In January 2015 My Fiancé and I purchased an Engagement ring together from Michael Hills, the ring is absolutely my dream ring, I couldn’t imagine anything nicer as far a design, it retails for $4600 and the wedding band $1300 – we managed to get a good sale on the rings and paid $4370 (or there about’s) for both.
Unfortunately no sooner had I got the ring home and one of the diamonds disappeared- the small one on the band. I
A few months went by and then the same thing happened this time it was the rectangle side diamond, shocked, I was told it was unfortunate luck but it does happen, Michael Hill staff again sent it away again, it came back and then unbelievably a month or two later it happened again a different diamond,you get the point.
This time I took the ring directly to the Manager of the store she looked under the ring and felt the workmanship/soldering? of the ring was not up to the quality you would expect, so kindly offered to replace the ring with another the same.Two weeks before our wedding, being the organised Bride to be, I took my engagement ring to Michael hill as I have the care plan and thought I would get the ring cleaned ready to shine on the big day. Within 3 days of having the ring back a diamond fell out, this time the side square one.I did not get a chance to wear my beautiful engagement for those special “ring” shots with our photographer.
2 weeks ago, again, I look down and my heart sinks, the small round stone has gone! This is 1 year from purchase 5x The manager Toni suggests I choose something else, it saddens me as the memory of a special time would be replaced with it, & it would be a huge compromised to choose another ring to suit the wedding band will also need replaced. we agree it is the only option I found one I likes it retailed for $4300- so slightly less than the retail of mine when I got it, the matching band was $1300 retail,the same cost as my band retail. It was nice & I was happy to swap the rings. However the assistant come back to tell me I can swap the set for approx. $1000.00 cost difference to me.
If I am to compromise on my wedding band I was married in no less than 1 month ago and the engagement ring that I love not paying additional on the same quality product price due to any fluctuations, the staff member told me “yes you did get a better deal but unfortunately the USA determines diamond prices so that means the price is higher currently”sorry but does that not mean the diamond in the ring I am returning has valued just the same?
The fact is the engagement is over now- I will not look down at that ring or band and remember this period of time because the product is faulty
If I got a bargin price on the $4,600 ring a year ago why should I, the consumer who has been continuously let down, suffer further by getting something worth less unless I want to pay the fluctuating USA difference?