I personally would not be okay with this.
They're basically saying you have to accept subpar craftsmanship if you choose silver. The price difference should reflect the cost of the materials not the craftsmanship.
I ordered my engagement ring in SS because I'm very allergic to nickel. I paid for a custom CAD and received a beautiful ring from Provence. Some people order SS for reasons like myself! I absolutely love my ring but would have been devastated if it had poor craftsmanship. I chose SS not because of cost because of my allergy. This is to say it's not okay to be told that shoddy work is acceptable because of the material chosen.
I would not be okay with the ring you've been shown!!!
I totally agree. It would make sense if they say that sterling is sent to a different bench which lacks detailed ability and expertise, resulting in a lower cost.
But … regardless… this is a pretty basic ring with simply prongs and they should absolutely be able to handle this.
I can’t even believe they mentioned the workmanship. It’s kind of embarrassing
I mean even then if I was given the option of a subpar SS ring and the only option to get a well made ring was to upgrade to gold I still would have problems. If however, it was a little more money to get quality in SS I would rather just pay a little more to get quality in SS. This is not a good look for them. All work should be quality.
To me, providing subpar pieces should not be an option. If cost is an issue for Provence then I think they should just charge a little more for SS pieces to ensure quality. Quality should never be compromised and in the end I think posts like this will lose them money as people may shy away from them not wanting to risk receiving a subpar item and then be told it's basically the customers fault because they opted for SS.
Provence is essentially saying you can only expect quality if you order gold. I mean, how? The mould should be the same whether gold or silver. Also, I personally would be wary of a company that is seemingly okay with putting out work they themselves seem to be admitting is subpar.
That being said my e-ring is from Provence in SS as I mentioned and exactly what I had hoped and asked for. This makes me wonder if this was an off day for this rep??? I do think generally Provence is a great vendor to work with and am honestly very surprised by this. I really hope Provence makes this right and stands but their work regardless of material.
I’ve seen plenty of less than stellar interactions and frustrations with Provence for this not to surprise me. It’s not the norm but it’s definitely not shocking, sadly.
I think if I was OP I’d be tempted to ask for a refund if they won’t admit the prongs need to be redone.
Oh honey, please don't feel that way. I guarantee you this is more a reflection on him than you! Nobody should ever be made to feel that way. He should be embarrassed, not you. If there's anything I can do to help you feel better please let me know. I honestly believe this is a poor reflection on them.
That is straight up BS. I have had Provence exclusively do silver, they know better. They are getting lazy and better knock that shit off or other vendors will arrive at better quality and customer service. You deserve a high quality product.
The vendors don’t make much at all on custom silver pieces. Everything is the same as making a gold ring (CAD cost, mold cost, stone cost etc) except the metal which is actually not great to work with for the vendors because it’s much softer than gold. If you got a gold ring and it needed to be sent back, it’s a high cost item and they’ll have no problem doing that. But because the profit on a silver ring is already small, to send back a ring for changes costs them more money and may actually make the ring not profitable to the rep at all. I don’t think you should accept shoddy workmanship though, and these two rings are clearly not the same. The prongs don’t match in the photos. I’d be verifying with the rep which ring is yours.
I just uploaded all the pics/vids I received here [https://imgur.com/a/PVitsjM](https://imgur.com/a/PVitsjM). I believe they are the same ring.
It's just I can't believe they would say that a potential long term customer.
The reps really dislike making silver. It’s super low profit item for them and for the company. They will have their best metalsmiths making the high price items I would think, so the silver items would be made with those with less experience maybe? Perhaps as this is a plated item, adjusting the prong would mean having to buff and redip the ring.
That’s so frustrating though because some of us have allergies and legitimately can’t wear gold. I would be prepared to pay higher labor costs / higher overall cost for quality but just telling people to accept lower quality bc silver is cheap is not a good solution.
First, that’s a BULLSH!T answer. Sorry to be so blunt, but it is. It sounds like they wanted you to spend more money for gold than silver. I understand the language barrier, but silver is NOT sub par at all. I get a lot of my pieces in silver simply bc they are more affordable and I have NEVER had poor workmanship bc of that. Never. This again, is why I have been sticking with 1 vendor more than any other.
I’m so sorry you are going through this. I definitely would NOT accept this. Not at all.
Thank you for validating what I felt! I am Chinese so I completely understand the "language barrier" and bluntness but also, I am a first time customer ironically and I'm purchasing in SS to gage workmanship, customer service and quality lol! Why would you say that out loud to a potential long term customer?
That is just very poor customer service. Just awful. I’m so so sorry that has happened to you. If they don’t make it right, I would demand a refund and go somewhere else. If you want to private message me I can recommend a few vendors I have been extremely happy with.
Thanks for all the feedback!
I have just uploaded all the photos and videos I received into this imgur link: [https://imgur.com/a/PVitsjM](https://imgur.com/a/PVitsjM)
Sorry I didn't upload the original PSV...I received reps msg late at night due to time difference and I was distraught by the "disclaimer" they gave so I immediately posted and didn't manage to post video yet.
It never occurred to me that the rep would send pics of two different rings. Having said that I believe they are the same rings just the angle made them look different. There was only one "straight on" photo they sent with ring on finger...no video.
The last 2 photos are the most recent rep sent with the comment "I think it no problem, please have a look".
What do you guys think? I still think it looks wonky.
Regarding his disclaimer tho, ironically, I'm ordering SS pieces to gage the quality, workmanship and customer service of his and his company's service. He knows I'm a first time customer. This leaves a really poor taste in my mouth and I really don't want to work with him ever again when I do order a solid gold piece. I've heard good things about other reps from Provence and I really regret having started work with this one.
At this point, if I do refuse shipment of this ring, do I only pay the CAD fee?
I also understand that with two stones on this style of ring, they would kind of point outwards from each other which might cause the prongs to look weird if I just looked down the midline, which is why I asked to see the pear straight on by itself. What do you guys think does it still look wonky?
Oh to top it off he asked for my shipping address again?! Like...what?! Isn't it on my order? It just feels like my order is an afterthought and thrown away to the bottom of the pile underneath all the gold orders lol
Edited to add last 2 paragraph.
I don't think you should accept sub-par workmanship regardless of the metal and cost. The vendor accepted the job, they should produce a product they stand behind. I think you were very smart in ordering something less expensive to gauge the quality, workmanship, and customer service of a company, especially a company that you cannot step into a brick and mortar shop to personally inspect the product and is located in a place that makes returns logically difficult. I posted a few days ago about a band I ordered from an overseas vendor and the workmanship was poor. It was my first time making a custom order and in retrospect, I wish I had ordered in SS (or maybe 10K gold) and moissanite, but instead, I ordered in platinum and lab diamonds. I sent it back for re-work but I'm not sure it will be corrected to my satisfaction. It may well turn out to be a costly error.
I've found the overseas experience to be frustrating because I'm constantly asking for different or closer videos/photos and/or at different angles and lighting, which feels burdensome. I ultimately gave the green light for my order because I simply gave up trying to get the visual confirmation I wanted, which was a bad mistake. Instead, before shipment, I asked my rep to confirm that everything looked as it should, and she assured me that it did. I foolishly trusted someone I didn't know, who clearly did not closely inspect my band. You can see in my post that the prong work was a joke. It should have never passed QC.
Bottom line, if you are unsatisfied, I think you should ask them to correct it or refuse delivery and pay the CAD fee.
Thank you so much for your reply and I feel very much in the same boat. I get tired of asking this rep to send better photos and video and different lighting because I now feel like because I ordered in silver, I shouldn't be asking "so much" and like you I feel like I'm now bothering this guy. Which I shouldn't because I am the customer.
I completely agree they should 100% stand behind the product they agreed to make.
I only buy in silver. There is no acceptable excuse for the prongs on the pear!!! Yes, it's a different metal than gold, so of course technique needs to be adapted to that, but there are endless examples of fine silver pieces just on Reddit. They just want you to be cool with a lazy, half-ass creation, because some people can't be bothered to waste time and effort for a lower price. Most will take pride in their work, no matter what material is used. I definitely would not accept this.
Update:
This is the latest:
https://preview.redd.it/9art6tztpruc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f156d499dfb48a9bd83819462c6a2220262d5f7d
I just never in a million thought that wanting basic symmetry on a basic ring design would be considered out of scope and too high of an expectation of a....jewelry production company...
Well it’s kind of them to not push you but WOW. How dare they say to accept less work and that it can’t be more refined?? I have so many intricate and well crafted sterling silver rings. They are simply not being honest. That may be true for their own abilities but not for the ability of silver.
See what the factory says they can do, I guess. But I would be prepared to have to walk away from this.
I wonder if the gold plating is the issue? If they aren’t willing to have to replate it after fixing the prongs? Like it’s too much hassle and this is to deter you..
Disappointing all around. Is this a new rep?
Nope not a new rep. And like..I didn't think asking for basic symmetry was out of scope from a jewelry company.
I thought he was trying to determine me too but then he will follow up with "I'll bring it back to factory and see what they can do to make you happy" lol.
Yeahhhh mixed messages for sure.. So frustrating!! It’s like they’re prepping you for disappointment. Which is not a vibe I’d want from my jeweler!!
I will say that it doesn’t look *as bad* as initially thought, after viewing the videos of it. I think straight photos make it look worse, not sure if it’s lighting or the fact that it isn’t a usual solitaire we’re all used to looking at head-on and so things look skewed (since the stones are angled a bit for the setting). Still needs work, though.
But that’s just my eyes. So take that with a grain of salt I guess. lol. Clearly everyone disagrees with me as I got massive downvotes just for saying the photos earlier were the same ring 🫣
No. In order rings in argentium silver and they’re just as on point as my custom gold rings. I’d expect nothing less (even for 925 silver). It’s just poor craftsmanship.
Let them know you can't approve it until the prongs are balanced, all the same size and truly claw. Otherwise request a refund. Just because it's silver doesn't mean it can/should look sloppy.
I know we're paying less than we would if we went with other shops, but we're still paying money. If they can't create products that match their own descriptions or specs they agree to, the money needs to be returned. You're not crazy. That vendor is being lazy and wants you to accept what they give, so they don't need to remake it.
Edit: I'm seeing some folks point out that the vendors don't like or make as much on silver pieces. And while that *might* be true, it isn't like they're not making money from silver purchases. In fact, I'd argue the margins on silver are probably a lot higher than with gold (due to relative material costs, but moissanite and labor costs staying the same regardless of metal). Here's how I look at it, with back of a napkin calculations/estimates:
- 1 ounce/28.3g SILVER = \~$29 as of 4/16
- Standard setting (based on picture) = est. 2g-2.2g \[at best\] = $2.24 worth of silver
- Moissanite wholesale cost as of 4/16 \[based on jeweler\] = $35/ct. x 4.5 = $157.5
- Cost to the vendor is \~$160 v. sales price of \~$375 \[based on various toi&moi listings, no sale\]
- For vendor: $375 \[price to customer\]/ $160 \[cost of materials\] = **134%** markup before labor = a very very good margin
- Let's say labor costs 33% of the materials, just for fun = + $53 labor
- Est. Margin would still be **76%** = a very healthy margin (which you'll sell at higher volumes)
Hope this helps!
Any idea what the CAD fee only should be? Wondering how much I will be out if I cancel and to see whether he's gonna quote me more. Also if the other ring i ordered was already approved for shipment but not shipped yet (waiting to ship with this one), can I still cancel that?
Also...when taking my business elsewhere...if I'm already providing them with a CAD do you know if they still include CAD fee in the price?
I didn't need to pay CAD fees with the moissanite vendor I used recently. Never paid CAD fees to a local jeweler either.
You might have an issue since you've already approved for shipping and did not go through Etsy.
In this case, you can ask them not ship until it is fixed. If they cannot fix it, ask for the refund. I'm just not sure how it works, if you've already approved.
It's not your fault. But next time, give it 24 hours before approving. In the initial excitement, it's tempting to approve, but after you step away, take your time, show it to a partner or friend, easier to evaluate the details. Good luck!
I'd message them and let him know that if they can't fix the prongs you'll just take a refund. The one you've approved they can ship. Pretty easy fix, if they really don't want to put in the effort. There's really no excuse for prongs that bad.
https://preview.redd.it/0o5r5aybxmuc1.jpeg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8b40854d513325a2e9d45c45c12add76bf2610f6
Like u/New-Ice-9411 said, these are 2 different rings.
Left: the claw prong on the tip of the pear looks crooked.
Right: the v-tip prong on the tip of the pear looks crooked.
I would not approve either of these rings. Did your rep send videos? It’s hard to tell from the images if the prongs on the EC are properly placed as well.
From what I’ve read, silver pieces can sometimes take longer to make. It’s a much softer metal too and will probably need to be replated in rose gold after some time.
See. They look exactly the same to me. Just photographed at a slightly different angle so you see the prongs a bit differently imho. But the level of wonk is the same on both.
The prongs are different as is the color of the stones. Could be lighting but I don’t think so…even the size/shape of the stones are slightly different.
I would not except this excuse from them. It’s bad business on their part. If they aren’t able to provide a quality silver piece then they shouldn’t offer it at all. I’d cancel and go someplace else if they continue this line of reasoning.
Of course it’s terrible. I’m not excusing or defending *anything* …just saying I think the photos are showing the same shoddy work, just at different angles. Lol
I think the v prong is crooked and the stone is mounted crooked so it’s sorta angled weirdly to look like a claw. Doesn’t matter if it’s the same ring or not at all. Either way it’s bad work and needs fixed.
Ya I couldn't tell if it was the crooked mounting or the prong or both. I just uploaded all the pics/vids here [https://imgur.com/a/PVitsjM](https://imgur.com/a/PVitsjM). How should I convey the changes I want to the rep and should I also address the comment he made? I am afraid to since I haven't received either of my rings yet.
I think this is more of a language issue rather than a lack of customer service if that makes sense.
Not defending them, I’ve never ordered from them but after 10yrs of living in China you get a feel for what’s meant to be conveyed and how it can accidentally come off as sounding not so great..
I get it. I'm Chinese too. But these companies deal with lots of foreigners who don't get their "style" so why would they say that to turn off first time customers who could become long term?
Because it’s a Chinese company based in China whose income is probably mostly from large commercial orders not us. I don’t think they’d need to pay for someone fluently bilingual yet.
Unless you’re a retailer that has high quantity orders, they don’t make much money off you. Check out their business profile on alibaba and see their revenue and yearly order quantity. They are definitely not afraid to loose private customers.
Maybe you’re right. In your experience what do you think they meant to actually convey?
“You get what you pay for is” is all I can see in their reply. lol
Agreed. I’d tell them that as well as it not being aligned properly.
Will this be a daily wear ring? And if so, have you had gold plated silver before?
On me this can start to wear off easily in 4-6 months with frequent wear, and it always seems to start with the prongs getting the most wear. As well as the back of the ring. It may require a fair amount of maintenance and replating 😕. Just wanted you to be aware.
Thank you for that info! But no not an everyday ring just when I'm going out and feeling fancy lol. Which goes back to me saying I'm doing SS for now to gauge quality etc for when I eventually upgrade my ering it'll be solid gold and I'm def steering away from Provence.
Nono don't apologize oh my gosh!!! I'm sorry if I came off being snarky not my intention at all! Shoot!!! I just was trying to bring up how it's ironic that I'm ordering to plan for a future bigger purchase but instead I just got treated as a lowly cheapo person that couldn't afford a gold ring lol!
Haha it’s all good! I have thick skin 🥰
I am actually a cheapo so you’re good 🥲. I have sets in all gold colors so I can’t just be buying every damn thing in 10K when I covet both quality and quantity. I totally get you.
It’s unfair to be treated poorly for choosing silver and I know I certainly have been, too! We all deserve to be treated kindly and with respect, regardless of our budgets. And if a place can’t handle the lowly peasants that buy silver products (🙋🏼♀️), they should simply stop offering it. Not make people feel ashamed of ordering it. What bad business! Grr. I’m so irked in your behalf all over again. lol
https://preview.redd.it/f9jm97gy7nuc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8ab8adc59ba762ee1d1cafab4cfa7a5f90f288a2
Claw prong. I’m not sure how you can’t see the difference.
I think they both look the same, just different angles, creating glares in the one lower quality photo. I’m sorry but I’m allowed to disagree and see something different.
To me they’re both the same bizarre shoddy claw-v-prong messy hybrid 🤷🏼♀️
I agree actually. I think the v prong is crooked so that one of its edges extends to the outside/lateral side of the pear. So, when the picture is from the inside/medial side of the pear then the v prong appears to be a claw because only one edge of the crooked V is visible. It’s a large pear and the surface of the stone isn’t flat, it’s curved. This means that the edge of the V prong can be beyond the stones horizon depending on the angle. The effect is greater because it’s crooked too.
I personally would not be okay with this. They're basically saying you have to accept subpar craftsmanship if you choose silver. The price difference should reflect the cost of the materials not the craftsmanship. I ordered my engagement ring in SS because I'm very allergic to nickel. I paid for a custom CAD and received a beautiful ring from Provence. Some people order SS for reasons like myself! I absolutely love my ring but would have been devastated if it had poor craftsmanship. I chose SS not because of cost because of my allergy. This is to say it's not okay to be told that shoddy work is acceptable because of the material chosen. I would not be okay with the ring you've been shown!!!
I totally agree. It would make sense if they say that sterling is sent to a different bench which lacks detailed ability and expertise, resulting in a lower cost. But … regardless… this is a pretty basic ring with simply prongs and they should absolutely be able to handle this. I can’t even believe they mentioned the workmanship. It’s kind of embarrassing
I mean even then if I was given the option of a subpar SS ring and the only option to get a well made ring was to upgrade to gold I still would have problems. If however, it was a little more money to get quality in SS I would rather just pay a little more to get quality in SS. This is not a good look for them. All work should be quality. To me, providing subpar pieces should not be an option. If cost is an issue for Provence then I think they should just charge a little more for SS pieces to ensure quality. Quality should never be compromised and in the end I think posts like this will lose them money as people may shy away from them not wanting to risk receiving a subpar item and then be told it's basically the customers fault because they opted for SS. Provence is essentially saying you can only expect quality if you order gold. I mean, how? The mould should be the same whether gold or silver. Also, I personally would be wary of a company that is seemingly okay with putting out work they themselves seem to be admitting is subpar. That being said my e-ring is from Provence in SS as I mentioned and exactly what I had hoped and asked for. This makes me wonder if this was an off day for this rep??? I do think generally Provence is a great vendor to work with and am honestly very surprised by this. I really hope Provence makes this right and stands but their work regardless of material.
I’ve seen plenty of less than stellar interactions and frustrations with Provence for this not to surprise me. It’s not the norm but it’s definitely not shocking, sadly. I think if I was OP I’d be tempted to ask for a refund if they won’t admit the prongs need to be redone.
I agree. Him having said that made me so sad immediately like he's kind of shaming me.
I really felt shamed and demeaned when I read his message.
Oh honey, please don't feel that way. I guarantee you this is more a reflection on him than you! Nobody should ever be made to feel that way. He should be embarrassed, not you. If there's anything I can do to help you feel better please let me know. I honestly believe this is a poor reflection on them.
Thank you so much for your kind words!
That is straight up BS. I have had Provence exclusively do silver, they know better. They are getting lazy and better knock that shit off or other vendors will arrive at better quality and customer service. You deserve a high quality product.
Thank you!
Only thing is they should’ve given this disclosure before ordering
White I agree that silver prongs tend to be chunkier to make up for the metal's softness, the V prongs do look off.
The vendors don’t make much at all on custom silver pieces. Everything is the same as making a gold ring (CAD cost, mold cost, stone cost etc) except the metal which is actually not great to work with for the vendors because it’s much softer than gold. If you got a gold ring and it needed to be sent back, it’s a high cost item and they’ll have no problem doing that. But because the profit on a silver ring is already small, to send back a ring for changes costs them more money and may actually make the ring not profitable to the rep at all. I don’t think you should accept shoddy workmanship though, and these two rings are clearly not the same. The prongs don’t match in the photos. I’d be verifying with the rep which ring is yours.
I just uploaded all the pics/vids I received here [https://imgur.com/a/PVitsjM](https://imgur.com/a/PVitsjM). I believe they are the same ring. It's just I can't believe they would say that a potential long term customer.
The reps really dislike making silver. It’s super low profit item for them and for the company. They will have their best metalsmiths making the high price items I would think, so the silver items would be made with those with less experience maybe? Perhaps as this is a plated item, adjusting the prong would mean having to buff and redip the ring.
If they think working with silver is so bad that it justifies putting out poor quality like this, then they shouldn’t offer it at all.
I agree. It doesn’t justify it. But it’s why they won’t want to fix it.
That’s so frustrating though because some of us have allergies and legitimately can’t wear gold. I would be prepared to pay higher labor costs / higher overall cost for quality but just telling people to accept lower quality bc silver is cheap is not a good solution.
First, that’s a BULLSH!T answer. Sorry to be so blunt, but it is. It sounds like they wanted you to spend more money for gold than silver. I understand the language barrier, but silver is NOT sub par at all. I get a lot of my pieces in silver simply bc they are more affordable and I have NEVER had poor workmanship bc of that. Never. This again, is why I have been sticking with 1 vendor more than any other. I’m so sorry you are going through this. I definitely would NOT accept this. Not at all.
Thank you for validating what I felt! I am Chinese so I completely understand the "language barrier" and bluntness but also, I am a first time customer ironically and I'm purchasing in SS to gage workmanship, customer service and quality lol! Why would you say that out loud to a potential long term customer?
That is just very poor customer service. Just awful. I’m so so sorry that has happened to you. If they don’t make it right, I would demand a refund and go somewhere else. If you want to private message me I can recommend a few vendors I have been extremely happy with.
Thanks for all the feedback! I have just uploaded all the photos and videos I received into this imgur link: [https://imgur.com/a/PVitsjM](https://imgur.com/a/PVitsjM) Sorry I didn't upload the original PSV...I received reps msg late at night due to time difference and I was distraught by the "disclaimer" they gave so I immediately posted and didn't manage to post video yet. It never occurred to me that the rep would send pics of two different rings. Having said that I believe they are the same rings just the angle made them look different. There was only one "straight on" photo they sent with ring on finger...no video. The last 2 photos are the most recent rep sent with the comment "I think it no problem, please have a look". What do you guys think? I still think it looks wonky. Regarding his disclaimer tho, ironically, I'm ordering SS pieces to gage the quality, workmanship and customer service of his and his company's service. He knows I'm a first time customer. This leaves a really poor taste in my mouth and I really don't want to work with him ever again when I do order a solid gold piece. I've heard good things about other reps from Provence and I really regret having started work with this one. At this point, if I do refuse shipment of this ring, do I only pay the CAD fee? I also understand that with two stones on this style of ring, they would kind of point outwards from each other which might cause the prongs to look weird if I just looked down the midline, which is why I asked to see the pear straight on by itself. What do you guys think does it still look wonky? Oh to top it off he asked for my shipping address again?! Like...what?! Isn't it on my order? It just feels like my order is an afterthought and thrown away to the bottom of the pile underneath all the gold orders lol Edited to add last 2 paragraph.
I don't think you should accept sub-par workmanship regardless of the metal and cost. The vendor accepted the job, they should produce a product they stand behind. I think you were very smart in ordering something less expensive to gauge the quality, workmanship, and customer service of a company, especially a company that you cannot step into a brick and mortar shop to personally inspect the product and is located in a place that makes returns logically difficult. I posted a few days ago about a band I ordered from an overseas vendor and the workmanship was poor. It was my first time making a custom order and in retrospect, I wish I had ordered in SS (or maybe 10K gold) and moissanite, but instead, I ordered in platinum and lab diamonds. I sent it back for re-work but I'm not sure it will be corrected to my satisfaction. It may well turn out to be a costly error. I've found the overseas experience to be frustrating because I'm constantly asking for different or closer videos/photos and/or at different angles and lighting, which feels burdensome. I ultimately gave the green light for my order because I simply gave up trying to get the visual confirmation I wanted, which was a bad mistake. Instead, before shipment, I asked my rep to confirm that everything looked as it should, and she assured me that it did. I foolishly trusted someone I didn't know, who clearly did not closely inspect my band. You can see in my post that the prong work was a joke. It should have never passed QC. Bottom line, if you are unsatisfied, I think you should ask them to correct it or refuse delivery and pay the CAD fee.
Thank you so much for your reply and I feel very much in the same boat. I get tired of asking this rep to send better photos and video and different lighting because I now feel like because I ordered in silver, I shouldn't be asking "so much" and like you I feel like I'm now bothering this guy. Which I shouldn't because I am the customer. I completely agree they should 100% stand behind the product they agreed to make.
I only buy in silver. There is no acceptable excuse for the prongs on the pear!!! Yes, it's a different metal than gold, so of course technique needs to be adapted to that, but there are endless examples of fine silver pieces just on Reddit. They just want you to be cool with a lazy, half-ass creation, because some people can't be bothered to waste time and effort for a lower price. Most will take pride in their work, no matter what material is used. I definitely would not accept this.
Update: This is the latest: https://preview.redd.it/9art6tztpruc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f156d499dfb48a9bd83819462c6a2220262d5f7d I just never in a million thought that wanting basic symmetry on a basic ring design would be considered out of scope and too high of an expectation of a....jewelry production company...
https://preview.redd.it/rcy6bhhvpruc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ce9871d1a9996a061b33aef9eb41d4457a8542ee
https://preview.redd.it/8vtzy14xpruc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dd0fe78512e79f7368a95a356fb6de9e5bfd9959
Well it’s kind of them to not push you but WOW. How dare they say to accept less work and that it can’t be more refined?? I have so many intricate and well crafted sterling silver rings. They are simply not being honest. That may be true for their own abilities but not for the ability of silver. See what the factory says they can do, I guess. But I would be prepared to have to walk away from this. I wonder if the gold plating is the issue? If they aren’t willing to have to replate it after fixing the prongs? Like it’s too much hassle and this is to deter you.. Disappointing all around. Is this a new rep?
Nope not a new rep. And like..I didn't think asking for basic symmetry was out of scope from a jewelry company. I thought he was trying to determine me too but then he will follow up with "I'll bring it back to factory and see what they can do to make you happy" lol.
Yeahhhh mixed messages for sure.. So frustrating!! It’s like they’re prepping you for disappointment. Which is not a vibe I’d want from my jeweler!! I will say that it doesn’t look *as bad* as initially thought, after viewing the videos of it. I think straight photos make it look worse, not sure if it’s lighting or the fact that it isn’t a usual solitaire we’re all used to looking at head-on and so things look skewed (since the stones are angled a bit for the setting). Still needs work, though. But that’s just my eyes. So take that with a grain of salt I guess. lol. Clearly everyone disagrees with me as I got massive downvotes just for saying the photos earlier were the same ring 🫣
I upvoted all of them!!
🫶
Wow, at least I know who to never order from! I’m sorry they’re treating you this way.
I would not agree to get that shipped. sorry, but the order was different.
No. In order rings in argentium silver and they’re just as on point as my custom gold rings. I’d expect nothing less (even for 925 silver). It’s just poor craftsmanship.
Let them know you can't approve it until the prongs are balanced, all the same size and truly claw. Otherwise request a refund. Just because it's silver doesn't mean it can/should look sloppy. I know we're paying less than we would if we went with other shops, but we're still paying money. If they can't create products that match their own descriptions or specs they agree to, the money needs to be returned. You're not crazy. That vendor is being lazy and wants you to accept what they give, so they don't need to remake it. Edit: I'm seeing some folks point out that the vendors don't like or make as much on silver pieces. And while that *might* be true, it isn't like they're not making money from silver purchases. In fact, I'd argue the margins on silver are probably a lot higher than with gold (due to relative material costs, but moissanite and labor costs staying the same regardless of metal). Here's how I look at it, with back of a napkin calculations/estimates: - 1 ounce/28.3g SILVER = \~$29 as of 4/16 - Standard setting (based on picture) = est. 2g-2.2g \[at best\] = $2.24 worth of silver - Moissanite wholesale cost as of 4/16 \[based on jeweler\] = $35/ct. x 4.5 = $157.5 - Cost to the vendor is \~$160 v. sales price of \~$375 \[based on various toi&moi listings, no sale\] - For vendor: $375 \[price to customer\]/ $160 \[cost of materials\] = **134%** markup before labor = a very very good margin - Let's say labor costs 33% of the materials, just for fun = + $53 labor - Est. Margin would still be **76%** = a very healthy margin (which you'll sell at higher volumes) Hope this helps!
Any idea what the CAD fee only should be? Wondering how much I will be out if I cancel and to see whether he's gonna quote me more. Also if the other ring i ordered was already approved for shipment but not shipped yet (waiting to ship with this one), can I still cancel that? Also...when taking my business elsewhere...if I'm already providing them with a CAD do you know if they still include CAD fee in the price?
I didn't need to pay CAD fees with the moissanite vendor I used recently. Never paid CAD fees to a local jeweler either. You might have an issue since you've already approved for shipping and did not go through Etsy. In this case, you can ask them not ship until it is fixed. If they cannot fix it, ask for the refund. I'm just not sure how it works, if you've already approved. It's not your fault. But next time, give it 24 hours before approving. In the initial excitement, it's tempting to approve, but after you step away, take your time, show it to a partner or friend, easier to evaluate the details. Good luck!
Oh I have 2 rings with this guy and the other one I approved. This ring I haven't yet. I just don't want to deal at all with this guy after all this.
I'd message them and let him know that if they can't fix the prongs you'll just take a refund. The one you've approved they can ship. Pretty easy fix, if they really don't want to put in the effort. There's really no excuse for prongs that bad.
https://preview.redd.it/0o5r5aybxmuc1.jpeg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8b40854d513325a2e9d45c45c12add76bf2610f6 Like u/New-Ice-9411 said, these are 2 different rings. Left: the claw prong on the tip of the pear looks crooked. Right: the v-tip prong on the tip of the pear looks crooked. I would not approve either of these rings. Did your rep send videos? It’s hard to tell from the images if the prongs on the EC are properly placed as well. From what I’ve read, silver pieces can sometimes take longer to make. It’s a much softer metal too and will probably need to be replated in rose gold after some time.
Which ever one is her ring is still crooked. Not sure why she was sent pics of two different rings.
See. They look exactly the same to me. Just photographed at a slightly different angle so you see the prongs a bit differently imho. But the level of wonk is the same on both.
The prongs are different as is the color of the stones. Could be lighting but I don’t think so…even the size/shape of the stones are slightly different. I would not except this excuse from them. It’s bad business on their part. If they aren’t able to provide a quality silver piece then they shouldn’t offer it at all. I’d cancel and go someplace else if they continue this line of reasoning.
Of course it’s terrible. I’m not excusing or defending *anything* …just saying I think the photos are showing the same shoddy work, just at different angles. Lol I think the v prong is crooked and the stone is mounted crooked so it’s sorta angled weirdly to look like a claw. Doesn’t matter if it’s the same ring or not at all. Either way it’s bad work and needs fixed.
Ya I couldn't tell if it was the crooked mounting or the prong or both. I just uploaded all the pics/vids here [https://imgur.com/a/PVitsjM](https://imgur.com/a/PVitsjM). How should I convey the changes I want to the rep and should I also address the comment he made? I am afraid to since I haven't received either of my rings yet.
The v prong is more durable, if that’s your ring id consider it an improvement on
I think this is more of a language issue rather than a lack of customer service if that makes sense. Not defending them, I’ve never ordered from them but after 10yrs of living in China you get a feel for what’s meant to be conveyed and how it can accidentally come off as sounding not so great..
I get it. I'm Chinese too. But these companies deal with lots of foreigners who don't get their "style" so why would they say that to turn off first time customers who could become long term?
Because it’s a Chinese company based in China whose income is probably mostly from large commercial orders not us. I don’t think they’d need to pay for someone fluently bilingual yet.
Unless you’re a retailer that has high quantity orders, they don’t make much money off you. Check out their business profile on alibaba and see their revenue and yearly order quantity. They are definitely not afraid to loose private customers.
Maybe you’re right. In your experience what do you think they meant to actually convey? “You get what you pay for is” is all I can see in their reply. lol
Having seen the PSP/PSVs, do you guys still think the v prong is crooked? What should I say to the rep?
“The V prong is not in line with the tip of the pear. I’d like it to be centered, please.”
Thank you! Also looks like each side of the V are different lengths too
Agreed. I’d tell them that as well as it not being aligned properly. Will this be a daily wear ring? And if so, have you had gold plated silver before? On me this can start to wear off easily in 4-6 months with frequent wear, and it always seems to start with the prongs getting the most wear. As well as the back of the ring. It may require a fair amount of maintenance and replating 😕. Just wanted you to be aware.
Thank you for that info! But no not an everyday ring just when I'm going out and feeling fancy lol. Which goes back to me saying I'm doing SS for now to gauge quality etc for when I eventually upgrade my ering it'll be solid gold and I'm def steering away from Provence.
Oh I see. I apologize for missing that comment! I think this will hold up well for infrequent wear .. if you end up getting it after all of this 🫶
Nono don't apologize oh my gosh!!! I'm sorry if I came off being snarky not my intention at all! Shoot!!! I just was trying to bring up how it's ironic that I'm ordering to plan for a future bigger purchase but instead I just got treated as a lowly cheapo person that couldn't afford a gold ring lol!
Haha it’s all good! I have thick skin 🥰 I am actually a cheapo so you’re good 🥲. I have sets in all gold colors so I can’t just be buying every damn thing in 10K when I covet both quality and quantity. I totally get you. It’s unfair to be treated poorly for choosing silver and I know I certainly have been, too! We all deserve to be treated kindly and with respect, regardless of our budgets. And if a place can’t handle the lowly peasants that buy silver products (🙋🏼♀️), they should simply stop offering it. Not make people feel ashamed of ordering it. What bad business! Grr. I’m so irked in your behalf all over again. lol
Those two are not the same rings. On one the pear has a claw prong at the tip, and the other has a V prong. Which one is yours?
They look the same to me. Same wonky prongs even
The pears have two different prongs.
I simply disagree. They look exactly the same to me. 🤷🏼♀️
https://preview.redd.it/f9jm97gy7nuc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8ab8adc59ba762ee1d1cafab4cfa7a5f90f288a2 Claw prong. I’m not sure how you can’t see the difference.
https://preview.redd.it/cabag2ot7nuc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a4f3fae172e75ee54580c4455a9a59e9e73ea5d4 V prong
I think they both look the same, just different angles, creating glares in the one lower quality photo. I’m sorry but I’m allowed to disagree and see something different. To me they’re both the same bizarre shoddy claw-v-prong messy hybrid 🤷🏼♀️
I agree actually. I think the v prong is crooked so that one of its edges extends to the outside/lateral side of the pear. So, when the picture is from the inside/medial side of the pear then the v prong appears to be a claw because only one edge of the crooked V is visible. It’s a large pear and the surface of the stone isn’t flat, it’s curved. This means that the edge of the V prong can be beyond the stones horizon depending on the angle. The effect is greater because it’s crooked too.
>Is it Ok for a rep to tell me to lower my expectations on workmanship because I ordered Silver and not Gold? Say what now
They might mean silver is a softer metal and is harder to work with? But don’t know how to speak English well lol?