I’m a cluster-lover. Would it be terrible to replace the center stone?

[Mrsz1ppy]

I succumbed to auction frenzy and bought a completely over the top cluster ring. I love the diamonds but am not wild about the 6.5 mm center pearl. Am thinking about replacing the pearl with an oec. My daughter suggested a ‘pop of color,’ but am not sure what would be period appropriate.

Good people of PS, I welcome your counsel.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

I would replace with either an OEC or perhaps an emerald?

 

[nala]

Not terrible! Go for it!!!

 

[LilAlex]

Any chance it's a natural pearl? (That's a lot of attention for a single pearl.) If it's natural, I would leave it. Otherwise, I agree with "pop of color" -- even a low-color diamond masquerading as a FCD.

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

Any chance it's a natural pearl? (That's a lot of attention for a single pearl.) If it's natural, I would leave it. Otherwise, I agree with "pop of color" -- even a low-color diamond masquerading as a FCD.

Good thought! It is a lot of attention for the focal point.

 

[dk168]

The setting would need to be altered to accommodate a stone and it may not be doable.

I would check if the pearl is natural first, then seek the advice from a competent bench with regard to reworking the setting to accommodate a stone.

DK

 

[kgizo]

Gorgeous! Think sapphire, emerald or ruby colors would be period appropriate. A moonstone or star sapphire cabochon would also be period appropriate.

 

[Mreader]

I would also put a colored stone in there! This is blasphemy and don’t tell people in the Pearl forum, but I just want to pluck that Pearl out. Ha ha.

 

[Rfisher]

If I didn’t enjoy the pearl (or taking care of it ) I would certainly explore what it would take/options to modify the setting to replace it with either a faceted colored gem, another OEC, or getting another cabochon colored stone in there. Carved cabochon, even.

Period appropriate - for faceted I would say anything round that doesn’t look too much like a modern brilliant/ precision cut. I think you could find a modern cut to-look-antique in a colored stone that would look nice though!

 

[dk168]

When I saw the ring, I immediately thought of replacing the pearl with the round Emerald that @elle_71125 was considering, or with another vivid/blue green round stone.

An Emerald cabochon would work.

DK

 

[JV36912]

All great thoughts shared so far so don't have much to add except to say this is beautiful and such a glamorous piece! Looking forward to hand shots if you're able to come share.

 

[Rfisher]

what’s the diameter of that eBay fancy pinkish brown OEC you got not that long ago?
Maybe with some nice decorative period appropriate metal working (someone talented like Sako - not my local jeweler who doesn’t care to do so- ha!) around it to fill in some space?

 

[Crimson]

@Mrsz1ppy what a gorgeous ring! Thanks for starting this thread. I love the ideas from @dk168, @LilAlex, @Rfisher, @Mreader, @AllAboardTheBlingTrain and @kgizo about FCD or emerald, sapphire or ruby,I have a similar, less bling ring with a pearl. I haven’t worn it much because of the pearl. I am now watching this thread with great interest

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

@Mrsz1ppy what a gorgeous ring! Thanks for starting this thread. I love the ideas from @dk168, @LilAlex, @Rfisher, @Mreader, @AllAboardTheBlingTrain and @kgizo about FCD or emerald, sapphire or ruby,I have a similar, less bling ring with a pearl. I haven’t worn it much because of the pearl. I am now watching this thread with great interest

Yay! I’m not the only potential jewelry remodeler here.

I did it once before with a cab sapphire taken from a TRR horror. I enjoy wearing the ring during the day. I find that is when I gravitate to my colored stones. I spent way too much on this btw, but I find clusters hard to resist.

 

[oldcutclubmember]

I would swap it out too and agree with a pop of color with a colored gemstone (emerald cab or ruby would be lovely) or lower colored diamond!.

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

I would also put a colored stone in there! This is blasphemy and don’t tell people in the Pearl forum, but I just want to pluck that Pearl out. Ha ha.

It'll be our secret!!!

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

I would swap it out too and agree with a pop of color with a colored gemstone (emerald cab or ruby would be lovely) or lower colored diamond!.

When I saw the ring, I immediately thought of replacing the pearl with the round Emerald that @elle_71125 was considering, or with another vivid/blue green round stone.

An Emerald cabochon would work.

DK

A juicy cab would be lovely!

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

All great thoughts shared so far so don't have much to add except to say this is beautiful and such a glamorous piece! Looking forward to hand shots if you're able to come share.

Oh yes. As soon as it is in hand, I will share!

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

what’s the diameter of that eBay fancy pinkish brown OEC you got not that long ago?
Maybe with some nice decorative period appropriate metal working (someone talented like Sako - not my local jeweler who doesn’t care to do so- ha!) around it to fill in some space?

Great thought! The dimensions are 5.58 x 5.77. A rose gold collet perhaps could work, and show how special that stone is. (Although not period appropriate, at a guess.) That ring is currently being sized by my local jeweler.

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

I would swap it out too and agree with a pop of color with a colored gemstone (emerald cab or ruby would be lovely) or lower colored diamond!.

Yes!

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

I would swap it out too and agree with a pop of color with a colored gemstone (emerald cab or ruby would be lovely) or lower colored diamond!.

Always a challenge to find a colored stone in round--a cab would be easier.

 

[lala646]

To me, that ring NEEDS a nice pigeon blood ruby. Like, absolutely requires it.

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

Thank you to all my fellow aficionados who chimed in with support, @oldcutclubmember @Rfisher @JV36912 @dk168 @Mreader @Crimson @LilAlex @AllAboardTheBlingTrain

I have had so much fun the last couple of years, indulging my love of bling, and have learned alot about what I truly enjoy wearing. It's definitely old cuts, the more the merrier.

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

To me, that ring NEEDS a nice pigeon blood ruby. Like, absolutely requires it.

I would love that!!!!! I have been very drawn to rubies lately, but boy are they spendy.

 

[Rfisher]

Great thought! The dimensions are 5.58 x 5.77. A rose gold collet perhaps could work, and show how special that stone is. (Although not period appropriate, at a guess.) That ring is currently being sized by my local jeweler.

Cut down collet you mean? I don’t know if that’d look terribly out of place - I think it just depends on how it’s done?

I was thinking of something more like this regarding extra, decorative metal


And can I be nosy? You can certainly tel me to mind my own business and take a flying leap!
If you will indulge - what’s total carat weight, and what’d ballpark$ you win the auction at?

It’s a gorgeous ring, and those stones have a beautiful make and personality.
I’m smitten with the view of up the undercarriage too

I’m the odd ball with putting your stone in rose gold. I know mines not the same as yours - but my vlpb when it was in rose gold seemed like it was trying too hard, and true or not, seemed to mask the pink.

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

Cut down collet you mean? I don’t know if that’d look terribly out of place - I think it just depends on how it’s done?

I was thinking of something more like this regarding extra, decorative metal


And can I be nosy?
If you will indulge - what’s total carat weight, and what’d ballpark$ you win the auction at?

It’s a gorgeous ring, and those stones have a beautiful make and personality.
I’m smitten with the view of up the undercarriage too

I’m the odd ball with putting your stone in rose gold. I know mines not the same as yours - but my vlpb when it was in rose gold seemed like it was trying too hard, and true or not, seemed to mask the pink.

Yes, I will share. That is what consumer to consumer transparency is for, in my book, and why I am here. To be a better buyer.

I found it at EBTH.com, it is 5 carats--here is the description

Secondary Stone(s) Type:	Diamond
Secondary Stone(s) Shape:	Old European Cut
Secondary(s) Stone Dimensions:	2.50 – 4.20 mm
Total Secondary Stone(s) Carat Weight:	5.00 ctw
Secondary Stone(s) Color Grade:	H – I
Secondary Stone(s) Clarity Grade:	VS2 – SI2

I was hoping to pay $1000/carat, but I guess someone else was too. I spent $6800. It was love at first sight when I saw it, so I am done buying for the year! (Because I bought something else too. Oops)

I think you are right about the rose gold, and I love your inspo photos. I always look forward to reading your comments, so thanks for sharing.

 

[mrs-b]

Something about that setting makes me want to pop that pearl! Not a good visual image....

I didn't do it with an antique, but I DID replace the diamond center in my Steven Kirsch cluster with a sapphire some years ago, and the improvement was HUGE.

But the pull of a diamond cluster was strong, so a few years ago DKJ made me the perfect diamond cluster....

Which I never wear. And on Monday I took receipt of the same style cluster, but this time with a peridot center, and will dismantle the all-diamond cluster and use the diamonds in different projects.

So, my (expensively experienced!) opinion is - do the colored center! It defines both the center stone and the sides beautifully, whereas my experience of an all diamond cluster is that it all just kind of bleeds together. And this is from someone who LOVES diamond clusters!

Good luck!

 

[Rfisher]

Yes, I will share. That is what consumer to consumer transparency is for, in my book, and why I am here. To be a better buyer.

I found it at EBTH.com, it is 5 carats--here is the description

Secondary Stone(s) Type:	Diamond
Secondary Stone(s) Shape:	Old European Cut
Secondary(s) Stone Dimensions:	2.50 – 4.20 mm
Total Secondary Stone(s) Carat Weight:	5.00 ctw
Secondary Stone(s) Color Grade:	H – I
Secondary Stone(s) Clarity Grade:	VS2 – SI2

I was hoping to pay $1000/carat, but I guess someone else was too. I spent $6800. It was love at first sight when I saw it, so I am done buying for the year! (Because I bought something else too. Oops)

I think you are right about the rose gold, and I love your inspo photos. I always look forward to reading your comments, so thanks for sharing.

You got quite a snap up, from what I can see.
Dang. Go you!!!!

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

Something about that setting makes me want to pop that pearl! Not a good visual image....

I didn't do it with an antique, but I DID replace the diamond center in my Steven Kirsch cluster with a sapphire some years ago, and the improvement was HUGE.

But the pull of a diamond cluster was strong, so a few years ago DKJ made me the perfect diamond cluster....

Which I never wear. And on Monday I took receipt of the same style cluster, but this time with a peridot center, and will dismantle the all-diamond cluster and use the diamonds in different projects.

So, my (expensively experienced!) opinion is - do the colored center! It defines both the center stone and the sides beautifully, whereas my experience of an all diamond cluster is that it all just kind of bleeds together. And this is from someone who LOVES diamond clusters!

Good luck!

Thanks for sharing your experience! I love that I can experiment, and try it another way if it doesn't make me want to wear it all the time.

 

[Catmom]

Hahahaha, and I'm currently looking at taking a cluster ring I have that has a round pink sapphire in it out and replacing it with a pearl. I'm no help.