Just bought this mount; does it look too ''shallow'' for a colored stone?

[Indylady]

I just bought this mount and posted the seller''s pic on the Jewelry board, and someone commented that it might be too shallow to accommodate a colored stone. I hadn''t even thought of that! Can you tell by this picture? Do you guys think I''d need a specially cut stone to fit it, or to rework the head of the mount?

 

[cellentani]

Is that the only pic? Is it for a round? While I would stay away from deep rounds, I think it might be possible. The condition of the prongs worries me a bit though - they look a little chewed up, and I don''t think you could rework them. I like the design though.

 

[cellentani]

Also, is this a used semi-mount (previously held a stone)? If so, the prongs would be notched. It is possible for a jeweler to fill the notches and re-notch the prongs, as long as they''re in decent shape.

 

[Indylady]

It is used, and it holds an oval.

Oh dear....do you really think that this mount is useless?

 

[T L]

I think the price for making this mount usable (rebuilding prongs, tightening the diamonds, polishing and redipping) may cost more than what you paid for it Sorry.

Is it an antique because some antiques are worth it if the workmanship and the design is nice.

 

[Indylady]

It is an antique! I''ve already paid for it. I really should have posted it online to get an opinion. I just can''t seem to get this online shopping thing right.

 

[FrekeChild]

I would look for a precision cut gemstone for this mounting and not go with a "native" cut. Those can have deep fat bellies that probably would not fit it. Did you have a stone in mind already?

 

[Indylady]

I was thinking about a spess or a sapphire, but now I''m kind of nervous. What do you think about the prongs Freke?

 

[FrekeChild]

Well, they do look a little bit chewed up, but I can''t get a feeling for the dimensions of the ring--what size center stone does it hold? And do they have any other pictures?

 

[Indylady]

It holds an 8x6 oval. The seller listed it on DB; there were more pics but the listing has expired. I really hope that it isn''t too expensive to have fixed up...now the worry/anticipation beings till I get it and can take it to get checked out.

 

[FrekeChild]

May I ask about how much you paid? And about how long before it arrives?

 

[Lady_Disdain]

If the setting is too shallow for a faceted stone, you can use it for a pretty cab.

 

[SparkleSparkle]

Date: 7/27/2009 6:57:56 AM
Author: Lady_Disdain
If the setting is too shallow for a faceted stone, you can use it for a pretty cab.

+1 on the cab!

 

[Indylady]

It was $75 and I''m not sure its been sent yet because the e-check probably hasn''t cleared. I thought it was reasonable? Feel free to tell me if over/under paid.

Does anyone know how much it costs to rebuild prongs?

Using it for a cab is a great idea though! That takes care of the possibility it might be too shallow. It makes me wonder what it used to hold...

 

[chrono]

It appears the prongs need to be reworked. Depending on the jeweller, you might be out $100 or thereabouts. As for native cut stones, there are plenty that are cut too shallow to save carat weight so I will not discount those out yet.

 

[Indylady]

Thanks Chrono! $100 bucks is a lot, but $100+$75= not too bad. I would need at least 4 prongs, and I''ve been Googling around and seeing that the average cost to rebuild a prong is about $22, so with tax, any extras, it probably would be around $100.

I am just hoping that is all it will take; I was just reading on another thread that sometimes a setting might be so delicate/damaged that its not even possible to rebuild the prongs at all. It might have been an LOGR thread by Kelli, but it may have been another thread altogether.

 

[chrono]

Quality of the work has to be taken into consideration as well. My $100 is my personal experience with a PS vendor on an antique setting about 2 years ago. I expect a local jeweller to charge more. You are correct that sometimes the prongs cannot be rebuilt depending on the condition of the setting.

 

[chrono]

Here’s a really wild idea (because I have not seen the setting in person and can’t see the profile of the setting):
Perhaps you can remove the basket and replace it with a newer 6x8 mm basket that has the depth to fit most gemstones? It’ll probably cost about the same as rebuilding the prongs, and not only that, you get the benefit of more choices of gemstones that might fit.

 

[T L]

By the looks of many pictures on his website and other photos, it appears that Dan Stair cuts stones on the shallower side, so you might want to inquire about his gems if you're looking for a precision cut vs a native cut. You might get a larger tilt window, but not a face on window that way.

 

[Indylady]

Date: 7/27/2009 10:45:27 AM
Author: Chrono
Here’s a really wild idea (because I have not seen the setting in person and can’t see the profile of the setting):

Perhaps you can remove the basket and replace it with a newer 6x8 mm basket that has the depth to fit most gemstones? It’ll probably cost about the same as rebuilding the prongs, and not only that, you get the benefit of more choices of gemstones that might fit.

I think that is a fantastic idea! I think it would probably be easier too. Do you have any PS vendor recommendations?

 

[Indylady]

TL- You read my mind! I''ve been email Dan back and forth some about an 8x6 deep blue sapphire. The thing is, it would be about 1.5 carats, and I was hoping to keep my gem budget under $150 but can stretch to $200. Then, if my mount costs about $125 for a new head (plus the $75 for what it cost) my ring will end up totaling around $400. (Assuming I don''t get the ring redipped, or that it needs other work). From what I am seeing, around $400 is the absolutely minimum all of this will be.

It seems like this project is getting pretty involved though; I love the mount, certainly, but am considering whether or not I should just go with a much smaller stone (think 5x5, cushion cut sapphire or spess) and ask Sally to make a nice antique looking simple solitaire sterling silver fishtail style mount, and then leave this ring for a later date when I can more comfortably afford to set it. Ideas? Do you think the Sally project idea would cost as much?

Feel free comment!

 

[Gailey]

Date: 7/26/2009 11:26:24 PM
Author: szh07
It is an antique! I''ve already paid for it. I really should have posted it online to get an opinion. I just can''t seem to get this online shopping thing right.

If it''s any consolation szh07, I suspect there''s quite a number of us who have kissed a fair few frogs before we met a prince

 

[chrono]

Date: 7/27/2009 6:10:52 PM
Author: szh07
I think that is a fantastic idea! I think it would probably be easier too. Do you have any PS vendor recommendations?

For the budget conscious, I like Gary at www.diamondexpert.com and it’s best to email or call him because he has too many stones to list on his website.

 

[D&T]

Date: 7/27/2009 7:49:32 AM
Author: SparkleSparkle

Date: 7/27/2009 6:57:56 AM
Author: Lady_Disdain
If the setting is too shallow for a faceted stone, you can use it for a pretty cab.

+1 on the cab!

ditto- yep yep...

 

[Indylady]

Date: 7/28/2009 1:11:55 AM
Author: Gailey

Date: 7/26/2009 11:26:24 PM

Author: szh07

It is an antique! I''ve already paid for it. I really should have posted it online to get an opinion. I just can''t seem to get this online shopping thing right.

If it''s any consolation szh07, I suspect there''s quite a number of us who have kissed a fair few frogs before we met a prince

Aww thank you Gailey! That is very reassuring to hear; I''ve definitely read a lot of horror-threads about settings gone awry, diamond melee that''s popped off in an ultra sonic, etc. I see so many beautiful rings on PS everyday, but its easy to forget how much hard work and time goes behind every single one of them.

 

[Indylady]

Date: 7/28/2009 8:15:47 AM
Author: Chrono

Date: 7/27/2009 6:10:52 PM

Author: szh07

I think that is a fantastic idea! I think it would probably be easier too. Do you have any PS vendor recommendations?

For the budget conscious, I like Gary at www.diamondexpert.com and it’s best to email or call him because he has too many stones to list on his website.

Thanks! I just shot him an email.

 

[Indylady]

Update: I showed Gary the picture, and he says that the whole head should probably be replaced to keep from losing any more prongs, and that since the diamonds on the shank run all the way up to the head, it will complicate things some more. I think I am going to be putting this one to the side for a while, unless Gary gives me a really low estimate (which I doubt). Thank you everyone for your input though; it is very much appreciated, and when I do finally set it, I will probably end up using a cab.

And if anyone else hasn''t talked to Gary before, I highly recommend him! I haven''t had work done by him, but from this experience I have seen that he is really very nice and responds incredibly quickly to emails, and has a very keen eye.

 

[chrono]

Gary? Which Gary? Gary Dutton? I’m sorry about the situation with the head replacement. Hopefully, you can set a cabochon in it without compromising the integrity of the prongs.

 

[Indylady]

Chrono, it wasn''t until after I had already emailed him that I realized you recommended him because he has affordable stones, not affordable bench work! Gary was really nice nonetheless and has a jeweler/bench man (is that what its called?) that he works with and would get a quote from. His stones really are affordable though.

 

[MustangGal]

I used Gary for sourcing a 4 Peaks Amethyst and setting it in a recycled mounting earlier this year, and his bench prices were actually really good! You might be suprised. He also sent me a ton of stones to look over and pick from