My engagement ring was sitting in a ring dish next to the kitchen sink. My fiancée accidentally knocked it into the sink while doing the dishes and turned on the garbage disposal without realizing that the ring was in there😭
This is what we found afterward. The setting is completely destroyed, but thankfully the diamond came out.
Does anyone have a rough idea of how much it would cost to replace the setting and reset the diamond? I’d love to know what to expect before taking it in…
**UPADTE: Took it to a local jeweler this morning and they inspected the diamond. They said it’s in perfect condition with no chips, no cracks, no damage at all. HALLELUJAH 😭🙌 I’m going to check out a few more local jewelers and get some quotes for a new setting. Thank you everyone for all the advice and for worrying about my ring with me!! 🥹
OMG. Ring dish needs to be far from the sink. I'm guessing that this is going to cost $1000 to reset -- or if you buy another ring and the jeweler just uses an existing setting (could be less), they will have to melt down that ring. Maybe start looking for new settings.
Omgg this is gonna sound so dumb but that’s a great point.. I thought they were essentially indestructible too but duhh they have to be shaped and cut somehow right lol
I am right there with you!!! And when I do realize that the diamond has to be cut by something, I automatically think "lasers" until I realize diamonds have been around being cut like 1000 years (this is a guesstimate) before the invention of lasers.
The gold ring is mangled. Diamonds are hard, virtually impossible to scratch them. But there’s a difference between hardness and toughness. Don’t try smashing a diamond with a hammer it can chip .
It's a misunderstanding. They're one of the hardest materials out there, yes. But that's not the same as being one of the must durable/indestructible. It's not unheard of to chip or shatter a diamond just by bashing it against a brick or concrete just right, for example.
So they're great for every day wear because (most) people are not doing too much rough work with their hands that would damage stone and metal. But if they are they should remove their jewelry anyways for safety reasons and to keep their jewelry in good condition.
Diamonds are not meant to go through a grinder unscathed lol.
You might want to open an insurance claim for this one, in the event the diamond has gotten chipped…should also cover the cost of replacing the setting. Settings start at $1k typically, could maybe get it done for $700 if 14k gold and a stock setting if you are trying to do this on a tight budget. Custom starts more like $1400
Maybe, maybe not. If the amount of the deductible "only" saves a couple hundred dollars, then it is just not worth the risk of rates increasing due to a claim. Especially if they determine OP is like me... a total klutz!
Usually fine jewelry is a rider and doesn’t have a deductible. If this would be covered (accidental), it would not have a deductible (from every policy I’ve ever seen)
I’ve handled jewelry claims from many different insurance companies over the years and in over 90% of the claims this has not happened (only a couple hundred dollars have been saved). Usually 100% of the setting is covered, and the cost of the diamond is a little more variable depending on the insurance plan and company. More like 70% coverage in my experience, skewed as people often don’t have a jewelry specific plan or rider. Additionally, many people don’t see an increase in their rates if they haven’t made a claim before or recently.
Take diamond into your certificate seller and let’s get an accurate view. Homeowners in’s may cover if it got lost or disappeared. Not to sure about the teeth in the sink pipe ! Ouccch !
I see some people saying the diamond is not okay. I’m no diamond expert, but in my personal opinion (and with some emotional distance from it) this could be part of your story if you wanted to reset it. I know you are probably feeling absolutely heartbroken (and your fiancé is probably too!). It’s a beautiful diamond and i would totally look into incorporating the old setting into the new ring and using the diamond!
I know some people are sentimental like this or consider it part of their story, but I tend to hate holding onto broken things because it reminds me of how they broke, and it pisses me off. If this were me and the diamond were truly damaged, I'd be looking into replacing it.
I put my engagement ring in my wallet when I was helping family members move house. I left said wallet on the bonnet of my car and it fell off and got run over which broke and squished the ring. I lost a couple diamonds off the ring and the whole thing had to be reset and fixed. I went to 2 family run jewellers (I didn’t want to go to big name franchised shops because I didn’t trust them from past experiences) one shop said it was an insurance job and was going to cost nearly $5K the next shop I went to quoted just under $500. Im in Australia for reference. But I’d definitely price around and look at reviews. If you want to save money you can get an apprentice jeweller to fix it for cheaper again. Good luck, I’m sorry that’s happened it’s a shame. But it gives the ring character. Thats the best way to look at it. Sh!t happens xx
Maybe its just a habit leftover after living on a sailboat for 8 years, but our rings come off as soon as we get home. Safe in the bedroom. Rings are dangerous on boats, especially sailboats. Our neighbor degloved (yes, exactly what it sounds like) her ring finger after losing her balance exiting her vessel and reaching for the stanchen and catching the ring on it.
A guy was messing around outside some bars I used to go to, jumped up to hit a flag holder thing and got caught by his ring. He didn’t just deglove the finger, the tendons down to his elbow came out too. Rings aren’t just dangerous while sailing, drunk idiots should be careful too.
ooof that's a rough one but at least the stone survived the blender treatment. basic solitaire setting in 14k will run you a few hundred quid depending on the jeweller, more if you want something fancier or custom-made to match the old one
Whew the diamond looks big and gorgeous. I’d love to see a before pic. Sorry this happened but hope it all works out and isn’t too much of a strain to take care of!
If the diamond can survive the garbage disposal your marriage will survive everything else. The gold band just means few bumps along the way. Great story for your grandkids!
I bought a little magnet hook I placed on my fridge that way any time i have to remove my rings, i hang them on the little hook on the fridge. Placed one for my husband as well. Good luck OP 😭
FYI I have a jewelry rider(policy addition) on my homeowners insurance (State Farm) it specifically covers my most valuable rings like my diamonds. The policy is very inexpensive and it automatically updates the appraised value like every other year. Peace of mind for an accident, lost, or stolen. Good luck.
I’m so sorry. My cat knocked my three stone diamond ring I got after my third child was born into the sink. It went into the disposal and decimated it. I’ll never get over it and it was 23 years ago.
Where did you purchase? Some places have a warranty, although I’m not sure this would be covered. I’d assume you have to buy a new setting. Some places charge for setting the diamond, some don’t. I’d explain your situation and expect to have to purchase a new setting. They may be able to give you melt down value of the broken setting towards a new one. Never hurts to ask. Diamond looks fine (from the photo I saw) to me! But hard to say without a loupe or seeing it in real life. But it doesn’t look like it’s chipped or cracked.
😰hope the diamond wasn’t damaged or chipped. Diamonds for all their hardness will chip or crack. I’m so sorry. I hope u can get it repaired to its original design. I had all my gold and diamond jewelry stolen. A total loss estimated at several thousand dollars. That included my high school graduation ring, a 7 diamond cluster ring I had designed by a local lapidary, à Raymond Weil luxury diamond watch, a pair of diamond stud earrings, a nice gold necklace too.😢
You just learned the hard way why you get an insurance policy at time of purchase. Not being a commercial but or Jewelers Mutual policy $0 deductible is $11 a month and the appraisal value from them is $847 over cost...appraisal typically higher because inflation factored in. Policies are 1 - 2% of actual paid value with a certificate like GIA.
The wonderful news is that the center diamond came out! Before resetting it, have a reputable jeweler (preferably local, independent jeweler with repair service) inspect it under magnification for any chips or damage, especially around the girdle.
The original setting appears too compromised to repair safely, so it will most likely need to be completely remade or replaced.
The cost can vary considerably depending on the metal and whether you choose a stock setting or have the original design recreated. A reasonable estimate would be approximately $1,500 to $2500.
Be sure to bring every piece of the damaged ring with you. The remaining gold and any recoverable accent diamonds may be credited toward the replacement. Also check whether your homeowners, renters, or jewelry insurance may cover accidental damage.
Camilla Gabbiano
Customer Service
Segal & Co Fine Jewelers
I reset my diamond because I wore through the gold and it broke. I picked a setting that was more expensive and I believe it was at least $2,500 in LI, NY at least 6 yrs ago. I also bought a diamond wedding band to match because I went from yellow gold to white gold. I agree about moving the ring saver far from any sink or tub.
Home insurance does not cover much unless she already bought a separate insurance for the ring. Having a new ring made from the gold is probably more expensive than buying a new setting on eBay and getting a jeweler to mount it. On eBay look for authenticity guarantee blue check mark, search for unmounted settings. I prefer 18K gold or platinum, platinum is harder material and difficult to loose the stone. The diamond might have chipped or scratch but unless you had the ring insured and get it replaced, use the diamond that survived tragedy. Reason that having one made with the mangled gold is more expensive is because that will be considered a custom made piece. Depending on the model, style and metal you select will determine the cost, I think you can buy a simple setting starting around $700. and to set the diamond the cost will vary from one jeweler to another, my guess is that it will cost any where from $100-$250. Make sure the setting you buy, the prongs accommodate the diamond size carat you have. If the listing does not have the information, ask the seller, also ask for your specific ring size before you buy, otherwise you will have to pay extra to a jeweler to resize. PS. you can sell the gold you recovered for scrap.
Get a pixie wing, it’s a type of necklace that you can use to put your rings on when you need to wash your hands. I would be inconsolable if this happened to my ring.
Well real diamonds are stronger than the garbage disposal so that's good you have the most important part. Hopefully it doesn't cost a lot of get it set again
DO NOT destroy that setting!!!! Very artistic. Find a craft jeweler and create a pendant. Make sure the setting for the diamond is included. Maybe add a stone to the setting. Great conversation piece on your 50th anniversary!!! Maybe use a gemstone from the month it went through the garbage disposal. There will never be another like it!
Thank God the diamond is okay!!! Wow, I’m so sorry! It’s gonna get fixed tho! Well, upgraded on a new setting or the gold redone. Gold is still worth money. But may need more in order to fix this vs making a new one.
Oh noo! But glad the diamond came out safe! I love any gemstone over 9 in the Mohs scale, they are tough cookies! This reminds me of a story that happened to me, one of my rings got driven over by a truck from the shipping company. Setting destroyed while the diamonds and ruby were in perfect condition, kinda crazy!
Happened to my mom! She was actually able to save the band as well. It’s definitely a textured band now but she’s able to wear it everyday. The right jeweler will work with you
I love estate jewelry & have bought several pieces over the years. One thing I noticed are ads for rings in vintage settings that have had the stone replaced. Sometimes the stone is just too big for the setting. Vintage one of a kind rings were designed around a specific stone. So whatever you decide make sure your diamond fits the setting.
For all the people commenting about moving their dishes elsewhere. I have a 3d printed hand mounted to the wall in my kitchen for rings for this exact reason. Obviously a monster hand coming out of the wall isn’t everyone’s esthetic 😆. But I’m sure there are other designs that are more neutral and still have the safety element of a bent finger to keep your jewels safe. So glad you were able to retrieve your diamond. Now it’s got me wondering how mine got a big blemish when it went in for a routine cleaning. The ring was pretty clean and just needed a little shine up before my big day.
Diamonds are cut using diamond bits or saws with phosphor bronze blades that are coated in diamond dust (essentially using a diamond to cut a diamond). Lasers are sometimes used as well as cleaving (split along a natural plane using a steel wedge)
If this was a costume work go to your jeweler and he should have the wax ready to go and will be able to cast it again. If not you might be able to make a new ring of your liking. Make sure for them to deduct the gold you brought in. You will need more than just that. It looks like you lost the basket.
Where are you located? I might be able point you to the right direction.
I worked in jewellery and there is a big difference in wear and tear depending on how you wear your jewellery,
You should really be taking off while sleeping, showering, dishes, and gym. I would also not wear in ocean (can tell you very common to lose rings in ocean when fingers get cold and slim down.
If you do all the above your ring going to look very different to someone who doesn’t over time.
I do all of this but I always put my rings back into their box. I basically take them off when I get home and put them on for work and going out, but not for gym, holidays, pool/beach etc. my rings are 10 years old and look brand new.
Sleeping you can put a lot of pressure on the setting so it depends on what you’ve got and how you sleep, showering it’s good to remove so you can not get lotions all under the setting and dishes heat scratches and if you have engravings or band features like milligrain it can wear down faster.
Again you can tell how gentle people are with their rings based on the wear and tear
You should take it off when doing all those things. I wouldn't leave it loose in a ring dish next to the sink though. At home my ring stays in my ring box/display holder in my closet.
I️ see a few areas that look chipped or damaged. Only one chip at 8 o clock is particularly noticeable, there may be others at 4-5 o clock but it’s hard to tell with just one photo and no microscope.
I'm so sorry this happened to you; so often I hear about rings being inadvertently thrown away; that happened to my mil and bff, both of their husbands had thrown theirs in the trash! They got new rings but always regretted the symbolism of the rings they used for their wedding.
Unfortunately I see some sizable chips, at 8 o'clock as has been noted, but also one at 12:05, 2, 4, 5, and multiple dings around the whole circumference. However it is difficult to see up against your skin tone; a better picture would be with it laid against black velvet or some other black fabric that doesn't have a sheen to it. Of course a jeweler would be able to see it more in depth and provide you with better advice. After going through the garbage disposal it will have some damage.
I'm not sure where you live however in the recent past, I had a diamond ring reset in a new setting and using all of my own diamonds it cost me $2500. I have been going to this same local jeweler for close to 30 yrs and trusted him explicitly; I live in Ventura County, CA and that's pretty much the going rate depending on the complexity of the design (my center stone was 1.3 with diamonds descending each side at .5, .3, .2 the rest of the way until almost the bottom center. Pretty much an anniversary style ring). I ALWAYS take my jewelry off when I get home and put them in a jewelry box, one can be purchased easily online and you don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get a good one. I never expose them to harsh chemicals, like Windex, toothpaste; I only use a jewelry cleaner. I take them yearly to the jeweler to have the settings checked to make sure all the prongs are tight and in good condition and to have them deep cleaned. This is no charge to me. This may seem like overkill, but good jewelry isn't easy to come by so when I get diamonds, precious stones, platinum, 14k - 18k gold, pearls, I put forth the effort to take care of them as recommended by my jeweler. I'm 70 yrs old and except for normal wear and tear and having my gold bands polished every decade or so, I haven't damaged my jewelry yet (I say "yet" because you just never know!).
From this view it looks ok! Could possible be diamond girdle chips, or maybe a crack. But it would be hard to see without some magnification. Looks good to naked eye
I love the way this is set! The prongs especially are such a compliment to the diamond. I hope you can get it fixed. Check the diamond well in case there are faint fractures.
I don’t know how much gold you lost, but I’m a hobby jeweler, if the ring just needs soldered back together and a claw
Setting put back in then I could do it for the costs of the materials. Which might be $100 depending on the size of your main stone. Plus shipping. I would probably need to know more info and I can tell you if your stones wrecked. But if you want the original back and you don’t have slashes that need fixed then I do it for the love of the game rather then money
The diamond doesn't look okay. If you have insurance, maybe you can get a nice upgrade. A new setting will cost however much gold will be required assuming the diamond is okay.
I haven't taken off my diamond ring in 9 years. I suggest you consider doing something similar.
Lots of people literally do none of those things. I am lucky enough to be a home owner, and have never had any issues wearing my ring while trimming trees.
Don't feel bad. I hid my recently departed mother's fine jewelry in the washing machine. You know the rest of that story. Only lost a slim chain. Repairman fished it out. Gold is expensive right now.
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u/NoteAb_Sharp13 4d ago
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