Resetting sapphire....AGAIN.

[NYMidwife]

Hello all....

Longtime lurker coming out of hiding with a couple questions. I've been wanting to reset this sapphire for years. Currently its in a split shank diamond band. Its just too heavy and "blingy" for me these days. I love love love this bezel setting from The Natural Sapphire Co. Whatever I recoup from the sale of the current setting is my budget for the new setting. What is the best way to sell something like that? I was thinking about having the diamonds taken out along with the sapphire and then selling the gold and diamonds separately. Anyone have any thoughts on that? Also....can I order the setting from NSC and have my stone set locally or do I need to ship off my stone....which I'll admit kinda freaks me out.

Thanks in advance! And thanks for all the inspiration and education over the years!
FutureMidwife

 

[minousbijoux]

First of all, welcome! Congratulations on coming out of lurkdom. My SIL changed her career midstream to become a midwife and loves it. I hope you will too!

Have you measured to make sure your stone is right for that setting? I'll let the setting experts weigh in on whether NSC is a good place to buy settings or whether there is another place with identical settings for less money. As for selling your old setting, go to the "Forum" link at the top of this page and click on the "Preloved Jewels" section under the heading "Pricescope Cafe." Most of the listings are linked to another website Diamond Bistro, where many of us sell settings and stones we no longer want. That would be the logical place to start...

 

[NYMidwife]

Hello!

Thanks for the suggestions. I will check that out. I had no idea there was a pre-loved jewel section now! I have the exact measurements on the insurance appraisal and it will work in that setting.

I'm changing careers mid-stream too.....seems pretty common for midwives. Glad your SIL loves it!

FM

 

[chrono]

Looks really pretty but wish I can see closeup pictures of it. I'd like to take a closer look at the setting and sapphire. I'm guessing it is a slightly rectangular stone? Or is it an oval? I cannot tell. The reason I am asking is to find out if the stone is a good candidate to be bezeled. Some stones just "die" or close up or black out or something to that effect when light is prevented from entering from the sides.

Selling your setting "whole" will net you a better price, rather than trying to separate the diamonds and the metal. I second the Pre-loved section of PS / DB.

Is your stone from NSC? If you are buying the setting from them and your stone is originally from them, it makes sense (for me, anyway), to have it sent to NSC to be set. A bezel setting has less leeway than a prong setting so the setting must fit the stone almost perfectly.

 

[NYMidwife]

Hi Chrono....

Thanks for weighing in. The sapphire is an oval and its not from NSC. Its from a gemologist's private collection in San Francisco that was dispersed after his passing. Lucky me, it ended up in my paws. I wish I could post better pictures but I can't get a close up to save my life. Better visit the "Taking pictures of your diamonds" thread. I'm concerned about the stone going dark too since I feel like that is what happened in the setting its currently in. Some bezels have a super open bottom part and the underneath of the stone is really exposed. That's what I'd be going for.

 

[chrono]

If that's the case, you'll want a super thin bezel in addition to it being collet set. The NSC bezel you showed seems pretty chunky. Buying a bezel setting is really tricky because the two must really fit well together (there's barely any wiggle room for the stone). My preference in this case is to have the setting maker set it, so they must be a trustworth AND competent outfit in the first place.

 

[NYMidwife]

That makes sense about how to have it set. Do you have any experience with NCS or any opinions based on PS "chatter"? I'm leaning towards having it done locally even though it will cost more. I'm also in love with a Gelin Abaci tension setting so clearly I'm scattered.

 

[minousbijoux]

Do you have any experience with NCS or any opinions based on PS "chatter"?

Please use the search function above to find reviews of NSC and I believe, their mountings. I think that will help you. I personally would be reluctant...

 

[NYMidwife]

Thank you thank you! I'm still reading but my mind is made up and I'll steer clear. Dammit.....they had great prices on settings. Guess you get what you pay for.

 

[chrono]

I think the general chatter is to go elsewhere. I would rather go local to get it set as well. It would be super in a tension setting. It also allows maximum light play from just about every angle.

 

[NYMidwife]

I've pretty much gone back to my original obsession with a Gelin Abaci tension setting. Can't pony up the funds right now, but when I'm done with school watch out! I've drooled over that ring (see photo) for 5+ years. I love the "belly" of my sapphire and a tension setting will let me admire it nonstop. haha.

 

[minousbijoux]

My hat is off to you for wanting to get one of those settings; if it were me, I would be double and triple checking constantly to make sure my stone was still there. Irrational, I know!