Can I Just Swap This Stone Out?

[iLander]

I have a new tourmaline from Jerry (pics, see https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/love-my-new-tourmaline.144818/). Can I just buy this ring from Costco, for $580, and have a jeweler swap out the amethyst for the tourmaline?

The amethyst is 10 x 10, and my tourm is 10.7 x 10.7. Can they be switched?

Am I running the risk of chipping my tourmaline if I don''t put it in a protective setting? That would make me cry . . .

Can I get this setting somewhere else for less? With the VS, at least I color diamonds?

 

[chrono]

It looks like it might fit because the amethyst is a straight sided stone and your tourmaline has slightly rounded sides. If the return period from Costco is good, you can bring both to your local jeweller where he/she can tell for sure if it will be a good fit without actually messing around with it first. A tourmaline in a ring is wearable but as long as worn with care (not a 24/7 ring), it’ll be fine. The only other place I can think of for inexpensive setting with some diamond accents is LOGR (upgraded melees).

 

[Indylady]

LOGR can. If you email them a picture, they will give you a quote. I probably wouldn't spend nearly $600 on a setting where I'd have to swap out the stone since I can easily get a $600 setting anyway. I'd worry about the jeweler's competentcy and whether the prongs are strong enough to handle it, and if they can't, there's no recourse for you because you can't return it or even say that it was defective, because the ring wasn't meant to be used as a setting for another stone. Unless that setting is platinum, in which case it might be a good buy and it would cost more to recreate.

 

[lilyfoot]

I don''t have any advice, but I just wanted to say that''s a very pretty ring! I can''t wait to see what you come up with ..

 

[Michael_E]

Date: 6/17/2010 12:00:49 PM
Author:iLander



Can I just buy this ring from Costco, for $580, and have a jeweler swap out the amethyst for the tourmaline?


The amethyst is 10 x 10, and my tourm is 10.7 x 10.7. Can they be switched?

I wouldn''t count on being able to switch those stones. The tourmaline is probably deeper and since the distance from the seat in the prong to where the amethyst contacts that setting is fixed, I doubt that a larger stone will fit. As for the setting, I''d suggest looking through the Unique Settings of New York catalog or maybe Adwar Castings and see if they having something similar. If so, then any bench person can get the setting and set the melee into it.

 

[iLander]

@ Michael E: I think you''re right, my stone is very deep and probably won''t fit it.


Sigh . . .

 

[colorluvr]

I did a LOT of stone swapping when I first started doing "projects". I would get a stone that I liked and then try to find an exisiting setting at a good price (which was half of the fun)... HOWEVER, I soon learned that the "resets" would often end up not working at all, or I would have to get the prongs redone, so it would end up costing more than if I bought a new semi-mount.

I agree that a new semi-mount would probably be the way to go.