Loose Stone

[cheese_diva]

While looking for a ring for Matt, I found my dream ring. My wonderful fiance bought me the new set, that was at the end of June. Since then, my main stone has been loose twice. Once in July, and once a week or so ago.

 

It's a white gold ring with a white gold setting. The jewelry store asked if I wanted to replace the head and even suggested going with platinum (for an additional cost of course!)...

 

Shouldn't a white gold setting be fine? I know platinum is a stronger metal, but I don't want the prongs and the rest of the ring to look different as it ages.

 

Given it's track record, I have a feeling it's going to loosen up again. Not sure what I should do? The center diamond does sit high and I'm a bit of a klutz so it does hit stuff every now and again.

 

Could it be a faulty head that just doesn't stay tight?

 

 

[starfish kate]

I always thought that even if a ring is made of gold, the prongs are platinum. If that's not the case with yours, maybe they can just change the prongs and not the entire ring. It won't hurt to ask.

[RaydensMama]

Hmm thats a toughie. I have white gold and my stone became loose. But after they fixed it its been fine since. I think Id get a replacement!

[boscobel]

I never heard that the prongs are always platinum, but that is an idea to look into. My stone is sitting in gold (since it's a yellow stone) and the band is white gold. It's only been 9 months, but I haven't had any problems.

 

Do you have insurance? I would def look into that since you have had 2 issues so close together.

[MsShelley]

mine is white gold and I haven't had any problems.. and it looks like the ring came from Jared's?? they have been so awesome with my ring.... I would definitely get a replacement or make sure that puppy is insured, that is so beautiful!!

[cheese_diva]

We do have insurance.

 

I guess I'll wait until it's loose again, then have them replace the head. (I tap on the sucker all the time to make sure it isn't loose!) Maybe there's something wrong with the little screw under the ring? I'm assuming that's what keeps the prongs tight.

 

Just was wondering if it was because it's white gold. I know tons of people had gold before platinum became so popular!

 

Jared's just isn't all that close so it's been a pain getting out there to have it checked (and I didn't buy their service plan), but they've been great so far!

[JUSTUSTWO]

My ring is white gold as well & when I went to the jeweler to get the ring cleaned, he told me that my stone was loose and that my prongs weren't high enough. He told me that the prongs were even with the table of the stone but that they should have been higher. So, he added gold to my prongs which raised them a bit, to sit over my stone. I definitely saw a difference once he added the gold, but it didn't impact the design of my ring in anyway. Maybe you can try adding to your prongs so that the stone sits tighter in the prongs.

[MikkiStreak]

Oh boy, I had this problem too--- with Kay's, which is the same parent company as Jared's. In fact, Kay's sends their jewelry to Jared's for the service work.

 

My first setting was really *high* off the band. The first time my diamond was loose, one of the prongs was loose. They tried saying I must have hit it on something, but I didn't. About 2 months after that, one of the prongs bent completely away from the stone when I brushed the ring against a egg carton. When I went in to Kay's, I told them I wanted the head replaced because it was the second time in the first 3 months of having the ring, that the stone was loose.

 

When a stone is removed from the head, the metal from the head is melted and re-cycled. Each time it's recycled, the strength is weakened on the next head it's used for. I'd go ahead and have them replace the head, because it's not going to cost you anything if you purchased the warranty with the ring.

 

Despite what is said about platinum, it's actually weaker than gold. The difference is that the weakness allows flexibility so that instead of a prong completely breaking, the prong may bend instead. So instead of breaking and the stone falling out, a platinum head will bend slightly and the stone will be loose, but still present.

 

If replacing the current head with another one of the same metal doesn't work, then I'd replace the head with a platinum one...

[boscobel]

I think this thread got to me. I had a dream (NIGHTMARE!) last night that my ring fell apart while washing my hands!

[rodent]

Sometimes the heads are platinum, but not always. I wanted white gold, but my ring setting didn't come with the option to have the head be platinum. It sits up really high too, but it sort of has 8 prongs. Here is a link to a picture. I'm too lazy today to open up photobucket. The design is supposed to add security & so far I haven't had any problems. I wanted a solitare to have less stones to worry about. My mom has a bunch of diamonds & they fall out a lot. She works with her hands a bunch doing gardening & major home improvement.

61405 - Round Tulipset® Diamond Solitaire

 

I can understand platinum would be more secure, but white gold should still be secure. It's not like it's a flimsy weak metal. And like you said, people have been wearing gold a long time.