Setting Q -- Replacing a 1.09ct with a .60ct?

[tigerhearted]

Hi everyone!

My fiance and I are considering replacing this .60ct antique cut diamond that I''ve fallen for.

We''re worried about whether my setting will take such a significantly smaller stone -- and even if it does, if it will look any good in this setting.

I''m heading to a local jeweler this afternoon to get their opinion on the matter, but I''m not sure if they can give me an un-biased opinion, since they could potentially sell me a new setting if they tell me it wouldn''t work. It''s a reputable mom-and-pop that''s been in business some 40+ years, but you never know.

Any opinions? We love this setting, and the purchase of the antique stone might rest on whether we can keep this setting or not.

I''ll post some pics:

And the antique stone (the hand is not mine in these -- I take a 6-6.25 and the ring here is a 5.5):

Thanks!

 

[stone-cold11]

really depend on the diameter change of these 2 stones.

 

[rhbgirl24]

They may be able to work something out by adding some more metal to the head of the ring. I have seen this done, but it has to be done well to look good. Good luck!

 

[LGK]

It *looks* like the blue diamond may be larger than the setting was really designed for, to me- it kinda looks like it''s not down in the setting, but perched up above... if that is the case, it could be possible. Of course a jeweler is gonna have the best idea in person of whether or not it is do-able. I''d say if you don''t get a useful answer from the guy you''re talking to later, try a few other stores. Not all bench workers are created equal- also, it could be one of those things that *could* be done, with a lot of work (i.e., reworking the metal of the opening, and/or new prongs or something). Good luck!

 

[Dreamer_D]

What are the mm measurements of the two stones in question?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 2/12/2010 3:31:37 PM
Author: LittleGreyKitten
It *looks* like the blue diamond may be larger than the setting was really designed for, to me- it kinda looks like it''s not down in the setting, but perched up above... if that is the case, it could be possible. Of course a jeweler is gonna have the best idea in person of whether or not it is do-able. I''d say if you don''t get a useful answer from the guy you''re talking to later, try a few other stores. Not all bench workers are created equal- also, it could be one of those things that *could* be done, with a lot of work (i.e., reworking the metal of the opening, and/or new prongs or something). Good luck!

I agree. The prongs are unusual and I wonder if it is because they are holding in a stone that is too big for the actual mount.

 

[yssie]

Date: 2/12/2010 3:49:16 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 2/12/2010 3:31:37 PM
Author: LittleGreyKitten
It *looks* like the blue diamond may be larger than the setting was really designed for, to me- it kinda looks like it''s not down in the setting, but perched up above... if that is the case, it could be possible. Of course a jeweler is gonna have the best idea in person of whether or not it is do-able. I''d say if you don''t get a useful answer from the guy you''re talking to later, try a few other stores. Not all bench workers are created equal- also, it could be one of those things that *could* be done, with a lot of work (i.e., reworking the metal of the opening, and/or new prongs or something). Good luck!

I was thinking this too...

 

[tigerhearted]

The new stone would be 5.4mm according to the seller, and I was told Friday that my blue diamond is ~6.4mm.

Well I was totally snubbed by the first jewelry store I visited!! I''m going to call and make a complaint about this guy, he was so rude and snobby. We had been to this store last year to have my ring re-sized and a minor repair done, and the guy we worked with then was really great. This new guy was horrible...it was pretty clear that he just wanted to get me out of the store...

After that we drove up to another jewelry store we''d been to last year looking at wedding bands. They were really great there. The smith came out from the back to talk to us. She said that they''d probably have to re-do the prongs, and possibly insert a basket (?) into the center to make it work, but she''d have to see the stone itself to be sure.

The thought of sending my baby into surgery makes me heart-sick! T_T I really love this ring and don''t want to see it ruined. I''d want to see a sketch of what they would do first, I think.

In any case, we did go ahead and buy the new diamond, and it''ll be in on Tuesday. If we like it as much in person as in the photos, we''ll take it into the jewelry store and see what they have to say.

My fiance has suggested keeping my e-ring as a right-hand ring if we really like this new diamond, and don''t want to send the setting in for major surgery. As an e-ring, neither of us has been happy with how dark the blue diamond is...we''d rather have something brighter and more cheerful for an e-ring, if that makes sense!

There''s already a concern with my e-ring about the practicality of continuing to wear it daily. You see that thin strip of metal below the filigree work, that is what rests against the finger? Last year when we got the ring and took it in for re-sizing, the smith said he wouldn''t want to re-size the ring without first adding some more metal to a certain spot on that thin strip, because it had been worn very thin. Friday, the smith we talked to pointed out a new spot and said she wanted to add some more metal to it -- another spot has worn dangerously thin, within a year. So the concern is that we''d have to have repairs done to the ring every year if I continue to wear it everyday...

Would also give us the opportunity to go with something in yellow gold, which we have fallen for more and more over the past year.

But all that decision-making will wait until we actually have the new diamond in hand. :3 If we don''t love it then it''s not worth the trouble at this point! I''m really excited to see it in person!

 

[tigerhearted]

This shows the thin strip of metal I''m talking about. The pic is from last year...