Need advice regarding a bespoke ring and lost stone

JohnnyWashNGo

Hi everyone,

I am looking for a little advice regarding a bespoke engagement ring I had made at the end of last year and which I gave to my fiance on valentines day this year.

Firstly a little background...

We sourced the stone(alexandrite) from another country 3 years ago and paid roughly £1000 at the time for it. The exchange rate now would mean that to buy the same stone from the same place would cost around £1500.

In the middle of 2009 we commissioned a jeweller to create a platinum ring for the stone. The ring is fabulous and was just what we wanted. My fiance was very happy with the result which, of course, made me happy.

Now the problem...

During last week, in the space of a few minutes, my fiances ring went from being fine and complete, with the stone set in the ring fine, to being empty with the stone nowhere to be found

As the stone was lost in an enclosed space, her office, she attempted to find it by crawling around on the floor looking for it with the help of her colleagues. Needless to say, she didn't find it.

My question is - what rights do I have in terms of getting the jeweller to fix this problem for us?

I have already had them look at the ring. They had it inspected by the guy who actually made the ring who says that there is nothing wrong with it and that the stone should not have come free.

The problem is that we are now in possession of a nice ring with a big hole where the stone should be.

Our insurance company seems willing to help us out but I still feel that the stone should not have come free from the setting and that the ring should be covered by some kind of warranty.

That being said, the stone was not provided by the jeweller, only the ring. So I suppose their liability ends with the metal and doesn't cover the stone?

Any help or advice would be appreciated.