new setting for round opal?

[bootsiekin]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post in this forum. I have inherited some rings from my grandmother and one of them is a pretty good sized round opal. It is currently set in yellow gold in a 6 prong setting, and it is placed VERY high. Also looks like it has had some damage - the stone being up so high really left it exposed. I would really like to have it reset to something more wearable, probably in a white metal.

Does anyone have any pics or suggestions of a nice setting for a round opal? I would like to do a ring, as I already have an opal pendant. I have done some web searches, but I haven''t found a good site with lots of settings for opals. Sorry, I don''t have a pic - my camera doesn''t have a macro mode so nothing really turns out well.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[Circe]

Drat on the lack of pictures - I adore round opals! Many cuts are oval or asymmetrical to match the matrix and maximize the rough, and I''m a sucker for the exceptions.

I''d probably go with a bezel setting to protect the stone as much as possible. If I were going custom and had an unlimited budget, I''d be tempted by James Meyer or Greenlake Jewelry Works. If I were trying to be more traditional, I''d go with something Victorian-inspired (possibly a halo of seed pearls?), and if not ... well, there are a lot of gorgeous modern designs out there! Before getting more specific, how big is your stone, and what color is it?

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Hi Bootsiekin!

I actually just sent off an opal ring to be reset - it was a ring of my mom's that she had given me so I could reset and wear (it was in a fairly old-fashioned yellow gold setting).

I asked around at my jewelers and at some of the PS vendors, and because it was an oval and opal, it was going to have to be a custom job to bezel it - and the costs were pretty dang expensive (for me anyway).

I opted to go with OneGarnetGirl on Etsy - I mailed the ring to her yesterday, and she's going to do a simple white gold bezel for about $330. I really like her jewelry on Etsy and have heard great things from other PSers about her. Unfortunately, it won't be ready for awhile - she's still working on projects from Dec./early Jan., so I won't have anything to show you for a month or so. But I hope that helps! I would recommend checking her out if you're working on a fairly limited budget like I was.

Oh, and I second Circe's suggestion of bezeling it - opals are pretty fragile, and if you want to wear it as a ring I would definitely bezel it to protect the stone more.

 

[bootsiekin]

Thanks for your suggestions so far! I really don''t know much about opals, but judging from the damage to this one (though it is old) they do seem to be fragile.

I managed these pictures, again I apologize for quality as my camera has no macro mode. (wish I had realized that when I bought it, just assumed they all had it).

Here it is, size compared to my ering stone which is .57 carat (somewhat embarrassing as far as PS sizes go, though it is F, VVS1 from Tiffs - though I never would have chosen Tiffs if I had been given the option)

 

[bootsiekin]

Here''s one that shows the high setting its in now. (my ring finger is size 4.75)

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

I love your wedding set - it''s beautiful, and your stone looks big on your finger! I think it looks perfect!

Yeah that opal is set really really high! One option you could consider is having the opal set as a pendant - there would be less wear and tear on it than if it was on a ring, and since there''s already a little damage, it''s just a thought (esp. if the ring has a lot of sentimental value and you don''t want it getting banged up more).

But if you go with a ring (I decided to, instead of a pendant), I''d definitely bezel it to protect it as much as possible, and not wear it frequently. It looks like a really pretty stone though! What kind of budget are you thinking for the project? Like Circe posted, James Meyer has gorgeous stuff....as does Greenlake...but they''re on the more expensive side.

 

[bootsiekin]

Thanks for the compliment, browneyedgirl!

I think I would really like to do a ring instead of a pendant because I already have an opal pendant.

The bezel sounds like a good plan for protecting the stone, but I''m not really a fan of just the plain bezel, its a little too contemporary or modern looking for my taste. Are there any settings you know of that incorporate the bezel but are more classic or traditional looking?

Thanks!

 

[bootsiekin]

Also, it probably wouldn''t be worn that often, just for evenings out when it went with whatever I was wearing..

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Date: 1/30/2009 12:38:36 PM
Author: bootsiekin
Thanks for the compliment, browneyedgirl!


I think I would really like to do a ring instead of a pendant because I already have an opal pendant.


The bezel sounds like a good plan for protecting the stone, but I''m not really a fan of just the plain bezel, its a little too contemporary or modern looking for my taste. Are there any settings you know of that incorporate the bezel but are more classic or traditional looking?


Thanks!

How about setting the opal in a diamond halo, and bezeling it in that setting? Umm...that would have to be a custom job, I''m thinking, especially since the opal''s delicate. I think a thin diamond halo would give the opal a really pretty, more antique-y look - what do you think? Or alternatively, you can do a plain bezel but soften the modern look by adding melee to the band.

Stuller 1

Stuller 2

I would e-mail Whiteflash, and also Excel Diamonds, Winfield''s and James Allen and see what kind of estimate they can get you.