Legal Question in Consumer Law in California

Reasonable Remedy for Damaged Jewelry?

My engagement ring has a center solitaire and a row of six channel-set small diamonds on either side. The solitaire's setting was slightly loose, so I took it to a local jeweler to have it tightened.

I was told that it would be sent off-site for repairs and that the ring could also be refinished and appraised at no additional cost. Prior to any repairs, I would be phoned with an estimate for the repair. At the same time, I dropped off a pendant for some repairs and asked for an estimate on that as well.

About four days later, the store called with an estimate for the work on the pendant ($62). I told them to do the repair on the pendant and asked about an estimate for my ring. They did not yet have an estimate for my ring.

Four days after that, the store called to say that my ring AND pendant were finished and ready for pickup. I explained that I hadn't received an estimate for my ring's repairs and didn't authorize them to be made. The response was, "Oh." My ring repair was $84, which I would not have agreed to if they had called with that estimate. Since the work was already done, I went to pick up both pieces. I asked about the appraisal, and was told that the employee who offered it didn't remember doing so, but that I could obtain one for an additional $25. I declined.

Looking at my ring, I noticed that the channel-set diamonds were not set evenly, nine of the 12 stones were loose, and the setting itself had multiple tool marks. Under a microscope, it's easy to see that the stones were not re-set properly and the setting is smashed, uneven, and wavy in places.

I'm going back to the store to see what I can work out with them. It's not my intention to sue over this, but I do not want the store to have another crack at my ring.

Is it "reasonable" to ask that they refund the cost of repairs for my ring ($84) and pay for the necessary repairs to be performed by another jeweler?

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