How long would you expect an engagement ring to ..

What Hazel said - contact Trading Standards.

Stones falling out is one thing, getting hairline fractures is another. I would think it reasonable that a ring being marketed as an engagement ring should come with a reasonable life expectancy. (Do they expect Eternity rings not to last either? ?) If it were a dress or fashion ring, that might be something else. I think they are trying to wriggle out of shoddy workmanship / faulty goods.

Trading Standards should be able to give you a more informed position though.

Frasier Hart in St. Anne's Square Manchester has on site repairs.

I've just spent £250 on ring repairs - but then the ring is over 100 years old and was my great grandmothers. It's a shame it doesn't seem to fit any more since it was repaired!

I got my engagement ring from the same exclusive shop as Ginni and I have had the shank replaced after 5 years because it was very thin to start with and was getting thinner.

I'd like to think mine lasted for life. I could cope with the stone coming loose (so long as I didn't lose it!) but anything else would be a bit gutting. It wasn't a cheap ring and was bought in Antwerp so would cost a lot more to replace here.

It should last. Having said that mine went back twice to have the diamond fixed when I first got it.

My Mum has had hers mended a couple of times but its still going strong after 40 years. And I have both my grandmother's ring that are from the 30s.

However it depends what its made from. White gold apparently wears quicker than gold gold because its softer or something. And also the design as thin metal can wear way where it touches your wedding ring.

Thank you for all your replies - it's been interesting to read, and I'm glad people don't think I'm mad for expecting it to last. I do understand that stones can work themselves loose, but it's the break that worries me....well two breaks!

I have sneakily contacted their customer service address to ask how long they would expect a ring to last and will be interested to hear what they have to say.

Meanwhile I might try trading standards - it was something my mum suggested too! I just want my ring back! If my wedding ring wasn't shaped to fit round it I might just write it off and not wear it, but I do look daft with just my wedding ring on!!

Thanks all!!

My Mum inherited a full eternity ring from her mother and it had been worn every day by her Mum. Mum sold it and bought something else with it, as the claw settings on all of the stones had worn very thin, and mum needed it sizing up which was impossible on a full eternity band.

I would expect it to last a lifetime.

However h2b got mine from a 2nd hand jewelrey shop, but i suspect it originally came from H Samuel as there is the exact same ring in there. In the 3 years i've worn my ring i have lost a diamond twice and have had to have it replaced. Luckily the 2nd hand jewelrey shop replaced it for free. I have also had to have it reset and replated. All of this in the space of just 3 years.

My best friend got her ring from H Samuels and she too lost the stone from it, they wouldn't replace it for her for free unlike my jewelrey shop and has since ended up having another ring from a different jewelers and it's been fine.

There seems to be a common theme with stuff from H Samuels not being too good.

I suppose it's not so much what you spend, but what design you have.

For example, my H paid about £1k for mine, which is a lot of money to us, but not as much as some pay. But I would expect mine to last forever, not because it's particularly expensive, but because it's platinum (so tricky to crack or mishape) and it's a single solitaire with a rub over setting (so no claws to snap, and only one diamond to risk losing)

I would expect mine to last forever and I have worn it everyday for the past 7 years and so far so good. It's platinum though so not sure if that makes a difference in terms of its longevity? Would be gutted if my ring broke so really sympathise with you?

I never take mine off. I'm expecting it to last for the rest of my life and would be very disappointed if it didn't.

Mrs Lilly, you didn't name a £figure, but did imply that it was an ever-so-expensive ring, due to your "after what it cost" remarks.

My e-ring is 2nd hand. It came from an "estate sale" which I am taking to mean dead person. I crushed my hand shifting a beer barrel after I'd had it 2 weeks (it's platinum, btw, so I'm glad it was there or I could be typing this with a hook ?) Anyway, this means that the band has already been replaced once, but I don't expect it to need it again.

Hairline cracks are not good. Is it a high-grade gold, like 24 carat? That tends to be softer than 9ct, and so less hardwearing.

quote:Originally posted by Janna
I suppose it's not so much what you spend, but what design you have.

For example, my H paid about £1k for mine, which is a lot of money to us, but not as much as some pay. But I would expect mine to last forever, not because it's particularly expensive, but because it's platinum (so tricky to crack or mishape) and it's a single solitaire with a rub over setting (so no claws to snap, and only one diamond to risk losing)

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WJS. Mine was brought for £1k and is a platinum solitaire. I haven't had it checked yet, but according to our insurance I need to get it checked regularly (been married 8 months). We got our wedding bands from the same place, they're platinum too, so I expect them to last.

A £1k e-ring ?
Mine was second-hand - Mr GMT got it from an antiques shop. It dates from the late 30s and seems to have survived pretty well so far. It never occured to me that it wouldn't last.... I'm expecting it to see me through till the 'death us do part' bit.

I'd expect it to last more than a lifetime, I have my grandmothers e-ring and will leave mine to S. in my will.

I wear mine everyday (and have done for the last month since I got it? ) When we bought it they said I should take it back once a year to have it checked over, I presumed that was more to check the daimond setting rather than the shank though?

Well my ring was 1 million dollars, I'll replace it when I get bored or when it's broken, whichever comes first.

I wear mine every day, it's a bit battered but I just have it polished once a year and it's as good as new.

quote:Originally posted by GMT
A £1k e-ring ?

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that cant be a shock, surely?

quote:Originally posted by Mrs Jess

quote:Originally posted by HeidiHole
Well my ring was 1 million dollars, I'll replace it when I get bored or when it's broken, whichever comes first.

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Never mind Hole; there's not need to be a hater just because yours was cheap you know.

It's the thought that counts ?

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I know, bless Mr Hole, he just couldn't stretch to two months salary so he only used one. I still loof him though ❤️

quote:Originally posted by GMT
A £1k e-ring ?
Mine was second-hand - Mr GMT got it from an antiques shop. It dates from the late 30s and seems to have survived pretty well so far. It never occured to me that it wouldn't last.... I'm expecting it to see me through till the 'death us do part' bit.

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GMT & Holio - I'm sorry if I've offended you both by stating a figure. I wasn't bragging, honestly, I really didn't think £1k was that remarkable, truely. The point (I thought) I was making was that mine's very 'average' but I'd still expect it to last forever due to it's design.

I apologise if I appeared crass.

quote:Originally posted by Janna

quote:Originally posted by GMT
A £1k e-ring ?
Mine was second-hand - Mr GMT got it from an antiques shop. It dates from the late 30s and seems to have survived pretty well so far. It never occured to me that it wouldn't last.... I'm expecting it to see me through till the 'death us do part' bit.

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GMT & Holio - I'm sorry if I've offended you both by stating a figure. I wasn't bragging, honestly, I really didn't think £1k was that remarkable, truely. The point (I thought) I was making was that mine's very 'average' but I'd still expect it to last forever due to it's design.

I apologise if I appeared crass.

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Nooooooooooo, s'not you, lovely ? ?

quote:Originally posted by NickJ

quote:Originally posted by GMT
A £1k e-ring ?

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that cant be a shock, surely?

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Nope. Just jealousy ?
Janna - not offended at all!

quote:Originally posted by Lillythepink

Hairline cracks are not good. Is it a high-grade gold, like 24 carat? That tends to be softer than 9ct, and so less hardwearing.

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Nope it's only 9ct.

Customer Services said they cannot estimate how long their rings should last, but you can of course buy an extended warranty. I shall ring trading standards when H finishes work so he can have the baby for me! I'm not thst hopeful though - just massively upset!

quote:Originally posted by Lillythepink
Mrs Lilly, you didn't name a £figure, but did imply that it was an ever-so-expensive ring, due to your "after what it cost" remarks.

My e-ring is 2nd hand. It came from an "estate sale" which I am taking to mean dead person. I crushed my hand shifting a beer barrel after I'd had it 2 weeks (it's platinum, btw, so I'm glad it was there or I could be typing this with a hook ?) Anyway, this means that the band has already been replaced once, but I don't expect it to need it again.

Hairline cracks are not good. Is it a high-grade gold, like 24 carat? That tends to be softer than 9ct, and so less hardwearing.

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It was expensive to me, but as I have also said that might be cheap as chips to others. In addition I am not the only person to say they thought since they considered their ring expensive they thought it should last.

I would definitely expect it to last a lifetime - not because of the cost of it (although it wasn't cheap) but because when it was bought, we expected it to last as long as our marriage, which will hopefully be a good few years yet! I do wear it all the time, though, so it wouldn't surprise me if it needed a bit of adjustment at some point.

Mr Caterpillar had a signet ring as an "engagement" ring and he broke it whilst taking (fluffing up) a catch in cricket - it didn't occur to him to take it off as he wears it all the time, and he ended up with it all misshapen and digging into his hand [xx(]

I've worn my e-ring all the time since I got it 7 years ago. It's a very basic design (yellow gold with a single, tiny, channel set diamond). It's absolutely fine and the fact that it might break has never even occurred to me! I agree with the others about Trading Standards - saying that engagement rings are not meant to last is tosh.

Just to update you, Trading standards say I don;t have a leg to stand on legally ?. The statute of limitations means I can only complain up to 5 years after I bought it - it's been 7 1/2 years.

So they don't have to make them last long do they???

Are Goldsmiths any good?? I#m thinking of getting a new ring to replace it but not got much to spend! Don't want this to happen again.

Just for the record I have had mine for 40 years and have worn it every day since. I must admit that about 18 months ago it had worn very thin and i had to have a new shank on it, but that is all and the diamonds have never even moved. It was from Mappin & Webb and obviously built to last.

I have worn my engagement ring everyday for the past 7 years, I never take it off, although I have had to have it made smaller as I have lost 4 stone 8lbs in the last 2 years and they were falling off. I have also worn my wedding ring every day for the past 4 years and my eternity ring for the past 3 years and I don't have a problem with the band or the diamonds in either my engagement ring or eternity ring.

Try the 'Sales of Goods Act' when complaining as this is the one that says goods sold should be of good quality and longlasting (see below)

My husband used this when his X-Box 360 broke (but he didn't get the "red ring of death" so couldn't have it replaced for free by Microsoft)He took it back to the high street retailer where he bought it from (was about 2 years old), quoted this piece of legislation and they gave him a replacement. Hope this helps.

SALE OF GOODS

The Sale of Goods Act 1979 is a civil law unlike the laws we have described earlier which are based on criminal law. The Act applies to contracts made between traders and consumers and gives details of three conditions which are set out below. If any of these three conditions is broken then the customer may be entitled to some or all of their money back, depending on how serious the problem is and how long the customer has had the goods.

Any guarantee given with jewellery applies as well as the buyer's rights under the Sale of Goods Act, it does not replace them.

The Sale of Goods Act also applies to second hand jewellery. While the jewellery should meet the same conditions as for new items (and as set out below) allowances can be made fior the age of the goods, the price paid and any description used.

The three conditions are:

1. Goods must be as described.
Any description you use for the goods you are selling must be accurate, for example, a bracelet described as '18 carat gold' would be falsely described if it was 9 carat gold.

2. Goods must be of satisfactory quality
This means that goods when bought must: be safe; be free from minor faults; be long lasting; be fit for their purpose; and have a reasonable appearance and finish.

However, these conditions do not apply to faults, which you specifically tell the buyers about before you make the contract. If the buyer examines the goods before buying, this only covers faults, which the examination ought to have revealed.

3. Goods must be reasonably fit for any particular purpose made known to the seller.
When the customer tells you about a specific purpose for which the goods are needed, then the goods you supply must be fit for that purpose.id="Times New Roman">

Trading Standards have given you duff info IMO. The problem with the ring was a latent defect and in such cases the time limit runs from when the defect emerges /causes loss or from the time when "with reasonable diligence" it could have been discovered. I still think you have a claim. I really wouldn't give up. ?

Thanks Emsy Truff - it was this that Trading Standards said elapsed though.

quote:Originally posted by LouM
Trading Standards have given you duff info IMO. The problem with the ring was a latent defect and in such cases the time limit runs from when the defect emerges /causes loss or from the time when "with reasonable diligence" it could have been discovered. I still think you have a claim. I really wouldn't give up. ?

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Thanks LouM - what do you think I should do? Harrass the shop? - cos it was the manager I have been dealing with. Or contact Head Office?? Any hints for what to try??