 13
Member
2330 posts
Buzzing bee
@franklyn: If it says damage due to negligence will be replaced or repaired, I’d ask him to replace the diamond for me or give me the monetary equivalent.
Send the smaller stone back, and have him set an entirely new stone, at his expense, into your ring. If you want a smaller stone, make him give you a smaller stone with better specs than the one he chipped.
Post # 14
Member
444 posts
Helper bee
You guys are helping! We’re going to go there tomorrow, ask him to pay us the purchase price of the chipped one and set the other one in. I’m nervous leaving it with him now. I also need him to redo the prongs, he didn’t make them long enough to twist.
@Clairetoris: He seemed sympathetic, I wasn’t there, but from what my fiance tells me he seemed ok about it. I’ve dealt with him before for other things and he has always been very nice.
Post # 15
Member
723 posts
Busy bee
I think at the very very least I’d ask if he could make a setting for the chipped stone that would cover the chip at his expense or extremely discounted.
And of course I’d ask if he has insurance to cover to such mishaps.
Post # 16
Member
107 posts
Blushing bee
posting to follow. Hope it all turns out well!
