NER: Loose settings for your rings?

MuppetFan · March 2013

So I took my ring to another jeweler for another opinion. If you recall, the first place I sent it to told me I'd have to redo the band for $500 minimum as it could not be sized.

I sent a photo to a few jewelers and they disagree with that, brought it into one of them today and basically, they said they can size it no problem, they'd have to add to it though because it's so thin... so $300 total and then they noted that the stones on the sides were wicked loose. They just wiggled all around with a quick tap. They told me I could not wear it like that. FI JUST had them worked on in October. $60 to service it.

We did call the jeweler that serviced in in Oct and they said they have no guarantees on their work at all (not going back there, the place I was at today said 6 months). They said a service can last a few months or many years but thought I might want to transplant the diamond into a new ring (which I'm thinking was just a sales pitch)

Anyone have experience with them getting loose quickly? Kinda freaky

lovesclimbing · March 2013

I have never heard of stones coming loose that quickly. Do you do any rough activity? I could imagine them coming loose quickly if you wear your ring while doing work that is tough on hands where thr ring would get knocked around or struck a fair amount. Rock climbing or gardening or something like that. My nonprofessional opinion.

MuppetFan · March 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ner-loose-settings-for-your-rings?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:2b239970-428f-4255-b7aa-2773e6cf46fbPost:34ddeee3-779d-4c6f-b450-1abed5cae395">Re:NER: Loose settings for your rings?</a>:
[QUOTE]I have never heard of stones coming loose that quickly. <strong>Do you do any rough activity</strong>? I could imagine them coming loose quickly if you wear your ring while doing work that is tough on hands where thr ring would get knocked around or struck a fair amount. Rock climbing or gardening or something like that. My nonprofessional opinion.
Posted by lovesclimbing[/QUOTE]

Ha, NO. The roughest thing I do is cook dinner. I work from home and mostly type all day. I probably spend 60% of my lifetime typing right now when I include work and leisure. Jeez, maybe more. Now that the snow is melting, I started walking...but that doesn't involve my hands.

Jeweler suggested I put my ring away every night and only wear it during the day. Not really what I envision doing....I just want to leave them on and periodically take them fof to clean them. Does anyone actually take them off all the time?

emeejeeayen · March 2013

Is your ring gold? Platinum?

MuppetFan · March 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ner-loose-settings-for-your-rings?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:2b239970-428f-4255-b7aa-2773e6cf46fbPost:2c4f5518-b72f-44f3-ad6c-03f94c2cf9e8">Re: NER: Loose settings for your rings?</a>:
[QUOTE]Is your ring gold? Platinum?
Posted by emeejeeayen[/QUOTE]

It's gold. It's prob like 20 years old. This is a family ring. It's the 4 diamonds surrounding the center diamonds that are a problem. It's like 2 sizes too big right now so I had to wear it on my middle finger.
<a href="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/6/9/c69f563a-daf5-419c-a91d-c9653f6de9e5.large.jpg" title="Click to view a larger photo" class="PhotoLink"> <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/6/9/c69f563a-daf5-419c-a91d-c9653f6de9e5.medium.jpg" alt="" /></a>

SomethingBeautiful08 · March 2013

When my DH bought my e-ring ( a white gold solitare) he also bought an insurance policy where they will replace the diamond if it falls out as long as you bring it back to the store for inspection every six months, so clearly they are worried about the possibility of the settings becoming loose. My job doesn't allow me to wear rings so for the 8 months I was engaged I wored it on a chain around my neck durring work hours, then it was on my figuring durring all but the most messy activities and they didn't become loose. I suspect that either they were loose to start with or there is bad metal in the progs... definately something to be careful about.

lyndausvi · March 2013

I'm sorry you are have problems.

My ring is custom made. (1 center stone and 28 tiny stones). We got it back end of April/beginning of May, but I didn't start actually wearing the ring until July 4th. After a week one of the tiny stones was completely gone and another was loose. I took it back to designer and they fixed everything (no charge). Never a problem since.

My wedding band was bought at a different location. About 2 years after we got married I noticed the baguettes were loose. I took them in, they fixed it (again no charge). The jeweler told me that the ring actually has a design flaw. They offered to replace the ring if I wanted. I declinded at the time and wanted to see if they got loose again and how often.

I wear my rings 24/7. Only making meatballs or meatloaf to I take my rings off. I use to work on a boat and I wore them at work and I was pretty rough on my hands. I now work a desk job and I'm not so rough. It's been now 2 years since I took it back the last time and another stone is loose. Wish I had taken them up on their offer. We have since moved away, so I can't even get the free fix.

I can't say for sure, but it might be simply a design flaw in the ring? I know it's a family ring and such. But you have to have it resized and the stones are loose. You might consider creating a new setting from the stones of the one you have now. My e-ring center stone is actually from MIL's ring. Her ring was not my style so we took out the stone and created a new one. It doesn't make it any less special to us or MIL that the setting is different.

My mom had her rings re-set at some point for different reasons. Again the ring is not any less special to her even though it's not the same setting she got 46 years ago.

Just something to think about.

Xandy417 · March 2013

About a month after we got engaged the solitare diamond fell out of my engagement ring and was lost. Luckily the ring was covered by our insurance and the jewler we had bought it for replaced the diamond for free. About three weeks later I found the original diamond stuck in the binding of a paperback book I had been reading and we returned it to the jewler. We go every six months to get my ring inspected and cleaned and have had loose stones a couple times but the jewler always fixes them for us.

MuppetFan · March 2013

lyn, thanks. That is something they told me to consider....though the rings I can afford (with cash) are not as pretty as this setting.

A few weeks ago when I thought I was going to have to replace the ring because someone told me it couldn't be sized... I was actually okay with it because I have her band too and I kind of wanted the opportunity to have something that had my influence instead of just re-using her rings as she and FI have intended.

Now that I suddenly owe the government $1732... I feel differently. This is the first time I've been frustrated at all for the wedding planning. I've already been saving $700-$800 a month for the event... having to remove this chunk of money is fairly devastating to that fund.

Today, I was having little dreams of buying a new wedding band and I found one that I loooved that goes with the ring and I thought about making it work...but then they told me about the problems with the band. ugh.

I know I could put it on 0% interest for a year with the jeweler... but I'm trying to justify it....and do I repair the ring and buy the band that I want, or do I buy a new ring and wear her band?

I guess this is not the worst problem possible to have. I'm just not at all over losing that money.

MuppetFan · March 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ner-loose-settings-for-your-rings?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:2b239970-428f-4255-b7aa-2773e6cf46fbPost:dcd9a401-0903-4c9b-9b6a-d4c911941c46">Re: NER: Loose settings for your rings?</a>:
[QUOTE]About a month after we got engaged the solitare diamond fell out of my engagement ring and was lost. Luckily the ring was covered by our insurance and the jewler we had bought it for replaced the diamond for free. About three weeks later I found the original diamond stuck in the binding of a paperback book I had been reading and we returned it to the jewler. We go every six months to get my ring inspected and cleaned and have had loose stones a couple times but the jewler always fixes them for us.
Posted by Xandy417[/QUOTE]

how scary about the diamonds getting lost.

I don't have the luxury of the relationship with the jeweler in this case. I wish I had that protection.

WinstonsGirl · March 2013

I take mine off every night, as I've heard sheets can actually be quite bad on the prongs. And I often sleep on my hands (under my cheek), and I was sleeping on it before. I also take it off when cutting meat and using harsh cleaners, but I'm just trying to keep it cleaner.

I'd be pretty wary of the first place. I wouldn't go back at all

PrincessJas · March 2013

Loose stones are actually pretty common, particularly on triangle and pear-shaped stones. I had a stone go loose about a month after I received my engagment ring; this was not the first time a loose stone happened to me, either (I had one in an earring, which I took in to the store and they tightened it for 30$).

For my engagement ring, which was purchased halfway across the country, I found a goldsmith who could also work with platinum to repair the ring and size it. I did not entrust it to another jewlery shop. He charged something like $20 to tighten the settings and clean it professionally. He also gave me a talking-to for wearing my ring while doing field work (I'm a geologist) and lifting weights. He also recommended annual check-ups for those two things to be done just because rings are so susceptible to loose stones (and given the rates he charges, it's clear he's not just fishing for business).

Also, you don't say how much you are re-sizing the ring by, but any more than 1/2 a size and you will run the risk of distoring the geometry of the crown and settings to the point that the ring will always be susceptible to loose stones. It's easy to forget that the locations of the prongs and the settings are dependent on the size of the band. Have you considered sizing beads? You won't have to alter the integrity of the ring, and they accomplish the same purpose as re-sizing (and do a better job at keeping the top-heavy ring from spinning).

MuppetFan · March 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ner-loose-settings-for-your-rings?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:2b239970-428f-4255-b7aa-2773e6cf46fbPost:f457fa08-9b69-45fa-ab68-eee6202d32c1">Re: NER: Loose settings for your rings?</a>:
[QUOTE]Loose stones are actually pretty common, particularly on triangle and pear-shaped stones. I had a stone go loose about a month after I received my engagment ring; this was not the first time a loose stone happened to me, either (I had one in an earring, which I took in to the store and they tightened it for 30$). For my engagement ring, which was purchased halfway across the country, I found a goldsmith who could also work with platinum to repair the ring and size it. I did not entrust it to another jewlery shop. He charged something like $20 to tighten the settings and clean it professionally. He also gave me a talking-to for wearing my ring while doing field work (I'm a geologist) and lifting weights. He also recommended annual check-ups for those two things to be done just because rings are so susceptible to loose stones (and given the rates he charges, it's clear he's not just fishing for business).<strong> Also, you don't say how much you are re-sizing the ring by, but any more than 1/2 a size and you will run the risk of distoring the geometry of the crown and settings to the point that the ring will always be susceptible to loose stones. It's easy to forget that the locations of the prongs and the settings are dependent on the size of the band.</strong> Have you considered sizing beads? You won't have to alter the integrity of the ring, and they accomplish the same purpose as re-sizing (and do a better job at keeping the top-heavy ring from spinning).
Posted by PrincessJas[/QUOTE]

It's going to be downsized at least 2 full sizes, hopefully 3. The current ring is about 8.5 size. I'm at the 7 range right now. My rings from a few years ago were 5.5 or 6 and I'm trying to lose that weight that I've gained....so I'm aiming for size 6.

I specifically asked about that because thats why the first jeweler told me they couldn't size it at all. I forget what they are calling it, but they take this into consideration and I believe they are changing the size mostly by adding gold to the ring. It's $300 to add it and size it. Does that make sense?

I've tried the pieces that you put on the ring and it really hurt my fingers after a couple hours and got increasingly uncomfortable over 2 days and I took it off.

NYCMercedes · March 2013

I'm not a jeweler but am quite the jewelery consumer and never have lost a stone in 30 years, and I wear my wedding and other rings every day all day. I did have the solitaire's head replaced for design reasons. Your prongs could have become compromised by the original owner having it resized more than once through the years. If your stones become loose, you can buy a new head, or setting, which I recommend if you are having your beautiful ring worked on. The beads only work to size it down no more than 3/4 of a size. Consider a simple gold or even silver guard/band to keep it safe until you're able to afford the full repair. Good luck. I really love your ring.

MaryGraceRich · March 2013

i work in a jewelry store. Some rings should not be sized below a certain point Usually 2 sizes in either direction is the norm at least for my company. With any ring that has stones on the sides, a stone tightening should be done at the time of sizing. As far as wearing it all the time goes I wear my ring 24/7. Unless the diamonds are set in such a way that there is very little metal in between each stone, and you dont have any type of warranty from your jeweler, you should be able to wear it without worry. Gold does wear down over time so the setting may need additional work in order to get it to perfect wearing condition. i apologize for my horrible typing and grammar. I am typing from my phone and I am not used to it.

MaryGraceRich · March 2013

i work in a jewelry store. Some rings should not be sized below a certain point Usually 2 sizes in either direction is the norm at least for my company. With any ring that has stones on the sides, a stone tightening should be done at the time of sizing. As far as wearing it all the time goes I wear my ring 24/7. Unless the diamonds are set in such a way that there is very little metal in between each stone, and you dont have any type of warranty from your jeweler, you should be able to wear it without worry. Gold does wear down over time so the setting may need additional work in order to get it to perfect wearing condition. i apologize for my horrible typing and grammar. I am typing from my phone and I am not used to it.

MuppetFan · March 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ner-loose-settings-for-your-rings?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:2b239970-428f-4255-b7aa-2773e6cf46fbPost:46fd4843-987b-4c91-8e79-60d1957e2586">Re: NER: Loose settings for your rings?</a>:
[QUOTE]i work in a jewelry store. Some rings should not be sized below a certain point Usually 2 sizes in either direction is the norm at least for my company. With any ring that has stones on the sides, a stone tightening should be done at the time of sizing. As far as wearing it all the time goes I wear my ring 24/7. Unless the diamonds are set in such a way that there is very little metal in between each stone, and you dont have any type of warranty from your jeweler, you should be able to wear it without worry. Gold does wear down over time so the setting may need additional work in order to get it to perfect wearing condition. i apologize for my horrible typing and grammar. I am typing from my phone and I am not used to it.
Posted by MaryGraceRich[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the insight! I'm going to bring it to a small jeweler so I can actually sit down with the jeweler I think. People have raised so many questions, It'll be nice to get a straight answer from the person who's actually working on it.

NER: Loose settings for your rings?

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