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Does resizing hurt the integrity of the ring?

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montana22

Rough_Rock
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Jan 27, 2010
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My first post here - I''ve learned so much about diamonds and settings from this site - thank you all!
In fact I was watching a TV ad for an engagement ring store today and for the first time knew exactly what they were talking about - and given the price they were offering their rings for - knew they had to be total junk.

My question for you is - will resizing damage a ring? Or change the proportions?

I just got a diamond from Blue Nile that came with a tension setting. (.44 E VS2 Ideal)
Planning on going tomorrow to the diamond district here in Los Angeles and hopefully will find a setting (a simple platinum Tiffany 6 prong setting.)
But would love to get your advice before sales people give me their version of things.

My problem is I don''t know her ring size. She doesn''t wear much jewelry - and nothing on her left hand.
She has a basic Tiffany ring I got her that she sometimes wears on her right hand ring finger, though, and I can borrow that quite easily.
(Any attempts I have of measuring her left hand ring finger will give away the surprise.)
She is pretty ambidextrous - I was told the weaker hand is half a size smaller. But she does write with her right hand.

Wondering what you recommend - if I should just give her the tension setting that came with the diamond - then afterwards go to the store to get it so it fits correctly without any sizing.
Or just get the ring made up and hope it fits, with the possibility of resizing.

Ideally I would like to give her the finished ring when I propose. But am afraid if it''s not the right size, resizing it will damage the ring.

Thanks!!!
 
Definitely no go for re-size of a true tension ring.
 
Sorry if I made it confusing.
The tension setting I mentioned above is the cheap temporary ring that holds the diamond when shipped from Blue Nile.
(I didn''t like their settings - so I just bought the diamond from them.)
It''s like a prize from out of a Cracker Jacks box that holds the diamond.
It''s meant to be thrown out when a real setting is purchased.
 
Date: 1/27/2010 6:33:14 AM
Author: montana22
Sorry if I made it confusing.
The tension setting I mentioned above is the cheap temporary ring that holds the diamond when shipped from Blue Nile.
(I didn't like their settings - so I just bought the diamond from them.)
It's like a prize from out of a Cracker Jacks box that holds the diamond.
It's meant to be thrown out when a real setting is purchased.
Do you mean a stone holder? See the picture below.

cbOMC24.jpg
 
Yes - that is exactly it.

I guess Blue Nile refers to it as something else:

"Your engagement ring or loose diamond will arrive in a lacquered wooden box, and a diamond ordered loose will be set in a temporary tension setting, ready for you to present to her on bended knee."

So what would you recommend?
If I were to buy a real setting then need to change the size - would it damage the ring - or make the proportions of the ring look strange?
If so then I should probably give her the diamond with the stone holder.
 
ok, now I get it.

Depends on the setting you are getting. Simple setting, no pave, size change of 1-1.5 is possible from what I understand. Pave/side stone type will be iffy.
 
Date: 1/27/2010 6:52:11 AM
Author: montana22
Yes - that is exactly it.

I guess Blue Nile refers to it as something else:

''Your engagement ring or loose diamond will arrive in a lacquered wooden box, and a diamond ordered loose will be set in a temporary tension setting, ready for you to present to her on bended knee.''

So what would you recommend?
If I were to buy a real setting then need to change the size - would it damage the ring - or make the proportions of the ring look strange?
If so then I should probably give her the diamond with the stone holder.
Ok good!

As to the resizing of the actual setting it depends on the setting you choose. A simple solitaire in platinum or gold should not present any problems for sizing, a setting with tiny diamonds along the band or actual tension setting might not be possible to adjust.

If you are unsure, present the diamond in the holder so your fiancee can choose the permanent setting.
 
I have a small ring size and in general most rings I look at with side stones can be resized about 1-2 sizes maximum. I have a lot of issues finding pre-made rings that I can resize for that reason since most start off at a size 7. A plain band can be resized a lot more than that without issues though. I actually found a simple band that I liked that was as size 10 and they got it down to a 5 for my right hand. I wanted a stacker and it was the right price :) I also know that eternity bands as well as tension are pretty much impossible to size. So I would avoid those no matter what.

I know that is vague but if you are planning on getting a permanent setting I would pick a simple solitare then. And if you think she wants something else, then just find a cheaper setting and let her pick later on when shopping for wedding bands.

I will say that I am ambidextrous and I will say that my dominant hand is smaller than my other. So I wouldn't pick a size based on that. I thought I have read that the left is usually smaller no matter if you are right or left handed.
 
If you''re just looking for a simple tiffany style setting I would think that it would be okay to resize. I bought a channel set diamond band that my jeweler was able to take up two sizes no issues.
 
I would give her the ring in the temp tension setting but be able to zoom to the diamond district to let
her pick out the setting she wants and have it mounted shortly after that. Even with "plain" simple s
olitares there are suble differences that some people will like/dislike. Why not give her the choice?
Thats what would make me happy.
 
Date: 1/27/2010 8:47:15 AM
Author: tyty333
I would give her the ring in the temp tension setting but be able to zoom to the diamond district to let

her pick out the setting she wants and have it mounted shortly after that. Even with ''plain'' simple s

olitares there are suble differences that some people will like/dislike. Why not give her the choice?

Thats what would make me happy.

ditto! That way it will still be a total surprise but then you can make sure she is getting a setting she wants and that it will fit properly.
 
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