Engagement ring issue

Poddydog

I purchased an engagement ring for my wife, sadly it was damaged after 18 month and repaired by our insurers - all of the ring was replaced with the exception of the diamond which was removed and put into a new ring. We have had the 'new' ring back 6 weeks and it is turning yellow the old one did not do this. We think it is faulty. Jeweller wants to re-plate it but we are not happy with this solution as we think it's faulty. It's 18k White gold and cost £3000! The I insurance repair was £1500 We have asked to have it re-set in platinum but the jeweller will charge for this around £1000 making this very expensive! Is this fair? Should they help me with the cost was the ring is not fit for purpose after 6 weeks!

keyser666

Poddydog wrote: »

I purchased an engagement ring for my wife, sadly it was damaged after 18 month and repaired by our insurers - all of the ring was replaced with the exception of the diamond which was removed and put into a new ring. We have had the 'new' ring back 6 weeks and it is turning yellow the old one did not do this. We think it is faulty. Jeweller wants to re-plate it but we are not happy with this solution as we think it's faulty. It's 18k White gold and cost £3000! We have asked to have it re-set in platinum but the jeweller will charge for this. Is this fair?

yes if you want it set in platinum

Poddydog

I was hoping they would help me with the cost surely they would refund something for the faulty ring?

mije1983

Poddydog wrote: »

I was hoping they would help me with the cost surely they would refund something for the faulty ring?

But they are offering to fix it so it wouldn't be faulty, it is you that in effect wants an 'upgrade' rather than it being fixed. You could always ask for a discount and tell them you will keep the faulty ring, and then get it re-set somewhere else.

peachyprice

It isn't faulty, 'white' gold is an alloy of yellow gold and usually either silver, palladium, zinc or nickel. The time it takes to yellow depends on the metal used to lighten the gold, but all 'white' gold will eventually need re-plating with rhodium to keep it looking white. The new ring may have yellowed more quickly than the old one just because it is a different alloy that reacts differently to your wife's skin.

So if you want it re-made in platinum you're going to have to pay for it yourself.

sujac

Does she wear her engagement ring next to her wedding ring? I was told that if you were going to wear them next to each they should be the same metal otherwise the harder one will start to wear the purer one so keep that non mind if you want to upgrade.

I have white gold engagement & wedding rings and have only had to have them re plated once in 10 years, another friend of mine has to have hers done every 6 months, I think it just depends.

I would aceept the re plating.

InsideInsurance

Those prices dont look right at all, an 18ct white gold solitaire setting is going to be £250-£550 depending on the weight of the band. A platinum solitaire band is £450 to £900 for the same. Setting a diamond in a new ring is a quick job and normally thrown in for free with the band. Obviously a high street jeweler greases you up and bends you over with 200%+ markups but still those numbers dont look good.

As others have said, there is no such thing as white gold. 18ct gold has to be at least 75% gold which is yellow. The remaining 25% will be silver coloured metals which are used to try and dull down the yellow colour of the metal but will never achieve a white finish. The ring will then be plated with rhodium to give it a pure white/ silver appearance. Being just a plate it will ultimately wear off. How long it takes between replatings will depend on what alloy is used to make the ring, how thick the plating is and what the rings exposed to.

6 weeks is obviously far too quick to need replating but it isnt unreasonable for them to replate it now and it will be fine again. If it starts losing its plating again after a few more weeks then I think you have a much stronger argument that its faulty.

What metal is the wedding band? The two should be the same as otherwise the harder platinum/ palladium/ 9ct gold will damage the softer 18 ct gold ring more quickly than the reverse exacerbating wear