E-Ring ruined?!?

[FutureMrsLewis]

When it rains, it pours lol I've had so much go wrong in the past year, and a week ago, I go to the jewellery store where my e-ring was bought and tell them that I wanted it cleaned. It was bought almost two years ago (long engagement, long story lol) and I've only ever cleaned it at the store where it was purchased. The matching necklace was bought a year ago and I always thought that the necklace looked brighter than the ring, as if the ring had faded (It's a pink stone, I'm pretty sure it's topaz). I was told not to be silly and under the lights at the jewellery store, they always matched, but under my lights at home, the necklace does appear darker. Anyway, when I took my ring in for a cleaning, I was told they can't clean it for me. I explained how free cleanings came with the insurance policy I bought at the store, but the girl told me that their cleaning solution would damage the stones. Nice to know after having it cleaned there about once every two months for almost TWO YEARS!! So my fears about the stones fading wasn't entirely crazy. So I ask the girl if the stones would fade over time, to which she replied "Of course, they're lab created, they'll fade just by washing your hands too often" I'm a little anal about having clean hands, so not what I wanted to hear. So now I'm ROTTED about having an e-ring that I know will only continue to fade out as time goes on (It's faded a nice amount in only a year and 8 months) and most importantly, not being TOLD it would fade, even after telling the lady we bought it from that it was to be my e-ring and would be worn forever. So, what do I do now? Do I take out the "fake" stones and buy three genuine stones to replace them? (which I'm told will cost approximately $700), or do I buy a brand new ring with a genuine stone for around $500? I found a new ring at ANOTHER store that I think is gorgeous, I'm understandably pissed with the store where my ring was bought. It's currently in the shop getting a new rhodium coating, which is covered by the insurance policy I bought, but I'm pretty sure they won't cover replacing the stones. So, what do I do? Replace the ring? Replace the stones? or live with the fading?

Edit:

Here's my current e-ring, slightly faded:



And here is the substitute I have in mind:

[STACEY]

Ohhhh boy, this is a hard one. What does FI say?

[FutureMrsLewis]

FI is disappointed in himself because he thinks he should have asked more questions when he returned to the store to purchase the ring originally. We both went to the store to look at rings, he looked at diamonds, I looked for a second and kinda went "Ooh! Look at THAT one!" and ran over to the case with the coloured stones and picked out the prettiest pink ring I saw. It was a cheap ring, but the prices weren't displayed, and I didn't care about price, I wanted something I liked. So FI returned to buy the ring, found out the price, debated because it was so cheap, then said "Well, it's what she wants. At least I know she'll like the ring, now it's just wondering if she'll say yes" So he bought it. Now he doesn't really care what decision I make, he just wants me to be happy and not mad at him for his "dumb" decision (which I've re-assured him time and time again is more MY fault, I wanted the damn thing so bad I almost cried like a kid in a candy store lol)

[Morgan]

it's a lab created topaz? i'm not sure why it would fade any faster than a natural topaz.

[Davematthews16]

From what I've read about topaz, it sounds like it all can fade over time. So I'm thinking that even if you went out and got new stone, you're still going to have the fading predicament. It says here What You Should Know About Topaz - from Jewelers of America & FACETS that topaz can be cleaned in any mild solution, or with soap and water and a soft brush, but never in an ultra-sonic cleaning machine. What were they using to clean it at the shop? Do you have your heart set on topaz, or would you be willing to switch stones?

[FutureMrsLewis]

I'm thinking genuine pink sapphire now, I've been assured that it will NEVER fade by another jeweller, and the new ring I found is a pink sapphire in the centre with pink rhodolite (not sure if that's the proper spelling) around the outside, and have been told it will never fade and will last forever. But cost-wise (which is a big issue right now) getting a whole new ring is cheaper than finding a jeweller who will custom-shape three pink sapphires into heart shapes to find into my band

[Davematthews16]

I would start over and go with the pink sapphire! I think that will cause you a lot less stress in the end!

[Cattie]

Do you already have a wedding band to match the Ering you already have? And is it the ring you want on your hand forever? If yes on both, I'd just research pink colored stones, rather it be a sapphire, topaz, whatever and see what WON'T fade over time and just replace your stone with that.

It's your ring, you have to wake up and look at it every morning. Also it's no one's fault except the jeweler who failed to tell you cleaning it constantly will effect it's coloring. Your FI knew what you wanted, you saw what you wanted, end of story. It's your Ering, not something that's going to go out of style next season.

[Morgan]

OK i read a little. sounds like pink topaz is rare & usually created from other topaz colors. I'd go talk to a good jeweler. like someone who owns a jewlery store, not a person in a mall. they can probably advise you. maybe it won't fade a lot.

i am a big fan of lab created stones & gemstones for e-rings. they are such a better value. if you learn proper care of your ring it might be beautiful for a lifetime. i don't know enough about it.

[Morgan]

you can do lab created pink sapphire too. i don't think lab created is the issue. i think it's more about topaz. i'd find out from a pro, but I wouldn't think a lab created pink sapphire would fade if a natural one doesnt. they should have the exact same properties.