Don't Shoot The Messanger!

What I mean by this title is that if your jeweler calls after you have dropped off a repair at his store, it is for a good reason. This happens on occasion when a salesperson or even management take in a repair and either quote charges that are too low or you have requested an estimate.
Also I will call a customer if I think the quoted charges seem too high. I don't believe in gouging the customer even if they have approved the charges while in the store. Customers are trusting the store staff to be honest with them and rely on their knowledge to give them the best price.
I always tell the staff if they feel unsure about quoting charges and they don't find them on the repair sheet they should ask me before pulling something out of the sky. By just guessing it sets up the scenario I am talking about. I have to call the customer and tell them the charges are wrong and explain why and what the correct charges should be. Generally I find myself having to quote higher rather than lower and I don't want it to seem like a "bait and switch" type of situation. The customer might feel like,"oh sure, now you have my repair and you're going to jack up the charges on me!" After conferring with the person who took in the repair I will call the customer and explain in detail the reason for my call and why the charges have to be adjusted. Usually I will give them a slight break on the price for being so understanding and also to simply build good customer relations. You know...rapport.
You can help protect yourself by asking to see the company retail repair charge sheet while you are in the store. Many times the person waiting on you might feel too rushed or too lazy to get it out while filling out your repair envelope. Just ask.
And remember if I'm calling you, it's for a good reason, please don't shoot the messanger.

Mystery Inclusions

No ma'am I did not cause those inclusions in your diamond! I have heard many a customer complain that they did not notice the inclusions in their diamond when they dropped it off for cleaning or repair. Internal inclusions occur at the birth of the diamond, whenever the heck that was! Googles of years ago maybe... Anyway a savvy customer will already know or should know what the internal characteristics of their diamond are; they will know this because the jeweler who sold them the diamond should have furnished an appraisal with the inclusions plotted out on a small diagram. This also aids in insurance claims if the stone is lost.
This complaint can easily be avoided by the well trained salesperson or jeweler. By merely louping or scoping the diamond (observing it under magnification) and marking on the repair envelope the various inclusions as well as applying a diamond tester to confirm it is a diamond indeed...voila! problem solved.
Naturally customers never scrutinize their jewelry so intensely as when they pick it up after a servicing. So, consequently they think they are noticing new problems or mistakes by the jeweler.
So for your own protection and peace of mind, ask that these steps be taken to protect both parties.

HEY! ! Why do my rings discolor my fingers??

Short but sweet, this happens most often to women, sorry ladies. It can be a combination of things but most commonly it is caused by makeup. Also certain chemicals can cause it as well as certain body conditions, IE. chemical imbalance.
Dry makeup and some liquid makeup contain minute abrasive particles. They are only abrasive to something that is not as hard as they are, such as skin and metal such as gold.
When one applies makeup while wearing jewelery the minute particles get in between the fingers and rings. As the jewelry moves around over the makeup these small particles grind on a microscopic level against the gold. This results in particles of gold and copper being removed which are so small that they look black against the skin instead of gold or copper colored.

So don't blame your jeweler, the best remedy is to not wear jewelry while applying makeup and wash your hands to remove any residual makeup.

It's never a good idea to wear any jewelry while using hairspray, harsh chemicals (especially bleach), working in the garden, etc. Heck, think how Paula Deen's rings must look after a session of making all that dough with a pound of butta!!!

It's a harsh world out there, be careful!