Engagement ring broken again!

[ineedwine89]

Hi,

I've already forked out £50 a few months ago to get a claw fixed on my ER, which included setting the stone back in and recoating it with rhodium (or whatever it's called for white gold). And today at work I glanced down and noticed that a claw (the same one?) has gone again! :( Luckily I didn't lose the main stone this time, so I stored it safely until I got home. I'm pissed off though.

I'd said before that if it happened again I'd get the stones reset in a new ring. Because it's the flimsy setting (4 tiny claws around the small main stone) that seems to be the problem, that and my clumsiness but it sticks up a bit and it's hard to avoid hitting it/pulling it on clothing etc even though I try :(

Any ideas on what I can do? It's not an expensive ring (from Etsy) but it's unique and I'm annoyed and upset that this has happened again, I've not even had it a year! When I asked at the jewellers I'd initially visited first time the claw broke they said it couldn't be done but maybe that was just them because I've read about people getting stones removed and set in a new ring or turned into a necklace/earrings etc. So surely something could be done but at what price? I don't care if the ring itself is plain I just want it to be secure and not worrying about the stone falling out (I'm constantly looking at it just in case!)

Would getting the stones (1 main stone plus 8 tiny 'shoulder' stones) made into a new ring be expensive? I'm thinking even if I get them put into a silver ring rather than white gold I'd be happy. I can't keep forking out £50 to get the stupid claws fixed! I'm thinking I could even get a setting that isn't claws but is the type where the stone is fully surrounded with metal, which seems more secure. I've had no problem with the shoulder stones, it's just the main one with the claws that keeps falling out. I've not told DP yet but he doesn't see the point in jewellery so I don't think he'd want to fork out for a new ring!

Anyone had this done? I had it resized at the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter (I'm nowhere near B'ham though so can't just pop over to check out designs) so wonder if they could help. So frustrated.

Thanks for any advice!

It is possible to put stones into a new ring, yes. I had mine reset from white gold to palladium at an independent jewellers. It cost about £250.

I'd be mighty pissed off with the original jeweller though that it keeps breaking. It's not fit for purpose, surely? Unless you have a higher than usual amount of rough manual handling in your day to day life, a ring should withstand normal life.

Thanks Susurration. That's not too expensive.

I only wear it to work and out and about during the day if I'm not going to be doing any work with my hands. I have a desk job and I take it off now when I'm removing my coat and so on to avoid catching it but it still gets the odd knock. Remove it at night so it's not in the way when I'm cooking/doing housework.

I might contact the jeweller for advice too. I an't return the ring unfortunately but perhaps she will give some advice. She's not a big company, she has a small jewellery workshop, buys the stones and makes them into jewellery. Probably shouldn't have bought it from her in the first place but I like unusual stuff and wanted that particular stone :/

If it's an unusual design maybe it will be harder to take the stones out of the setting? My original ring was just a very standard four claw setting, that was almost identically replicated in a different metal.

Do contact the designer, you could be right about her being able to offer advice. But I would still be looking into your consumer rights. We had a huge fight on our hands with the jewellers we bought my original ring from. It broke four times in different ways in the space of a year. In the end it was fully replaced free of charge as it wasn't fit for purpose, but I had to go to trading standards about it, as well as their head offices. I lost all confidence in wearing it though, and that's when we decided to have the stones reset in a tougher metal.

The main stone is high set in a 4 prong setting with the others being shoulder stones but they're kinda held in place both sides by the metal, one stone in front of the other, I think it's called a channel setting? Aside from that the design isn't too unusual.

I messaged the ring maker on Sunday, not heard back yet, I hope she's not ignoring me! But as it's through Etsy I don't think I have any comeback? She has a 14 day returns policy but my DP bought the ring last year.

I'm thinking of getting another ring I can wear in the meantime, one that's not got prongs and is low set!

I think if he paid by credit card you have some protections that way but I'm really not sure. Look up consumer rights on the gov website, it definitely has a section about internet sales.

The stones should be relatively easy to remove though.

Thanks, yes he would have. I'll have a look into it - thanks again.

I have the same setting for the main stone in mine, four prongs with the stone sitting proud of the halo. It's set in yellow gold (so really yours should be more durable) and is still good as new despite various knocks- I'm very clumsy. And I don't mess about taking it off before taking my coat on or off or anything! This reminds me of a post of weddit where a poster did a "PSA" on wearing your ring in bed as one of her stones came out when she was sleeping and people were like "eh that's not normal".

I'd be looking to have it repaired by the designer or a refund. Once you could write off as an accident, but two breakages in less than a year on an item of jewellery that's marketed as an engagement ring (so intended to be worn almost daily) isn't right.

I’d be looking for a refund as it’s not fit for purpose. Sounds like a similar design to my ring but the claws on mine are very solid.

Oh yes, Sex, it's similar to yours, mine has a smaller stone and thinner band but very similar!

Craic, a local jeweller I took to to enquire about getting it fixed told me I should be taking it off when I get changed/put on gloves etc. That was after the first time it broke. I trietd to be more careful but it still got knocked a bit. I don't trust the prongs now, maybe a lower set ring would be better but I just envision it breaking and falling out :(

Still nothing from the ring maker, I'm not sure if you can tell if a sent message has been read?

I’d either push for a refund or get the whole thing reset properly. My ring feels very solid, the stones are actually from my mums engagement ring and a local jeweller reset them for us. You can see how solid the setting is in the photo.

It does look a very solid ring. Mine isn't bad on the body of the ring it's just the claws that are the problem. Still no reply from the seller, she's either ignoring me or gone on holiday or something! I'll look into the internet selling thing and maybe see if a local jeweller can work my ring into something more sturdy.

My finger feels naked without it, been looking at other rings online so might get one in the meantime.

Meant to add, it was never sold as an engagement ring per se, just a ring. Not sure if that makes any difference for any comeback. But yeah.