I can report that the ring is scheduled to be returned to me this week. I got urgent calls and emails from DL L&F and others today. This was on the heels of another routine auto-reply from 30 minutes earlier saying the ring could not be located.
If I understand today's response, the difference here was sending an email to Ed that was copied to the top two persons in CS.

For future reference, going to the 'warehouse' means your item has been sent to Alabama. I remember seeing that store when I lived in AL some years ago. I did have to provide a photo of the ring to prove that it belonged to me which was expected and a good safeguard for all concerned. In like manner, I had to confirm that the photo they sent to me was in fact my property.