AIBU to be concerned about delays and poor communication over ring reset?

[snapped1234]

Keen to get some advice on how to play something regarding a jewellery order I have placed and am super disapointed with the service.

Timeline

• I commissioned a local Jewellery designer to reset my wedding, engagement rings and add an eternity ring. (I had lost a couple of small stones and wanted them sprucing up)
• Was a big treat to myself and from my husband and adding the ER for our 10 year anniversary.
• I paid half of the cost up front and my rings were taken on 19th April - quoting 6-8 weeks until they are ready.
• 12th May - I messaged and checked in for an update - received a voice note saying all going well - won't be long.
• 15th June. - I messaged asking for an ETA - recieved a response saying that the setter is away for 2 weeks so we are in a queue.
• 8th July - I messaged again asking for another ETA - said we were 'so nearly there' I will confidently say 10 days and we will be done'
• 21st July - she messaged a long voicenote saying her dog had died, blah blah, and that the setter was playing catch up - she was going to see 'her' on Friday this week to ask for an update.
• I messaged this morning (27th July) to ask if she had visited the setter on friday - and had this response. ' I did, they are still ploughing on and he said he wants them done for next week' He apologised for the length of time and said that he is snowed under. Frustrating but equally I would rather he did them right than ended up messing them up'

I'd really like some advice on how I play this -
I am conscious of the below

• I have paid half of the balance, and she has my wedding and engagement rings
• I was not aware that this jewellery designer did not do the work herself, and she did not make it clear that she would be outsourcing this work out - this has been misleading and her advertising doesn't reflect this either
• It has now been 14 weeks (was supposed to be 6-8)
• Her comms is crap, I am doing all the chasing and find it super unprofessional that I keep chasing.
• Also she's referred to her setter as 'she' and 'he' which shows shes lying
• I'm not sure if I'm just overreacting as they are so important to me and the service feels so shoddy - there are just red flags everywhere.

Am I being unreasonable - advice please on how to respond to her message?

Ask for them back regardless of progress because you're fed up with this bullshit (feel free to paraphrase). Then when you get them if it turns out nothing has been done ask for a refund, otherwise spend the other half getting them finished elsewhere.

Sorry this does sound worrying. I’d ask for them back or a very definite completion date and that if not completed by then you want them back! I had an eternity ring custom made and the turnaround was 3 months it was a shaped band with a hammered pattern so I would think a fairly simple piece/ job. They also didn’t have my wedding and engagement rings, an impressions taken for the shaping in person.

Personally I’d be demanding them back or to visit the person doing the work to check your rings still exist

I would get the rings back. I had some work done by a goldsmith whose business subsequently failed and although I received my jewellery there were people who had sent theirs to him for remodelling and hadn’t received it back when he just disappeared. I’m not suggesting she will do anything like that but if you’re unhappy then don’t risk your rings.

For what it’s worth the guy who did the work for me used a setter for the stones, I don’t think that in itself is unusual.

Get them back, have them inspected too. Ask for full refund and leave a bad review.