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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have any legal concerns we suggest you consult a solicitor.

Legal matters

Jewelers lost my engagement ring <wails> what are our rights?

19 replies

RevealTheHiddenBeach · 21/12/2013 10:02

This is a bit of a new one for me so would massively appreciate any advice!

DP bought my engagement ring from a little independent shop in October of this year. It was 5 sizes too big and the shop didn't do resizing, so he took it to another shop in the same town. They agreed the shop would resize for free in exchange for the metal that was being taken out (white gold). It was resized (took about 3 weeks), but when it came back there was a fracture in the setting. They apologised and said they would fix it, it would take 2 weeks.

2 weeks later... DP's mum (as she lives local to the shop) went to get the ring. They handed her an envelope, with the wrong ring in it. They have no idea where the right ring is. This was on Wednesday, they were hoping someone else in some store somewhere across the country would also say they had the wrong ring, but that hasn't happened so seems increasingly unlikely

They are saying they will refund DP, but only the price he paid for the ring, not its value. He got a really good deal at the time, and very similar rings that we've looked at now are twice the price of what he paid, and therefore what he would be refunded.

I'm obviously gutted for many reasons - the ring was bloody perfect, I won't have my ring for seeing everyone at Christmas, and we're getting married this summer so I'd like my ring for more than half of my engagement... but I'm trying to think pragmatically about this!

Sorry this is so long... thanks if you got this far... basically can the shop offer this kind of 'deal' to my DP (paid price not value), and is there anything else we can do? I just want to have a tantrum, but I can't imagine that having much effect...

Many, many thanks in advance!

OP posts:

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RandomMess · 21/12/2013 10:04

Hmm do the shop not have something of the equivalent value that they would let you have that you like? So more than your dp paid for it?

RevealTheHiddenBeach · 21/12/2013 10:09

Apparently they don't have anything similar... I'm (a little) fussy, and had always wanted a trilogy that was quite low-set... I would be happy to get something that wasn't the same, but apparently most of their stuff is really... gaudy? according to FMIL that is, and she's pretty switched on.

OP posts:

Hawkmoth · 21/12/2013 10:12

See that's bollocks. What if it had been a hundred years old and your gran had only paid £2 for it? They should go through insurance and use an independent valuation.

RevealTheHiddenBeach · 21/12/2013 10:34

Independent valuation sounds good... Can you get something valued if it's not there? Presumably they wrote down at least the main details so that they couldn't say we made them up...

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RandomMess · 21/12/2013 10:36

Go back to thee original shop and ask them for an insurance valuation on it?

YoDiggity · 21/12/2013 10:45

I think unless you had already had it independently valued for insurance purposes and were given a higher value than you paid for replacement purposes (this is very normal btw, they almost always tell you that the ring is worth a lot more than you are paid for it, but unless it was several years ago then logically how can it be? Jewellers are not charity givers!) then you won't have much of a leg to stand on with regards to claiming back a higher amount.

How do you prove that you had a ring worth £3k when you only paid £1500, for example? And looking at other similarly styled rings won't necessarily help because the vast bulk of the value will be down to the quality of the diamonds as much as the size, so you cannot be sure you are comparing like with like.

If you bought it reasonably recently and still have the receipt then you can see if it says anything on it about what grade the diamonds were, and what the replacement value for insurance would be, but if not then I think you'll just have to accept their offer to refund you the cost. Push for a bit added for compensation.

YoDiggity · 21/12/2013 10:48

And it's good that they are offering to refund the full cost of the ring rather than just offering to let you choose one from them, which I would not settle for at all unless they agreed to give me one of a much greater value. Otherwise it's money in their pocket and you have to make a huge compromise on style.

RevealTheHiddenBeach · 21/12/2013 11:33

Thank you for the advice, we will go into the original store and see if they have any information. Pretty sure FMIL has the original receipt but not sure what is on it - will definitely check that out!

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Onesleeptillwembley · 21/12/2013 11:38

To be fair, the value is very subjective. Were the diamonds certified? They could have been poorer quality (not saying it's the case) and the ones you're pricing up could be better. It's not always immediately apparent to the naked eye, either. I think the offer of the price he paid is fair, if you can't actually prove it would cost more to buy an identical ring with identical stones.

edamsavestheday · 21/12/2013 11:44

Jeez, that's appalling. Can't believe a jewellers was so careless! And unbothered by it - merely offering to refund the price of the ring. What about the sentimental value, of an object that is clearly hugely significant? What about their negligence?

Do you have legal cover on your home insurance (many policies include this)? If so, I'd call them and ask if they can advise you. I'd try Trading Standards as well. AND I'd name and shame the jeweller - if you stick to the facts then it is entirely fair and above board. Other people should be warned before they risk handing their rings over.

edamsavestheday · 21/12/2013 11:45

And also, have they given you another customer's ring?!

Floralnomad · 21/12/2013 11:50

A similar thing happened to a friend of mine but with a very expensive watch ,she left it to be sent off to have the battery changed and when she went to collect the watch it was a different ,cheaper watch and they'd obviously given her watch to the wrong person . The other person never bought the watch back ( for obvious reasons) and the shop basically just let her choose a new watch of the same make with no questions asked about the value of what she selected . This was a big chain of jewellers but quite high end.

rosy71 · 21/12/2013 11:51

When I had mine resized they valued it at the same time. I think that was something to do with them paying out if they lost it. Not sure what you can do really. Did they not take your details? If they've given you someone else's ring, couldn't they contact other customers to find out?

Onesleeptillwembley · 21/12/2013 12:21

I would have expected them to carry records and copies of receipts which should list what jewellery they've taken from people for repair. They should have been able to trace who had yours. Proving it though would be a different matter, it sounds like their record keeping/organisation is poor on all counts.

catcatcat · 21/12/2013 15:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

butterfliesinmytummy · 21/12/2013 15:06

See what's written on the receipt. My dad bought me a bracelet for a milestone birthday this summer and the independent jeweler wrote the paid value and the insurance value on the receipt, in case anything happened. Apparently this is common practice. You're not going to have a new item rushed to another jeweler to have it valued for insurance purposes are you? Good luck.

Sneezecakesmum · 22/12/2013 10:15

The shop should recompense you the value of the ring you bought at the price you bought it, not some independent valuation. Your original receipt for the ring should be sufficient. Keep all paperwork and correspondence.

The second shop must have insurance they can claim on so they need to do this.

Try talking to them first of course stating your rights and their responsibility, which was to provide a service and to safeguard your property.

If that doesn't get results write to them recorded delivery saying you want them to repay you the value according to your original receipt. Enclose a photocopy. If they don't agree you will take them to a small claims court provided the value is under £10,000.

SCC is pretty easy.

RevealTheHiddenBeach · 23/12/2013 19:37

Thank you all for your help! Sadly there wasn't enough useful information on the receipt, and my ring did not turn up. We got a refund for the price my DP had paid for the ring, plus a bit extra to cover the postage we'd had to pay.

We've now ordered a new ring from a different shop, so fingers crossed nothing will go wrong with this one!

Hasn't been the best experience, but not in any way the end of the world. Thank you for all your suggestions, massively appreciated.

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RandomMess · 23/12/2013 20:46

I bought a bespoke ring from here

www.weddingrings-direct.com/?gclid=CO6goaWbx7sCFfHMtAodSWkAiw

I wondered if they could make you an affordable replacement?

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