Damaged Jewelry: What to Do When Your Stone is Gouged

Question
I recently took my ring in to get sized and I noticed 2 days later that the setting was off and my stone was moving arond.  they also tighten my stones as part of their policy when i got it sized down.  Well at any rate there is a divit in my 6x8mm stone and there are clear tool marks from where it was manipulated by their people. It's not even 5 months old and I had no problems before this, just that I wanted it a smaller ring.    My question is what recourse do i have??  it's obvious that the stone is compromized not to metion the setting as well.  I'm at a loss.  It's clear that I wouldn't trust anything they could do to fix it.  Any advise is greatly apreciated.

Answer
HI STEPHANIE,

HOW UNFORTUNATE. THE JEWELER SHOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED YOU. ACCIDENTS HAPPEN AND SHOULD BE RECONCILED. FIRST OF ALL YOU SHOULD SPEAK TO THE OWNER OF THE STORE AND MEET WITH HIM TO EXPLAIN YOUR SITUATION AND ASK HIM HOW HE IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF IT. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE THIS AND HAVE GOTTEN NO SATISFACTION THEN TAKE THE RING TO ANOTHER TOP JEWELER AND HAVE THEM DO AN EVALUATION OF THE DAMAGE AND HOW IT WAS CAUSED. THE ONLY OTHER ALTERNATIVE IS TO TAKE HIM TO COURT. YOU COULD PROBABLY SUE HIM IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT. KEEP ALL RECEIPTS AND MAKE SURE DATES ARE CORRECT. YOU HAVE A SOLID BASIS FOR GETTING COMPENSATED SO GO FOR IT AND GOOD LUCK.

THANKS

PETER