[Jewelry making - Article 00153] - Re: [Orchid] Setting customer stones

[wayne werner]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

Dear Mr Walker

    in you most recent post about setting customers stones you made the
    comment that 'I am of the opinion that if i chipped grandmoms
    diamond the chances are that the emotional consequences whould not
    be as great as chipping a new stone, where the cost is still on the
    customers credit card" 

    I'm not disagreeing, however, I would like to make a statement that
    my Uncle Russ made to me back when I first started doing jewelery
    work at the age of 18. He was a jeweler and watchmaker for many
    years but also a real human, full of inperfections and insecurities.
    He said " Wayne, diamonds, gold, gemstones and jewelry are absolutly
    worthless.........until they are given from one person to another,
    then they are priceless" communicate, be honest, but most
    importantly, cover your ass and don't be a hero. take your time
    setting stones, relax, you have all day to do it right and no time
    to screw it up. 

    I use to have accounts with stores to do high end repair and
    setting, not so much these days. In the metals community where I
    live it is customary to set stones for stores, generally the price
    is low but the store retains the responsibility for the stone, the
    jeweler works for them either by subcontracting or by payroll, the
    store knows that no jeweler want to break a stone but if it should
    happen the agreement stands that the jeweler is not responsible. I
    do not know if that is true throughout the whole industry but that
    is my experiance. 

    On the other hand if I set a stone for a retail customer then I am
    responsible for the stone unless a disscusion has taken place
    freeing me of the responsiblity. Customers do not want to hear that
    you are nervous and "hope" you won't chip a stone. come on, you are
    the so called expert that they have chose to come see. 

    So, case in point, 2 days ago a lady comes to me with a beautiful
    diamond. she is the mother of a good friend of mine. The stone has
    been in the family for 3 generations, and IT IS BEAUTIFUL. worth way
    more than my car. She had it at the 'mall' store and had it cleaned.
    thay pointed out that the prongs were worn, and one was half
    missing. she did not leave it there because she did not TRUST them.
    So it ends up on my lap. i probably could have retipped it, but I
    explained to here that I wanted to give her a good price, however I
    was not comfortable with messing with a retip that had so many
    unknown factors. the ring had alot of work done to it over the
    years, some of the solder was questionable. So i "talk her into" an
    approch that I feel comfortable with. break the ring down and use the
    old shank, with a new platinum head. I stand by my work and if it
    were my own mothers ring that is what I would do. she agreed, I am
    responsible for the stone. I told her that I still may break out in
    Hives but hey....it's in my job description. Now....here is the
    clincher, I am charging her a boat load of money, close to $400 for 2
    hours worth of work....and she is my buddys mom!!! do i feel
    guilty....no. As my father sayes, "son, you are not making $200 an
    hour on that job, it took you 15 years of stonesetting to grow the
    balls to do it in two hours!!!" 

    One more thought, I have customers bring me stuff that the get
    online, on the cruise, at the auction, etc. I always charge them
    more to set that stuff. If my customer lets me find them a stone
    from a cutter that I know, I make a small commission and I charge
    them alot less. My cutter and I have a wonderful relationship, he is
    with me through thick and thin, over the years we have both made a
    small fortune on large diamonds. Three years ago I set a one caret
    stone in a thick white gold bezel. the girdle had sone bearding that
    I did not notice and I CRACKED IT. I could have hid it, it was not
    noticable to the naked eye. I sent it back to him, he said "dont
    worry about it" he sent me a better stone for the same price, the
    customer was thrilled that I chipped the stone. And we live happily
    ever after.........now I consider myself the stongest man in the
    world because I can chop the hardest material known to
    man........i'm just sorry to say that my friend Richard calls me
    "Chipps, the diamond setter". 

    Happy holidays everyone......I'm off to set that 2 caret stone from
    great grandma......a few hives on my arm might do me some good. 

wayne werner
____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________