Chipped Stone in Channel Set Band

[sephil]

Newbie here with a question about replacing a chipped stone in a channel set band and hoping someone would be willing to help. One of the stones in my wedding band is chipped and my jeweler said sometimes it can be difficult to replace a stone without damaging others around it. They said that I may be better off just having a new band made. I love my band and don''t want to have a new one made if I can help it, but I also don''t want to do further damage to it by trying to get it fixed. I''ve never had a reason to doubt what I''ve been told by them in the past, so it isn''t that I don''t trust them. I am just not well enough informed and would like to know the best way to proceed in getting my band fixed. If someone would be kind enough to point me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Todd Gray]

I just walked over to my jeweler and posed the question and the answer was "if it''s rounds, it''s not too bad, but if it''s another shape like princess cuts or baguettes, it''s uh (and I can''t say the rest)...

 

[oldminer]

Whether the stone is round or princess cut does matter. The straight sided stones are more difficult to remove and replace, but it can be done. Sometimes a tiny mark will show where the work was done, sometimes we get lucky and it looks near prefect. It is on a case by case basis. With laser welding devices today, we can repair channel walls differently than when we only used a gas torch.

The broeken diamond is removed usually by totally breaking it into bits. The metal is the least damaged in the process by breaking the damaged stone. Then one selects a very good fitting stone as a replacement. This can sometimes be a challenge. It depends on how usual or unusal the other diamonds are which need to be matched. The rest is a combination of skill, experience and luck. It would be very unusual to need a new mounting unless your ring is worn out and has become too thin.

 

[sephil]

If I understand them correctly, I don''t believe they were concerned with the integrity of the metal, they were referring to possibly damaging the other stones themselves. Of course, I could be wrong. Thank you both for responding so quickly. I feel better about my chances of being able to get it fixed from what you both have said. (They are round stones)

 

[denverappraiser]

As David points out, the sensible technique for removing the stone is to simply destroy it and shake out the remains, which is actually fairly safe to the neighboring stones. The trick is repairing the channel as needed and sourcing and setting the new stone. Usually this job isn’t all that difficult but it does, of course, vary with the details of the job itself. Was the stone damaged during the original setting job or is this something that came from wear?

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[sephil]

I just noticed it today. It was fine back in October when I got the rhodium plating replaced, so it happened between then and now. Thanks for the info! I really appreciate it!