Broken Diamond Ring Prong Repair & Customer Experience

Question

I took in a synthetic stone ring for sizing and some gold ruby earring hoops in for post repair to a new shop - I am a 1st time customer there.  

The jeweler offered to clean my 4 prong diamond wedding ring that was on my finger, which was dirty, ultrasonically.  When she came back out from the back room within 5 minutes, she pointed out that a right top prong TIP was broken off.  I had not noticed that, but I think I would have known if I broke a prong tip.  I am having doubts and wonder if the prong was purposely broken.  Conincidently, they were advertising a "Prong Repair Special"  that day.  I waited in the shop and she had it fixed within a 1/2 hour, keeping the shop open well past closing time to accomodate me (she advised me not to wear it broken).  My ring is a 1ct. V.V.S2 GIA Certified Color E Stone.  I was not leaving it anywhere as my original jeweler is out of state since we moved up here to Seattle.

I still have the other ring and earrings in the shop and wish to reteive them and cancel the other repair job.  I paid in full with my VISA for the job and will request a refund.  Am I doing the right thing to go with my gut feeling?  I don't know where I heard this, but I am under the impression that some jewelers, not unlike auto repair persons, sometimes conjure up things to charge for extra repairs.  HELP!  THIS IS AGONIZING FOR ME.

Thanks,

alice

Answer
HI ALICE,

WELL UNFORTUNATELY SOME FOLKS ARE NOT AS HONEST AS MOST PEOPLE. HOWEVER WHAT THE PERSON TOLD YOU IN THE STORE MAY HAVE SAVED YOU THE HEARTACHE OF LOSING THAT REALLY GOOD DIAMOND. WAS IT ONLY ONE PRONG? WERE THE OTHERS ALL GOOD WITH NO WEAR? WHEN A PRONG GOES THE OTHERS ARE USUALLY IN BAD SHAPE ALSO AND SHOULD ALL BE REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME. MOST TIMES YOU WON'T KNOW IF A PRONG BREAKS OR WEARS OUT UNLESS IT CATCHES ON A FIBRE AND PULLS YOUR HAND. A NYLON SWEATER IS STRONGER THAN A GOLD PRONG USUALLY.

YOU LET THESE FOLKS REPAIR YOUR VERY SPECIAL DIAMOND RING AND YOUR THINKING ABOUT NOT LETTING THEM SIZE AND REPAIR YOUR OTHER JEWELRY THAT IS INEXPENSIVE COMPARED TO THE DIAMOND. LET THEM REPAIR THE JEWELRY AND SEE HOW THEY DO. DID THEY GIVE YOU AN ESTIMATE? THEY MUST HAVE IF YOU ALREADY PAID FOR IT. IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO BE A LITTLE CAUTIOUS WHEN DEALING WITH A NEW STORE BUT THIS IS THE TIME TO GIVE THEM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT WITH THE LESS EXPENSIVE JEWELRY.

YOU MUST HAVE YOUR DIAMOND APPRAISED AND THE STONE PLOTTED. THIS IS A MAP OF WHERE THE FLAWS OR INCLUSIONS ARE IN THE STONE. THIS WILL HELP IDENTIFY YOUR STONE WHENEVER YOU HAVE TO LEAVE IT WITH SOMEONE. MAKE SURE WHEREVER YOU GO THE MERCHANT HAS A MICROSCOPE AVAILABLE AND THEY SHOW YOU WHAT TO LOOK FOR. BE MORE CONCERNED THAT YOUR DIAMOND IS IDENTIFIED BY YOU AND THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE STONE AFTER REPAIRS.

THANKS

PETER