I got married in 2000, and waited almost 6 years to get a nice wedding band made because my husband and I couldn't afford to purchase one until recently.
When the day finally came when we could afford one, I checked out several jewelry shops around Berkeley and Oakland before deciding to go with Pave, even though their quote was considerably more than other shops. I selected the shop because I was really impressed with their unique designs and because the staff was very friendly to me.
I really wanted my band to be platinum, but I couldn't afford it so they suggested white gold. So I had them remove 6 diamonds from my deceased Grandmother's ring and place them in a white gold band. My ring was ready when they told me it would be and I really liked it, except the letters in the engraving are a little squashed together.
However, I woke up that night with my finger really itchy and slightly swollen where the ring was. I called Pave the next day and they told me that some people have an allergy to the nickel in white gold. They suggested that I change the metal to platinum or 24 karat gold, but said I still had to pay full price for the labor to switch the metal in addition to purchasing another ring to place the diamonds. When they told me that, I felt really let down and sad. Of course I totally understand that I need to pay for the new metal, but they wouldn't even offer me a discount for the labor on making a new ring. They just said that they wouldn't charge me for "removing the diamonds" from the ring they made for me. Gee, thanks.
I feel that because they are the "jewelry experts" they should have warned me that some people have allergies to the nickel in white gold before suggesting it. And because they didn't warn me about this, they should have offered me at least a partial discount on the labor of making a new ring for me. I'm surprised that a shop of this caliber wouldn't go the extra mile to make sure that its customers are pleased with the final product. Many of my friends are getting married and I certainly won't suggest Pave to them.
I'll have to wait another year or so before I can afford to change the metal in my wedding band. And I won't go back to Pave next time. They really bummed me out and their prices are too high. I'm glad I know that being married means more than a silly ring.
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