Are you someone who loves wearing rings and earrings? Well, many people love wearing jewellery, and you might also be one of them. These days, diamonds are the most popular gemstones that people love to wear because they provide both a sophisticated and minimalist look in jewellery. Apart from this, the diamonds are generally studded in gold and platinum, which makes them quite costly and therefore an asset. But what if on a random evening you noticed that the engagement ring that you had been wearing for several years was lost or a diamond had fallen off! Isn’t it heart-wrenching?
Whether it’s a tiny accent stone or any bespoke jewellery in London, losing it can be upsetting, especially when the ring has emotional or financial value.
So, what are the next steps that you take? Do you go searching for the lost ring? Go get the receipt from the jeweller, from whom you purchased the jewellery. Would you like to proceed with registering the complaint? Or go to the valuation agency?
Well, such a situation can be overwhelming. To avoid panic, follow these steps to fix the situation.
Step 1: Stop Wearing the Ring
The first thing that you must do is to keep the ring and stop wearing it. Even if one stone is lost, the entire ring sustains damage, as a single stone falling off could potentially damage others. If you continue to wear it even after a loss, you risk damaging the entire ring and potentially losing more stones due to rough handling. Several factors may have contributed to this issue. A few of them have been listed below.
- The claw holding the gem is bent.
- The setting has weakened
- Other stones could fall out next
Step 2: Look for the Missing Stone (If Possible)
While it may be a rare occurrence, searching for the missing stone has the potential to alter the course of events. You may find the ring, but it’s unlikely.
Check places like:
- Clothing pockets
- Bathroom sinks or tile edges
- Jewellery boxes
- Car seats or carpets
Step 3: Get the ring assessed by a jeweller
Finding the gemstone or not finding it is a totally different thing. You must primarily focus on understanding why the gemstone fell out. Please take your jewellery to the jeweller for an inspection. This will help you understand the reasons why the gemstone fell out initially and inform you about other important details you should be aware of.
- Why the stone fell out
- Whether the setting is damaged
- If the ring needs repair or full restoration
- Whether it’s safe to reinstall or replace the diamond
Step 4: Check Your Insurance and Jewellery Valuation Paperwork
This is an essential part. It is crucial to verify the jewellery valuation amount, whether it is insured, and the amount for which it is. If your jewellery was totally insured, you might end up saving every single penny, and you may have the entire thing repaired free of charge. The jewellery valuations have paperwork that can help you navigate the entire process of:
- Repair
- Replacement stones
- Remodelling (if needed)
In case you go for claiming the insurance, the companies can ask for proof of the insurance, such as the valuation documents. Having them readily available will guarantee that the insurance company will repair the jewellery and cover the bill.
If the valuation that you have is two to three years old, then the valuation companies may argue that the valuation is outdated and may end up offering you the lower settlement rate.
Step 5: Decide whether to replace, restore, or remodel the ring.
Depending on the kind of damage and the type of ring, you can try different options. You can choose to have the stone replaced, restored, or, if possible, remodelled. This process will help in ensuring that the jewellery remains in the same condition according to your wishes, and you do not necessarily end up getting a different type of jewellery. When you take the jewellery to the jeweller to get all the necessary repairs done, the jeweller may analyse these few things:
A jeweller can match:
- Diamond size
- Colour
- Clarity
- Cut
- Metal type and setting style
Summing Up
To sum up, there are several factors to consider when dealing with damaged jewellery. Following these steps will help you get the jewellery back in excellent condition at the earliest.
