About a month ago, my husband and I bought a diamond solitaire to go with the wedding band I’ve always worn. I chose a bezel setting for my diamond, mostly because I think they’re prettiest, but also because I know that they are the most secure. I wouldn’t ever have to worry about losing my diamond — or so I thought.
Imagine my surprise when I glanced down at my new ring (something I do hundreds of times each day) only to find that the diamond wasn’t there anymore! I’m amazed with myself for staying as calm as I did, but I didn’t freak out at all, and here’s why.
My many years of employment in jewelry retail taught me that this was a jeweler error. For the stone to fall out of such a secure setting as a bezel less than six weeks after it was put together could only mean that it was poorly set to begin with.
I knew that the jeweler would admit his fault and make it right. He’s an honest guy and I wouldn’t have dealt with him for such an expensive purchase if I hadn’t already established a good relationship with him.
Whenever you make a large purchase like a diamond ring, you should ask what the store will do if the stone accidentally falls out of its setting. Many salespeople will take this opportunity to push the extended service plan on you, but you shouldn’t bite.
When a stone falls out of its setting, assuming you have had the prongs regularly checked for damage, this is almost always due to jeweler error, and any honest jeweler will take responsibility for this and fix the problem without charging you extra. That means anything from resetting loose stones to replacing lost ones.
Keep in mind that all jewelry will wear down over time, and will require some maintenance. You should not expect a jeweler to cover these costs for you if you’ve been wearing the ring for years, but if something goes wrong with newly purchased jewelry, any jeweler should be willing to back up their work and make it right for you.
I also know that accidents happen, and I wasn’t going to get angry with the jeweler. For every one bad setting, he’s put together hundreds of great pieces. I knew he would reset the stone for me — and if we couldn’t find the diamond, I knew that he would replace it.
Ask your jeweler what their policy is on lost diamonds. If they won’t replace them for you — especially after only a few weeks — find another jeweler. Now, this would be different if my own negligence had caused the stone to fall out, but I knew that I hadn’t banged the ring against anything or shaken the stone loose myself.
The worst case scenario I could imagine was that I wouldn’t find the diamond and my jeweler would refuse to replace it — I thought this highly unlikely, but even in that case, my homeowners insurance would cover a new diamond, so I at least had all my financial bases covered.
If you’re concerned about protecting your valuables, check with your homeowners or renters insurance providers. All of these companies provide optional coverage for things like jewelry, where the insurance covers the cost of replacement (up to the insured amount) if your ring is lost, damaged, or stolen.
However, before filing a claim with insurance, definitely check with the jeweler, as most will rectify any damages that are their fault, including replacing lost diamonds with equivalent stones.
Luckily, my mother-in-law found my diamond about five minutes after I noticed it had gone missing, so I only had to keep my cool for a few minutes of searching. I took it to the jeweler shortly thereafter, and as expected, he is fixing the setting free of charge.
Am I worried about losing the stone again? No. I’m sure that the jeweler will be extra careful to set the stone securely this time. I also know that this was just an unlucky fluke. I’m experienced enough with jewelry to be confident in this jeweler’s work, even after this bump in the road. I also know enough about the business end to know that it’s not worth it to him to send me home with a ring that won’t last.
If you can’t be similarly confident in your jeweler, I suggest you shop around until you are.
Meet Lisa, the talented and dedicated editor of our wedding, health, relationship, and lifestyle blog. With her keen eye for detail and her passion for all things related to love and wellness, Lisa is an essential part of our team.
As an expert in all things wedding, Lisa knows how to help couples navigate the often-overwhelming process of planning their big day. From choosing the perfect dress to selecting the ideal venue, she understands that every detail matters when it comes to creating a memorable and magical wedding experience.
But Lisa’s expertise doesn’t stop at weddings. She’s also a health and wellness enthusiast, always on the lookout for the latest tips and trends in self-care and mindfulness. Whether it is advice on healthy eating, fitness routines, or ways to reduce stress, Lisa knows how to help readers live their best lives.
