TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin jewelry repair on island vs mail?

In the past, if any of my jewelry was in need of repair I brought it to the jewelers when on the island. This year a small diamond in the setting of my ring fell out. But instead of repairing it while on the island, he wants me to mail it to their "service center" when we return to the states. Is that safe? Has anyone else mailed their jewelry? Thanks.

I'm wondering why they don't fix it while u r there??
Two people I know have mailed to their new York centre & were very happy with the quick service. They paid FedEx charge when they received it back though. It wasn't a lot.

However honest the dealer maybe one risk you run by sending anything away is "switching" where, for example, a real diamond is replaced with a spinel and the layperson wouldn't know the difference.

My parents were in the jewelry business and warned me of this many years ago.

I used to work in the Watch industry in Switzerland and we spent mega bucks on machines that would analyze our gems before we sent them to be mounted on watches.

Gem switching is very very common.

Have had repairs done through DK Gems, both on island and in their New York affiliate with excellent results. Our "stuff" is insured and we are periodically required to have a fresh assessment which would catch a switch. No problems.

I have mailed items I bought at Splash for modification or repairs. Always been excellent.

I can't really say I've had much need for jewelry repairs on the island but Caribbean Gems does have their own in house repairs for changing settings and things of that nature. They've reset my diamond ring and earrings without issue but they do also have a repair affiliate in NYC and I would have no qualms about using them, although I do have a local jeweler here in CT so there's never been any need to. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Thank all of you for your input. I agree with jeepers. Why don't they want to repair it while we're here, like they always have? The missing diamond is in the setting; but the center diamond is 1ct with sentimental value & would be taking a chance mailing to an unknown "service center". Is it $ ?

I have also been trying to decide whether to mail a pair of diamond earrings to be repaired or wait until I return in November. A good friend who visits SXM twice a year and also purchases jewelry while there advised me to wait and take them with me in November. She said she was sure the repair could be made during my stay on the island and I wouldn't have to worry about the earrings being lost in the mail or have the expense of insuring them. I believe I'd rather do without them until November than to risk losing them because they have sentimental value as well which can't be replaced.