David Perry DESTROYED my opal engagement ring. "The Jeweler" also told me on the phone that he should retire and I completely agree with this assessment, however I believe he is still open. Please beware.
My parents live in Laramie, I live in Tennessee and this review begins while I was visiting WY last year. I brought David Perry my engagement ring in November 2016, the setting was in perfect condition, the opal in fair condition. I asked him to replace the opal by the next morning, to which he agreed and said he could. I was slightly disturbed when David started to pick away at the opal with his thumbnail and bang the ring on the counter, but instead of running the opposite direction, I picked out a new stone, and left the ring with him to repair. I really wish I hadn't. The next morning he charged us full price for a repair that was unsatisfactory due to the damage he caused by mashing the bezel down on one side, damaging diamonds, and incorrectly sizing the opal. I had to leave for Tennessee that morning so we paid and left, but the more I looked at my damaged ring I knew I had to be reimbursed or the ring had to be repaired.
After consulting my jeweler in Tennessee, I gave David the option to reimburse the money we paid for the first repair but he assured me he could fix it and the ring was shipped to him in December. I called him for months, leaving messages and eagerly anticipating the moment when I would be able to wear my engagement ring again. He came up with excuse after excuse as to why the ring was not ready. After FOUR months of this nonsense, I asked my mother to go into the store to check on his progress and was deeply disturbed by the pictures she sent me. I called David and told him to ship the ring back to Tennessee. The ring he sent back was DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR.
Below is an excerpt from a letter written by my jeweler in Tennessee describing the damage:
"The ring showed signs of extreme heat or torch work over the entirety as well as silver flow (on a GOLD ring) and heat damage to the stones. The center bezel looks to have been removed and there was an attempt to replace with incorrect metal as well as the majority of the piece showing a gap between the center bezel and the halo. There are approximately 6 diamonds out and others damaged from extreme heat. The only way to fix the ring is to completely rebuild from scratch including more work than the initial ring required."
Do not trust David with your fine jewelry. He sent the ring back to me with a check for the amount of the original repair but it will cost three times that amount to rebuild the ring from scratch. I learned a very hard lesson from this and I hope no one else has to go through it.
On the picture, top left is the original ring. Top right is the ring after the bezel was mashed and the new opal put in. Bottom is the ring in its current condition and how it was returned to me.