Son broke Mum in Law's ornament- help please?

bluestaff

1sue23 wrote: »

I have some valuable ornaments in my home and recently my granddaughter broke one while playing ,but the look on her little face it just crumbled and she looked heartbroken ,there is no way I would have told her off it was an accident and at the end of the day it is just an ornament I value my granddaughter and her feeling far more than any trinket.

my sentiments exactly

seven-day-weekend

Aren't they foul?? (Fowl??)












I'll get me coat.

Kaz2904

Hi there, interesting debate.
I shall try to answer some questions.
1. It was given to MiL by someone who worked in the swarovski factory. he just thought it was tat so gave it to her.
2. The shelving unit is next to her downstairs loo. It is opposite the cupboard under the stairs which the kids always play in. I'm forever dragging them out of the cupboard but she lets them play in there even when we aren't there.
3. The reason DS got a telling off was because he had been told not to play out there and was supposed to be in the lounge putting toys away. (He was having a beligerant day.)


DH phoned MiL yesterday morning to see about her claiming off the insurance or getting it repaired. He told her he'd found somewhere that you could email pictures. She said she'd put the birds in a plant pot and the rest in the bin. He asked her to get it out of th bin and she said
"You've looked it up haven't you?"
Dh didn't tell her the prices we'd seen it for but did say that it might be worth her while getting it repaired or claiming on the insurance.
She pointed out that a repair wouldn't make it worth full price again and to claim on insurance would lose sentimental value. She also said she was really mad with herself because she moved it last week but then put it back again.
She always used to have them on the fireplace but moved them a few years ago. Shame cause they wouldn't have got broken there.
I'm gutted, she's had those blasted birds for 22 years nearly. They've survived DH being a small boy and now this.

I think that we'll try to buy her another piece (something tasteful?) and let her keep it upstairs.
DH said that the reason they were moved from the lounge was because MiL had accused him of smoking and leaving lit cigarettes on top of the tv. There were burn marks all over it apparently. It was because the sun was hitting them and heating everything up. So I suppose at least she didn't have the house burnt down because of them.
Sorry I've not answered sooner but DD has been up all night throwing up, DH was on the computer all day and now I'm at work and finally having a break!

Thanks to whoever posted the picture of the other birds- I think they're much nicer. Far more tasteful and less fussy.

beccam

Glad you came back to explain 'slightly warm' as quite a few had your MIL swooping 'milk tray' style into houses and nicking their beloved trinkets!!! Having it given to her by someone who worked in the factory isn't exactly the same thing!!! It also explains better the sentimental value.

Anyway, hope she and you are happy with whatever outcome you decide, had to laugh at the thought of someone house burning down due to sunlight on their swarvoski!!!:rotfl:

Kaz2904

Apparently all too common if you listen to our fire lecturer at work.
The other in thing is to hang crystals in your window for channelling energy or something. Unfortunately they also channel sunlight. This sets fir to the carpet and so on.

Yes I had noticed that. Trouble is, even though it came from the factory it was still warm. They may not have been sentimental about the piece but I bet they were about the cash.
Apparently one of DH's Aunty has a house absolutely full of the stuff with about 3 different display cabinets of stuff. Can you imagine having to clean that lot?

whatatwit

Kaz, as it would appear to be a 'limited edition' then there is every chance that it wasn't 'perfect' but a factory second.
As such it probably wouldn't have its certificate and the value would be far lower.

If she does like the Swarovski, then what about the baby lovebirds, I think there is 4 sat on a branch with coloured beaks and it's a lot cheaper

mudgekin

Kaz, to be honest I really don't think you should be fretting about this. I think everyone should be thanking their lucky stars that a rickety glass shelving unit didn't come crashing down on the kid's heads, especially in a hallway that is subject to a lot of vibration.

Since it came from the factory I think whatawit may just be right. If MIL is so concerned then get her to claim on the house insurance. You certainly don't need a receipt for claim on items just proof that you had it where possible. Gifts after all don't come with receipts. If she feels that the insurance replacement would take away the sentimental value then get her a cheap replacement.

sturgeon62

A little off track but thought I'd share with you. My mum always says the Grandkids are just making "memories", unfortunately she has quite a few. The best one was made by my son and nephew who were sleeping over, she decided to let them sleep downstairs as there was more room. They were about eleven at the time. It all appeared ok until several days later when she thought the little girl and cart on the mantelpiece looked odd. On closer inspection it was in several bits and was held together with blutack! When we later asked the boys about it they said it was both of them and the blutack was the only thing they could find. They had rifled the office and it was that or selotape. I think she cares more for the ornament now then she did before.

meeps

just wanted to agree that if it is straight out the factory not via the shop, then its value would be a lot lower- my grandad worked in a jewelery factory and used to bring home bracelets, but they were unmarked and so didn't count as proper

newlywed

Kaz2904 wrote: »

Trouble is, jewellery is jewellery. I would know it was repaired but you couldn't tell. Crystal can't be repaired that easily can it?

Contact swaroski - mum had a crystal rose (gift) repaired by them - the stem had snapped off the rose and it's a really good repair and I think only cost somewhere about £50 to do. Think it depends how many bits it's in though. The repair was really good (as it's their crystal they know what to use to stick it )

There are some specific swaroski shops about - mum went and asked in one of those, they then sent it off to be repaired. We were surprised at how little it cost compared to a replacement.

But then again, she wasn't so worried about any drop in value - after all, when it's broken it's not worth much