The matter has now been resolved. Thank you for your help and I would appreciate it if this thread could now be closed. Thanks.

Thanks guys.If I have the ring repaired and altered, would it have to be done by the high street store, or could I get an independent jeweller to do the work and bill them?

Hi, 2 years ago my husband bought me a beautiful 18 carat white gold diamond engagement ring from a prominent high street jewellers. In May I noticed it had lost its sparkle. I sought the opinion of an independent jeweller who felt it was cracked. He explained that the chances of this happening are about a million to one, but that someone has to be that 'one'! I had insurance bought specifically for the ring from the original jewellers, so took the ring back and asked to claim on the insurance for accidental damage. I won't go into the details but the customer service I received was disgusting. The 'report' came back to state that it was not a crack but an inclusion. The mark could be seen from 6 inches with the naked eye and was NOT there when my husband bought it. I took it to a further independent jeweller who was equally disgusted with the way I ahd been treated and also felt that the stones as cracked. However when she looked closely at the ring she noticed its is NOT HALLMARKED! It has never been re-sized and only re-rhodiumed once. It has been to QA and head office of the high street jewellers and no one noticed it. I took it in to the store and asked for a replacement. They obliged and ordered me a ring. It came and was sent off for valuation which they agreed to do as a 'gesture of good will'. I requested that the diamond be sent for 'mapping' of all the flaws - they initially refused as this would mean taking the diamond out of these setting (£100) and then resetting it (£100). I spoke to the area manager who then agreed to do this. Having spoken to my husband and friends I've actually had enough and don't want anything more to do with the high street jeweller. Speaking to the independent jeweller he explained that the ring is poor quality, the shank is too thin to last a lifetime and the stones are not set well enough and will at some point fall out. I need to point out at this point that the jeweller stands to gain nothing from me, this has all been free and impartial advice. So now I don't want a new ring. I want the money back (the ring has gone up from £650 in 2010 to £999 now) but the current value. I also want to keep my original ring as it has sentimental value, and the jeweller has explained that I could have the shank at the back replaced with a wider, stronger shank, much better (not cracked!) centre stone and secure the shoulder stones - but obviously done by a very experienced independent jeweller not the high street jeweller!! (Wouldn't trust them with a barge pole now). So what I want is the £999 and to keep the ring. Having looked at the Sales of Goods Act I found this passage: If either a repair or replacement is not possible, or the cost is greater than the value of the item ( disproportionately costly ), or the customer claims either option is taking an unreasonable amount of time or is causing unreasonable inconvenience, the customer is then entitled to keep the goods and claim a price reduction from the retailer to compensate them for the fault in the goods - this would be the difference between the value of the product in perfect condition and the value of the product in the faulty condition Now as my ring is unhallmarked it is worthless - there's no way to prove it is 18 carat white gold. My interpretation of the paragraph above is that I could keep the ring and claim the £999 as this would be the value of the product in perfect condition and a form of compensation. To be honest if I managed to get the original £650 back I would be happy as this would pay for the alterations on the original ring. I know any warranty etc would be void but I want nothing to do with the high street jeweller after this anyway. Would this be right/possible? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Oh and the 'compensation' they sent me in the post was a £20 gift card and a compliments slip!!! I was insulted!