help! my centre stone fell out!

[sonyachancs]

as the title goes.

this is my ring. I suspect the cushion turned around in the setting and got free of the claws.



thank god I found the sapphire. now help me please!

I've read once before that this isn't unusual for a cushion stone. what can I do to prevent it, and do I need to rethink the whole design?

 

[Michael_E]

With a curved corner cushion like that you either need to:

1. Press the pavilion of the stone down directly against the inside edge of the halo to keep it from twisting. Some designers use this method, but it can result in the pavilion of the sapphire contacting the halo diamonds and becoming scratched. This method also makes the center stone very hard to clean.

2. Remove those single corner prongs and replace them with double prongs at each corner. This is the preferred method as it is much easier to keep clean and keeps the sapphire from contacting any of the diamonds in the halo. This is not hard to do and costs far less than replacing your sapphire.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

With a curved corner cushion like that you either need to:

1. Press the pavilion of the stone down directly against the inside edge of the halo to keep it from twisting. Some designers use this method, but it can result in the pavilion of the sapphire contacting the halo diamonds and becoming scratched. This method also makes the center stone very hard to clean.

2. Remove those single corner prongs and replace them with double prongs at each corner. This is the preferred method as it is much easier to keep clean and keeps the sapphire from contacting any of the diamonds in the halo. This is not hard to do and costs far less than replacing your sapphire.

I second the split prongs motion. Not only safer but they look awesome as well

 

[T L]

I learned the hard way with cushions, and you did too, so after my stone fell out, and I fortunately found it, I had the jeweler put in double prongs. It's been secure ever since. I agree also with Michael E.

 

[sonyachancs]

thanks all! I think I'll do the two claw option. sharp claws better than those bead prongs, right?

my next question: since I had specified the design of the ring - would they consider this a repair or a redesign? I don't really mind paying, but not if I shouldn't have to, so to speak.

and while on the subject of a redesign (taking this separately from the need for double claws) I've been thinking I want the 'bridge' at the bottom of my ring refined. it's currently just a simple long strip, same width as the ring below, and I was thinking of replacing it with a narrower strip with a knife edge, so to speak. how difficult is this? is it just a matter of removing the current strip and soldering a new one on?

 

[T L]

thanks all! I think I'll do the two claw option. sharp claws better than those bead prongs, right?

my next question: since I had specified the design of the ring - would they consider this a repair or a redesign? I don't really mind paying, but not if I shouldn't have to, so to speak.

and while on the subject of a redesign (taking this separately from the need for double claws) I've been thinking I want the 'bridge' at the bottom of my ring refined. it's currently just a simple long strip, same width as the ring below, and I was thinking of replacing it with a narrower strip with a knife edge, so to speak. how difficult is this? is it just a matter of removing the current strip and soldering a new one on?

Sharp claws are really pretty, but they tend to get caught on things, and can pull back.

 

[chrono]

What are you ladies doing that stones are falling out of their settings? The only stone where it became loose in the setting was due to it having only 2 prongs (tabs on the east and west side). Once I lowered the stone (involved altering the setting itself), I've never experienced the stone being loose again.

 

[T L]

What are you ladies doing that stones are falling out of their settings? The only stone where it became loose in the setting was due to it having only 2 prongs (tabs on the east and west side). Once I lowered the stone (involved altering the setting itself), I've never experienced the stone being loose again.

Well, I was adjusting my seat in the car, and while my ring was on, it slid against the car door as I was reaching for the side of my seat for the seat adjuster controls. Low and behold, I didn't realize it was gone until I was at a store an hour later. I was aghast, had no idea where it was. I thought I lost it at that store. Then a few days later, I noticed that I again had to adjust the car seat (hubby drives it too), and another ring I was wearing was sliding against the car door. A light bulb went on in my head, and I thought that perhaps that's how I lost the stone. I looked for the gem under the car seat, rugs everywhere, but I couldn't find it. This was a three carat spinel, not a small gem, but they become really tiny when you lose them . Then one night, before my husband was going to take the car out to be washed and vacuumed, I went into the garage at night, all lights off in the garage and the car itself. I took a high powered LED flashlight and searched under the seat again, and I saw something sparkle by the leg of the seat.

Therefore, I deduced that the prong went backward when I slid it against the door. A harmless mistake. Double prongs would help with that, as it's a safety catch. The thing is that the gold hadn't even worn away, I had just set the stone a week before I lost it.

 

[distracts]

What are you ladies doing that stones are falling out of their settings? The only stone where it became loose in the setting was due to it having only 2 prongs (tabs on the east and west side). Once I lowered the stone (involved altering the setting itself), I've never experienced the stone being loose again.

When my e-ring center stone fell out, it was because I knocked my hand on the sink or faucet while washing my hands. Restaurant bathroom, so luckily it didn't fall out of the setting entirely before I noticed!

 

[chrono]

Wow, pretty scary experiences and all from doing simple regular tasks!

 

[distracts]

Wow, pretty scary experiences and all from doing simple regular tasks!

AND the prongs on mine had been checked just the week prior. I didn't hit it hard, but I hit it just right to dislodge the stone.

I looked into having double prongs, but my setting would have to be entirely remade for that. Maybe one day I'll do that, but it's a 3k+ fix and the other option was having the stone reset at no cost. So. Stone reset + being more careful it was.

 

[T L]

Wow, pretty scary experiences and all from doing simple regular tasks!

It was also an 18K setting in my case, so softer metal tends to make for loose prongs IMO. My 10K gold rings hold on quite well in comparison. I always have to get the 18K prongs tightened, and not just on this ring.

 

[mochiko42]

Shudder... Scary experience!

 

[sonyachancs]

Wow, pretty scary experiences and all from doing simple regular tasks!

I don't know what happened! I was having brunch, and then I looked at my ring (which I do often, thank god) and the centre was hollo! I was lucky enough that the restaurant wasn't crowded, and I saw the stone on the floor. I don't even remember hitting it anywhere!

and as an update, my ring is back, and not too soon either. you can see the double coner prongs they added. they are very delicate, and even more so than my original, I think. I'm really loving the look.

photos!! and oh my god, can I say what a wonder a cleaning makes? it hasn't been this bright and sparkling in ages!!




and as a bonus, what do you think of this stack? (snapped very quickly while I was at my jeweler's, so not the best shot!)

 

[LoversKites]

Great to see it is safe in it's home!

 

[pregcurious]

I love the double prongs and your stack is lovely.

 

[LD]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the prongs actually don't look long enough in your first few pictures. I agree with Chrono - I've never had a cushion come loose. You must all be heavy duty ring wearers!