Lost diamond from Engagement ring - faulty ring?

hcc

Just under 4.5 years ago my husband bought my engagement ring from an independent jewellers in the famous london street. Within months (before the wedding) the white gold had discoloured to yellow and we had to return it to be replated(?) - the shop did this with no question but we've had to do return it for cleaning and or replating numerous times since (6-7 times in 4.5 years), and it's obviously not a permanent solution - if/when we move out of the area then we're stuck with a constantly discolouring ring. The wedding band does not discolour, despite supposedly being made of identical 18ct white gold, and despite being worn under exactly the same conditions.

Then, just over a year ago the wedding band we bought to match (again 18ct white gold) snapped in 2 out of the blue - I only happened to notice as when it snapped it fell onto a tiled floor and i heard it hit. The jewellers repaired the ring (although you can see the join where they "stuck it back together") again with no quibble.

Then, last straw - last night the 0.84 ct diamond fell out of the engagement ring - and is now lost.

We've just been to the jewellers and said we feel they've sold us a faulty product and we want them to fix it, replacing the diamond and repairing the ring. They vehemently deny it's a faulty product, say the ring's been knocked accidentally and our only option is to claim on our insurance policy. I don't think the ring has stood up to normal wear and tear, so is/was not fit for purpose.

My question is, do we have any case against the jewellers given the history of problems, or do we have to accept that we claim on our insurance and our insurance premium rockets?

cattie

To be fair, I once had a ring that lost a stone after about 3yrs, but I put it down to wear & tear as I was wearing the ring 24/7.

Yours is different as you say you have lost the stone. If the stone had just fallen out & you had managed to find it, I'd have expected the jeweller to reset the stone at no charge, despite the ring being 4.5yrs old. However, personally I would not expect the jeweller to be responsible for replacing a lost stone of a ring a few years old & would consider this an insurance claim. After all, when you buy jewellery & have it covered under an insurance policy, you take out cover in case of any instances of loss or damage to the item. Your insurance is unlikely to rocket as you put it after a claim, it might increase slightly yes, but would only rocket if somebody was a habitual claimer.

meer53

I don't think you can honestly expect a jeweller to replace a lost diamond after 4 and a half years ! It will be covered on your house contents insurance, mine was.

aldredd

hcc wrote: »

Just under 4.5 years ago my husband bought my engagement ring from an independent jewellers in the famous london street. Within months (before the wedding) the white gold had discoloured to yellow and we had to return it to be replated(?) - the shop did this with no question but we've had to do return it for cleaning and or replating numerous times since (6-7 times in 4.5 years), and it's obviously not a permanent solution - if/when we move out of the area then we're stuck with a constantly discolouring ring.

Replating white gold jewellery is pretty normal. White Gold is still pale yellow in colour, so it's plated with Rodhium (usually, I think) to make it took silver - and does wear off and need re-plating. My experience tells me once per year is pretty normal level - and the hightreet jeweller do this for free annually for 10 years.

thatlemming

Really? I've got a white gold ring that I got for my 18th, and I'm 21 now and I've never had to get it replated. It's still as perfect as the day I got it and i've never taken it off except for sport.

CoolHotCold

I have a little knowledge, I do believe there are 'grades' to white gold, 3 or 4 the higher the grade the more discolouration the ring or white gold has, meaning it has to be replated more often. The top grade 1 rarely needs replating if ever.

aldredd

thatlemming wrote: »

Really? I've got a white gold ring that I got for my 18th, and I'm 21 now and I've never had to get it replated. It's still as perfect as the day I got it and i've never taken it off except for sport.

You've done well then :j
Although, my Mum said exactly the same thing about her wedding ring & engagement ring (that she'd never had to get it replated). Until that day, I though they were gold rings - she just couldn't see the change as she's grown so accustomed to it!

http://www.beaverbrooks.co.uk/faqs wrote:

Q: What is White Gold?
A: White gold has been increasing in popularity since the early 1920's. To obtain white gold, the pure (yellow) gold is alloyed with Palladium, Zinc and Silver to name a few. The finished result however is still that of a slight yellow colour, so to give white gold its brilliance and shine it is coated with rhodium which is extremely hard and acts as a whitener and a brightener. This is common practice with all white gold.

As the rhodium is a coating it will periodically need to be re rhodium plated depending on the conditions of wear. Don't worry with all purchases of white gold from Beaverbrooks you will receive a care card explaining how to keep it in the best possible condition.

POPPYOSCAR

I have a white gold ring I have had for 20 years and it has never had to have anything done to it.

CoolHotCold

PoppyOscar it sounds like your white gold ring has either been kept in excellent condition OR the gold was mixed with Palladium (the most expensive alloy to mix gold with, but is a near pure white gold) and so over time as the Rhodium has worn off you are seeing the Palladium and Gold mixture underneath, and you've probably never noticed a change. (If you got it replated you SHOULD see a difference).


*Edit* Whoever gave you the ring spent a lot of money on it.

Fosterdog

I have a fair bit of white gold jewellery and have found that some need to be replated more than others. My rings are the worst for it as they are getting more wear on my hands than earrings and necklaces.

arcon5

If the ring was faulty, you would need to prove is was inherently faulty.. without prove you won't have a case.

Getting prove of this after 41/2 yrs will not be easy