Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
Exhibition on Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Studios to Open at The MetThe exhibition will feature more than 100 drawings of stained-glass lampshades, windows, and more, many created by women and émigrés.
IndependentsJul 07, 2017
Feel-Good Friday: NY Store Replaces Lost Stone, Mounting
When a possible flaw in the soldering lead to both falling out of an engagement ring, Kingston Fine Jewelry was quick to fix its mistake.
The diamond in this engagement ring was a sentimental one to its owner, making it a tough loss when it fell out, but Kingston Fine Jewelry was quick to offer to replace it after realizing it had made a mistake.
Kingston, N.Y.--It might be a sad story at first, but it’s got a pretty nice ending to it.
When the diamond and mounting in Ulster Park, New York resident Kristin Judd’s engagement ring from fiancé Justin Horowitz fell out, she didn’t think there was much she could do.
The 0.64-carat VS1 brilliant-cut diamond in the ring came from Judd’s stepmother’s ring. For her father, it was “his fifth marriage, his one true love and the one that lasted, so I thought it carried good luck for mine and Justin’s second marriages,” Judd told National Jeweler.
Judd and Horowitz had the diamond placed in a white gold setting at Kingston Fine Jewelry in nearby Kingston, New York in late February, just after they had gotten engaged. 
“I noticed it about two hours after I had taken off my gloves and put my tools away,” she said. “I can imagine it falling out of my glove wherever I was when I took them off. We metal-detected the whole front yard, in hopes that the setting would be enough metal to pick up.”
Neither were found.
Judd added that she had even been in touch with her insurance agent about getting the ring, along with another ring she had, insured but just hadn’t gotten back to him about it yet.
“So I truly thought I was out of luck.”
She called Kingston Fine Jewelry to tell them about her loss though, interestingly, said she doesn’t know why because she didn’t expect the store to do anything.
Still, staff member Krista DeAngelis, who had sold them the mounting and appraised the stone for them, answered when she called. DeAngelis immediately apologized for the mounting and diamond falling off the ring, and for what she believed to have caused the loss--a flaw in the solder.
She immediately offered to replace the stone and mounting at no cost.
“I hadn’t cried up to that point, but when she told me that, I did,” Judd said.
Kristin Judd and Justin Horowitz
When Judd’s ring was lost in the garden, they waved a metal detector across the entire yard to try to find it.
For the store, though, it was just the way that good customer service should be, especially for a mistake that was their own.
“It’s a sentimental stone, and we
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
can’t replace that but we can fix our mistakes,” DeAngelis said. “The fact that she wasn’t expecting anything is surprising, and I don’t know what that might say about the customer service of other jewelers.”
Judd said when she called, they had a conversation about what could’ve gone wrong. When DeAngelis heard it was just the mounting and the stone that had come off, with nothing else wrong with the ring, she came to the conclusion that it probably was a flaw in the soldering.
They talked through the likely issues with the ring both because the store always wants to be forthcoming, DeAngelis said, and to help Judd understand that in this case, it was nothing she did.
Judd went in to see the store staff Thursday evening, and the new ring is expected to be on her finger by the end of next week.
Judd said when she called, they had a conversation about what could’ve gone wrong. When DeAngelis heard it was just the mounting and the stone that had come off, with nothing else wrong with the ring, she came to the conclusion that it probably was a flaw in the soldering.
They talked through the likely issues with the ring both because the store always wants to be forthcoming, DeAngelis said, and to help Judd understand that in this case, it was nothing she did.
Judd went in to see the store staff Thursday evening, and the new ring is expected to be on her finger by the end of next week.
More on Independents
The Latest
CollectionsAug 17, 2026
Marquise Diamonds Dance in Spinelli Kilcollin’s ‘Wren’ CollectionMarquise-cut diamonds in drop charms are the center of the new collection, reflecting the movement of a dancer in modular styles.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
There’s a New Jewelry Show Coming to FloridaThe inaugural Fort Lauderdale Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show will be held from Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, 2027.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
CrimeAug 14, 2026
Wife of Man Convicted in Jeweler’s Murder Sentenced for Conspiracy Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.
Weekly QuizAug 13, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TrendsAug 14, 2026
Paul Morelli’s Latest ‘Wavey Vine’ Earrings Embrace ColorThe reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.
Supplier BulletinAug 13, 2026
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
FinancialsAug 13, 2026
Pandora’s ‘Talisman’ Collection Shines, Lab-Grown Diamond Sales FallIn the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.
AuctionsAug 13, 2026
This Gold Cadbury ‘Conundrum’ Egg Set a World Auction RecordThe 22-karat gold egg, sold at Batemans Auctioneers in the U.K., was part of a 1980s treasure hunt ad campaign for Cadbury Creme Eggs.
SourcingAug 13, 2026
2,488-Carat Diamond, Largest Found in Botswana, Has a New Owner Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.
CollectionsAug 13, 2026
John Hardy Infuses ‘Icon,’ ‘Heishi’ Collections with ColorThe expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.
Lab-GrownAug 13, 2026
Jean Dousset Opens Third StoreThe lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Eshed-Gemstar on the Painstaking Process of Cutting ‘The Legacy Emerald’The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Elderly NYC Woman Targeted in Jewelry Swap SchemeTwo suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Another Diamond Mine Poised to CloseFinsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Jewelry Store Employee Gets 20 Years to Life in Choking Death of BossMichel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.
MajorsAug 12, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names New SVP of SalesLongtime industry executive Beth Miller has taken on the role.
AuctionsAug 11, 2026
Verdura Unicorn Brooch With Royal Connection Up for Auction The brooch was owned by Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, who served as a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II for nearly 50 years.
MajorsAug 11, 2026
Signet Jewelers Selects Mattel Exec to Lead Zales, BanterJamie Cygielman will take on the role on Aug. 24.
ColumnistsAug 11, 2026
Creative Connecting: How to Sell Colored Gemstones to Gen ZDuvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2026
NAJA Announces Lineup For 2026 Fall Virtual ConferenceThe mid-year conference for jewelry and watch appraisers will take place Sept. 5-6 on Zoom.
TechnologyAug 10, 2026
Colorado Jeweler Launches Customization Tool He Built HimselfHonest Hands Ring Co. Founder Benjamin Bosworth shared his thoughts on jewelry technology and why AI can never replace the human element.
MajorsAug 10, 2026
QVC Exits Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Names New Interim CEOQVC Group President and CEO David Rawlinson is temporarily being replaced by a familiar face, former QVC CEO Mike George.
CollectionsAug 10, 2026
State Property Puts a Ripple in the ‘The Voyager’ CollectionThe brand also added two one-of-a-kind brown diamond pieces to the “Sanssouci” series of its “Gardens” collection.
MajorsAug 10, 2026
And IJO’s 2026 Vendor of the Year Is … Ostbye took home top vendor honors at the Independent Jewelers Organization’s show, held last month in Kentucky.
Supplier BulletinAug 07, 2026
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsSponsored by Stratus Estate Buyers
