Why can't I find a decent jewelry store?

laurenclaire1386

My engagement ring needed some work. It was pinching my finger and needed to be sized up a quarter size. Rhodium was wearing off and needed to be redipped.  A couple days after I dropped it off, they called and said that the prongs needed to be retipped, and did I want them to do that? I told them absolutely. I dropped it off on a Saturday, they told me it would be ready the following Thursday. Today is the Tuesday after that Thursday and the son of a biitch isn't ready yet. This is the longest I've gone without my family heirloom, absolutely irreplaceable e-ring and I'm about to lose my mind. I tried this jewelry store on a rec from a friend, and they did a great job working on my wedding band, which needed dipping and a stone replaced. Not so much this time.

breezerb

Ugh... that's frustrating.  Is it close by? Can you stop in and see what the problem is?  I think you're more likely to get answers face-to-face.

laurenclaire1386

I just got off the phone with them. Yeah, they're close by my house, but we've been in touch by phone, so I'd feel weird bustin in there, guns blazin. The guy told me that the jeweler was being extra careful and taking lots of time with it because it's old. And don't get me wrong, I appreciate that. But when it's going to be later than you told me, please call me. Don't make me hunt you down.

AmoroAgain

Hmmmm.  Generally speaking with an old setting, it's more useful to change the entire head because tipping the prongs doesn't last as long and costs more.  Did they tell you when it would be ready?

laurenclaire1386

They told me it would be ready Thursday of this week. But I'm not holding my breath. If it's not ready on Thursday, they're gonna give it to me, one way or the other.

AmoroAgain

I just took a look at the picture of your ring in your bio, and how much are they charging you, if you don't mind my asking?  Because a new head for that would probably be about $100-$130 and takes much less time than fixing the prongs. 

laurenclaire1386

They're charging me $110 for sizing, dipping, and retipping the prongs.

laurenclaire1386

What do you mean by replacing the head? I've never heard of that in relation to jewelry.

sep72fendr

they take off the entire mounting that is used to hold the stone and put a new head on, where they will then schmelt the new head to the old band. it's a stronger way of replacing the weakened prongs.

AllAboutTheBenjamin

I think the 110 bucks is ridiculous.  The jewelry store we got our rings at does the rhodium plating on the crown of my ring for free. 

I probably wouldn't be back to that place after you get your ring back.

sep72fendr

AATB- If you bought your ring from there, they should do it for free. Lauren's is an heirloom obviously purchased decades ago.... I'm pretty sure they have to charge her :-)

AllAboutTheBenjamin

True - but I still think it's too much

sep72fendr

touche.... touche... :-)