jrd.whippets
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2006
- Messages
- 5
I have a dilemma, and I am hoping the professionals on this board can steer me in the correct direction.
My fiancé proposed to me last year with my paternal grandmother's engagement ring, which has been in my family for several generations. My grandmother wore it for the first 30 years of her marriage, at which time my grandfather "upgraded" her rings.
So now I am the lucky owner of a beautiful old ring with sentimental value.
I went to have it appraised by a certified AGS appraiser, and the report reads:
"One lady's 14Kt yellow and diamond engagement ring, assembled cast construction, size 5.75, weighing approximately 1.1 dwt. and containing: (A) One Old European cut diamond measuring approximately 4.84-4.96 x 3.15 and weighing approximately .46ct. AGS Provisional Grading: color 1.5; clarity 5. Prong set in 14Kt white gold. (B) Two round single-cut diamonds measuring approximately 1.6 to 1.7 mm and weighing a total of approximately .04ct. AGS Provisional Grading: color 2.5-3.0; clarity 7-8. Bead set in 14Kt white gold.
Indistict trademark. Estimated replacement $1,850."
I spoke with the appraiser about the ring -- namely, that it's far too big for me, and I wondered about getting it remounted in white gold or platinum. He impressed on me the fact that the diamond was fragile, that its girdle was thin, and suggested plating the part of the band that's yellow gold with white gold or rhodium. I walked away from the appraisal feeling like I knew much more about the diamond, but I didn't want to make any decisions without my fiancé's input.
My fiancé wanted to use a local jeweler his family has used for decades, who is an AGS gemologist (although not appraiser). I figured I would have a similar experience, but it was not. The jeweller told me my ring is not Old European Cut, but in fact what he calls Early American Cut, and said the cut was very, very good. He said the girdle was not excessively thin at all. He strongly encouraged resetting the prongs. He liked the white and yellow gold, and pushed for as little change as possible to the ring itself. He disparaged the appraiser I'd used (not even knowing the identity of the appraiser), which was most distressing.
I just want the diamond to be safe. I love the ring, the diamond (whatever the cut is) everything about it except the yellow gold -- all my jewelery is silver. How do I know who to trust? The prongs need to be reset, but now I am scared the diamond will be damaged.
I know it's not worth a great deal, but it does have a lot of sentimental value.
Thanks in advance, so much, for any advice.
--Julie in Louisville, KY
P.S. Oh, the best photos I have of the ring are below:
I apologize if my post is too long -- I am truly a newbie here.
My fiancé proposed to me last year with my paternal grandmother's engagement ring, which has been in my family for several generations. My grandmother wore it for the first 30 years of her marriage, at which time my grandfather "upgraded" her rings.
I went to have it appraised by a certified AGS appraiser, and the report reads:
"One lady's 14Kt yellow and diamond engagement ring, assembled cast construction, size 5.75, weighing approximately 1.1 dwt. and containing: (A) One Old European cut diamond measuring approximately 4.84-4.96 x 3.15 and weighing approximately .46ct. AGS Provisional Grading: color 1.5; clarity 5. Prong set in 14Kt white gold. (B) Two round single-cut diamonds measuring approximately 1.6 to 1.7 mm and weighing a total of approximately .04ct. AGS Provisional Grading: color 2.5-3.0; clarity 7-8. Bead set in 14Kt white gold.
Indistict trademark. Estimated replacement $1,850."
I spoke with the appraiser about the ring -- namely, that it's far too big for me, and I wondered about getting it remounted in white gold or platinum. He impressed on me the fact that the diamond was fragile, that its girdle was thin, and suggested plating the part of the band that's yellow gold with white gold or rhodium. I walked away from the appraisal feeling like I knew much more about the diamond, but I didn't want to make any decisions without my fiancé's input.
My fiancé wanted to use a local jeweler his family has used for decades, who is an AGS gemologist (although not appraiser). I figured I would have a similar experience, but it was not. The jeweller told me my ring is not Old European Cut, but in fact what he calls Early American Cut, and said the cut was very, very good. He said the girdle was not excessively thin at all. He strongly encouraged resetting the prongs. He liked the white and yellow gold, and pushed for as little change as possible to the ring itself. He disparaged the appraiser I'd used (not even knowing the identity of the appraiser), which was most distressing.
I just want the diamond to be safe. I love the ring, the diamond (whatever the cut is) everything about it except the yellow gold -- all my jewelery is silver. How do I know who to trust? The prongs need to be reset, but now I am scared the diamond will be damaged.
Thanks in advance, so much, for any advice.
--Julie in Louisville, KY
P.S. Oh, the best photos I have of the ring are below:
I apologize if my post is too long -- I am truly a newbie here.
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