How do I make this ring wearable again?

[Rebemdee]

I have a lovely amethyst and peridot ring, but I never wear it anymore because the gems are so scratched up. And it's set in yellow gold, which I really don't like so much anymore. I'm wondering if anybody has advice as to how to polish the stones so they are smooth and shiny again? Right now the scratches make the stones look murky.

Also, any ideas on a different setting using these stones? I wonder how white gold would look with these colors. I'm not interested in springing for platinum for a right hand ring, but it would certainly get worn more often if it was in white gold. The setting is yucky; now that I know more about jewelry, 10 years after I bought this ring, I can see it isn't well made. I think the amethyst is about 1 carat (at least, it looks the same size as my 1 carat diamond), the peridot a bit less each.

I'm looking forward to getting opinions, because I have no idea what to do with this ring! It's just sitting in the jewelry box, begging to be worn, but I just don't love it anymore because of the scratches and setting.

Thanks for looking!

 

[Rebemdee]

My fingernail really isn''t a grody yellow...it''s the reflection of the table! Really!

This photo shows the scratches.

 

[Rebemdee]

Last one...this shows the potential for how deep and brilliant the stones COULD look, if they were cleaned up!

 

[movie zombie]

i believe a professional jeweler can polish the facets which would bring more light to the stones than any home polishing can accomplish. i''d give it a try rather than let it sit.

peace, movie zombie

 

[Lorelei]

I agree with MZ, see a professional jeweller or coloured gem expert, they will probably have techniques which will bring that lovely ring back to life. I am no expert on coloured gems but I would imagine they would need special care and expertise which a pro can give. Good luck!

 

[valeria101]

This sounds right - that it takes professional intervention. Someone did the same for a sapphire (see a current thread) and it was $120 or so for one stone.

Even for less than that, it still makes sense to start fresh with three new stones and a different setting - at least price-wise. If you definitely want these three stones in a ring and no others, it is possible, sure enough.

 

[WTNLVR]

Unless there is some sentimental thing behind these particular stones, I''d just buy new ones. Peridot and amethyst are very inexpensive and probably not worth working on.

 

[Rebemdee]

It has a bit of sentimental value...I saved and saved to buy it in med school, as a gift to myself for finishing a particularly horrible rotation in a particularly horrible hospital. But if it''s going to cost more money to polish and reset than buy a new similar ring...well, that''s not a hard choice to make.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Patty]

Why not get it cleaned up a bit and then rhodium plate it so it''s white instead of yellow? That way you don''t invest too much money in it. I know that the rhodium plating won''t last forever but at least you could wear it and enjoy it and then decide later whether or not to have a new ring made.

 

[Rebemdee]

That''s a great idea Patty! I didn''t know a yellow gold ring could be rhodium dipped; I thought it had to start out as "white gold," that it was different somehow.

I always get such great replies and ideas from PS.

 

[Kaleigh]

I had a lot of yellow gold pieces rhodium plated and they look great. I also think a jeweler can polish those facets pretty easily. Then you will have great looking stones and a whole new look to your ring. It will be beautiful!!!

 

[ladykemma]

jared''s has some nice reasonable whitegold settings semimounts....

 

[The Joker]

Date: 1/23/2006 10:49:39 AM
Author: Rebemdee
It has a bit of sentimental value...I saved and saved to buy it in med school, as a gift to myself for finishing a particularly horrible rotation in a particularly horrible hospital. But if it''s going to cost more money to polish and reset than buy a new similar ring...well, that''s not a hard choice to make.

Thanks for the input!

Since you want to keep the original gems with the ring, you might also try to find the nearest Lapidary Club in your area. Most Lapidary Clubs have members who do faceting as a hobby and would be willing (for a fee) to re-cut the crowns for you. All the Jewelers I know, don''t have the faceting equipment nor the talent to cut a stone. They have to send them out to be repaired. You could have the ring plated while you are having the gems re-cut.