2 Carat setting for 1.61 carat diamond?

[JennyP]

This may be a silly question....I have a 2.01 carat round diamond ring in a 6 prong setting. I am thinking of "upgrading" to a smaller diamond (1.62 carat) with better clarity and color. Will I be able to use the same setting or will I have to get a new one? Any help is appreciated.

 

[hoorray]

It's going to depend on the setting if it can be changed for a different stone, but most likely you will need a new crown head to hold the stone.

 

[JennyP]

Thanks for the response! I was hoping to hear otherwise but it's good to know what I'm going to need to do.

 

[hoorray]

There was a post just the other day saying that jewelers often don't want to reuse the same head on something like changing the same stone to sit lower since it weakens the metal to reheat it (or something like that. I forget the details -- you could probably search a little. ) Anyway, the size difference is most likely substantial enough that it would take a new head, but that's not usually a huge cost compared to the upgraded stone itself.

If your ring has fancy prongs it may be more complicated. You could post pictures or details here to get some expert advice or see your local jeweler.

 

[JennyP]

That is good to know. It's just a simple 6 prong solataire setting. The prongs go all the way down the to the bottom and rest on my finger. I don't know how else to explain it. I don't see how the head could be replaced. I don't have a picture!
Thanks again

 

[Richard Sherwood]

The dangers of re-using a "head" are metal fatique, and the fact that every diamond needs to have the prongs custom notched to it's unique girdle thickness and crown/pavilion angles.

Couple this with the fact that a 1.62 is more suitably fitted to a 1.5 ct head than a 2.0 ct head, and the circumstances are overwhelming that you should use a new head.

Additionally, I would recommend a platinum head while you're at it. A platinum head is more expensive, but a certain degree safer than a white gold head.

 

[JennyP]

Thanks! Can most setting have the head replaced?

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Yep.

 

[Dancing Fire]

----------------
On 6/28/2004 9:59:44 PM Richard Sherwood wrote:

The dangers of re-using a 'head' are metal fatique, and the fact that every diamond needs to have the prongs custom notched to it's unique girdle thickness and crown/pavilion angles.

Couple this with the fact that a 1.62 is more suitably fitted to a 1.5 ct head than a 2.0 ct head, and the circumstances are overwhelming that you should use a new head.

Additionally, I would recommend a platinum head while you're at it. A platinum head is more expensive, but a certain degree safer than a white gold head.
----------------

Rich
why is a platinum head more safer than wg ? i just order a all 14k wg setting.i try to stay alway from expensive settings.just incase my wife wants to change to another style setting, then i would lose less money.