Help with a setting for my late father''s ring

[lovethesparkle]

Hello everyone. Since you were all so helpful I decided to ask another question. I have had this ring for about 6 years, locked away

I've decided to have it reset since I have a size 4 finger and its a size 10 mens ring.

I was looking at settings but they all ask what size the stone is...I have no clue. Can anyone help me get a rough idea of the stats of this stone? Thanks!

**Edited by Moderator. Please upload photos directly to Pricescope**

 

[lovethesparkle]

finally uploaded it

 

[lovethesparkle]

and another

 

[clgwli]

Beautiful looking stone. Do you have a jeweler you can go to and measure the stone? It won't give exact measurements but it should be enough to get an idea of the size of the stone. I did that with one I was considering resetting at one point and they were very happy to tell me the measurements.

ETA: I just saw the 2nd picture. I can't quite tell for sure but is that about 5mm across? If so that would would probably make it around 1/2 carat

Here's a chart I've used before and had it been pretty accurate http://www.ajediam.com/Sizes-of-Diamonds.html

It's only an estimate though. You'd need all the measurements to get a better idea of the size.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/25/2010 11:01:41 AM
Author: lovethesparkle
finally uploaded it

Hi lts

Take the ring to a jeweller and ask them to measure the stone, if you get a value for the diameter in MM it could give some idea of the weight, might not be completely accurate though depending on the proportions and cut quality. Looks like a pretty diamond with a nice cut from what I can tell.

 

[lovethesparkle]

Thank you both so much! I have tried and one Jeweller said something about 5 points...while another said that was ridiculous. Since I dont even know what a point is...I moved on with my ring!

Sometimes I wish I were a man so I could wear it as is, I am so sentimentally attached to it, my father wore it everyday of my life while he was alive. My mother said he bought it when he found out he was going to be a father. I think she lost hers.

I shall take it to the duty free shop-maybe they will be able to measure it (never considered it before). Thanks again.

eta: I shall indeed print out that chart!

 

[stone-cold11]

A point is 0.01 carat in weight.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/25/2010 11:20:15 AM
Author: lovethesparkle
Thank you both so much! I have tried and one Jeweller said something about 5 points...while another said that was ridiculous. Since I dont even know what a point is...I moved on with my ring!

Sometimes I wish I were a man so I could wear it as is, I am so sentimentally attached to it, my father wore it everyday of my life while he was alive. My mother said he bought it when he found out he was going to be a father. I think she lost hers.

I shall take it to the duty free shop-maybe they will be able to measure it (never considered it before). Thanks again.

eta: I shall indeed print out that chart!

Its bigger than 0.5 points, maybe the jeweller meant 0.50 carat?

 

[lovethesparkle]

thanks Stone-cold11!

Lorelei, I'm sure he said points, because if he said carats i would have had an "ohhhh" moment instead of a 'huh??' moment! lol

The other jeweler who said it was ridiculous was actually trying to convince me to sell it to him, so I didnt trust much of what he said - although I think he did say 'half carat'.

I think I have found a setting that I like! Its attached. It looks a little chunky, but i'm picturing it much smaller and thinner...what do you think?

Does anyone in NY (Bronx or Manhattan) have a personal jeweller they can recommend me to? Someone with an establishment, of course. I will be there in June.

Thanks again! I really hope that someday I will know enough to be able to contribute!

 

[clgwli]

Unless that is a teeny ring, I am sure the one who said 5 points was definitely off. I have earrings that are 5 points and they are tiny.

I love the setting you are thinking about getting. I can''t help with NY jewelers, but I hope you will definitely come back and post a finished product. I think it is so sweet that you are doing this with his ring. The stone that I was considering resetting was my grandmother''s and so I understand the personal attachment. I am still considering resetting the diamond from another ring into a pendant myself. I just have a hard time removing it from a ring that I can wear (just don''t like)

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/25/2010 11:49:48 AM
Author: lovethesparkle
thanks Stone-cold11!

Lorelei, I''m sure he said points, because if he said carats i would have had an ''ohhhh'' moment instead of a ''huh??'' moment! lol

The other jeweler who said it was ridiculous was actually trying to convince me to sell it to him, so I didnt trust much of what he said - although I think he did say ''half carat''.

I think I have found a setting that I like! Its attached. It looks a little chunky, but i''m picturing it much smaller and thinner...what do you think?

Does anyone in NY (Bronx or Manhattan) have a personal jeweller they can recommend me to? Someone with an establishment, of course. I will be there in June.

Thanks again! I really hope that someday I will know enough to be able to contribute!

Maybe he said 50 points? Same as half a carat just different terminology.

 

[lovethesparkle]

thats EXACTLY what I was just thinking!

aye ignorance is a heck of a thing

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

What a beautiful thing to have. Just a thought, but if you''re hesitant about re-setting the stone, maybe you could have the ring sized down far enough to wear it on your middle finger? I had lunch with a friend today and she was wearing her grandfather''s ring on the middle finger of her (tiny) right hand. It was chunky and wide and it looked fantastic on her dainty hand.

Jen

 

[lovethesparkle]

Jen, that was my initial idea --- but both jewellers told me it could not be done (I can almost fit my pinky and ring finger in it). Do you think it can actually be done with that big difference? I would love that!

I'll post a pic of it on my hand as soon as I get back home

 

[Maisie]

How about having your dads ring melted down and made into a ring for you? I wonder if that is possible. That would mean you can wear the whole thing instead of just the stone.

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

I don''t know if it could be done, but I''d send it to someone with a lot of experience in bench work and see what they think. Not saying the person you went to wasn''t any good of course, but it wouldn''t hurt to get a second opinion if that''s what you really want to do. I like Maisie''s idea too, if that could be done, although I think they do need to add some fresh gold? There are people here who could advise, I''m sure they''ll chime in.

Please do let us know what you do with it, it''s such a lovely ring.

Jen

 

[clgwli]

Date: 2/25/2010 5:52:35 PM
Author: Mrs Mitchell
I don''t know if it could be done, but I''d send it to someone with a lot of experience in bench work and see what they think. Not saying the person you went to wasn''t any good of course, but it wouldn''t hurt to get a second opinion if that''s what you really want to do. I like Maisie''s idea too, if that could be done, although I think they do need to add some fresh gold? There are people here who could advise, I''m sure they''ll chime in.

Please do let us know what you do with it, it''s such a lovely ring.

Jen

I do second this idea. I had a ring that was a size 10 and they were able to get it down to a size 6 IIRC. It wasn''t very fancy and it was doable. If you are able to wear it on a middle finger of the right hand you might get it okay. 2 sizes is standard I have found for me, but I''ve had them do more for me before since I have small hands. It is "plain" enough that I would ask a few good jewelers just in case.

As for melting gold, I have asked a couple of places and they cannot do it. Some places on etsy do recycled gold, but I am not sure how that works.

 

[lovethesparkle]

I'm sorry, I havent figured out how to "quote"

I have recenly met a Jeweler that has a really good reputation here, I will take it to him and ask his opinion, based on all that is suggested here. If I can keep the Gold, I definately would. Its stamped 18kt, and then something in Chinese...I dont know if this info can help determine if the gold is reusable or not. My middle finger on my right hand happens to be 5.25 (not sure why the rest of me wont stay skinny). I also know it was bought 30 years ago.

I will keep you all posted you have all been a big help, and now i'm excited!

Any more suggestions are more than welcome.

 

[clgwli]

Don''t forget that when resizing you have to take into consideration really wide rings usually need to be larger. I had a very wide band many years ago on my right hand and it needed to be about a half size larger to make it comfortable for me. Who knows if that would help make it doable or not. You can also ask about sizing beads if it is close too.

Obviously these are all just speculations without knowing too much about the ring. I do hope that your jeweler can give you a bunch of good options. I truly cannot wait to hear what you come up with

 

[Maisie]

I''m sure Whitby had some Jewellery melted down and made into a ring. I shall go and find out!

 

[whitby_2773]

hi lovethesparkle

i did indeed have some jewelry melted down last year and new rings made. it was my husband''s and my wedding rings which we wanted to keep in essence, but restyle.

have you thought about doing this? to me, it''s the best way of using jewelry you treasure but which you can''t use in it''s existing form. if you can almost get 2 fingers into your ring, i doubt very much that it will be able to be adequately resized; the curve of the ring would have to be tightened so much, the stone would almost certainly become very loose - if not pop out altogether (which i think is probably more likely, just going from what i know of math/geometry).

a good jeweler could take the stone, take the metal, and remake you something that was more to your liking but which still reflected the original setting.

i think it could be very lovely and still have a great deal of sentimental value.

good luck, and let me know if you have any questions about the process i went through.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I was going to guess half a carat.

Have you tried on settings like the one you posted? It might not look/feel the same on your finger as it does in an image, ya know?

 

[lovethesparkle]

Hi whitby_2773

I definitely plan to explore reusing the gold. What I do know for sure is that when they use a piece of jewelery to make another, some of the original gold (or whatever metal) is lost in the melting process. Not sure why.

Thanks to everyone that has commented. You all have made me feel very welcome! I will update you as soon as I meet with this jeweler.

 

[whitby_2773]

Date: 2/26/2010 12:06:15 AM
Author: lovethesparkle
Hi whitby_2773

I definitely plan to explore reusing the gold. What I do know for sure is that when they use a piece of jewelery to make another, some of the original gold (or whatever metal) is lost in the melting process. Not sure why.


Thanks to everyone that has commented. You all have made me feel very welcome! I will update you as soon as I meet with this jeweler.

hi lovethesparkle

i actually went to my jeweler today about using a bangle that belonged to my deceased mother to make a special diamond charm for my charm bracelet, and a ring for my sister. it saved me a lot of money on the metal work, so i find it a very effective way of reusing old jewelry. also, this particular piece (mum''s bangle) is far too sentimental to throw away. it''s snapped in half, tho, and some bright spark in the past tried to fix it using lead solder! so it''s not useable anymore and is up for a remake.

good luck on your project! do let us know what you decide to do; recycling sentimental jewelry to keep it current is something i''m particularly interested in. i hope your jeweler is top notch as that will make all the difference between getting something you really like and wishing you''d left it alone...