Any jewellery experts out there?

[GreenShadow]

I have a fairly new 9ct white gold ring that I've worn for probably a max of 40 days. Just normal wear - nothing like particularly physical gardening or anything yet it has bent severely. I've no idea what caused it to bend - whether it was one event or just a culmination of everyday wear.

Is this to be expected? Surely it shouldn't be. I wear it on my right hand so guess it gets 'used' more than my engagement ring on my left hand, but still.

I plan to take it back to the jewellers next week, but what should I expect? Would they replace it? Mend it ? Or just blame me for not looking after it?

This is the ring if it helps ring

What part of the ring has bent?

Looking at the ring I'm surprised as the band doesn’t seem thin or hollow.
The stones are in danger of being dislodged even if it’s just the back that’s bent.

I’d bring it back, ideally for a refund but would accept an exchange in case it’s just this ring that’s faulty.

9ct shouldn’t bend that fast.. tbf neither should 24! 9ct should be quite a tough gold because there is so much ‘other’ metal in there.
Defo take it back, they can reshape it if nothing else.

Thank you. It's the bottom of the ring that has bent.
Photo attached...

Ok so the band looks thinner in your pic than it looks in the link but even so it shouldn’t be that bent in only 40 days with normal use.

Unless this particular ring had an unusually thin band and a replacement didn’t, I would want a refund.

Reshaping isn’t ideal due to the diamond setting in particular, movement can cause them to eventually fall out.

I’m fact it’s possible that this one was resized or something causing the band to be weaker.

FYI - many eons ago I worked for a few years in a high street jewellers.

If memory serves me correct we would have compared band to see if this was faulty stock.
If so exchange/refund offered but not a repair as stones likely to have been compromised.

Ring would have been sent to HO for inspection.

Thank you Banana.

I'm going to try asking for a refund but it's a pity as it was a 'big' birthday present and I do like the design.

I’m a silversmith.

The band does look quite thin at the back. But I don’t think something that cost that much should fail so badly in that time.

I would indeed ask for a replacement.

If you are very keen on the design and want to keep it, a specialist jeweller would be able to reinforce the band back for you but it’s a specialist job by a skilled goldsmith so it would likely make the cost of the ring overall much higher. My DM had it done to the back of my DGMs engagement ring which had worn over many many decades of wear and the end result was beautiful and practical.

Ultimately I would want to try a replacement for that one, see if it repeated, and if it did ask for a refund.

Ultimately I would want to try a replacement for that one, see if it repeated, and if it did ask for a refund.

@Mykittensmittens has put it perfectly, this is what I would do.

Just to add, if you did have it reinforced I’d be doing that on a replaced, new ring before the problem repeated as indeed the setting could be compromised. You’d also need to accept that any warranty given with the ring would then be void as you’ve altered it.

Ask for replacement as it's just 40 days it's probably best. The jewellers do have tolls to shape it but probably best to replace as it's still fairly new

DD works with high end jewellery and i read out the OP to her and she said it's probably hollow. Then i showed her the pics and she said yes, it's squashed.

If you weren't given the correct after care advice, ie: this is hollow and should only be worn on special occasions ect, then you can definitely ask for a refund as you were miss-sold an everyday ring.

Wow you should ask for a refund and shop elsewhere

If you weren't given the correct after care advice, ie: this is hollow and should only be worn on special occasions ect, then you can definitely ask for a refund as you were miss-sold an everyday ring.

It is listed as an engagement ring on the website, so definitely not just for special occasions!
I can't get to the shop until Thursday but will come back and update after that.

No real update I'm afraid.
Took the ring back to the store and they can't agree to anything without it being sent off for inspection at Head Office. That will take a couple of weeks.

Ok, sorry for delay in updating (assuming anyone is still reading) but we are still fighting for a refund or replacement to no avail.
Initially Head Office replied as follows:

I am sorry that you appear to have experienced an issue with your ring.
The ring has been assessed at Head Office and it is our professional opinion that the ring has been inadvertently knocked, causing the ring to go out of shape. Clearly this is not covered by the manufacturing guarantee and would therefore be a chargeable job.
We have endeavoured to keep the charge to a minimum, offering the repair for £20.00.
If you would like to proceed, please visit the store to arrange payment.
If you do not wish to proceed, please let us or the store know and we will arrange for the ring to be returned to the store, undone.
I apologise for any upset or inconvenience this may have caused but we are unable to accede to your request for an exchange on this occasion.

We argued our case using advice from upthread but they are still refusing to do anything other than reshape this ring which needless to say, I'm not happy with:

I have looked into the history of this line and we have not had any similar issue such as yours, I can see from the pictures taken of the ring the damage is down to it being knocked, I feel the offer to reshape for £20.00 is more than fair and reasonable.
I am unable to offer an alternative resolution.

Other than accept their 'offer' of reshaping for £20, I'm not sure what else we can do.
Any further advice @Mykittensmittens @BananaBlue

Depends how far you wish to go!

You could take it to an independent jeweller and ask they for their opinion of the ring in terms of solidity. Perhaps say you are willing to consider their offer of a reshape but could return it to you for now, so you can get it viewed independently before they undertake the work. Of course you’ll have to pay for it to be posted back after but that’s okay in the grand scheme.

Do you or have you ever worn another ring on the same hand which hasn’t gone out of shape?

Thanks for the advice.

Do you or have you ever worn another ring on the same hand which hasn’t gone out of shape?
Yes, I do have another ring I wear on the right hand that has never deformed but its a much more substantial one.
I think I have worked out the possible cause of the deformation - and if correct, its pretty pathetic. When I pour the teapot, I put the middle three fingers in the handle and the little finger is sort of used to balance. This means that there is some degree of pressure on the ring finger (try it!) but I'm still shocked that an expensive ring can be so easily bent.